South American Countries: Worksheet Answer
Text: Lonely Planet’s Not for Parents “South America: Everything you ever wanted to know
Week
Venezuela
Of cial Name: Bolivarian Republic of Venezuel
Capital: Caracas
Of cial Language: Spanish (but has 30 indigenous languages)
Population: 28.5 million
Spanish colony in: 1522
Gained independence in: 1811, 1830 became it’s own independent republic
Origin of Country Name: Amerigo Vespucci noted the houses on stilts reminded him of Venice
National Symbols: troupial (bird), orchid Flor de Mayo “May Flower
Flag: yellow = land wealth, blue = sea, river and sky, red = blood shed by heroes of the
independence, 7 stars = 7 signatories to the Venezuelan declaration of independence
(from the 7 provinces) originally they said the blue sea separates their golden land from
bloody Spain
Interesting Facts: Andes Mountains run in the northwest, about twice the size of Californi
has one of the largest natural gas reserves, 2nd largest oil reserve in the worl
has over 1,400 bird species and over 25,000 species of orchid
home to many interesting animals: manatees, giant anteater, 2 & 3-toed sloth, jaguar
Amazon river dolphins, capybara (Google images capybara
Lonely Planet p. 14 Angel Falls - tallest waterfall, 58 foreign disease, 66 Lake Maracaib
Colombia
Of cial Name: Republic of Colombi
Capital: Bogota
Of cial Language: Spanish
Population: 45 million
Spanish colony in: 1499
Gained independence in: 181
Origin of Country Name: Named after Christopher Colombus
National Symbols: orchid Cattleya trianae, wax palm
Interesting Facts: famous for it’s coffe
The only South American country which borders the Paci c & the Caribbean Se
2nd most biodiverse country in the world with the most number of butter y species,
most orchid species, amphibian specie
Has more species of birds than Europe and North America combine
World’s leading source of emeralds, highest quality emeralds worldwide,
home of the largest emeral
Lonely Planet p. 24 frogs, 38 Cano Cristales, 44 El Dorado, 46 Mompos,
78 Emerald City, 92 ant
Ecuador
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Of cial Name: Republic of Ecuador
Capital: Quito
Of cial Language: Spanish, 2.5 million speak Amerindian language called Kichwa
Population: 15 millio
Spanish colony in: 16th century
Gained independence in: 1820 as part of Gran Colombia
Origin of Country Name: Equator, which passes through Ecuador
National Symbols: Andean condor, Galapagos tortoise, rose, quina, rondador
Interesting Facts: Named from the Equator, which runs through i
Galapagos Islands in the Paci c 1000 miles from mainlan
Lonely Planet p. 76 New Year’s Eve celebration, 86 Galapagos Islands Darwi
rondador player in Ecuador: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHxDd1rl3O
he plays other instruments too, rain stick, etc.
Week 2
Rainforest - South America has the largest tropical rainforest in the world, over 5.5 million square km. It
contains 20% of the world’s bird species. It houses 2.5 million insect species, and 4,000 plant species. Though
the Nile river is longer, the Amazon carries the most water of any river. The Amazon can be seen from space.
