How are Lima’s historic buildings threatened by pollution and earthquakes?

Lima’s historic buildings, which are part of a UNESCO World Heritage site, face significant environmental and geological threats:

• Air Pollution: The city’s historic structures are damaged by elevated levels of air pollution generated by automobiles and buses.1
• Earthquakes: Lima is located on a coastal plain consisting of unconsolidated deposits, making the city highly susceptible to earthquakes. These seismic events are a continual threat to the city's infrastructure; historically, the largest earthquake to strike Lima occurred in 1746, resulting in 5,000 deaths.21

While these hazards pose ongoing risks to the city's heritage, conservation efforts have been undertaken, such as the restoration of many of Lima's antique wooden balconies during the 1990s.1