They belong to Latin America. Latin American countries

1. Venezuela: Caracas - the city of contrasts (1987 video)
2. Venezuela: Videos of New Year's Caracas, filmed 30 years ago
3. Cuba: From Cuban impressions. Lyrical notes.
4. Panama: Panamanian by-pass
5. Mexico: Interview with Subcomandante Moises
6. Colombia: Will there be peace?
7. Venezuela: Review of a book about Chavez (ZhZL)
8. Argentina: Monument to Dante in Latin America
9. Russia: Yaroslavl
10. Venezuela: Caracas, Mount Avila Hiking
11. Cuba: They don’t like the mafia in Cuba
12. Cuba: Maria from Havana
13. El Salvador: “Rebel” Archbishop Monsignor Romero
14. Russian theme: The first biography of a people's monarchist
15. Venezuela: “collectives” from fantasy to reality
16. Mexico: Subcomandante Marcos: last words
17. Cuba: After Moncada
18. Bolivia: Festival of Skulls
19. Ecuador: To the honor of Manuela Saenz
20. Venezuela: "Caracazo". - Uprising. - Jail
21. Venezuela: "Florentino and the Devil"
22. Venezuela: Truths are not without doubt, or “Hello, Chavez!”
23. El Salvador: Salvadoran cuisine: simple but tasteful
24. Bolivia: Eduardo Abaroa Park: land of volcanoes and lagoons
25. Nicaragua: Operation Reptile (Somoza execution)
26. Colombia: US and Colombia cover up atrocities and mass graves
27. Bolivia: Island of the Sun Manifesto
28. Cuba: Student revolution in Havana. Pages of history.
29. Paraguay: The Life of Derlis Villagra. Pages of history.
30. Venezuela: The songs “Alma llanera” and “Venezuela” will be performed in Russian
31. Venezuela: Dedicated to Chavez
32. Venezuela: Shining with a powerful flame
33. Russia: Myshkin
34. Russia: Rybinsk
35. El Salvador: National holiday
36. Mexico: “We walk in silence so that we can be heard”
37. Venezuela: Nikolai Ferdinandov in Moscow!
38. Venezuela: Notes on the book "Hugo Chavez"
39. Venezuela: Meeting with Chavez, or “Hello, President!”
40. Cuba: About the Julio Antonio Mella International Camp
41. Chile: Circus in the desert, or Afterword to the Chilean miracle
42. Belize: Off the beaten path
43. El Salvador: Holy Week in Izalco
44. Mexico: Green Peaks of Chiapas
45. Venezuela: Metrocable of Caracas
46. ​​Venezuela: reporting from no man's land
47. Bolivia: Bolivian metamorphoses
48. Latin America: A book about the outstanding intelligence officer Joseph Grigulevich

The historical appearance of the Latin American region was formed on the basis of the interaction of various ethnonational and racial elements: on the one hand, the indigenous population, and on the other, people from the European (Spaniards, Portuguese, English, French, Dutch), African, Far Eastern and Indian regions.

Before the discovery of America by Europeans, it was inhabited by Indian tribes and nationalities, among whom were the creators of two highly developed civilizations: the Mayans and Aztecs.

The most significant in their culture were the high level of development of astronomy, mathematics, and medicine; great knowledge of navigation; highly developed art. The peoples of Latin America created various genres of literature - mythological and historical epics, philosophical and love lyrics, songs, fairy tales; unique stone sculpture, wall paintings, painted and figured ceramics.

Significant successes belonged to them in agriculture. Thanks to the American Indians, corn, potatoes, beans, tomatoes, cocoa, pineapple, sunflowers, and vanilla entered the practice of world agriculture.

They discovered rubber and created thorough calendar systems.

As a result of the colonial wars of conquest, most of the Indian tribes were destroyed. Only a few peoples (Aymara, Guarani, Nahua, etc.) managed to partially preserve their culture and territory, as well as feelings of collectivism, mutual assistance, a sense of inextricable connection with their native land, and the ability to survive in conditions of cruel humiliation.

European civilization played a decisive role in shaping the modern appearance of Latin America.

The culture of the Spaniards and Portuguese was of particular importance.

Spanish culture was transferred to America as a contradictory unity of conservative and progressive. The first is associated with the despotism of royal power, fanaticism and religious intolerance, and the lack of basic legal guarantees. The progressive trend was represented by the humanistic ideas of figures of Spanish culture and was distinguished by the spirit of love of freedom.

Ideas of Western European origin - Voltaire, Diderot, Rousseau, Montesquieu - became the spark that ignited in the souls of the thinking part of society, representatives of the progressive intelligentsia of Latin American countries, the desire to adopt the best from the experience of Europe and at the same time assert their right to be distinctive from it, to create their own unique and original culture.

With all this, one cannot downplay the great importance of the African ethnocultural element for the development of the region, especially in the Caribbean and Brazil.

An essential component of the spiritual culture of the region is a specific system of philosophical views.

