PERU CURRENT 



J. W. Lermond 



Maritime Safety Division 



U. S. Naval Oceanographic Office 



The striking phenomena exhibited by the Peru Current, previ- 

 ously named Humboldt Current, can be readily recognized by the 

 mariner if he is sufficiently aware of the material signs of its existence. 

 Such recognition will contribute to successful ability in navigating 

 along the coasts of Chile, Peru, and Ecuador. The utilization of a 10 

 to 25-mile per day current, or its avoidance by a change of route, can 

 add up to a considerable saving in fuel and time. A more certain knowl- 

 edge of the sets and drifts will also contribute to safety in navigating 

 these waters. A description of the current, its physical characteristics, 

 the abundant and visible marine organisms that live within it, and the 

 sea birds which abound above it, are all worthy of note. All of these 

 resultant phenomena which are easily observed by the mariner, con- 

 tribute to identify the presence or absence of the stream inshore or to 

 point out its location Offshore. The following paragraphs will outline 

 the history of the current and some of its more outstanding visible 

 features, their causes and effects. 



The first recorded reference to conditions off the west coast of 

 .South America dates from the discovery in 1522 of the territory of 

 Biru, from which the present state of Peru derived its name. The 

 chronicler, Pedro de Cieza de Leon (1553), compiled a list of sailing 

 directions in which he said: 



"The time for navigating is during the months of January, Feb- 

 ruary and March, because in this season there are always fresh 

 breezes from th'e north and the vessels make short passages; 

 which during the rest of the year the south wind prevails along 

 the coast of Peru." 

 Jesuit Father Joseph de Acosta (1608) stated that the northerly 

 winds were troublesome and were the attributes of El Nino. This was 



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