The name Latin America comes from. Latin American countries and their capitals, list

Territory, borders, position.

Latin America is the region of the Western Hemisphere located between the United States and Antarctica. It includes Mexico, the countries of 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) languages ​​belonging to the group of Romanesque 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 the oceans and seas (Atlantic and Pacific Oceans), or are islands. The EGL of Latin America is also determined by the fact that it is located in relative proximity to the United States, but far from other major 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, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica). Unitary states predominate. The exception is Brazil, Venezuela, Mexico, Argentina, which have a federal form of administrative-territorial structure.

Political system

Territory.

Antilles

Willemstad

Possession of the Netherlands

Argentina (Argentine Republic)

Buenos Aires

Republic

Antigua and Barbuda

St. John's

Aruba

Oranjestad

Possession of the Netherlands

Bahamas (Commonwealth of the Bahamas)

Monarchy within the Commonwealth

Barbados

bridgetown

Belmopan

Monarchy within the Commonwealth

Bermuda

Hamilton

UK possession

Bolivia (Republic of Bolivia)

Republic

Brazil (Federative Republic of Brazil)

Brasilia

Republic

Venezuela (Republic of Venezuela)

Republic

Virgin (British Isles)

UK possession

Virgin Islands (US)

Charlotte Amalie

US possession

Haiti (Republic of Haiti)

Port-au-Prince

Republic

Guyana (Cooperative Republic of Guyana)

Georgetown

Republic within the Commonwealth

Guadeloupe

Guatemala (Republic of Guatemala)

Guatemala

Republic

Guiana

"Overseas Department" of France

Honduras (Republic of Honduras)

Tigucigalpa

Republic

St. George's

Republic within the Commonwealth

Dominica (Republic of Dominica)

Republic within the Commonwealth

Dominican Republic

Santo Dominga

Republic

Cayman islands

Georgetown

UK possession

Colombia (Republic of Colombia)

Republic

Costa Rica

Republic

Cuba (Republic of Cuba)

Republic

Martinique

fort de france

"Overseas Department" of France

Mexico (United Mexican States)

Republic

Nicaragua

Republic

Panama (Republic of Panama)

Republic

Paraguay

Asuncion

Republic

Peru (Republic of Peru)

Republic

Puerto Rico (Commonwealth of Puerto Rico)

US possession

Salvador

San Salvador

Republic

Suriname (Republic of Suriname)

Paramaribo

Republic

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Kingstown

Republic within the Commonwealth

Saint Lucia

Monarchy within the Commonwealth

Saint Kitts and Nevis

Monarchy within the Commonwealth

Trinidad and Tabago

Port of Spain

Republic within the Commonwealth

Uruguay (Oriental Republic of Uruguay)

Montevideo

Republic

Santiago

Republic

Ecuador (Republic of Ecuador)

Republic

kingston

Republic

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 roughly divided into 4 groups:

    very large (Brazil);

    large and medium (Mexico and most countries in South America);

    relatively small (countries of Central America and Cuba);

    very small (the islands of the West Indies).

All Latin American countries are developing countries. In terms of the pace and level of economic development achieved, they occupy an intermediate position in the developing world - they surpass the developing countries of Africa in this respect and are inferior to the countries of Asia. Argentina, Brazil and Mexico, which are among the key countries of the developing world, have achieved the greatest success in economic development. They account for 2/3 of industrial production in Latin America and the same amount of regional GDP. The most developed countries in the region also include Chile, Venezuela, Colombia, Peru. Haiti is a subset of the least developed countries.

Within their region, Latin American countries have created several economic integration groupings, the largest of which is the South American Common Market 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 difficult ethnic sos population of Latin America. It was formed under the influence of three components:

1. Indian tribes and peoples who 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. To date, blacks in Latin America, about 10%.

About half of the population of Latin America are descendants of mixed marriages: mestizos, mulattos. Therefore, almost all Latin American nations have a complex ethnic background. Mestizos predominate in Mexico and the countries of Central America, in Haiti, Jamaica, the Lesser Antilles - blacks, in most of the Andean countries Indians or mestizos predominate, in Uruguay, Chile and Costa Rica - Hispanic Creoles, in Brazil half are "white", and half are blacks and mulattos.

