Geography & Culture · free reference
South America: countries, capitals and cultures
12 countries, one section each, A to Z. Every fact lists its source, and you can share a link to any country. Territories and other places are listed after the countries.
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Argentina
- Landform or river
- Pampas (grassy plains), with the Andes Mountains in the west[2]
- Languages
- Spanish (official)[2]
- Say hello
- Hola OH-lah (Spanish) [4]
- Food
- Asado, meat grilled over a wood fire and shared with family and friends[5]
- Festival or tradition
- Tango TraditionMusic and dance shared with Uruguay on the UNESCO list (2009).[6]
- Landmark
- Iguazu National Park UNESCO World Heritage site[7][8]
- Game or sport
- Pato, a game played on horseback by two teams of four riders; declared the national sport in 1953[9][10]
- Did you know?
- Argentina's highest peak, Mount Aconcagua, is in the Andes Mountains.[2]
Sources (10)
- Encyclopaedia Britannica · www.britannica.com/place/Argentina (accessed 2026-10-26)
- Encyclopaedia Britannica (summary) · www.britannica.com/summary/Argentina (accessed 2026-10-26)
- RAE-ASALE, Diccionario panhispánico de dudas: Países y capitales, con sus gentilicios · www.rae.es/dpd/ayuda/paises-y-capitales-con-sus-gentilicios (accessed 2026-10-26)
- RAE-ASALE, Diccionario de la lengua española: hola · dle.rae.es/hola (accessed 2026-10-26)
- Argentina Travel (official tourism, INPROTUR) · www.argentina.travel/en/news/seven-restaurants-to-eat-asado-in-buenos-aires (accessed 2026-10-26)
- UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage · ich.unesco.org/en/RL/tango-00258 (accessed 2026-10-26)
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre · whc.unesco.org/en/list/303/ (accessed 2026-10-26)
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre (State Party page) · whc.unesco.org/en/statesparties/ar (accessed 2026-10-26)
- Gobierno de Argentina: El pato · www.argentina.gob.ar/pais/pato (accessed 2026-10-26)
- Encyclopaedia Britannica: pato · www.britannica.com/sports/pato (accessed 2026-10-26)
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Bolivia
- Capitals
- Sucre constitutional capital and seat of the judiciary[1][2][3]Bolivia has two capitals. Sucre is the constitutional capital and seat of the judiciary; La Paz is the seat of government, where the executive and legislative branches meet. Quizzes accept both.La Paz seat of government[1][2][3]
- Landform or river
- Altiplano, a high plateau between two branches of the Andes, which holds Lake Titicaca[4]
- Say hello
- Hola OH-lah (Spanish) [5]
- Landmark
- City of Potosí UNESCO World Heritage site[8]
- Did you know?
- Lake Titicaca is the highest lake in the world that is deep enough for sailing a boat.[2]
Sources (8)
- Encyclopaedia Britannica · www.britannica.com/place/Bolivia (accessed 2026-10-26)
- Encyclopaedia Britannica (facts) · www.britannica.com/facts/Bolivia (accessed 2026-10-26)
- RAE-ASALE, Diccionario panhispánico de dudas: Países y capitales, con sus gentilicios · www.rae.es/dpd/ayuda/paises-y-capitales-con-sus-gentilicios (accessed 2026-10-26)
- Encyclopaedia Britannica (summary) · www.britannica.com/summary/Bolivia (accessed 2026-10-26)
- RAE-ASALE, Diccionario de la lengua española: hola · dle.rae.es/hola (accessed 2026-10-26)
- UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage · ich.unesco.org/en/RL/carnival-of-oruro-00003 (accessed 2026-10-26)
- UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage · ich.unesco.org/en/state/bolivia-plurinational-state-of-BO (accessed 2026-10-26)
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre (State Party page) · whc.unesco.org/en/statesparties/bo (accessed 2026-10-26)
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Brazil
- Landform or river
- Amazon River basin[2]
- Languages
- Portuguese (official)[2]
- Say hello
- Olá oh-LAH (Portuguese) Oi is an equally common informal greeting (Priberam lists olá = oi).[6]
- Food
- Artisan Minas cheese, made by traditional methods in Minas Gerais[7]
- Festival or tradition
- Frevo, the music and dance of the Carnival of Recife Festival[8]
- Landmark
- Iguaçu National Park UNESCO World Heritage site[9]
- Game or sport
- Capoeira circle (roda de capoeira)[10]
- Did you know?