In the pre-Columbian period, philosophical ideas and concepts were reflected in mythology. The origin of the humanistic tradition on the continent is associated with the outstanding American thinker, philosopher, and poet Nezahualcoyotl.

Philosophy as part of a new culture, its conceptual apparatus, problems, directions and development are associated with Europe. The peculiarities of the historical development of the peoples of Latin America determined two important characteristics of the philosophical thought of the region: passion for the ideas of universal unity and ethical governance.

This is reflected in the works of A. Corn, Jose Ortega y Gasset, E. Dussel.

The peculiarities of the aesthetic perception of the world are most clearly expressed in the art of the Latin American region. The processes of interaction of various spiritual elements in the fabric of the culture of Latin American peoples are especially clearly visible in music.

Musical traditions are represented by three zones: tubila, African-American and Creole. Local traditional, conservative tuba music has been preserved in its purest form within the boundaries of ethnic groups in Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and northern Argentina.

African-American and Creole music is represented by song and dance genres, mainly based on local soil, but as a result of the mutual influence of contrasting elements.

Creole music became widespread in Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, partly in Mexico and Cuba. African American music dominates in the Caribbean and Brazil.

The original culture of the Latin American region is a unique phenomenon of cultural and civilizational heterogeneity, in which, with the dominance of the archetypes of European culture in the twentieth century.

Today, in the 21st century, ethnic traditions are gaining strength and are actively establishing themselves in consciousness. All participants in the interaction of cultures are interconnected, intertwined and fused by different ethnocultural elements that form unique, individual types of cultures in each Latin American country.

Conclusion. A regional approach to the analysis of world culture gives us the opportunity to show that each culture is a unique and inimitable integrity.

With all the diversity of specific types of culture, they act as unified multi-level systems that are comparable to each other.

Regional cultures as complex, contradictory and multi-level phenomena reflect the complex structure of society and people, the result of whose activities they are.

Topic 3

Culture and civilization

The concept of “civilization” and its essence

Culture, like society, is often identified with the concept of “civilization,” and this is not accidental, since both culture and civilization are associated with society. Cultural and social development are closely interconnected by the sociocultural system and the sociocultural world in which the cultural community takes shape and develops.

The sociocultural world is a society with its own special, unique and inimitable type of culture.

Sociocultural worlds can be confined to the sphere of any particular ethnic culture (Inca culture), but can embrace different peoples and countries (Arab culture, European culture). The typology of sociocultural worlds distinguishes three types: historical types (Ancient, etc.), regional types (Latin American culture) and civilizations as sociocultural systems that make up the specificity of various forms of society.

The concept of “civilization” is widely used both in science (philosophy, cultural studies, history) and in everyday life.

It is often used as an adjective "civilized" and is equivalent to the word "cultured".

The origins of the concept of “civilization” go back to the era of antiquity, to the culture of Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome. Etymology of the concept: “civilization” - from Latin. civilis – state, citizenship, city, the adjective civilis meant civil, state-legal, political, urban.

The main type of political system in antiquity was a self-governing community of free citizens, a city-state, which the Greeks called “polis” and the Romans “civitas”.

The Romans associated this concept with ideas about the well-ordered life of a free state, the foundation of which was reasonable and fair laws established by wise people. A state is a society ruled by law.

All people living in a given society are subject to the law, therefore they are considered as civilized people, that is, possessing civil rights and corresponding virtues.

Naturally, the model of “civitas,” from their point of view, was Rome itself, which, in their opinion, surpassed in its level of development in all respects all the surrounding peoples, considered by the Romans to be dark, primitive, uneducated, and barbaric.

Civilization in antiquity was considered as contrast of ancient society with barbarian surroundings.

According to L. Febvre, the concept of “civilization” was introduced into scientific use by the French philosopher Pierre Holbach during the Enlightenment in 1766. By “civilization” he understood the process of improving the way of life of peoples in the course of their historical development.

In the culture of modern times (during the Enlightenment), the concept of “civilization” indeed had many meanings, but mainly it meant highly developed culturally a society based on the principles of Reason, Justice, Law(on state-legal, reasonable and fair principles).

Latin American countries

Such a society was opposed to the patriarchal, tribal relations of peoples backward in their development, both in ancient times and those discovered by Europeans in the 16th - 18th centuries. lands. Thus, the basic meaning of this concept was sought in the ideas of the ancient Greeks and Romans about the advantages of living according to the law in the state.

In modern cultural studies, as in modern times, the concept of “civilization” has many meanings.

According to Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Stepin, civilization is:

— Firstly,the totality of material and spiritual achievements of humanity, which characterize the separation of man from the natural world and his ascent through the stages of social development.

Achievements characterize the level of development of the second nature of man - the artificial world of objects and processes that surround him. The achievements of civilization are:

- technical and technological innovations - the invention of the wheel, steam engine, airplane..., which contribute to progress in the development of technology;

- social achievements - social institutions: writing, law, politics... that form social structures and institutions in society that arise in the state.

— Secondly, a special type of society that arises at a certain stage of historical development, when there is a transition from primitive society to rural and urban civilizations of antiquity.

