Countries of the Latin region. Common language of Latin America

Territory, borders, position.

Latin America is the name given to the region of the Western Hemisphere located between the United States and Antarctica. It includes Mexico, Central and South America, and the island states of the Caribbean (or West Indies). Most of the population of Latin America speaks Spanish and Portuguese (Brazil), which belong to the group of Romance or Latin languages. Hence the name of the region - Latin America.

All Latin American countries are former colonies of European countries (mainly Spain and Portugal).

The area of ​​the region is 21 million square meters. km, population - 500 million people.

All Latin American countries, with the exception of Bolivia and Paraguay, either have access to oceans and seas (Atlantic and Pacific oceans), or are islands. The EGP of Latin America is also determined by the fact that it is located in relative proximity to the United States, but at a distance from other large regions.

Political map of the region.

Within Latin America there are 33 sovereign states and several dependent territories. All independent countries are either republics or states within the British-led Commonwealth (Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Guyana, Grenada, Dominica, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago , Jamaica). Unitary states predominate. The exception is Brazil, Venezuela, Mexico, Argentina, which have a federal form of administrative-territorial structure.

Note:

Form of government (state system): KM – constitutional monarchy;

Form of territorial structure: U – unitary state; F – federation;

The countries of the region are very diverse in area. They can be divided into 4 groups:

very large (Brazil);

large and medium-sized (Mexico and most South American countries);

relatively small (Central American countries and Cuba);

very small (West Indies islands).

All Latin American countries are developing countries. In terms of the pace and achieved level of economic development, they occupy an intermediate position in the developing world - they are superior in this regard to the developing countries of Africa and inferior to the countries of Asia. The greatest successes in economic development have been achieved by Argentina, Brazil and Mexico, which are part of the group of key countries in the developing world. They account for 2/3 of Latin America's industrial production and the same amount of regional GDP. The most developed countries in the region also include Chile, Venezuela, Colombia, and Peru. Haiti belongs to the subgroup of least developed countries.

Within their region, Latin American countries have created several economic integration groups, the largest of which is the South American Common Market consisting of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay (MERCOSUR), concentrating 45% of the population, 50% of total GDP and 33% of Latin America's foreign trade.

Population of Latin America

Exceptionally complex ethnic sos tav population of Latin America. It was formed under the influence of three components:

1. Indian tribes and peoples that inhabited the territory before the arrival of the colonists (Aztecs and Mayans in Mexico, Incas in the Central Andes, etc.). The indigenous Indian population today is about 15%.

2. European settlers, primarily from Spain and Portugal (Creoles). Whites in the region currently make up about 25%.

3. Africans are slaves. Today, blacks in Latin America make up about 10%.

About half of the population of Latin America are descendants of mixed marriages: mestizo, mulatto. Therefore, almost all Latin American nations have a complex ethnic background. In Mexico and the countries of Central America, mestizos mainly predominate, in Haiti, Jamaica, the Lesser Antilles - blacks, in most Andean countries Indians or mestizos predominate, in Uruguay, Chile and Costa Rica - Spanish-speaking creoles, in Brazil half are “white”, and half are blacks and mulattoes.

The colonization of America had a significant impact on the formation religious composition region. The vast majority of Latin Americans profess Catholicism, which for a long time was propagated as the only official religion.

The distribution of the population of Latin America is characterized by three main features:

1. Latin America is one of the least populated regions of the world. The average population density is only 25 people per 1 sq. km.

2. The uneven distribution of the population is much more pronounced than in other regions. Along with densely populated areas (the island states of the Caribbean, the Atlantic coast of Brazil, most metropolitan areas, etc.), vast areas are almost deserted.

3. In no other region of the world has the population mastered the plateau to such an extent and does not rise so high into the mountains.

By indicators urbanization Latin America resembles economically developed countries rather than developing countries, although the pace has slowed recently. The majority (76%) of the population is concentrated in cities. At the same time, there is an increasing concentration of the population in large cities, the number of which has exceeded 200, and in “millionaire” cities (there are about 40 of them). A special Latin American type of city has developed here, bearing some of the characteristics of European cities (the presence of a central square on which the town hall, cathedral, and administrative buildings are located). Streets usually diverge from the square at right angles, forming a “chessboard grid”. In recent decades, modern buildings have superimposed on such a grid.