- The Amazon River has more than 1,000 known tributaries.[2]
Sources (10)
- Encyclopaedia Britannica · www.britannica.com/place/Brazil (accessed 2026-10-26)
- Encyclopaedia Britannica (summary) · www.britannica.com/summary/Brazil (accessed 2026-10-26)
- RAE-ASALE, Diccionario panhispánico de dudas: Países y capitales, con sus gentilicios · www.rae.es/dpd/ayuda/paises-y-capitales-con-sus-gentilicios (accessed 2026-10-26)
- Encyclopaedia Britannica · www.britannica.com/place/French-Guiana (accessed 2026-10-26)
- Encyclopaedia Britannica · www.britannica.com/place/Suriname (accessed 2026-10-26)
- Dicionário Priberam: olá · dicionario.priberam.org/ol%C3%A1 (accessed 2026-10-26)
- UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage · ich.unesco.org/en/RL/traditional-ways-of-making-artisan-minas-cheese-in-minas-gerais-02102 (accessed 2026-10-26)
- UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage · ich.unesco.org/en/RL/frevo-performing-arts-of-the-carnival-of-recife-00603 (accessed 2026-10-26)
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre (State Party page) · whc.unesco.org/en/statesparties/br (accessed 2026-10-26)
- UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage · ich.unesco.org/en/RL/capoeira-circle-00892 (accessed 2026-10-26)
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Chile
- Landform or river
- Atacama Desert[2]
- Languages
- Spanish (official)[2]
- Say hello
- Hola OH-lah (Spanish) [4]
- Festival or tradition
- Baile Chino (ritual music and dance) Tradition[7]
- Landmark
- Rapa Nui National Park (Easter Island) UNESCO World Heritage site[8]
- Game or sport
- Chilean rodeo, given national-sport status in 1962; it is among the most popular sports after football[9]
- Did you know?
- In 1960 Chile had a magnitude-9.5 earthquake, the largest ever recorded.[2]
Sources (9)
- Encyclopaedia Britannica · www.britannica.com/place/Chile (accessed 2026-10-26)
- Encyclopaedia Britannica (summary) · www.britannica.com/summary/Chile (accessed 2026-10-26)
- RAE-ASALE, Diccionario panhispánico de dudas: Países y capitales, con sus gentilicios · www.rae.es/dpd/ayuda/paises-y-capitales-con-sus-gentilicios (accessed 2026-10-26)
- RAE-ASALE, Diccionario de la lengua española: hola · dle.rae.es/hola (accessed 2026-10-26)
- Chile Travel (official tourism, Sernatur) · new.chile.travel/en/?p=46327 (accessed 2026-10-26)
- Smithsonian Magazine: foods you have to eat in Chile · www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/foods-you-have-eat-chile-180962257/ (accessed 2026-10-26)
- UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage · ich.unesco.org/en/RL/baile-chino-00988 (accessed 2026-10-26)
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre (State Party page) · whc.unesco.org/en/statesparties/cl (accessed 2026-10-26)
- Memoria Chilena, Biblioteca Nacional de Chile: El rodeo · www.memoriachilena.gob.cl/602/w3-article-3402.html (accessed 2026-10-26)
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Colombia
- Landform or river
- Andes Mountains[2]
- Languages
- Spanish (official)[2]
- Say hello
- Hola OH-lah (Spanish) [4]
- Food
- Ajiaco, a dish typical of the Andean region[5]
- Festival or tradition
- Carnival of Barranquilla Festival[6]
- Landmark
- Port, Fortresses and Group of Monuments, Cartagena UNESCO World Heritage site[7]
- Game or sport
- Tejo (turmequé), a traditional throwing game declared part of the national intangible cultural heritage in 2019[8]
- Did you know?
