Callao
Callao, city and principal commercial seaport of Peru, located within the 57-square-mile (147-square-kilometer) Callao constitutional provincia (province), directly west of Lima. The mostly urbanized area of the constitutional province is part of the Lima-Callao metropolitan area. Callao’s port has one of the few good natural harbors along the Pacific coast of South America. Located south of the Rímac River, the port’s anchorage is protected by the large offshore island of San Lorenzo (a submarine base and naval station) and by a long promontory. The harbor has been given further protection by breakwaters. A modern maritime terminal was opened in 1935; a dry dock, 570 feet (175 meters) in length, was constructed in 1938; a major ore and cargo pier and a petroleum jetty were in use by 1969; and further modernization was undertaken in the late 20th century.
Callao was founded in 1537 by Francisco Pizarro. As the leading shipping point for the gold and silver taken by the Spanish conquerors from the Inca Empire, the port was frequently assaulted by pirates and European rivals of Spain. It was pillaged by Sir Francis Drake in 1578. A tidal wave following an earthquake demolished the city in 1746, but it was rebuilt about three-quarters of a mile from the original site. Shortly thereafter, an extensive fortification, the Real Felipe fortress, was constructed; it withstood a number of sieges by Spanish forces during the wars of independence. Simón Bolívar landed there in 1823, and three years later it was the scene of the final surrender of Spain.
The first railroad in South America was opened between Callao and Lima in 1851. The city was bombarded by a Spanish fleet in 1866; and in 1881, during the War of the Pacific, it was occupied by Chilean forces, who restored it to Peru in 1883 under the Treaty of Ancón. Rebuilding of the city and port was necessary after a severe earthquake in 1940.
Leading exports from Callao include minerals, refined metals, fish meal, and fish oil; chief imports include wheat, machinery, and lumber. Notable among the city’s many and varied industries are breweries, shipbuilding yards, and fish-meal factories.
As Peru’s principal port city, Callao has a strong maritime character reflected in many of its cultural and historical attractions. One such site is the Abtao Museum, which is housed within a decommissioned Peruvian Navy submarine. This museum provides visitors with an in-depth exploration of submarine mechanics and offers a historical overview of the Peruvian Navy’s contributions. Additionally there is the Julio Elías Murguía Naval Museum, which is dedicated to preserving Peru’s naval history and includes a collection of artifacts from naval figures dating back to the colonial era. The fortress of Real Felipe is another important Callao landmark, which was built in the 18th century to protect Callao and neighboring Lima from pirates and other port attacks. It is the site of the Jorge Chávez International Airport and of the national military and naval schools, and the city is also home to the National University of Callao. Pop. (2017) 479,418.