Coast Along South America Trivia Quiz

Answer: France

Cayenne is the capital of French Guiana, an overseas department of France. Unlike most parts of South America, this region was not colonized by the Spanish. Instead, at different points in time, it had been colonized by the Portuguese, Dutch, English and French. St. Saviour's Cathedral, popularly known as the Cayenne Cathedral, is a Roman Catholic church and the seat of the Diocese of Cayenne.

Answer: Cartagena

The construction of the Palace of Inquisition began in 1610 based on a decree issued by King Phillip III of Spain, but the building was completed only in 1770. Constructed in the Spanish Colonial style of architecture and incorporating some elements of Baroque architecture, the palace was used to conduct trials of non-Catholics and it is estimated that around 800 people were executed here. It has now been converted into a museum with instruments used for torture and other artefacts kept on display.

Cartagena was named after the Spanish city of the same name. The fortress of Castillo San Felipe de Barajas built on the San Lazaro hill was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site along with the historic centre of the city.

Answer: Gulf

The Gulf of Guayaquil is located on the Pacific coast and rivers from both Ecuador and Peru empty into it.

Guayaquil, situated on the bank of the Guayas River, is also the most populated city of Ecuador. While there existed a village at the site even in earlier times, it was formally founded as a city by the Spanish in 1538. Over the course of its history, it has been attacked by French and English pirates and invaded by the Peruvian army. Large parts of the city were also destroyed in a fire in 1896.

Answer: Moche

The Moche civilization lived in the northern region of modern day Peru from the 1st to the 8th century AD. Both the temples were constructed using adobe bricks. Huaca del Luna (Temple of the Moon) is the relatively better preserved of the two temples as the Huaca del Sol (Temple of the Sun) was significantly damaged by attempts made by the Spanish conquistadors to cart away the gold from the temple.

The temples contained burial vaults though the actual purposes of the two may have differed slightly.

Answer: Earthquakes

Valparaiso's location near the Peru-Chile trench makes the city prone to frequent earthquakes. It has been struck by major earthquakes in 1906, 1985 and 2010. Nicknamed the "Jewel of the Pacific", the city was bestowed with the title of the Cultural Capital of Chile in 2003 and its historic quarter has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

It is also home to the oldest stock exchange in Latin America.

Answer: Yes

The Falkland Islands is an archipelago comprising of East Falkland, West Falkland and over 700 other smaller islands. Located within the southern part of the Atlantic Ocean, the islands have been claimed by both the British and Argentina. While Argentina tried occupying them by force in April 1982, Britain successfully reclaimed them two months later.

In 2013, a referendum held by the residents voted almost unanimously to remain a British territory.

Answer: Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires lies on the southeastern coast of South America and is the capital and largest city of Argentina. Known as the 'Paris of the South', it is one of the most visited cities on the continent. 9 de Julio Avenue is around one kilometer in length and is named in honour of the Argentinean independence day. Important tourist landmarks along the road include Teatro Colón - the main opera house of the city, a statue of Don Quixote and Plaza de la República (Republic Square).

Answer: Mountain

It is commonly agreed that the 'monte' part of the city's name is derived from the hill named Cerro de Montevideo which overlooks the Bay of Montevideo. In the early 19th century, a fortress was built atop the hill and named Fortaleza del Cerro, also known as Fortaleza General Artigas. The hill also houses a lighthouse.

Montevideo is the southernmost capital city in South America and is located on the bank of the Rio de la Plata.

Answer: Rio de Janeiro

The Sugarloaf Mountain is a monolithic rock that stands at a height of 1299 feet. It is a popular tourist destination and the peak can be accessed via two cable cars. The city of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil was founded by the Portuguese in 1565. It is also famous for the Christ the Redeemer statue that was built in 1931 on the peak of the Corcovado Mountain overlooking the city.

Answer: No

Manaus is located in the interior of Brazil, in the heart of the Amazon rainforest. However, since it lies at the confluence of the Negro and Solimões rivers, it is a popular stop for river cruises. It is one of the most populated cities of the Amazon despite its isolated location making it accessible only by boat or plane.

The Amazonas Theatre was built during the late 19th century when the city was flush with funds from the profitable rubber trade. With a capacity for seating 700 people, the opera house was designed in the renaissance style by the Italian architect Celestial Sacardim.