- Colombia is the world's largest producer of emeralds.[2]
Sources (8)
- Encyclopaedia Britannica · www.britannica.com/place/Colombia (accessed 2026-10-26)
- Encyclopaedia Britannica (summary) · www.britannica.com/summary/Colombia (accessed 2026-10-26)
- RAE-ASALE, Diccionario panhispánico de dudas: Países y capitales, con sus gentilicios · www.rae.es/dpd/ayuda/paises-y-capitales-con-sus-gentilicios (accessed 2026-10-26)
- RAE-ASALE, Diccionario de la lengua española: hola · dle.rae.es/hola (accessed 2026-10-26)
- Colombia Travel (official tourism, ProColombia) · colombia.travel/es/blog/5-platos-de-la-gastronomia-colombiana-que-tienes-que-probar (accessed 2026-10-26)
- UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage · ich.unesco.org/en/RL/carnival-of-barranquilla-00051 (accessed 2026-10-26)
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre · whc.unesco.org/en/list/285/ (accessed 2026-10-26)
- Función Pública (Colombia): Ley 1947 de 2019 · www1.funcionpublica.gov.co/eva/gestornormativo/norma_pdf.php?i=90162 (accessed 2026-10-26)
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Ecuador
- Landform or river
- Chimborazo, the highest peak (6,310 m), in the Andes[2]
- Languages
- Spanish (official), Quechua and Shuar (locally official)[2]
- Say hello
- Hola OH-lah (Spanish) [4]
- Festival or tradition
- Pasillo, song and poetry Tradition[5]
- Landmark
- Galápagos Islands UNESCO World Heritage site[6]
- Did you know?
- Cotopaxi is one of the highest active volcanoes in the world.Britannica calls it "the world's highest active volcano"; softened because other references rank volcanoes differently.[2]
Sources (6)
- Encyclopaedia Britannica · www.britannica.com/place/Ecuador (accessed 2026-10-26)
- Encyclopaedia Britannica (summary) · www.britannica.com/summary/Ecuador (accessed 2026-10-26)
- RAE-ASALE, Diccionario panhispánico de dudas: Países y capitales, con sus gentilicios · www.rae.es/dpd/ayuda/paises-y-capitales-con-sus-gentilicios (accessed 2026-10-26)
- RAE-ASALE, Diccionario de la lengua española: hola · dle.rae.es/hola (accessed 2026-10-26)
- UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage · ich.unesco.org/en/RL/pasillo-song-and-poetry-01702 (accessed 2026-10-26)
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre (State Party page) · whc.unesco.org/en/statesparties/ec (accessed 2026-10-26)
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Guyana
- Landform or river
- Essequibo River[2]
- Languages
- English (official)[2]
- Say hello
- Hello heh-LOH (English) [4]
- Food
- Pepperpot, a traditional Indigenous Guyanese dish, often eaten on Christmas morning[5]
- Festival or tradition
- Mashramani, the Republic Day celebration on February 23 (an Arawak word for "celebration after hard work") Festival[6]
- Landmark
- City Hall, GeorgetownOn the UNESCO Tentative List (not inscribed). Guyana has no inscribed World Heritage property.[7]
- Game or sport
- Cricket[8]
- Did you know?
- Rainforest covers about three-fourths of the country.[2]
Sources (8)
- Encyclopaedia Britannica · www.britannica.com/place/Guyana (accessed 2026-10-26)
- Encyclopaedia Britannica (summary) · www.britannica.com/summary/Guyana (accessed 2026-10-26)
- RAE-ASALE, Diccionario panhispánico de dudas: Países y capitales, con sus gentilicios · www.rae.es/dpd/ayuda/paises-y-capitales-con-sus-gentilicios (accessed 2026-10-26)
- Merriam-Webster: hello · www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hello (accessed 2026-10-26)
- Guyana Tourism Authority · guyanatourism.com/post/traditional-guyanese-foods-to-make-at-home (accessed 2026-10-26)
- Department of Public Information, Government of Guyana · dpi.gov.gy/mashramani-a-vibrant-expression-of-guyanese-culture (accessed 2026-10-26)
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre (State Party page) · whc.unesco.org/en/statesparties/gy (accessed 2026-10-26)
- Encyclopaedia Britannica: cricket · www.britannica.com/sports/cricket-sport (accessed 2026-10-26)
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Paraguay
- Landform or river
- Paraguay River, flowing from north to south[2]
- Languages
- Spanish (official), Guaraní (official)[2]
- Say hello
- Hola OH-lah (Spanish) [4]
- Drink
- Tereré, a cold drink of yerba mate with medicinal herbs (pohã ñana)[5]
- Festival or tradition
- Guarania, a style of Paraguayan music Tradition[6]
- Landmark
- Jesuit Missions of La Santísima Trinidad de Paraná and Jesús de Tavarangue UNESCO World Heritage site[7]
- Did you know?