The colonization of America had a significant impact on the formation religious composition region. The vast majority of Hispanics profess Catholicism, which has long been implanted as the only official religion.

Three main features characterize the distribution of the population of Latin America:

1. Latin America is one of the least populated regions in the world. The average population density is only 25 people per 1 sq. km. 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 expanses 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 rather than developing countries, although its pace has slowed down recently. Most (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 cities with “millionaires” (there are about 40 of them). A special Latin American type of city has developed here, bearing some signs 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 "chess grid". In recent decades, modern buildings have been superimposed on such a grid.

In recent decades, there has been an active process of formation in Latin America 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". In slum areas ("poverty belts") sometimes live up to 50% of the city's population.

Natural resource potential of Latin America.

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

Latin America is rich in minerals: 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 distribution of mineral resources of Latin America

Mineral resources

Accommodation in the region

Venezuela (about 47%) - the basin of Lake Maracaibo;

Mexico (about 45%) - shelf of the Gulf of Mexico;

Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Trinidad and Tabago.

Natural gas

Venezuela (about 28%) - Lake Maracaibo basin;

Mexico (about 22%) - shelf of the Gulf of Mexico;

Argentina, Trinidad and Tabago, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador.

Coal

Brazil (about 30%) - the state of Rio Grande do Sul, the state of Santa Catarina;

Colombia (about 23%) - the departments of Guajira, Boyac and others;

Venezuela (about 12%) - the state of Anzoategui and others;

Argentina (about 10%) - the province of Santa Cruz and others;

Chile, Mexico.

Iron ores

Brazil (about 80%) - the Serra dos Caratas, Ita Bira deposit;

Peru, Venezuela, Chile, Mexico.

manganese ores

Brazil (about 50%) - the Serra do Naviu deposit and others;

Mexico, Bolivia, Chile.

molybdenum ores

Chile (about 55%) - confined to copper ore deposits;

Mexico, Peru, Panama, Colombia, Argentina, Brazil.

Brazil (about 35%) - the Trombetas deposit, etc.;

Guyana (ca. 6%)

copper ores

Chile (about 67%) - Chuquicamata, El Abra, etc.

Peru (about 10%) - Tokepala, Cuahone, etc.

Panama, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia.

Lead-zinc ores

Mexico (about 50%) - the San Francisco field;

Peru (about 25%) - Cerro de Pasco field;

Brazil, Bolivia, Argentina, Venezuela, Honduras.

Tin ores

Bolivia (about 55%) - Llallagua field;

Brazil (approx. 44%) - state of Rondonia

Precious metal ores (gold, platinum)

Mexico (ca. 40%); Peru (about 25%); Brazil etc.

The richness and diversity of the mineral resources of Latin America can be explained by the peculiarities of the geological structure of the territory. Deposits of ores of ferrous, nonferrous and rare metals are associated with the crystalline basement of the South American Platform and the folded belt of the Cordillera and Andes. Fields of oil and natural gas are associated with marginal and intermountain troughs.

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

The great 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), convenient for agricultural use. Due to its geographical position (almost the entire territory of the 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 area (the south of Argentina, northern Chile, the Pacific coast of Peru, the northern regions of the Mexican Highlands), the prevailing red-brown, black earth, black and brown soils, combined with an abundance of heat and moisture, can produce high yields of many valuable tropical and subtropical crops.

Vast areas of savannas and subtropical steppes (Argentina, Uruguay) can be used for pastures. The main difficulties for agricultural activity are created by significant forest cover and waterlogging of lowland areas (especially the Amazonian lowland).

General characteristics of the economy of Latin America.

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

However, the mining industry continues to play a prominent role in the economy. In the structure of the cost of production, 80% falls on fuel (mainly oil and gas) and about 20% on mining raw materials.

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

Latin America is a prominent world 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) ores.

Latin American countries are also of great importance in the world mining and export of iron and manganese (Brazil, Venezuela), uranium (Brazil, Argentina) ores, native sulfur (Mexico), potash 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 of the rest of the countries do not have mechanical engineering and chemical industries.

