There's so much to discover and learn about Latin America.
Each country within Latin America offers its own unique flavors, history and
culture. These are 100 interesting facts about Latin America that you may not
already know.
Uruguay
1. Uruguay gets its name from the Uruguay River - meaning
river of the painted birds in the Guarani language.
2. The first ever FIFA World Cup was held in Uruguay in
1930. The Uruguayans have won the FIFA World Cup twice, in 1930 and in 1950.
3. The country's official name is Republica Oriental del
Uruguay (Oriental Republic of Uruguay).
4. You'll likely encounter more cows than humans in Uruguay.
Cows outnumber humans four to one. The country has a population of 12 million
cattle but just 3 million people.
5. Uruguay's national anthem is the world's longest in
performance duration, lasting for over five minutes.
6. Former Uruguayan president, José "Pepe"
Mujica (president from 2010 to 2015), donates 90% of his income to charity.
This practice earned him the moniker 'the world's poorest president'.
7. Uruguay has one of the world's highest literacy rates
(98.1 % for adults), largely thanks to Uruguayans' access to compulsory and
free education.
8. Uruguay became the first country in the world to provide
every schoolchild with a free laptop and Wi-Fi access (in 2009).
Peru
9. Peru has the highest sand dune in the world - Cerro
Blanco. Cerro Blanco sand dune is located in the Sechura Desert, south of Peru
and measures 3,860 feet from base to summit.
10. The Giant Andean Condor, which is the largest flying
bird on earth can be found in Peru - at the Colca Canyon. The Giant Andean
Condor weighs a breathtaking 27 pounds but can fly for hours without using is
wings.
11. Peru is home to over 3,000 varieties of potato. It's
worth noting that the potato originated in Peru. It's common to hear Peruvians
say “Soy mas Peruano que la papa." meaning "I am more
Peruvian than the potato."
12. The world's longest river - the Amazon River
starts in Peru, in the Peruvian Andes near Machu Picchu, and spans over 3,278
miles before ending in the Atlantic Ocean.
13. Peru grows more than 55 varieties of corn. In Peruvian
markets you'll find corn in colors like white, black, purple and yellow, some
are a mixture of colors.
14. Peru is home to the deepest canyon in the world.
Cotahuasi Canyon with depth of approximately 10,605 feet is twice the Grand
Canyon in terms of depth.
15. Peru is the 6th largest producer of gold, producing over
162 tons of gold a year.
16. Peru now produces one of the most expensive coffees in
the world - Peruvian Coati Dung Coffee. A cup costs anywhere between the $20 to
$65 ranges.
Argentina
17. Argentina was the first South American country to
legalize same-sex marriage in 2010.
18. Argentina is the third largest producer of beef in the
world, producing around 2.8 to 3.5 million tons a year.
19. Argentina once had 5 presidents in 2 weeks, which was in
2001.
20. Argentina is home to the giant anteater whose tongue
grow up to 60 cm long.
21. The Tango dance originated in Argentina, in the
slaughterhouse district of Buenos Aires.
22. Officials of footballer Lionel Messi's native Rosario
have banned babies being named 'Messi' to avoid confusion, and probably to
honor Messi for his football exploits. Messi is largely considered the best
footballer in the world.
Bolivia
23. Bolivia is home to the Guembe Biocenter - the world's
largest butterfly sanctuary.
24. There's a hotel in Bolivia built of salt. The Hotel Luna
Salada (Salt Moon Hotel) found in the Salt Flats of Uyuni, Bolivia, is built
from salt blocks. Its furniture and interior are made of solid salt blocks.
25. Bolivia is home to the most dangerous road in the world,
dubbed "The Road of Death". This is the Yungas road. This road claims
the lives of 200 to 300 people each year. Only 30 % of Bolivia's roads are
paved.
26. Bolivia is one of the wettest countries in the world,
with its annual rainfall that exceeds 8000 mm.
Ecuador
27. Ecuador is the world's number one exporter of bananas,
contributing 23.3% of banana exports in 2016.
