14 Remarkable Facts About South America

South America is one of the most diverse and fascinating continents in the world. Unless you’ve traveled throughout South America, there’s probably a lot you don’t know about the countries, peoples and cuisines of the area. Here are some unique facts about South America to pique your interest:

1. The highest uninterrupted waterfall in the world is in Venezuela. Angel Falls is 3,212 feet tall, with a cascade of 2,648 feet, and is located in Canaima National Park.
2. The Guembe Biocenter in Santa Cruz, Bolivia is home to the world’s largest butterfly sanctuary.
3. There’s a clock on the National Congress building in the main square in La Paz, Bolivia that runs backwards. It’s actually a reflective clock that runs counterclockwise to remind the people to think differently.
4. In Bolivia and Ecuador – and elsewhere in South America – guinea pig is a delicacy. Known as cuy, guinea pigs were domesticated by indigenous people in the Andes for their meat, which is often compared to rabbit.
5. The Amazon Rainforest is home to thousands and thousands of species. In fact, it’s thought that more than 40% of animal and plant life are located in the rainforest. It also produces somewhere between 6% and 20% of the oxygen in our atmosphere.
6. Chocolate con queso (hot chocolate with cheese) is a favorite breakfast or tea time drink in Colombia.
7. Chile’s Atacama Desert is the largest non-polar desert in the world. It’s also the oldest. Funny thing though: we normally associate desert with heat; the average temperature in the Atacama Desert is 63 degrees Fahrenheit.
8. In Paraguay, there are no doorbells. If you are visiting someone’s home, people clap before entering. Instead of ringing a doorbell when visiting someone's home, the people of Paraguay will clap before entering.
9. South America also the longest mountain range on the planet. The Andes stretches a mind-boggling 4,500 miles. It spans 7 countries from Venezuela down to the southernmost tip of Chile and Argentina.
10. Uruguay has the longest national anthem in the world, clocking in at over 5 minutes long with no fewer than 11 verses and 105 bars of music.
11. Lake Titicaca, located in the Andes between Bolivia and Peru, is the highest commercially navigable body of water in the world.
12. The Inca Indians in Peru were the first to cultivate potatoes. In 1536 Spanish Conquistadors conquered Peru, discovered the flavors of the potato, and carried them to Europe – the rest is history.
13. Salar de Uyuni in the Bolivian Andes is the world’s largest salt flat at 4,086 square miles. It also was used to film The Last Jedi. And it is a breeding ground for flamingos.
14. Dueling between two people is legal in Paraguay.  One caveat: both must be registered blood donors and medical staff must be present.

Are you ready to learn more about South America? Why not visit on your next vacation? Luxury Destinations Concierge is ready to help you plan your trip. Give us a call at (805) 236-4437.