Engineering specialization - automotive, shipbuilding, aircraft building, production of electrical household appliances and machines (sewing and washing, refrigerators, air conditioners), etc. The main areas of the chemical industry are petrochemistry, 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 have been 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), woolen (Argentina and Uruguay) and synthetic (Mexico) fabrics, food - sugar, canning, meat-packing, 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 exceptions are Argentina and Uruguay, where the main industry is animal husbandry. At present, Latin American crop production is characterized by monoculture (3/4 of the value of all production falls on 10 products).

The leading role is played by cereals, which are widely used in subtropical countries (Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, Mexico). The main 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 animal husbandry are cattle breeding (mainly for meat), sheep breeding (for wool and meat and wool), and pig breeding. In terms of the size of the livestock of cattle and sheep, Argentina and Uruguay stand out, pigs - Brazil and Mexico.

In the mountainous regions of Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador, llamas are bred. Fishing is of world 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, and 8% of the world's merchant fleet tonnage.

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

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

Maritime transport dominates in external transportation. 2/5 of maritime traffic falls on 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) usually forms the main focus of the entire territory. Many areas with a specialization in the extraction of minerals and fuels, or plantations are located inland. The railway network, which has a tree structure, connects these areas with a "growth point" (seaport). The rest of the territory remains underdeveloped.

Many countries in the region are implementing regional policies aimed at mitigating territorial disparities. For example, in Mexico there is a shift of productive forces to the 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.

Sub-regions of Latin America

Latin America is divided into several sub-regions:

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, Mexico, whose economy is based on the extraction and processing of oil, and on the other, the countries of Central America and the West Indies, known for the development of the plantation economy.

2. Andean countries (Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile). For these countries, the extractive industry is of particular importance. In agricultural production, this region is characterized by the cultivation of coffee, sugarcane 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 agrarian direction of the economy.

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

5. Brazil is a separate sub-region of Latin America. This is one of the largest countries in the world in size. 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 reserves of minerals (50 types of mineral raw materials), forest and agro-climatic resources.

In the industry of Brazil, a significant role belongs to mechanical engineering, petrochemistry, ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy. The country stands out for its large-scale production of automobiles, aircraft, ships, mini and microcomputers, fertilizers, synthetic fibers, rubber, plastics, explosives, cotton fabrics, footwear, 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 US, Japan, UK, 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 band of 300-500 km on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean).

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 cultivated area is devoted to five main crops: coffee, cocoa beans, cotton, sugarcane, soybeans. Corn, rice, wheat are grown from grain crops, which are used to meet the country's domestic needs (in addition, up to 60% of wheat is imported).

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

Description of Latin America: list of countries, capitals, cities and resorts. Photo and video, oceans and seas, mountains, rivers and lakes of Latin America. Tour operators and tours in Latin America.

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Latin American countries

The land of the mysterious civilizations of the Incas, Mayans and Aztecs, the land of breathtaking beauties and noble caballeros, the main tobacco and coffee region of the planet, as well as the place of concentration of a mass of original and diverse traditions and cultures, Latin America occupies the lower edge of the North American continent, South America and a whole scattering of islands that are attached near their narrow isthmus.

The term "Latin America" ​​arose as a designation of the dependent territories of the European metropolises, whose official languages ​​developed from popular Latin - in particular, Spanish, Portuguese, French. Today, the phrase "Indian America" ​​(as more politically correct) is in circulation, although for travel agents and tourists, the region seems to remain "Latin" for a long time to come.

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In the tourist sense, Latin America is a motley "bouquet" of destinations. People come here for everything - and in order to personally touch the legendary monuments of architecture, and to drive jeeps in national parks and, of course, tastefully relax in coastal hotels. The public visiting Latin American countries is an inquisitive people with money (holidays in Latin America are very expensive). They have already traveled a lot around the world, have repeatedly been to the countries of Southeast Asia and are very demanding on living conditions (70% of all tourists book five-star hotels). For the most part, they prefer cognitive rest to passive lying on the beach, for which Latin America has everything you need.