28. Ecuador is the world's largest exporter of flowers.
29. Ecuador was named after the equator, which runs through
the country. Ecuador is also the only country in the world named after a
geographical feature.
30. Voting is compulsory for those between the ages of 18
and 65, in Ecuador.
31. Ecuador is home to the world's first two UNESCO heritage
sites - the city of Quito and the Galapagos Islands.
Brazil
32. Brazil has been the world's largest exporter of coffee
for 150 years and counting.
33. Brazil has 21 UNESCO heritage sites. The Iguacu National
Park is the most popular of these, and is home to endangered species like the
giant ant eater and the giant otter.
34. Brazil is named after a tree; brazilwood.
35. Brazil has the largest population of Portuguese speakers
in the world (lusophones).
36. The world's largest population of Catholics live in
Brazil, making up 64 % of the Brazilian population.
37. Brazil has the largest population of Christians in South
America.
38. Brazil hosts the largest number of Japanese living out
of Japan.
39. Brazil is dubbed the 'murder capital of the world".
In 2015, Brazil had a murder rate of 25.2 per 100,000 population.
40. Approximately 210 languages are spoken in Brazil, of
which 180 are indigenous.
41. The Brazilian public health system provides free
sex-change operations, as freedom to change one's sex is considered a
constitutional right in Brazil.
42. Brazil is the fifth largest country in the world by
population.
43. Silva is the most popular surname in Brazil.
44. Brazil has won the FIFA World Cup 5 times (1958, 1962,
1970, 1994, and 2002).
45. Brazil is the world's largest exporter of orange juice,
and the world's biggest producer of oranges, producing about 1/3 of the world's
production.
Chile
46. The Atacama Desert, which is the driest place on Earth
is found in Chile.
47. The biggest earthquake ever recorded hit Chile in 1960.
This was called the Great Chilean earthquake (Gran terremoto de Chile). It has
been placed between 9.4 and 9.6 on the moment magnitude scale.
48. The San Alfonso del Mar resort in Chile had the world's
largest swimming pool at the time of its construction.
Puerto Rico
49. Puerto Rico is part of U.S. territory, and the United
States Dollar is Puerto Rico's currency. The locals however call the currency
'peso' or 'dolar'.
50. The Miss Universe Pageant has been won by women from
Puerto Rico a whopping 5 times! Women from Puerto Rico are renowned for their
beauty.
51. The world's largest telescope is located in Puerto Rico
- at the Arecibo Observatory. The Arecibo telescope is 1000 feet (305 meters)
across and 167 feet deep. It is used to gather radio signals from planets,
distant galaxies, regions of star formation and the atmosphere.
52. Puerto Rican citizens are considered U.S. citizens but
cannot vote in U.S. elections.
53. Puerto Ricans do not pay income tax.
54. The county's official name is the Commonwealth of Puerto
Rico.
Paraguay
55. Paraguay is home to the world's largest rodent - the
capybara.
56. The official languages spoken in Paraguay are Spanish
and Paraguayan Guarani.
57. Paraguay holds the record of the world's largest
barbecue. Over 30,000 people grilled their way into history on October 26th
2008, to devour 28,000 kilos of meat, for over 6 hours.
Venezuela
58. Women from Venezuela have won Miss World 5 times and Miss
Universe 6 times.
59. Its formal name is Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
60. Venezuela's proven oil reserves are recognized as the
largest in the world, totaling 297 million barrels as of January 1st 2014.
61. The world's highest uninterrupted waterfall, Angel
Falls, is found in Venezuela. It has a height of 979 meters (3,211 feet) and a
plunge of 807 meters (2,368 feet).
Mexico
62. Its official name is Estados Únidos Mexicanos (the
United Mexican States).
63. Mexico is the 14th largest country in the world by total
area.
64. The world's smallest volcano, Cuexcomate, is found in
Puebla, Mexico.