In recent decades, Latin America has seen an active process of formation urban agglomerations. Four of them are among the largest in the world: Greater Mexico City (1/5 of the country's population), Greater Buenos Aires (1/3 of the country's population), Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro.

Latin America is also characterized by “false urbanization.” Sometimes up to 50% of the city's population live in slum areas (“poverty belts”).

Natural resource potential of Latin America.

The region's natural resources are rich and varied, favorable for both agriculture and industrial development.

Latin America is rich in mineral raw materials: it accounts for about 18% of oil reserves, 30% of ferrous and alloying metals, 25% of non-ferrous metals, 55% of rare and trace elements.

Geography of mineral resources in Latin America

The wealth and diversity of Latin America's mineral resources can be explained by the peculiarities of the geological structure of the territory. Deposits of ferrous, non-ferrous and rare metal ores are associated with the crystalline basement of the South American platform and the folded belt of the Cordillera and Andes. Oil and natural gas deposits are associated with marginal and intermountain troughs.

Latin America ranks first among large regions of the world in terms of water resources. The Amazon, Orinoco, and Parana rivers are among the largest in the world.

The enormous wealth of Latin America is its forests, which occupy more than 1/2 of the territory of this region.

The natural conditions of Latin America are generally favorable for the development of agriculture. Most of its territory is occupied by lowlands (La Plata, Amazonian and Orinoco) and plateaus (Guiana, Brazilian, Patagonian plateau), suitable for agricultural use. Due to its geographic location (almost the entire region is located in tropical and subtropical latitudes), Latin America receives a large amount of heat and sunlight. Areas with a sharp lack of moisture occupy a relatively small territory (southern Argentina, northern Chile, the Pacific coast of Peru, northern regions of the Mexican Highlands); the predominant red-brown, chernozem, black and brown soils, combined with an abundance of heat and moisture, are capable of producing high yields of many valuable tropical and subtropical crops.

Vast areas of savannas and subtropical steppes (Argentina, Uruguay) can be used for pasture land. The main difficulties for agricultural activities are created by significant forest cover and swampiness of low-lying areas (especially the Amazonian lowland).

General characteristics of the Latin American economy.

Lagging behind Asia and Africa in terms of territory and population, Latin America is ahead in terms of industrialization of production. Unlike these regions of the world, the leading role in the economy here has recently shifted to the manufacturing industry. Both basic manufacturing industries (ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy, oil refining) and avant-garde industries (electronics, electrical engineering, automotive manufacturing, shipbuilding, aircraft manufacturing, machine tool manufacturing) are developing here.

However, the mining industry continues to play a significant role in the economy. In the structure of product costs, 80% comes from fuel (mainly oil and gas) and about 20% from mining raw materials.

Latin America is one of the oldest oil and gas producing regions in the world. In terms of production and export of oil and natural gas, Mexico, Venezuela and Ecuador stand out.

Latin America is a prominent global producer and exporter of non-ferrous metal ores: bauxite (Brazil, Jamaica, Suriname, Guyana stand out), copper (Chile, Peru, Mexico), lead-zinc (Peru, Mexico), tin (Bolivia) and mercury (Mexico) ore

Latin American countries are also of great importance in the world production and export of iron and manganese (Brazil, Venezuela), uranium (Brazil, Argentina) ores, native sulfur (Mexico), potassium and sodium nitrate (Chile).

The main manufacturing industries - mechanical engineering and the chemical industry - are essentially developed in three countries - Brazil, Mexico and Argentina. The Big Three account for 4/5 of the manufacturing industry. Most other countries do not have mechanical engineering and chemical industries.

Specialization in mechanical engineering - automotive, shipbuilding, aircraft manufacturing, production of electrical household appliances and machines (sewing and washing machines, refrigerators, air conditioners), etc. The main directions of the chemical industry are petrochemicals, pharmaceutical and perfume industries.

The oil refining industry is represented by its enterprises in all oil-producing countries (Mexico, Venezuela, Ecuador, etc.). The world's largest (in terms of capacity) oil refineries were created on the islands of the Caribbean Sea (Virginia, Bahamas, Curacao, Trinidad, Aruba, etc.).