Among the most popular Latin American destinations are Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Peru, Chile, Venezuela.

Latin America is a region located in the Western Hemisphere, stretching from the US-Mexico border in the north to Tierra del Fuego and Antarctica in the south, stretching over 12,000 kilometers in length. It includes the southern part of the mainland North America, Central America, the islands of the West Indies and the 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 subdivided 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 world's land mass.

The name "Latin America" ​​was introduced by the French Emperor Napoleon III as a political term. Latin America and Indochina were considered then as territories in the sphere of special national interests of the Second Empire. This term originally referred to those parts of America in which Romance languages ​​are spoken, that is, territories inhabited by immigrants from the Iberian Peninsula and France during the 15th-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) that the highest active volcano on Earth is located - 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, there is the largest of the alpine lakes in the world - 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 most full-flowing on the planet. The largest lake-lagoon Macaraibo (13.3 thousand sq. km) is located in the north-west of Venezuela. The animal world of Latin America is rich and varied, nowhere else are sloths, armadillos, American ostriches, guanaco llamas found.

Since the time of the conquest, European conquerors have forcibly planted their languages ​​in Latin America, therefore, in all its states and territories, Spanish has become the state 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 colloquial communication), which is explained, on the one hand, by the influence of Indian languages, and on the other hand, by the 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 (Netherlands) Islands - Dutch. After the conquest of America, the Indian languages ​​\u200b\u200bwere ousted, and today only Quechua and Aymara in Bolivia and Peru, and Guarani in Paraguay are official languages, they are both and some others (in Guatemala, Mexico, Peru and Chile), there is a written language and literature is published. In a number of Caribbean countries, in the process of interethnic communication, the so-called Creole languages ​​arose, which were 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 mandatory 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, there were ancient civilizations of the Aztecs, Mayans, Incas, Mochica and many other cultures of Latin America, subsequently conquered by the Spanish conquistadors led by Hernan Cortes and Francisco Pizarro. Later there was a struggle for Independence from the Spanish crown, led by Padre Hidalgo, Francisco Miranda, Simon Bolivar and José San Martin, and its latest 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 video clips from the most interesting places in Latin America at

The expression "Latin America" ​​is heard quite often. Everyone understands it in their own way: for some it is South America, for others it is the countries of the American continent, whose population speaks mainly in Spanish. And for the third - it's just warm and small states located far from Europe, somewhere south of the United States. In fact, the countries of Latin America and their capitals, it is not so easy to form a list of these states. The reason is the difference in approaches.

As you know, South America was colonized mainly by immigrants from Spain and Portugal. Naturally, it so happened that subsequently young states were formed here, which adopted these two languages ​​as official ones. But linguists know that Spanish and Portuguese belong to the so-called group of Ibero-Romance languages, they arose at one time on the basis of ancient Latin. There is also the language of the French, it is also Romance, but Gallo-Romance. Like it or not, but he is not alien to Latin.

Thus, the list of Latin American countries was formed precisely on the basis of belonging to these conditionally Latin languages ​​(hence the name).

However, focusing only on the linguistic feature, we get a somewhat strange picture. In a close group of countries, individual states will be singled out that do not speak Romance languages, nevertheless, geographically most closely related to the "Latin" countries. It turns out that for convenience it is necessary to take into account not only the language of the country, but also its geographical location.

A striking example is Belize - an English-speaking state, surrounded on all sides by Spanish-speaking countries. Belize is usually included in the list of countries in Latin America, although, in terms of language, it should not be there.

Thus, a person interested in which countries are included in the concept of Latin America will quickly find that there is no single list. If we talk about the classical Latin countries that speak Spanish and Portuguese, we get one list. If we add here French, as well as, for example, the Creole language, there will be a different picture. And if we take into account the close geographical connection, our list will increase even more, but, strictly speaking, it will no longer be “Latin”.

But this is not all the difficulties. The fact is that not all countries in this region are separate states in the classical sense of the word. Some, such as Puerto Rico, are "semi-states", overseas territories of larger metropolitan areas (in the example given, a US territory). This leads to the fact that not all compilers agree to include them in the general list, citing the fact that these territories do not have real statehood. In any case, they have their own capitals, so we are inclined to include them in the list we are compiling.