Some of the animals unique to South America are the chinchila, anaconda, llama, anteater, agouti, and
armadillo. South America also has 50% of the world’s rainforests. Over the last ten years deforestation has
decreased, and the areas of conserved land have increased
Lonely Planet p.32 piranh
Peru
Of cial Name: The Republic of Per
Capital: Lima
Of cial Language: Spanish, Inca language Quechua, and Aymara
Population: 31 millio
Spanish colony in: 1532
Gained independence in: 182
Origin of Country Name: Possibly from Biru, the local ruler when Spanish explorers arrived in
1522. Possibly name of a native found by a Spanish crew
National Symbols: Cantuta, Vicuna, Cajon (instrument), cockade of Peru (colors
playing cajon https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uLsM9vp3d
or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Wgl8eDdha
Flag: red = blood spilled for independence, white = peace and braver
Interesting Facts: ancient Incan city Machu Pichu - probably royalty retreat center
60% of the country is covered by the Peruvian Amazo
65 million guinea pigs are consumed in Peru each yea
a poor country, but one of the top producers of gold, silver, copper, lead, iron and zin
ceviche, a lime-marinated food, originated in Per
Lonely Planet p. 12 Nazca lines, 20 Incas, 50 oating islands, 70 Machu Pichu
Bolivia
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Of cial Name: Plurinational State of Bolivi
Capital: Sucre
Of cial Language: Spanish, Quechua, Aymara, Guarani + 33 other languages
Population: 11.5 millio
Spanish colony in: 1524
Gained independence in: 182
Origin of Country Name: Simon Boliva
National Symbols: andean condor, llama, owers: Kantuta (compare colors to the Bolivian ag)
and the Patujú
Interesting Facts: Was part of the Incan Empir
Largest proportion of indigenous people in Latin Americas (59%)
Lonely Planet p. 16 WWE, 26 Salar de Uyuni - largest salt at, 80 Bolivia’s navy thoug
it is landlocked, 88 North Yungas Road - most dangerous road in the worl
Chile
Of cial Name: Republic of Chil
Capital: Santiago
Of cial Language: Spanish
Population: 17 millio
Spanish colony in: 1541
Gained independence in: 181
Origin of Country Name: Possibly what the Incas called the land, originally called “Tili” by
those they conquered there. Possibly Mapuche meaning “where the land ends.”
National Symbols: Andean condor, ower Copihu
Flag: blue = sky, white = snow covered Andes, star = guide to progress & honor,
red = blood spilled to achieve independenc
Interesting Facts: one of the most stable and prosperous nations in South Americ
north has Atacama Desert with great mineral wealth, south volcanos, fjords, canal
Atacama Desert is the driest place on earth, less than 0.05 mm of rain a yea
crater lake Ojos del Salado in the Andes is the highest
Lonely Planet: 37 Atacama Desert, 68 miners saved, 18 Real Robinson Cruso
30 Cape Horn, 64 moai statues on Easter Islan
Theory on how the Maois were moved - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvvES47Odm
Argentina
Of cial Name: Argentine Republi
Capital: Buenos Aires
Of cial Language: Spanish
Population: 42 million
Gained independence in: 181
Origin of Country Name: The name Argentina comes from the Latin word for silver,
“argentum.” Commodores searched for the supposed mountains of silver there
Flag: Sun of May - Inca sun god Int
National Symbols: Sun of May, bird: hornero, Cockade of Argentin
tree & ower: ceibo, other national tree: red quebracho
Interesting Facts: Lonely Planet: 28 Evita Peron, 40 Tango,
56 New South Wales, 62 southern cowboys, 90 game pato = duck
Listen to “Don’t cry for me Argentina”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivOrKizry94
Watch the tango: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxm3Xyutc1s
sketchy out t, but they all ar
Week
Brazil
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Of cial Name: Federal Republic of Brazi
Capital: Brasilia
Of cial Language: Portuguese
Population: 194 millio
Gained independence in: 182
Origin of Country Name: from brazil woo
National Symbols: jaguar, rufous-belied thrus
Flag: “Order and progress,” green represents House of Braganza of the rst Emperor of
Brazil Pedro I, gold represents his wife’s House of Habsburg (Empress Maria
Leopoldina), stars represent the sky over Rio de Janeiro on 11/15/1889. Each star
represents a state plus one for the Federal Distric
Interesting Facts: Largest country in South America, fth largest in the worl
Only country in South America that speaks Portugues
60% of the Amazon Rainforest is in Brazi
Lonely Planet: 22 VW Beetle, 48 coffee, 54 capoeira martial arts, 60 soccer,
74 favelas slums, 82 Christ the Redeemer statue, 84 Carnival
Capoeira - skip boring beginning: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiehFxUskEQ
Uruguay
Of cial Name: Oriental Republic of Urugua
Capital: Montevideo
Of cial Language: Spanish
Population: 3.3 millio
Gained independence in: 1825 from Brazi
Origin of Country Name: Spanish pronunciation of it’s major river from the local Guarani
language. It may have originally meant “bird-river” or the river snail urugu
National Symbols: ower: cppopoppoeibo, bird: southern lapwin
Flag: Inca’s Sun of May (also on Argentina’s ag) new nation in the world, 9 stripes for
the 9 departments of Uruguay,
Interesting Facts: Second smallest in South America, but rst in democracy, peace, lack of
corruption, middle class size & prosperity. Considered a high-income country by the UN.