Non-ferrous and ferrous metallurgy is developing in close contact with the mining industry. Copper smelting enterprises are located in Mexico, Peru, Chile, lead and zinc - in Mexico and Peru, tin - in Bolivia, aluminum - in Brazil, steel - in Brazil, Venezuela, Mexico and Argentina.

The role of the textile and food industries is great. The leading branches of the textile industry are the production of cotton (Brazil), wool (Argentina and Uruguay) and synthetic (Mexico) fabrics, food - sugar, fruit canning, meat and cold processing, fish processing. The largest producer of cane sugar in the region and in the world is Brazil.

Agriculture The region is represented by two completely different sectors:

The first sector is a highly commercial, predominantly plantation economy, which in many countries has acquired the character of a monoculture: (bananas - Costa Rica, Colombia, Ecuador, Honduras, Panama; sugar - Cuba, etc.).

The second sector is consumer small-scale agriculture, not at all affected by the “green revolution”

The leading branch of agriculture in Latin America is crop production. The exception is Argentina and Uruguay, where the main industry is livestock farming. Currently, crop production in Latin America is characterized by monoculture (3/4 of the cost of all products falls on 10 products).

The leading role is played by grains, which are widespread in subtropical countries (Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, Mexico). The main grain crops of Latin America are wheat, rice, and corn. The largest producer and exporter of wheat and corn in the region is Argentina.

The main producers and exporters of cotton are Brazil, Paraguay, Mexico, sugar cane - Brazil, Mexico, Cuba, Jamaica, coffee - Brazil and Colombia, cocoa beans - Brazil, Ecuador, Dominican Republic.

The leading branches of livestock farming are cattle breeding (mainly for meat), sheep breeding (wool and meat and wool), and pig breeding. In terms of the size of the number of cattle and sheep, Argentina and Uruguay stand out, while pigs - Brazil and Mexico.

Llamas are bred in the mountainous regions of Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador. Fishing is of global importance (Chile and Peru stand out).

Transport.

Latin America accounts for 10% of the world's railway network, 7% of roads, 33% of inland waterways, 4% of air passenger traffic, 8% of the world's merchant fleet tonnage.

A decisive role in domestic transportation belongs to motor transport, which began to actively develop only in the 60s of the 20th century. The most important highways are the Pan-American and Trans-Amazonian highways.

The share of railway transport, despite the large length of railways, is declining. The technical equipment of this type of transport remains low. Many obsolete railway lines are being closed.

Water transport is most developed in Argentina, Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia, and Uruguay.

In external transportation, sea transport predominates. 2/5 of maritime transport occurs in Brazil.

Recently, as a result of the development of the oil refining industry, pipeline transport has been rapidly developing in the region.

The territorial structure of the economy of Latin American countries largely retains colonial features. The "economic capital" (usually a seaport) typically forms the main focus of the entire territory. Many areas with specialization in the extraction of mineral raw materials and fuel, or plantation farming, are located in the interior of the territory. The railway network, which has a tree structure, connects these areas with the “growth point” (the seaport). The rest of the territory remains underdeveloped.

Many countries in the region are implementing regional policies aimed at mitigating territorial imbalances. For example, in Mexico there is a shift of productive forces north to the US border, in Venezuela - to the east, to the rich resource region of Guayana, in Brazil - to the West, to the Amazon, in Argentina - to the south, to Patagonia.

Subregions of Latin America

Latin America is divided into several subregions:

1. Middle America includes Mexico, Central America and the West Indies. The countries of this region have great differences in economic terms. On the one hand, there is Mexico, whose economy is based on oil production and refining, and on the other, the countries of Central America and the West Indies, known for the development of plantation farming.

2. Andean countries (Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile). For these countries, the mining industry is of particular importance. In agricultural production, the region is characterized by the cultivation of coffee, sugar cane and cotton.

3. Countries of the La Plata Basin (Paraguay, Uruguay, Argentina). This region is characterized by internal differences in the economic development of countries. Argentina is the most developed country with a developed manufacturing industry, while Uruguay and especially Paraguay lag behind in development and are characterized by an agricultural economy.

4. Countries such as Guiana, Suriname, Guyana . The economies of Guyana and Suriname are based on the bauxite mining and alumina industries. Agriculture does not meet the needs of these countries. The main agricultural crops are rice, bananas, sugar cane, and citrus fruits. Guiana is an economically backward agricultural country. Its economy is based on agriculture and the meat processing industry. The main crop is sugar cane. Fishery (shrimp fishing) is developed.