What is more important: alphabet or geography?

There are quite a few countries included in the concept of "Latin America". Usually, if they are combined into one alphabetical list, it is poorly readable, attention is forced to “jump” from region to region, from the mainland to the island and back. We decided to split the list into several parts based on their geographic location.

So, here are the countries and capitals located south of the United States, but north of Colombia. Simply put, these are states located on the territory of North America, as well as on the narrow isthmus between the two Americas.

  1. Mexico (Mexico City);
  2. Guatemala (Guatemala);
  3. Honduras (Tegucigalpa);
  4. Belize (Belmopan);
  5. Salvador (San Salvador);
  6. Nicaragua (Nicaragua);
  7. Costa Rica (San Jose);
  8. Panama (Panama).

Well, further in our list of Latin American countries are states located in South America. This is a vast territory located between the Isthmus of Panama and the Drake Passage, from which it is already "within a stone's throw" to the coast of Antarctica.

  1. Venezuela (Caracas);
  2. Colombia (Bogota);
  3. Guyana (Georgetown);
  4. Suriname (Paramaibo);
  5. Guiana (Cayenne);
  6. Ecuador (Quito);
  7. Peru (Lima);
  8. Brazil (Brazilia);
  9. Bolivia (La Paz);
  10. Chile (Santiago);
  11. Argentina (Buenos Aires);
  12. Paraguay (Asuncion);
  13. Uruguay (Montevideo).

Thus, our list includes 21 countries. All of them are located on the mainland of both Americas, and their belonging to Latin America is usually not disputed. Although, as already mentioned, in connection with the same Belize, some compilers do not quite agree with this list. As a rule, these are adherents of the "pure" version, according to which only Spanish-speaking states are considered countries of Latin America.

But in addition to continental America, there is also island America. A considerable number of small (and sometimes quite large) states and semi-states are located in the so-called West Indies, on the islands of the Caribbean. Among them there are Spanish-speaking ones, such as, for example, the largest state in the region - Cuba, but there are also many whose language does not belong to Latin at all. Nevertheless, geographically these states are closely related to each other, they have a similar history in many respects, which allows them to be attributed to Latin America. Although it is obvious that the main principle in this case is the “neighborhood factor”.

  1. Cuba (Havana);
  2. Jamaica (Kingston);
  3. Haiti (Port-au-Prince);
  4. Dominican Republic (Santo Domingo);
  5. Bahamas (Nassau);
  6. Puerto Rico (San Juan);
  7. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (Kingstown);
  8. Grenada (St. George's);
  9. Dominica (Roseau);
  10. Barbados (Bridgetown);
  11. Trinidad and Tobago (Port of Spain);
  12. Antigua and Barbuda (St. John's).

We will limit our list of Latin American countries to these states, although in some sources it is brought up to 42. As a rule, it expands at the expense of tiny semi-states such as the British Virgin Islands, which are not truly independent countries, but constitute the so-called dependent territories. However, do not rush to think that these are colonies. As a rule, their metropolis is one of the developed countries of the world, which makes the standard of living in such quasi-states quite high.

Latin America is a huge and diverse region. In order to assess its scale, we present only some data:

  • This territory lies simultaneously in two hemispheres: Northern and Southern.
  • The lands of the region are washed by two oceans at once: the Atlantic and the Pacific.
  • The region is home to the Andes, the longest mountain system in the world.
  • The total area of ​​the region is almost 21 million km².
  • About 630 million people live in the countries of the region.
  • Latin America is a bridge (think about it!) between the USA and Antarctica.

Studying the countries of Latin America and their capitals, the list, it becomes clear how diverse the natural conditions are here, what a rich culture of numerous peoples who have mixed here as a result of colonization, the slave trade, and mass migrations of the population. It is difficult to find another similar region on the planet, where the destinies of peoples representing different continents would be so closely intertwined. Latin - a real "Noah's Ark" of mankind!

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