Flag of Peru

Meaning and history of the flag of Peru

Peru's flag consists of three vertical stripes of equal width: red on the left, white in the center, and red on the right. In its official state version, the central white stripe bears the national coat of arms, featuring a vicuña (representing the country's fauna), a cinchona tree (representing its flora), and a cornucopia spilling gold coins (representing its mineral wealth), all encircled by a laurel wreath.

According to legend, General José de San Martín was inspired to create the flag after seeing a flock of flamingos with red and white plumage take flight over Paracas Bay in 1820. The more widely accepted historical account, however, holds that San Martín chose the red of Spain's banner and the white of Argentina's to symbolize the union of the two peoples in the fight for independence. The flag was officially adopted in 1825, though it has undergone minor modifications since. Its colors closely resemble those of Canada's flag, though the designs are entirely different.

You can view the flag of Peru in high resolution above and download it in several sizes for personal, educational or reference use. To explore more, visit the full Peru profile, its map, or the current local time in Lima.