5. Brazil - a separate subregion of Latin America. This is one of the largest countries in the world in terms of territory. It ranks fifth in terms of population (155 million people). Brazil is one of the key countries in the developing world, its leader. The country has large mineral reserves (50 types of mineral raw materials), forest and agro-climatic resources.

In Brazilian industry, a significant role is played by mechanical engineering, petrochemicals, ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy. The country stands out for its large-scale production of automobiles, airplanes, ships, mini and microcomputers, fertilizers, synthetic fibers, rubber, plastics, explosives, cotton fabrics, shoes, etc.

Important positions in industry are occupied by foreign capital, which controls most of the country's production.

Brazil's main trading partners are the USA, Japan, Great Britain, Switzerland and Argentina.

Brazil is a country with a pronounced oceanic type of economic location (90% of its population and production are located in a strip of 300-500 km on the Atlantic coast).

Brazil occupies a leading position in the production of agricultural products. The main branch of agriculture is crop production, which has an export orientation. More than 30% of the sown area is devoted to five main crops: coffee, cocoa beans, cotton, sugar cane, and soybeans. Corn, rice, and wheat are grown from grain crops, which are used to meet the country’s internal needs (in addition, up to 60% of wheat is imported).

Livestock farming has a predominantly meat profile (Brazil accounts for 10% of global beef trade).

America is a part of the world that unites two continents - North and South America. If everything is extremely clear with the continents, then confusion often arises with the historical names of certain regions of America. New World, Central America, West Indies, Mesoamerica, Anglo-America, Latin America, the Caribbean - sometimes it can be difficult to understand which part of America we are talking about. Today we will understand the intricacies of terminology, and at the same time find out why Latin America became “Latin”.

The New World is the name given to America by Europeans at the end of the 15th century. And Europe, Asia and Africa are united by the concept of the Old World. That is, the New World and America are synonyms. And any part of North or South America can also successfully be called part of the New World.

Central America is the southern part of North America. Central America includes states that are located south of Mexico, all the way to the border with South America. However, the Caribbean islands are not part of Central America.

Central American countries shown in yellow

Mesoamerica is often confused with Central America. This name is given to a historical and cultural region that includes the southern part of Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, part of Honduras and Nicaragua. It unites parts of North America in which, before the arrival of the colonialists, developed civilizations of the indigenous Indian population existed.

The West Indies and the Caribbean are the names of the same region, which includes all the islands of the Caribbean. The difference is that the West Indies is the traditional name given to the islands by European explorers, while the Caribbean, or Caribbean region, is a more modern concept.

Anglo-America and Latin America are two regions into which almost all of America is conventionally divided. This division is made on the basis of the linguistic affiliation of the peoples who settled the region after the 15th century.

Anglo-America most often includes two countries: the United States of America and Canada. In these countries, the official language is English, but some researchers do not include the Canadian province of Quebec, where the majority of the population speaks French, in Anglo-America. Sometimes it includes Belize, Jamaica, Guyana and other English-speaking countries of America.

Anglo-America regions shown in dark green

And Latin America includes most of the American countries located south of the United States. The exception is a few countries that are not part of Latin America: Belize, El Salvador, Guyana, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas and some others. But Latin American countries do not speak Latin, and the ancient Romans had nothing to do with the colonization of this part of the New World. Where did this name come from then?

The fact is that in this part of America, in addition to the indigenous languages, they speak Spanish, Portuguese and French. These languages ​​belong to the group of Romance languages, which trace their origins to Latin, or Latin languages. Therefore, the region was called Latin to emphasize the common origin of the languages ​​in these countries. Interestingly, the vast majority of Latin American countries speak Spanish. The only country in America where Portuguese is the official language is Brazil. And the country where French is spoken is French Guiana, a French colony in South America, which is also part of Latin America.

Rio De Janeiro is one of the largest cities in Latin America

With all due respect to a number of state and official languages ​​of Latin America, one should not forget that almost every state in this region also has local dialects. They were formed through the active assimilation of immigrant communities into local culture. Moreover, in answer to the question, what is the language in latin america preserved for many centuries, it is necessary to point out the numerous Indian languages ​​and dialects, especially since many of them are of great interest to linguists and ethnographers.