Lonely Planet: 42 Air Force Flight 57
Paraguay
Of cial Name: Republic of Paragua
Capital: Asuncion
Of cial Language: Spanish, Guarani
Population: 6.5 millio
Gained independence in: 181
Origin of Country Name: Possibly from “Born from water” or “river of many varieties” i
the Guarani languag
National Symbols: ower: mburucuya, tree: pink lapach
Flag: inspired by the French ag, believed to signify independence and liberty. This ag is
unique because on one side is the national coat of arms, and on the other is the seal of
the treasury
Interesting Facts: Landlocke
Remarkably strong indigenous culture, 95% of the population understand Guarani
language. Only 90% understand Spanish. Extensive marrying between Spanish male
settlers and Guarani brides, and marriage between two cultures
Lonely Planet: 52 illegal trade
Guyana
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Of cial Name: Co-operative Republic of Guyan
Capital: Georgetown
Of cial Language: English
Population: 0.75 millio
Gained independence in: 196
Origin of Country Name: from “Guiana” in an indigenous Amerindian language meaning “land
of many waters
National Symbols: bird hoatzin also called cane pheasant, animal jaguar, plant Victoria Regin
Flag: green = agriculture and forests, white = rivers and water, gold = mineral wealth, black =
endurance, red = zeal and dynamism
Interesting Facts: Was rst a Dutch, then British colony called British Guian
Only country in South America where English is the of cial languag
Most people speak Guyanese Creole, an English based language with slight Dutch
and Caribbean in uence
Has one of the largest unspoiled rainforests in South America, some parts inaccessible
remarkable diversity - giant otters, capybaras, caimans, tapirs, saki monkey
Lonely Planet: 34 Devil’s Island, 72 hoatzin bir
Watched parts of BBC’s “Lost Land of the Jaguar” on YouTube
E2 P3 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgpIJV4VQj0 Banana cat sh, pirhan
E2 P3 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFTL-loUY_A largest tarantula
Suriname
Includes Countries: Republic of Surinam
Capital: Paramaribo
Of cial Language: Dutch
Population: 0.6 millio
Gained independence in: 1975 left the Kingdom of Netherland
Origin of Country Name: possibly from an indigenous people called Surinen who lived there
when the Europeans made contac
National Symbols: ower = faja lobi
Flag: yellow star represents the unity of all ethnic groups, it is a ve pointed star representing
the ve continents from which the inhabitants migrated (all but Antarctica), red stripe for
progress and love, green for hope and fertility, and white bands for peace and justic
Interesting Facts: smallest country in South America, in size and populatio
culturally a Caribbean countr
Ruled by the Dutch in the late 17th century as Dutch Guiana, still has close tie
was a plantation colon
most popular language is Sranan, an English-based creole languag
Suriname Toad, or Pica Pica
surinam toad giving birth: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9S8ZoxOjO
little frogs emerge from holes in her back. Shows about male fertilizing eggs
French Guiana
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Of cial Name: French Guiana
Capital: Cayenne
Of cial Language: French
Population: 0.25 million, most of whom live along the coast, half in the capita
Gained independence in: not independent, still belongs to Franc
Origin of Country Name: from “Guiana” in an indigenous language meaning “land of many waters
National Symbols:
Flag: of cially the ag is the French ag, since it is recognized as a region of Franc
Unof cial ag: green = forests, yellow = gold & minerals, red star = socialis
Interesting Facts: Many people speak French Creol
Most prosperous territory in South America, mostly due to the Guiana Space Center
Large Catholic in uence, they have a large carnival before Lent called the pre-Lenten Carnival. It
combines elements of a circus and a street party. People wear masks and costumes.
Sample
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Of cial Name:
Capital:
Of cial Language: Spanish
Population:
Gained independence in:
National Symbols:
Interesting Facts: