CALLAO, kfil-ya'6, Peru, seaport city, capital of Ci.11ao province, on Callao Bay, seven miles by rail, steam and electric, west of Lima. The spacious harbor affords safe anchorage, making Callao the principal port of the coun try; defended by three forts and sheltered southward by San Lorenzo Island, nine miles in circumference, and rising 600 feet above sea level. An earthquake and tidal wave de stroyed the early city in 1746 and the modern city is three-quarters of a mile from the orig inal site. The city itself is uninteresting, and the climate unhealthful. Business centres around the harbor, which is modern in every respect, with concrtte piers, floating dock, gas and electric lighting, steam cranes, etc. Over 1,100 vessels of 2,672.000 tonnage enter arid clear the port annually. Callao has lumber, iron and sugar manufacturing industries; ex ports sugar, minerals, cotton, hides, bone, cocoa, wool, etc., to the value of over $7,350,000 an
nually, and imports coal, beer and manufactured articles valued annually at about $13,434,250. Callao dates from early Spanish times. In 1624 it was besieged unsuccessfully by the British pirate, who died there. Incor porated as a town in 1671; it was submerged with all its inhabitants during the earthquake of 1746, and when the sea is calm, the ruins are still distinguishable under water. The har bor saw the naval victory of the independent Chileans in 1820 over the Spaniards who sur rendered Callao, their last foothold in Peru, the following year. Callao suffered volcanic disasters in 1825 and in 1868. In 1866 it was bombarded by a Spanish fleet and in 1880 by the Chileans who took possession the follow ing year. It was restored to Peru by the treaty of 1883. Pop. 32,000.