Let us take a look at one of the Latin American languages. This is the unique language of the Zapotec Indians living in what is now Mexico. The uniqueness of the language lies not only in the fact that it has as many as three dialects for the 450 thousand people who use it, but also in the fact that the ancient Zapotec writing has not yet been deciphered. At the same time, even representatives of the nationality themselves cannot give an unambiguous answer to what exactly these or those symbols of the ancient language mean. Today the Zapotecs have switched to the Latin alphabet.

What is the language in Latin America? most and least common among European ones? More than 233 million Latinos speak Spanish. It is state-owned in Argentina, Venezuela, Colombia, Chile and other countries of the continent. The least widespread language is French. It is spoken by no more than 250,000 people in Guiana, also an island nation in the Caribbean. Distribution of European Latin American languages shows which states and on what scale colonized the continent over three centuries. Second most widely used among European Latin American languages is Portuguese. However, it is state-owned only in Brazil. However, Brazil's population is quite large, and Portuguese is spoken by more than 190 million people in Latin America.

English is also considered the official language Latin American language such as Guyana and the Falkland Islands. By the way, the Falklands remain the site of a fairly serious political conflict between Argentina and Great Britain. Here, in the early eighties, there was even active fighting between the troops of the British Crown and the Argentine regular army, during which the Argentines suffered a serious defeat.

Another European language in Latin America is Dutch. It is spoken by about half a million people, most of whom live in the state of Suriname.

The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw strong immigration flows from European countries to Latin America. This left its mark on the development of the language of Latin America. So in Argentina alone, over the past hundred years, a special language has appeared, which is a mixture of Spanish and Italian. This is due to the fact that several million ethnic Italians live in Argentina today, many of whom have assimilated with the local Spanish-speaking population.

The Russian language is not alien to Latin America, because a large number of descendants of immigrants from Russia who fled the horrors of the revolution and civil war live here.

Also see:

The richest culture of Latin America

When it comes to the culture of Latin America, the first thing that comes to mind for residents of other continents are various Indian rituals, the Brazilian carnival, the Argentine rodeo and, of course, football, which can be called a real Latin American religion.

Indigenous peoples of South America

Considering the indigenous population of South America, it is worth noting that the Latin American continent is the region of the planet where Indians are allowed not only to live and develop freely, but also to occupy responsible leadership positions of national importance.

Latin America on the world map is a collection of countries located in territories that were previously dependent on European metropolises. These countries occupy part of South and North America, as well as the isthmus between them. Latin America is an amazing land of mysterious civilizations such as the Aztecs and Mayans, as well as brave caballeros, sultry beauties, unique traditions and cultures. The official languages ​​of Latin American countries are a group of Romance languages ​​(Spanish, Portuguese and French).

Countries and capitals of Latin America

Below are the countries and capitals of Latin America, as well as their brief characteristics.