- Paraguay is landlocked and has two official languages, Spanish and Guaraní.[2]
Sources (7)
- Encyclopaedia Britannica · www.britannica.com/place/Paraguay (accessed 2026-10-26)
- Encyclopaedia Britannica (summary) · www.britannica.com/summary/Paraguay (accessed 2026-10-26)
- RAE-ASALE, Diccionario panhispánico de dudas: Países y capitales, con sus gentilicios · www.rae.es/dpd/ayuda/paises-y-capitales-con-sus-gentilicios (accessed 2026-10-26)
- RAE-ASALE, Diccionario de la lengua española: hola · dle.rae.es/hola (accessed 2026-10-26)
- UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage · ich.unesco.org/en/RL/practices-and-traditional-knowledge-of-terere-in-the-culture-of-poha-nana-guarani-ancestral-drink-in-paraguay-01603 (accessed 2026-10-26)
- UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage · ich.unesco.org/en/RL/guarania-sound-of-paraguayan-soul-02128 (accessed 2026-10-26)
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre (State Party page) · whc.unesco.org/en/statesparties/py (accessed 2026-10-26)
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Peru
- Landform or river
- Andes Mountains[2]
- Languages
- Spanish, Quechua, Aymara (all official)[2]
- Say hello
- Hola OH-lah (Spanish) [4]
- Food
- Ceviche[5]
- Festival or tradition
- Festivity of the Virgen de la Candelaria of Puno Festival[6]
- Landmark
- Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu UNESCO World Heritage site[7]
- Did you know?
- Peru is the third largest country in South America.[2]
Sources (7)
- Encyclopaedia Britannica · www.britannica.com/place/Peru (accessed 2026-10-26)
- Encyclopaedia Britannica (summary) · www.britannica.com/summary/Peru (accessed 2026-10-26)
- RAE-ASALE, Diccionario panhispánico de dudas: Países y capitales, con sus gentilicios · www.rae.es/dpd/ayuda/paises-y-capitales-con-sus-gentilicios (accessed 2026-10-26)
- RAE-ASALE, Diccionario de la lengua española: hola · dle.rae.es/hola (accessed 2026-10-26)
- UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage · ich.unesco.org/en/RL/practices-and-meanings-associated-with-the-preparation-and-consumption-of-ceviche-an-expression-of-peruvian-traditional-cuisine-01952 (accessed 2026-10-26)
- UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage · ich.unesco.org/en/RL/festivity-of-virgen-de-la-candelaria-of-puno-00956 (accessed 2026-10-26)
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre (State Party page) · whc.unesco.org/en/statesparties/pe (accessed 2026-10-26)
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Suriname
- Neighbors (land borders)
- [1]
- Landform or river
- Suriname River (with the Courantyne and Maroni rivers)[2]
- Languages
- Dutch (official), English, Sranan[2]
- Landmark
- Historic Inner City of Paramaribo UNESCO World Heritage site[4]
- Did you know?
- The historic inner city of the capital, Paramaribo, is a UNESCO World Heritage site.[4]
Sources (4)
- Encyclopaedia Britannica · www.britannica.com/place/Suriname (accessed 2026-10-26)
- Encyclopaedia Britannica (summary) · www.britannica.com/summary/Suriname (accessed 2026-10-26)
- RAE-ASALE, Diccionario panhispánico de dudas: Países y capitales, con sus gentilicios · www.rae.es/dpd/ayuda/paises-y-capitales-con-sus-gentilicios (accessed 2026-10-26)
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre (State Party page) · whc.unesco.org/en/statesparties/sr (accessed 2026-10-26)
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Uruguay
- Landform or river
- Negro River, the principal waterway[2]
- Languages
- Spanish (official)[2]
- Say hello
- Hola OH-lah (Spanish) [4]
- Food
- Asado, one of the best-known Uruguayan food traditions[5]
- Festival or tradition
- Candombe, a community drumming tradition Tradition[6]
- Landmark
- Historic Quarter of the City of Colonia del Sacramento UNESCO World Heritage site[7]
- Game or sport
- Football (soccer); Uruguay won the first FIFA World Cup, in 1930[8]
- Did you know?
