Department of La Libertad

La Libertad (Spanish pronunciation: [la liβeɾˈtað]) is a department of Peru. Located on the country's northwestern coast, it is the ninth smallest department in Peru, but is also its second-most populous after Piura, and the second-most densely populated after Lambayeque. Its capital is the coastal city of Trujillo, the nation's third biggest city.

La Libertad is the site of many of Pre-Columbian Peru's significant cultures, such as the Moche, the Wari, the Chimú and, ultimately, the Inca Empire. It was ultimately conquered by the Spanish Empire during the 16th century and, after a series of administrative changes, ultimately incorporated as the Intendancy of Trujillo in 1784. It played a significant role in the Peruvian War of Independence, after which it was created as one of the foundational provinces of the Protectorate of Peru. In 1825, it was given its current name.

Its territory was that of the intendancy, which originally included most of Peru's territory north and east of Lima, including that of the former General Command of Maynas. Due to its large size, its territory gradually shrank from 1832 to 1874, with the creation of the departments of Piura (1837), Amazonas (1832), Cajamarca (1855) and Lambayeque (1874), after which it virtually acquired its current borders.

It is the site of two important heritage sites designated as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO: Rio Abiseo National Park (designated in 1983) and Chan Chan (designated in 1986). Salaverry, its main port, is one of Peru's largest ports.