10 Curiosities of Latin America | How many do you know?

“May your Highnesses believe that this land is the best and most fertile, and temperate, and flat, and good that there is in the world.” This is how the American land was described in one of the most famous Christopher Columbus quotes. Indeed, reaching the south of the continent represented the discovery of a new universe, in which nature, beauty and tradition insisted as maxims. High mountain ranges, dense and humid jungles, plains that extend as far as the eye can see, tropical and warm beaches… the curiosities of Latin America make us navigate through a land with which it is very difficult not to fall in love. Today in Supercurioso we invite you to visit this fascinating region with us, to learn the best curious facts about Latin America.

The 10 best Latin American curiosities

Curious facts about Latin America take us through a region as extensive as it is diverse. More than twenty million square kilometers make up Latin America, which represents 13.5% of the emerged surface of the planet.

There are three languages ​​that prevail in this territory. First, there is Spanish. Second, Portuguese, which is only spoken in Brazil. Finally and in a minimal participation, the French. From the Venezuelan beaches, passing through the native Mexican customs and even the impressive Argentine Patagonia, Latin America is a rich and fascinating land, in which it would be well worth getting lost.

1. Angel Falls, in Venezuela

We begin this tour of the curiosities of Latin America in Venezuela. The country of oil and mixed landscapes, is also home to the highest waterfall in the world. Located in the Canaima National Park, in the Bolívar state, this impressive natural spectacle has a height of 979 meters and 807 meters of uninterrupted waterfall. The name of the Angel jump It was placed in honor of an American pilot named Jimmie Angel, who in 1937 corroborated both the existence and the exact location of this waterfall, by flying over the area with his small plane.

However, there is another information about its discovery. The jump was known by the native indigenous people of the area, who recognized it by the name of Kerepakupai Merú. Its diffusion to the world is attributed to the Spanish explorers Juan María Mundó Freixas and Félix Cardona Puig, who were the first Europeans to come face to face with this natural spectacle, in 1927. This space that covers more than 30,000 km² was declared by Unesco as a World Heritage Site in 1994.

2. The Atacama Desert, in Chile

Another of the most epic curious facts about Latin America is found at the southern tip of the continent, in that curious long and thin country, home to one of the most extraordinary mountain systems in the world. On this occasion we want to talk to you about Chile, and especially about its Atacama desert. It is an impressive desert area, which covers the regions of Arica and Parinacota, Tarapacá, Antofagasta and the north of the Atacama region. It has an area of ​​105,000 km² and is considered one of the driest places on the planet.

In the Atacama Desert it practically does not rain and in some areas rainfall can take years to occur. In fact, this incredible place holds two world records: the first is held by the Arica area, which has the lowest average annual rainfall in the world (0.5 mm). The second record is held the area of ​​Iquique, in which the longest drought has been recorded with more than 16 years without falling a drop of water.

3. The largest Gulf, in Mexico

And colorful Mexico is the owner of the next one on our list of curiosities from Latin America. The Gulf of Mexico is nothing more and nothing less than the largest in the entire world. This oceanic basin that covers the coasts of Mexico, the United States, and Cuba has an area of ​​1,500,000 km² and a length from coast to coast of 4,990 kilometers. Also, The Mexican Gulf is home to one of the most impressive natural ecosystems in the entire world. Spotted dolphins, manatees or sea cows, and whale sharks These are just some of the species that can be found in these warm waters.

4. The largest bird, in Argentina

And, as you know, the curious facts of Latin America not only have to do with its dazzling geography, or with the traditions and customs that make each country a unique place. The ecosystem and the species that have life in it are also highlighted.

Surely you will be surprised to learn that the remains of the largest bird in the world were found in Argentina. Argentavis Magnificem is the scientific name of this bird discovered in 1979, twenty kilometers from the city of Buenos Aires.

It is believed to have gone extinct in the Late Miocene, approximately six to eight million years ago. The animal, which reminds us of the appearance of a vulture, had a phenomenal wingspan. Its extended wings reach eight meters, and its approximate weight is 120 kilograms. One of the best curiosities of Argentina!

