A Swing Through South America Trivia Quiz

Answer: Argentina

Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina, is located on an estuary of the Rio de la Plata, in the Pampas region. While there is some debate by geographers whether the Rio de la Plata is a gulf or a river, as a river it is the widest in the world. Argentina has a diverse range of geographical features, including the lowlands known as the Pampas, Mesopotamia, the mountainous area in the central-west region known as Cuyo, the Gran Chaco, known as plains and hunting grounds, and Patagonia, an area of plains that rise in terraces to a plateau. Cuyo is a wine-making region, and includes the Province of Mendoza, San Luis and San Juan. Aconcagua, the highest mountain in both North and South America - and one of the Seven Summits - is located in the Province of Mendoza.

The Perito Moreno Glacier is one of the 48 glaciers located in the Los Glaciares National Park in Patagonia.

Answer: Chile

The Andes are located on the eastern side of Chile, and the Pacific Ocean on the west. In the north, the Atacama Desert is rich in alluvial saltpans, but poor in moisture. A mere 1 mm of rain is the yearly average there, making it the driest place on earth. Located nearby, in the Altiplano of Northern Chile, is El Tatio Geyser Field. With more than 80 geysers, 30 of which are perpetual spouters, and assorted hot springs and mud pots, it is the third largest geyser field in the world. Southern Chile is home to forests, plains, lakes, volcanoes, inlets and islands.

The islands include Tierra del Fuego, which is the largest island in the archipelago, and which Chile shares with Argentina. The Beagle Channel divides the archipelago, and on Hornos Island, Cape Horn is the northernmost point of the Drake Passage.

Answer: Bolivia

Potosi, one of the highest cities throughout the world, lies in the shadow of Cerro Rico (rich mountain). The mountain was an important source of silver during the Spanish colonization, and despite being considered depleted, it remained a mining venture into modern times. The Altiplano is located in the central Andes, and is home to the Sajama National Park - which includes Bolivia's highest peak, the snow-topped Nevado Sajama. South America's largest lake, Lake Titicaca, is also located on the Altiplano, on the border between Bolivia and Peru.

The Altiplano is located between the Cordillera Occidental and the Cordillera Oriental. To the north and east of the Andes, the land is mostly rainforest, savannahs, a group of low mountains and, in a relatively small area, wetlands.

Answer: Brazil

The largest country in South America, Brazil accounts for almost half of the continent, and has a diverse geographic range and climate. A large portion of the country is covered in rainforest, but there are also extensive areas of savannah, dunes and mangroves, and thorny scrublands.

The Serra do Mar Range runs along the Atlantic coast, the Serra do Espinhaço Range is located in the central region, and the country's highest mountains, including Pico da Neblina, are found along Brazil's northern border. Brazil's portion of the Pantanal, a savannah in the summer and a swamp during the winter rains, contains the Pantanal Matogrossense National Park - which is home to several unique animals, including capybaras, giant anteaters and jaguars. Brazil has an extraordinarily vast network of rivers, with the largest being the Amazon River, but there are many other important rivers in the country, including the Branco, the Paraguay, and Parana Rivers.

Answer: Colombia

Located in the south-central region of Colombia, the Colombian Massif is part of the Andes mountain range, and is home to the headwaters of several rivers. At the Massif, the Andes are divided into three ranges - the Cordillera Occidental, Cordillera Central and Cordillera Oriental.

The Cordillera Central is home to several volcanoes, and also to the Colombian Coffee-Growers Axis. Savannah and rainforest covers most of the eastern portion of the country, and there are coastal plains to the north and west.

The country's highest points, Pico Cristóbal Colón and Pico Simón Bolívar, are located in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, an isolated mountain range located in the Caribbean plain. One of the rainiest cities worldwide, Buenaventura is a main port city on the Pacific coast.

A sizable portion of the city is located on Cascajal Island

Answer: Paraguay

Paraguay is divided by the Paraguay River into two regions - the eastern (Paranena region) and the western (Chaco). Both regions descend towards the Paraguay River. The eastern region is comprised mainly of valleys, hills and plateaus, while the western region is mostly lowlands that are alternately swamped and dried-out. The country's largest swamp, named Estero Patino, is located in the Lower Chaco, and flat-topped hills (known as Mountain Islands) surrounded by grassy plains are found in the Central Lowlands of the eastern region.
The capital city Asuncion, one of South America's oldest cities, is located on the Paraguay River, and is nicknamed 'Mother of Cities'. And, the city of Concepcion, which also is located on the Paraguay River, lies on the Tropic of Capricorn.

Answer: Peru

Located in western South America, Peru is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean, and shares land borders with five other South American countries. More than half of Peru's land is located within the Amazon Basin, and is home to the world's 4th largest tropical forest.

The Andes' proximity to the coast has an appreciable effect on that region's weather, as well as upon the rest of the country. The northwestern flowing Humboldt Current affects parts of Peru's coast, and is the main reason for the arid climate of the Atacama Desert.

The Huascaran National Park is found in the Cordillera Blanca, and contains more than 50 glaciated peaks, including Peru's highest peak. In 1970, the northwest face of Nevado Huascaran broke off, killing approximately 70,000 people in one of the worst avalanche disasters of the 20th century. The Virgen del Carmen festival is one of the largest street festivals held in Peru.

Answer: Venezuela

The Andes dominate the western region of Venezuela, while the Orinoco River Delta is found in the east. The llanos, or plains, is an ecoregion comprised of flooded grasslands and savannas. The Orinoco River, the country's major river system, forms part of the boundary between Venezuela and Colombia. Canaima National Park is home to Angel Falls, and to the ancient geological formations called tepuis - table mountains.

It was the tepuis which prompted Sir Arthur Conan Doyle to write "The Lost World". Pico Bolivar, located in the Andes, is Venezuela's highest peak.

In the south, the rainforests of the Amazon Basin are not extensive, but rich in flora and fauna. With coastline on both the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, Venezuela has numerous beaches, islands, cays and islets.

Answer: Guyana

The Pacaraima Mountains are home to Mount Roraima, Guyana's highest peak. Located in the southwestern region, the mountain forms a triple border for Guyana, Venezuela and Brazil. Guyana's coastline is comprised mainly of mudflats, sandbars and shallow waters, and much of the coastal area floods at high tide. Beyond the coast lies marsh and swamps, and beyond these is a white sand belt which is comprised of sandy hills, rocky areas and hardwood forests.

The interior is mainly grasslands, lowlands, desert savannah and rainforests. Located in Kaieteur National Park, Kaieteur Falls are on the Potaro River in central Guyana.

The Berbice Bridge is a floating, or pontoon, bridge over the Berbice River. 90% of Guyana's population live in the coastal area.

Answer: Ecuador

Ecuador is one of South America's smaller countries. It has a border on the Pacific Ocean, and land borders with Colombia and Peru. The coastal area is comprised of a wide plain, which gives way to the foothills of the Andes. While the majority of the forests there have been decimated, there are still tropical, evergreen and mangrove forests.

Inland further are the Andes, with snow-capped peaks and a number of volcanoes - several still active. Cotopaxi is an active volcano, one of the world's highest, and it is also Ecuador's second-highest point.

The highest point is Chimborazo, an inactive volcano. In the eastern part of Ecuador is the Amazon Basin, and vast stretches of upland and lowland rainforest. The capital of Ecuador is Quito, but Guayaquil is the country's most populous city.