- Uruguay is the only South American country lying entirely outside the tropics.[2]
Sources (8)
- Encyclopaedia Britannica · www.britannica.com/place/Uruguay (accessed 2026-10-26)
- Encyclopaedia Britannica (summary) · www.britannica.com/summary/Uruguay (accessed 2026-10-26)
- RAE-ASALE, Diccionario panhispánico de dudas: Países y capitales, con sus gentilicios · www.rae.es/dpd/ayuda/paises-y-capitales-con-sus-gentilicios (accessed 2026-10-26)
- RAE-ASALE, Diccionario de la lengua española: hola · dle.rae.es/hola (accessed 2026-10-26)
- Uruguay Educa (ANEP, public education administration of Uruguay) · uruguayeduca.anep.edu.uy/sites/default/files/exelearning/06-2026/14890/how_much_do_you_know_about_asado.html (accessed 2026-10-26)
- UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage · ich.unesco.org/en/RL/candombe-and-its-socio-cultural-space-a-community-practice-00182 (accessed 2026-10-26)
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre (State Party page) · whc.unesco.org/en/statesparties/uy (accessed 2026-10-26)
- FIFA: On this day in 1930 Uruguay became winners of the very first FIFA World Cup · inside.fifa.com/news/world-first-for-uruguay-2053846 (accessed 2026-10-26)
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Venezuela
- Landform or river
- Orinoco River, which drains almost the entire country[2]
- Languages
- Spanish (official)[2]
- Say hello
- Hola OH-lah (Spanish) [4]
- Food
- Cassava bread (casabe)[5]
- Festival or tradition
- Carnival of El Callao Festival[6]
- Landmark
- Canaima National Park UNESCO World Heritage site[7]
- Did you know?
- Angel Falls, the highest waterfall in the world, is in Venezuela.[2]
Sources (7)
- Encyclopaedia Britannica · www.britannica.com/place/Venezuela (accessed 2026-10-26)
- Encyclopaedia Britannica (summary) · www.britannica.com/summary/Venezuela (accessed 2026-10-26)
- RAE-ASALE, Diccionario panhispánico de dudas: Países y capitales, con sus gentilicios · www.rae.es/dpd/ayuda/paises-y-capitales-con-sus-gentilicios (accessed 2026-10-26)
- RAE-ASALE, Diccionario de la lengua española: hola · dle.rae.es/hola (accessed 2026-10-26)
- UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage · ich.unesco.org/en/RL/traditional-knowledge-and-practices-for-the-making-and-consumption-of-cassava-bread-02118 (accessed 2026-10-26)
- UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage · ich.unesco.org/en/RL/carnival-of-el-callao-a-festive-representation-of-a-memory-and-cultural-identity-01198 (accessed 2026-10-26)
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre (State Party page) · whc.unesco.org/en/statesparties/ve (accessed 2026-10-26)
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Territories and other places
These places are not UN member or observer states. Each is shown with a neutral note from the sources.
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
- Status
- British Overseas Territory; sovereignty claimed by Argentina. The UN Special Committee on Decolonization lists it as "Falkland Islands (Malvinas)" and calls on both governments to resume talks.[1][2][3]
- Administered by
- United Kingdom[1][2][3]
Sources (3)
- Encyclopaedia Britannica · www.britannica.com/place/Falkland-Islands (accessed 2026-10-26)
- Encyclopaedia Britannica (summary) · www.britannica.com/summary/Falkland-Islands (accessed 2026-10-26)
- United Nations, Special Committee on Decolonization, GA/COL/3394 (2025) · press.un.org/en/2025/gacol3394.doc.htm (accessed 2026-10-26)
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French Guiana
Sources (4)
- Encyclopaedia Britannica · www.britannica.com/place/French-Guiana (accessed 2026-10-26)
- InfoEscola (Brazilian education reference): Capitais da América do Sul · www.infoescola.com/geografia/capitais-da-america-do-sul/ (accessed 2026-10-26)
- IBGE, Atlas Geográfico Escolar: América do Sul (político) · atlasescolar.ibge.gov.br/images/mapas/pdf/continentes-e-regioes-do-mundo-america-do-sul-politico-p-47.pdf (accessed 2026-10-26)
- RAE-ASALE, Diccionario panhispánico de dudas: Guayana · www.rae.es/dpd/Guayana (accessed 2026-10-26)
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