5. The Amazon River, in Brazil

Can you imagine the flow of a river that gathers more water than the Nile, the Yangtze and the Mississippi combined? Well, it exists, and it is the fifth of the curiosities of Latin America that we want to tell you about. It is the mighty Amazon River, the mightiest on the entire planet. Its hydrographic basin covers just over seven million square kilometers, and represents a fifth of the total river flow worldwide. Its waters cross the territories of Peru, Colombia and Brazil, where its mouth is located. The entire ecosystem that surrounds it is also endowed with great beauty.

6. Colombian Coffee

And it is impossible to talk about the curious facts of Latin America without immersing ourselves in its most indigenous flavors and aromas. And among them, Colombian coffee is truly legendary. Not only is it recognized as one of the best in the world, but it represents a fundamental sector of the country’s economy. Not in vain, Colombia It is the second largest coffee producer in the world.so the nation is full of plantations, which are located mostly in the Coffee Region.

This region has the perfect climate and geography for the production of the best coffee, and extends through the departments of Caldas, Risaralda and Quindío, in addition to the northwestern regions of Tolima, the southwest of Antioquia and the north and east of Valle del Cauca. If you have had the pleasure of trying Colombian coffee, you will know why it deserves a place among the most exquisite in the world.

Do not forget to know the other curiosities of Colombia.

7. Lima, Peru, the gastronomic capital of the continent

We are still in the world of flavors and aromas, but now we are going from the cups to the stove, to tell you the next curiosities of Latin America. All the countries of the region have preparations that immediately whet the appetite, but special mention deserves Lima, the capital of Peru, and also the gastronomic capital of the continent.

It turns out that in the Peruvian territory we find up to ninety different microclimates, which gives us the option of cultivating the most varied raw materials. The ingredients of the Peruvian stoves are first class. And the seasoning, no way. If at any time you dare to visit these lands, You cannot stop trying the ceviche, the cause, the sautéed loin, the anticuchos and other delicacies of the Peruvian gastronomy.

8. The illuminated sea of ​​Cartagena de Indias, in Colombia

If it is about curious facts about Latin America, it is an obligatory task to mention the delicious beaches that serve as a rest in the Caribbean Sea. Exactly the ones that adorn the coasts of Venezuela and Colombia. But in Colombia, exactly in Cartagena de Indiasthe idyllic walled city, we can live a dream experience: swimming in illuminated waters.

Why is this happening? Well, in the seas of this region we find something called luminous plankton. It is a natural phenomenon that can be appreciated very well in the waters that bathe Cartagena and on the island of Barú. The agglomeration of algae under the surface form a plankton that under the sun’s rays is imperceptible. But the magic happens at dusk, when flashes of bluish color are generated that are activated by the natural movement of the water.

9. The gastronomy of Mexico, a World Heritage Site

We return to the table for the next among the curiosities of Latin America. And it is that, Who has not tried some delicious Mexican tacos? Some chicken and beef fajitas? Or even a good shot of tequila? The Mexican gastronomy It has several elements to highlight: first of all, it is spicy, Spicy! Second, it is one of the most widespread styles of food in the world. Almost in every corner of the planet we can find some option of Mexican food. And last but not least: the dishes of this country earned the title of Intangible Heritage of Humanity by Unesco, in 2010.

10. Ecuador, nature with rights

And we close this trip through the curious facts of Latin America, telling you about a rather peculiar legal measure. We already know that Ecuador is home to some truly amazing natural destinations. The Galapagos Islands, the Quilotoa lagoon or the Cotopaxi volcano are proof of this. But it turns out that In this South American nation, nature is considered a subject with constitutional rights. Perhaps it is because of this conception that they maintain some of the best preserved natural spaces in the world.

And you, Did you know these curiosities of Latin America? Which has caught your attention the most? Do you know some of these countries? Go ahead and leave us all your opinions in a comment. We will be looking forward to reading you! And if you want to continue learning about the planet and its lots of interesting data, we leave you with this article with the best

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