Callao

Callao, the port of Lima, in Peru, is situated on the Pacific coast. It has good harbour accommodation, the entrance to which is sheltered by the island of San Lorenzo. Its exports are wool, sugar, specie, cotton, copper, bark, hides, guano, and nitrates. This last was diminished in 1880, when Chili annexed the nitrate deposits. In 1746 the old town was destroyed by earthquake, with loss of life and serious damage to shipping.