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14 Of the Strangest Wars Ever Fought (That Sound Completely Made Up)

Trista July 7, 2025 8 min

3. The Great Guano War (Spain vs. Peru, 1864-1866)

guano mining in chincha islands peru (1865) moulton — Guano miners at the Great Heap, Chincha, Peru, in 1865. Photo by Henry Moulton. Source: Wikipedia

Sometimes, the most unlikely resources ignite fierce conflict. In the mid-1800s, Spain and Peru clashed over the Chincha Islands, prized for their rich deposits of guano—bird droppings highly valued as fertilizer. The struggle escalated, drawing in Chile and Ecuador before finally ending in uneasy peace. This bizarre war proves just how far nations will go for natural resources. Learn more at Britannica.

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Trista

3. The Great Guano War (Spain vs. Peru, 1864-1866)

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