South+and+Central+America+2012-13

Facts About Central and South America

 * Countries of Central America:**
 * Belize
 * Costa Rica
 * El Salvador
 * Guatemala
 * Honduras
 * Nicaragua
 * Panama

Map of Central America--click here


 * Countries of South America:**
 * Argentina
 * Language: Spanish but accents vary region by region with strong Italian influences
 * Interesting Facts:
 * Eighth largest country in the world
 * Bolivia
 * Language: Has 37 official languages. Most common are Castellano, Quechua and Aymara
 * Interesting Facts:
 * Andes Mountains run through this country
 * Lake Titicaca is here
 * Brazil
 * Language: Portuguese; English is a popular second language
 * Interesting Facts:
 * Most populous country in South America
 * World's largest river basin - Amazon River Basin
 * Chile
 * Language: a form of Spanish called Castellano
 * Interesting Facts:
 * Called the Switzerland of the South for it's natural beauty
 * Home to several volcanoes
 * Subject to frequent earthquakes and tidal waves
 * Colombia
 * Language: Spanish with many African-influenced dialects
 * Interesting Facts:
 * Southeast is covered by jungles
 * Ecuador
 * Language: Spanish and Kichwa is spoken by many highland Indian groups
 * Interesting Facts:
 * 31 active volcanoes
 * Has cloud forests - tropical mountain forests permanently covered in clouds and mist
 * Ecuador's rain forest is used to make medicines throughout the world to treat malaria, Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis
 * Falkland Islands
 * French Guiana
 * Guyana
 * Language: English though Creolese is commonly spoken
 * Interesting Facts:
 * Interlaced with rivers
 * Paraguay
 * Language: Spanish and Guarani
 * Interesting Facts:
 * Landlocked country slightly smaller than California
 * Peru
 * Language: Spanish, Quechua, Aymara - Many Peruvians speak both Spanish and an indigenous language
 * Interesting Facts:
 * Source of the Amazon River
 * Third largest country in South America
 * Has highest mountains of the Andes range
 * South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands
 * Uraguay
 * Language: Spanish
 * Interesting Facts:
 * Rolling plains that have remained relatively unchanged over time due to lack of natural disasters
 * Venezuela
 * Language: Spanish
 * Interesting Facts:
 * Most urbanized country in South America
 * Andes Mountains dominate in the west

Map of South America--click here

Source: CIA World Factbook