• Antigua and Barbuda is a small Caribbean state. The country's population is more than 86.6 thousand inhabitants. The official language is English. The capital is St. John's.
• Argentina is the second largest country in Latin America by area. Its population is more than 42.6 million inhabitants. The official language of Argentina is Spanish. The capital is the city of Buenos Aires.
• Belize is a country located in the Caribbean. The country's population is 308 thousand inhabitants. The official language is English. The capital is Belmopan.
• Bolivia is a country located in the center of South America. Its population is about 10.5 million inhabitants. The official languages ​​are Spanish and Quechua. The capital is the city of Sucre.
• Brazil is the largest country in Latin America. It occupies the territory of central and eastern South America. Population – 201 million inhabitants. The official language is Portuguese. Capital – .
• Venezuela is a country located in the north of South America. Its population is more than 28.4 million inhabitants. The official language is Spanish. The capital is a city.
• Haiti is one of the poorest Latin American countries, constantly suffering from natural disasters and coups d'etat. Population – about 9.9 million inhabitants. The official languages ​​of Haiti are French, Creole and . The capital is Port-au-Prince.
• Guatemala is a country located in the central part of the Americas continent. Population – about 14.4 million inhabitants. Most of the residents are mestizos and Indians. The official language is Spanish. The capital is Guatemala City.
• Honduras is a country located in the central part of the continent of America. It is also washed by the Caribbean Sea. Population – more than 8.4 million inhabitants. The official language is Spanish. The capital is the city of Tegucigalpa.
• The Dominican Republic is a country located in the east of the picturesque island of Haiti. Population: approximately 9.7 million inhabitants. The official language of the Dominican Republic is Spanish. The capital is a city.
• Colombia is a country located in South America. Population – more than 45.7 million inhabitants. The official language is Spanish. The capital is a city.
• Costa Rica is a small country located in the center of the Americas continent. Its population is more than 4.2 million inhabitants. The official language is Spanish. The capital is the city of San Jose.
• Cuba is an island country located in the Caribbean. Its unofficial name is Liberty Island. Population – just over 1 million inhabitants. The official language of Cuba is Spanish. Capital – .
• Mexico is a country located in the south of North America. Its population is 116.2 million inhabitants. The official language is Spanish. Capital – .
• - a state located in the central part of the Americas continent. Population – more than 6 million inhabitants. The official language of Nicaragua is Spanish. The capital is Managua.
• Panama is a state located on the Isthmus of Panama. Its population is about 3.7 million inhabitants. The official language of Panama is Spanish. The capital is Panama.
• Paraguay is a country in the center of South America. Its population is more than 6.3 million inhabitants. The official languages ​​of Paraguay are Spanish and Guarani. The capital is Asuncion.
• Peru is a country in South America, located in its northwestern part. Its population is about 30.5 million inhabitants. The official languages ​​of Peru are Spanish, and in some regions - Aymara, Quechua, etc. The capital is Lima.
• El Salvador is a country located in the center of the Americas continent. Its population is 6.9 million inhabitants. The official language of El Salvador is Spanish. The capital is San Salvador.
• Uruguay is a country in the southeastern part of South America. Its population is more than 3.3 million inhabitants. The official language is Spanish. The capital is Montevideo.
• Chile is a country located in the southwest of South America. Its population is more than 17.2 million inhabitants. The official language of Chile is Spanish. The capital is Santiago.
• Ecuador is a country located in South America. Its population is more than 15.4 million inhabitants. The official language of Ecuador is Spanish. The capital is Quito.

In addition, Latin America includes the following territories: Puerto Rico (US territory) and the territories of French Guiana, Martinique, Guadeloupe, San Martin and San Barthelemy.

Sights of Latin America

Latin America is incredibly rich in interesting places. Here are located 3 of the 7 new wonders of the world. All attractions of Latin America can be divided into natural and man-made objects, as well as cities and villages of ancient civilizations.

Natural attractions

• Ojos del Salado is the highest volcano on Earth (6887 m).
• The Atacama Desert is the driest place on the planet, located in western South America.
• The Andes are the longest mountain system in the world (9000 km).
• Angel Falls is the highest waterfall in the world (979 m).
• The Amazon is the longest and most picturesque river on the Planet (6437 km).
• c - the largest South American island, with an area of ​​47,992 square meters. km. This is a virgin land that is famous for its wild nature, beautiful landscapes and harsh climatic conditions.
• Iguazu Falls, located on the border of Argentina and. They represent one of the most beautiful natural wonders of our Planet.

Man-made landmarks

• The Maracana Stadium in Brazil is one of the largest stadiums in the world, capable of accommodating up to 103 thousand fans.
• The statue of Christ the Redeemer is one of the 7 new wonders of the world. The statue is located on Mount Corcovado in Rio.
• Geoglyphs of the Nazco Plateau are a group of amazing images, lines and geometric shapes created by an unknown civilization.
• Moai are the stone idols of Easter Island.

Cities and villages of ancient civilizations

• Cusco (Peru) is the ancient capital of the Inca Empire and one of the oldest South American cities. The name of the city is translated from Quechua as “navel of the world.”
• Machu Picchu (Peru) is one of the 7 new wonders of the world, known as the “city in the sky” or “lost city of the Incas”.
• Teotihuacan (Mexico) is a famous “ghost town” that is the oldest populated area in the Western Hemisphere.
• Umxal (Mexico) is the ancient center of the Mayan civilization, located on the Yucatan Peninsula.
• Panama (80 cm), Paraguay (86.7 cm), El Salvador (83.5 cm), Uruguay (85.9 cm), Chile (83.5 cm), (84 cm), Cuba (84.8 cm) and in Argentina (86.7 cm).
• Legua is a unit of length used in Guatemala (1 unit = 5.573 km), Honduras (4.2 km), Colombia (5 km), Cuba (4.24 km), Ecuador (5 km), Paraguay (4 .33 km), Peru (5.6 km), Uruguay (5.154 km), Chile (4.514 km), Brazil (6.66 km), Mexico (4.19 km) and Argentina (5.2 km).

