Peru contains Chan Chan, the largest pre-Columbian city in South America. The vast adobe urban center lies near Trujillo on Peru’s northern Pacific coast and was the capital of the Chimú Kingdom.
Chan Chan developed between roughly the ninth and fifteenth centuries, reaching its greatest importance before the Inca conquest in the 1400s. Its compounds included palaces, ceremonial spaces, storage areas, plazas, and residences, all constructed mainly from mud brick. Decorative reliefs depict marine life, birds, and geometric designs, reflecting the coastal environment.
The city covers about 20 square kilometres, although only part of the original urban area is preserved. UNESCO listed the Chan Chan Archaeological Zone as a World Heritage Site in 1986. Because adobe is highly vulnerable to rain and erosion, conservation is difficult, especially during strong El Niño events. Chan Chan is distinct from nearby Moche sites such as Huaca del Sol and Huaca de la Luna.