South America is a continent with many different climatic zones, where representatives of twelve states live. Each of them has a vibrant culture and its own customs, and also boasts natural beauties. The nature of South America is rich and diverse, which attracts many tourists to the continent, along with the unusual architecture of Argentina, the Inca heritage in Chile and Peru and the famous dance carnival in Brazil. What interesting can you learn about the local area?
Natural lighthouse
It is worthwhile to start listing interesting facts about South America with unique natural phenomena. For example, it is here that the most famous lighthouse of natural origin is located. Even now, when the orientation to the sea and the ocean is very different, sailors all over the world are familiar with the view of Itzalko volcano. It is located on the coast and rises to two thousand meters. Itzalko became so famous because of volcanic activity. Every eight minutes, a rumble from the ground is heard throughout the district, after which puffs of smoke rise above the crater at the top. They grow three hundred meters to the sky, while hot lava flows from the volcano. The eruption process has remained unchanged for two hundred years. Its impressive size and such an unusual feature make Itzalko South American volcano a reliable reference point in any weather and at different times of the day. In addition, it is a place that attracts tourists.
The driest desert in the world
Inland waters of South America include the basin of one of the most famous rivers in the world - the Amazon. Nevertheless, there are arid areas on the continent, mostly covered with rainforest. The record holder is the Atacama Desert. This is the driest place on the planet. Mentioning interesting facts about South America, do not forget Atakama. In the desert, which is located in the north of Chile, there was no rainfall for four centuries. Scientists have accurately recorded the interval from 1570 to 1971. In recent decades, there are still rainfall, but their amount does not exceed a millimeter. Humidity in the desert is zero. That is why the local mountains, despite an impressive height of seven thousand meters, are completely devoid of a glacier at the top. However, there are unique situations. In May 2010, it suddenly snowed here, snowdrifts covered all nearby cities. Urban infrastructure stopped working due to an emergency, and the children saw snow for the first time in their lives.
Death festival
Those who are fascinated by interesting facts about South America and its culture cannot but know about the mysterious Day of the Dead - Dia de los Muertos. This is an annual holiday dedicated to the dead. It is known that local residents celebrated the Day of the Dead three thousand years ago, which makes it not only interesting, but also the oldest of the celebrations familiar to mankind. The emergence is associated with the culture of the Aztecs, who revered the goddess Miktlansiuatl, the patroness of the underworld. In those ancient times, the celebration took several weeks and happened in the summer, during a special period, the exact scope of which is unknown. Conquistadors from Spain shifted the date to November, so that the celebration was associated with All Saints Day, but these are completely different holidays, and they are not related to each other. On the first day of November, it is customary to recall children, and on the second day, adults. Due to a completely different attitude to death (it is believed that the deceased are happy and go to a world where they are better than they were in life) the holiday does not have a tragic character. On the contrary, carnivals with bright traditional make-up are taking place these days, turning the celebrants into walking skeletons.
Tar lake
On the island of Trinidad, which is located off the coast of Venezuela, there is an unusual pond. It is distinguished by black color and unique composition. Inland waters of South America, and indeed liquid in the usual sense, have nothing to do with it. Rather, it resembles a lake of natural asphalt. The waves consist of forty percent bitumen, thirty of clay and thirty more of salt water. It is the largest natural asphalt reservoir on Earth. Locals gave it the name Lake Tar. The depth of the unusual reservoir is eighty-two meters, and the area is forty-five hectares. Its exact parameters are still unknown to scientists, although they do not stop the work on its study. The surface is covered with a dense asphalt crust, so strong that you can walk on it. But it’s better not to do this: from the depths, bubbles of sulfur dioxide burst from the depths , breaking the tar film. Over the years, the lake becomes more and more, absorbing the buildings standing on the banks.
The invention of Panama
There are many misconceptions associated with this continent. For example, the discovery of South America is not an achievement of Columbus at all, but of Magellan. A common name with the northern continent leads to errors. Naming misconceptions are related to Panama. This hat was really invented in South America. It just didn’t happen at all in Panama. They invented it in Ecuador and still produce it there. At the beginning of the twentieth century, the hat became famous and a must for every fashionista. The name is connected with the country through which it was exported to the north and to Europe. To create a panama, you need a special fiber of a rare palm, which is then woven manually.
Unusual names
Interesting facts about South America are hidden in the names of the local states. For example, the country of Venezuela. Vespucci owes her name. He carried out not only the discovery of South America, but also found houses of local residents on the continent's coast, which reminded the mariner of his hometown - Venice. In honor of her, he nicknamed the edge he had discovered. For the first time such a name was used on maps in the sixteenth century. Another interesting name is Ecuador. The study and description of South America was actively conducted by the conquistadors, therefore the names are often of a Spanish character. So is Ecuador: in translation, the word means "equator" and is directly related to the geographical position of the state.