NORTH (AND CENTRAL) AMERICA

GuatemalaCapital: Guatemala City

Nationality: guatemalteco

• Tikal: ancient Mayan ruins.

El SalvadorCapital: San Salvador

Nationality: salvadoreño

• Country name means “The Savior”

HondurasCapital: Tegucigalpa

Nationality: hondureño

-World’s highest murder rate, one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere

NicaraguaCapital: Managua

Nationality: nicaragüense• Lake Nicaragua is large lake where

originally Panama Canal was to be built

• Now China is building a canal there

Costa RicaCapital: San José

Nationality: costarricense• Has no military and was until this year it was

one of safest Central American countries• Known for beautiful rainforests and Eco-

tourism.

PanamaCapital: Panama City

Nationality: panameño

• Panama Canal links Atlantic and Pacific

MexicoCapital: Mexico City

Nationality: mexicano

• Capital of the Aztec Empire.

• Traditional music: Mariachi

CubaCapital: Havana

Nationality: cubano• World famous for their cigars and sugar• Communist dictator Fidel Castro ruled since

1959; now his brother Raul is “president”.• Current embargo (ban of trade and travel)

enacted by the US in 1960 may be lifted soon

FidelRaul

Dominican RepublicCapital: Santo DomingoNationality: dominicano

• Island shares a border with French-speaking Haiti.

Puerto RicoCapital: San Juan

Nationality: puertorriqueño

• Commonwealth of the United States. Puerto Ricans are granted U.S. citizenship.

SOUTH AMERICA

Venezuela Capital: Caracas

Nationality: venezolano

Birthplace of So. American liberator Simon Bolivar.

ColumbiaCapital: Bogotá

Nationality: colombiano• Named after Christopher

Columbus.

EcuadorCapital: Quito

Nationality: ecuatoriano• Name means Equator, which passes through

the country• Home of Galapagos Islands (iguanas!)

PeruCapital: Lima

Nationality: peruano

• Capital of the Inca Empire. • Home of the famous ruins at Machu Picchu.

BoliviaCapital: La Paz*

Nationality: boliviano

• Named after S. American hero Simon Bolivar.

• Home of Lake Titicaca and Lake Poopo.

• Country actually has 2 capitals. Sucre is the constitutional and judicial capital.

ChileCapital: Santiago

Nationality: chileno

• Easter Island off coast.

ArgentinaCapital: Buenos AiresNationality: argentino

• Birthplace of Tango, romantic dance.

ParaguayCapital: Asunción

Nationality: paraguayo

• Rich Guarani Indian culture.• 94% of the population speaks Guarani. Only

75% speak Spanish.

UruguayCapital: Montevideo

Nationality: uruguayo

• Very modern and developed country.

SpainCapital: MadridNationality: español

• La madre patria (mother country) of Spanish language

Equatorial GuineaCapital: Malabo

Nationality: ecuatoguineano

• Only African nation where Spanish is the official language.