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  Geography:
It the largest department of Peru and among
the least populated ones. Its large surface is covered with thick vegetation. Its relief
smooth and weavy, excepting the part, of low elevation to be seen in its western sector,
on the limits of the High Jungle as well as on the South East of the department, in the
zones of the Requena and Ucayali provinces bordering with Brasil. There are the hills
called Cerros de Contamana. Other characteristics of this territory are the wide river
flood beds, that are covered with rain water and get swamped in summer. In these flood
areas there are sectors with elevated spots called "restingas", which stand out
always in the Amazonian plain, even in times of the greatest swellings. There are numerous
lagoons known as "cochas" and "tipishcas", surrounded by marshy areas
with aboundant grass vegetation.
Numerous rivers cross its territory, all of them are apart
from the Hydrographical Amazonian System, and the majority of these are navigable. They
have a tortuous course, a great volume of waters and little slope in their beds. The main
rivers crossing the department are: the Amazonas, with a very tortuous and numerous curves
that are ample meanders of great radius always changing. The volume of waters is very
important and the width between banks is 4 KM. The Yavarí, border of Peru with Brasil all
along its way, is very tortuous river. The Putumayo, serves as a border with Colombia; The
Ucayali and the Marañón, penetrate Loreto after going through the Pongo de Manseriche.
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