Callao

Callao, the port of Lima, Peru, lies 7 miles SW. of Lima by rail, on a small bay. The streets generally are narrow and the buildings unimportant. The town possesses a floating-dock, while fine harbour-works, embracing an area of 520 acres, with extensive pier and dock accommodation, were completed in 1875; and the spacious roadstead, sheltered by the island of San Lorenzo, is one of the safest in the world. The huge old Spanish fortress is used for custom-house offices. There are sugar-refineries, ironworks, and sawmills; but the place depends chiefly for its prosperity on its trade. The exports are wool, sugar, specie, copper, cotton, bark, hides, guano, and cubic nitre. Pop. (1890) 35,390. The present Callao dates only from 1746, when the original city, a short distance to the south, was destroyed by an earthquake and an invasion of the sea. Callao was bombarded in 1880 during the war between Chili and Peru, and the annexation by the former of the guano-producing islands materially decreased the exports of this manure; cubic nitre (a government monopoly) and wool come next in importance. By the completion of a direct cable between this port and Mollendo, telegraphic communication was established with the United States.