Latin America is a region located in the Western Hemisphere and stretches from the US-Mexico border in the north, to Tierra del Fuego and Antarctica in the south, and stretches over more than 12,000 kilometers. It includes the southern part of mainland North America, Central America, the West Indies Islands and mainland South America. From the west it is washed by the Pacific Ocean, from the east - by the Atlantic. The countries of Latin America are divided into 33 states and 13 colonies and dependent territories, and the total area of ​​this region is 21 million square meters. km, which is more than 15% of the globe's land area.

The name "Latin America" ​​was introduced by the French Emperor Napoleon III as a political term. Latin America and Indochina were then seen as territories in the sphere of special national interests of the Second Empire. This term originally denoted those parts of America in which Romance languages ​​were spoken, that is, territories inhabited by people from the Iberian Peninsula and France during the 15th and 16th centuries. Sometimes this region is also called Ibero-America.

The Cordillera belt, which in South America is called the Andes, makes up the world's longest system of ridges and mountain ranges, which stretches along the Pacific coast for 11 thousand km, the largest peak of which is the Argentine Aconcagua (6959 m) near the border with Chile, and it is here (in Latin America) is the highest active volcano on Earth - Cotopaxi (5897 m), located near Quito, and the highest waterfall in the world - Angel (979 m), located in Venezuela. And on the Bolivian-Peruvian border, the largest of the high-mountain lakes in the world is located - Titicaca (3812 m, 8300 sq. km). Also here is the longest river in the world - the Amazon (6.4 - 7 thousand km), which is also the deepest on the planet. The largest lake-lagoon Macaraibo (13.3 thousand sq. km) is located in the north-west of Venezuela. The fauna of Latin America is rich and diverse; sloths, armadillos, American ostriches, and guanaco llamas are found nowhere else.

Since the time of the Conquest, European conquerors forcibly implanted their languages ​​in Latin America, so in all its states and territories, Spanish became the official language, with the exception of Brazil, where the official language is Portuguese. Spanish and Portuguese languages ​​function in Latin America in the form of national varieties (variants), which are characterized by the presence of a number of phonetic, lexical and grammatical features (most of them in spoken communication), which is explained on the one hand by the influence of Indian languages, and on the other - relative autonomy of their development. In the Caribbean countries, the official languages ​​are mainly English and French (Haiti, Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Guiana), and in Suriname, Aruba and the Antilles (Dutch) Islands - Dutch. Indian languages ​​were supplanted after the conquest of America, and today only Quechua Aymara in Bolivia and Peru, and Guarani in Paraguay are official languages; they, like some others (in Guatemala, Mexico, Peru and Chile), are written and literature is published. In a number of Caribbean countries, in the process of interethnic communication, so-called Creole languages ​​arose, formed as a result of incomplete mastery of European languages, usually English and French. In general, a significant part of the population of Latin America is characterized by bilingualism (bilingualism) and even multilingualism.

The religious structure of the population of Latin America is marked by the absolute predominance of Catholics (more than 90%), since during the colonial period Catholicism was the only compulsory religion, and belonging to other religions was persecuted by the Inquisition.

The history of Latin America is rich, interesting and varied. Once upon a time, ancient civilizations of the Aztecs, Mayans, Incas, Mochicas and many other cultures of Latin America existed here, later conquered by the Spanish conquistadors led by Hernan Cortez and Francisco Pizarro. Subsequently, there was the struggle for Independence from the Spanish crown, led by Father Hidalgo, Francisco Miranda, Simon Bolivar and Jose San Martin, and its recent history, with drug lords, juntas, Guirelleros guerrillas and terrorist organizations.

Dozens of diverse national parks, many archaeological sites, cities with colonial architecture and other interesting places are located in this region. You can watch small short videos from the most interesting places in Latin America at