The Inca cultural region encompasses parts of what is now Peru, Chile, and Ecuador. It is home to many archeological and cultural sites such as Ayacucho, Moche, and Nazca. The topography and land formations of this region are extremely varied. Deserts, lakes, mountain regions, and jungles are all included within the area that once housed the Inca culture. The Inca referred to their realm as Tahuantinsuya which means the "Land of the Four Quarters." Lake Titicaca was the bread basket and the control headquarters of highland Tahuantinsuya. The great Inca city of Cuzco in modern day Peru was located between the lowland desert and jungle. The region of Collasuya reaches from the western Pacific shores of the Atacama Desert over the Andes Mountains and into eastern tropical forest.
Like the land formations, the climate of the Inca region is also extremely diverse due to the large land mass embodied by the Inca. Lake Titicaca is located in a fertile agricultural area and receives 50 cm or more of rainfall each year. Conversely, the Atacama Desert is one of the driest regions in the world and receives less than one inch of rain annually.
The Inca area of Peru and Ecuador is host to a wide variety of animal species depending on the specific geographical regions. The Peruvian jungle and rainforest are home to many species of wildlife ranging from South American tree frogs to Brazilian tapirs, armadillos and jaguars. In addition, South America exports a large amount of wool and other materials from Alpacan Llamas, which are usually found within mountainous areas. The arid coastal regions of Peru provide ample habitat for fish and coastal birds, as well as other species such as crabs, crocodiles and piranhas.
The plants of the Inca vary according to their climatic zones. However, the climate zones in Peru to southern Bolivia ranges from tropical to highland mountain climates. Plants indigenous to the Inca climate are sugar cane, coca, potatoes, coffee, cotton, yams, bread fruit, bananas, and all types of squash.
