point in Peru and all of the Southern Tropics, is located in this desert. The numerous short rivers that cross the Sechura supported prehistoric indigenous human settlements for millennia. A number of urban cultures flourished here, including the Moche. The Moche survived on a diet of fish, guinea pigs, camelids, squash, and peanuts. The Sican Culture (circa 800–1300 CE) succeeded the Moche, and developed refined techniques of lost wax goldsmithing. Today, the rivers support intensive irrigated agriculture on the fertile bottomlands. Two of Peru's five largest cities, including Piura and Chiclayo, lie within the agricultural region in the north. See also List of deserts Nazca Lines Atacama Desert Chala References External links Atacama–Sechura Deserts at WWF website documentary about Illescas peninsula, in the heart of the Sechura desert Deserts and xeric shrublands Deserts of Chile Deserts of Peru Geography of Piura Region Neotropical ecoregions ecoregions of Peru