65. The world's largest pyramid, the Great Pyramid of
Cholula is found in Mexico. It is also known as Tlachihualtepetl.
Colombia
66. Colombia is named after Christopher Columbus - the
legendary Italian explorer, navigator, and colonizer.
67. In Colombia, by law, radio and TV broadcasts must play
the national anthem at 6:00 a.m. and at 6:00 p.m.
68. Cocaine king, Pablo Escobar, was born and bred in
Colombia.
69. Colombia is the world's leading producer of high quality
emeralds, and has produced over 60 % of the world's annual output of emeralds.
70. Colombia is the third largest exporter of coffee, after
Brazil and Vietnam. In 2016, Colombia's exported coffee worth 2.3 billion
dollars.
71. La fiesta de quince is a special birthday
celebration for girls in Colombia.
Guatemala
72. Guatemala is the birthplace of the chocolate bar.
73. Guatemala is the poorest nation in Central America and
has the highest crime rate in Central America.
74. Guatemala is Central America's most populated country.
Haiti
75. Haiti's official languages are French and Haitian
Creole.
76. Haitian Voodoo and Roman Catholicism are the official
religions in Haiti. Haiti is the only country in the world that has Voodoo as
official religion.
77. It is the most mountainous country in the Caribbean.
Honduras
78. The Honduran currency is the Lempira (HNL), named after
a native (an Indian chief) who died fighting the Spaniards.
79. The term "Banana Republic" coined by
American author O. Henry was first applied to Honduras as it was greatly
exploited by the U.S. for banana cultivation.
80. In Honduras, the sky 'rains fish' annually, in the
Departmento de Yoro. This phenomenon is called Lluvia de Peces. It
usually takes place in May or June, at least once a year.
Cuba
81. Cuba has a literacy rate of 99.8 %, and is among the top
10 countries with the highest literacy rates.
82. Cuba leads the world in the doctor to patient ratio.
Cuba has consistently used the export of its doctors over the past 50 years as
a tool of health diplomacy.
83. Cuba has two currencies; the Cuban peso (CUP) used by
natives and the Cuban convertible peso (CUC) used by foreigners (tourists).
84. Cuba became the first communist state in the western
hemisphere after Fidel Castro brought in revolution in the 1950s.
85. Cuba is the only home to a rare prehistoric fish called
the Mangar.
Nicaragua
86. Nicaragua has no official religion though over 50 %
of its population is Roman Catholic.
87. Lake Nicaragua (found in Nicaragua) is the largest lake
in Central America and the 19th largest lake in the world by area.
88. The locals in Nicaragua refer to themselves as Nicas,
but most outsiders refer to them as Nicaraguans.
Dominican Republic
89. The Dominican flag is the only flag to have the image of
the Bible on it.
90. The Dominican Republic has two unique stones that are
found nowhere else in the world - Larimar and Dominican Amber.
91. The oldest cathedral in the world is found in Santo
Domingo, Dominican Republic. It is called Basilica Catedral Santa Maria de la
Enarnacion (also called Santa Maria la Menor).
Costa Rica
92. Costa Rica has one of the highest life expectancies in
the world. As of 2015, according to the World Health Organization, Costa Rica
is ranked 30th in life expectancy out of 183 countries.
93. Costa Rica is 1 of only 22 countries without a standing
army. Costa Rica dissolved its army on December 1st, 1948.
94. Costa Rica consistently ranks number 1 on the Happy
Planet Index.
El Salvador
95. El Salvador is the smallest and most populated country
in Central America.
96. El Salvador has the largest airport and mall in Central
America.
97. El Salvador is one of the most violent countries in the
world, and its capital, San Salvador, was the most murderous city in Latin
America in 2016.
Panama
98. Temperatures in Panama range between 80-90 degrees
Fahrenheit (26-32 degrees Celsius), as it has a warm, wet, tropical climate.
99. Panama has the 2nd largest duty-free zone in the world -
the Colón Free Trade Zone.
100. Panama's constitution gives foreigners the same
property rights as Panamanians.
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