Civilization is an integral social organism with a special, unique type of culture; it is a type of society that acts as a relatively independent cultural world. It has a special way of life for people, its own mentality (way of thinking), its own relationship to the world, nature, society , religion, personality types. Culture and civilization are considered here in unity;

- Thirdly,actual material culture; civilization is considered as the technological and technical perfection of society, as a sphere of things and services, and culture is spiritual creativity.

This understanding of civilization arose already at the turn of the 19th – 20th centuries, when culture and civilization were opposed to each other, and civilization was characterized as a kind of inhumane degeneration of culture associated with the dominance of technology, urbanization, money, material needs and the decline of morality and spirituality.

So, we will use the concept in the course civilization:

- in the narrow sense of the word - This is actually material culture as opposed to spiritual;

— in the broad sense of the word, it is an integral social organism (type of society) with a special, relatively independent cultural world (type of culture); an ordered, historically determined system of material and spiritual activity of people and its consequences in terms of their significance for social development.

In Chicago, at a scientific philosophical conference, the most important characteristics (signs) of civilization were identified.

Signs (criteria) of civilization:

1. Formation of the state.

2. The emergence of writing.

3. Separation of agriculture from crafts.

4. Stratification of society into classes.

5. The emergence of cities (function: they were centers of agricultural production, crafts, trade).

The emergence of religion as a social institution that rests on systematicity, and not just worship of the supernatural forces of nature.

The centralized ideological sphere has become a huge force of influence on the masses.

So, civilization began in the era of writing and agriculture 10 - 12 thousand years ago.

years ago. Land cultivation became more systematic and thorough. Labor productivity increased sharply, trade turned into a systematic professional occupation of a large group of people, which soon subjugated the entire structure of the economic life of society.

It was with the emergence of agriculture that the figure of the merchant became the main economic and cultural agent of human society. Business has become the most important creator of modern civilization. Thanks to him, mercenary armies and the construction of pyramids, palaces and temples, the creation of cities and the development of a management system became possible.

Throughout human history, traders, merchants and industrialists have acted as constant patrons of the arts, donors, and sponsors of culture. We owe the emergence of written language to business.

The origin of the state, cities, classes, writing and the origin of religion as a powerful social institution that rests on systematic rituals and ceremonies, sacred cults, activities and influence are associated with agriculture.

Written language, science, philosophy, highly specialized division of labor, complex technology and political systems are also pre-scientific, pre-industrial, pre-individual. They have no history, but only legends. Time and space are limited.

At the same time, the presence of the first two signs of civilization - the formation of a state and the emergence of writing - is mandatory, but the need for others is often questioned.

But even if we take the first two as a basis, they already characterize civilization as a sociocultural and economic complex.

SEE MORE:

Latin America

Latin American countries

Latin America consists of states that are continental, island and combine the above qualities. Many Latin American countries at the same time they are similar to each other and have serious differences. They are sometimes connected by common boundaries, and those same boundaries often become the causes of civil strife.

Here is a list of countries included in Latin America: Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Cuba, Brazil, Panama, Chile, Argentina, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, Costa Rica, Uruguay, Argentina, Colombia, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, Guiana, Puerto Rico, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Jamaica, Barbados and a number of others that can be classified as the West Indies.

Among the listed Latin American states there are so-called external protectorate zones. Puerto Rico can be considered one of these zones. Many people even call this Latin American country the 51st state of the United States, but formally Puerto Rico is a state associated territory.

Translated into ordinary language, this means that Puerto Rico is dependent on the United States.

Brazil is one of the largest countries in South America. It occupies not only the largest area of ​​territory in the region, but also ranks first in terms of population.

Brazil is a federal republic with a presidential form of government. In this it is similar to Russia. By the way, there are special partnerships between Russia and Brazil, since both of these states are among the five BRICS countries.

One of the tiny states of Latin America is the Bahamas.

This state is still formally a British colony. Therefore, a little more than 300 thousand residents of the Bahamas call themselves subjects of the British Crown. Despite the tiny size of the state, there is a very high standard of living here. For comparison, we can say that it is many times higher than the standard of living in countries such as Argentina, Brazil and Mexico. Therefore, of all the countries in Latin America, the Bahamas has the highest economic indicators.

Surprisingly, in close proximity to the Bahamas, the poorest state of Haiti is located. It is one of the countries in Latin America that has the lowest standard of living. According to some reports, Haiti is one of the poorest countries on the planet.

The economy of this Latin American state is particularly damaged by frequent destructive earthquakes and a high level of corruption.

In the majority South American countries They speak Spanish, which is the official language in many countries. French, English and Portuguese are also common languages ​​in Latin American countries.

However, there are also Latin American countries in which Dutch is the official language. Such a state is Suriname. It is the smallest country in area that is part of the continent of South America, but not in Latin America.

South America Map

The majority of the country's population is made up of the Surinamese Pipa people - more than 60%.

The tourism business is thriving in many Latin American countries. The recognized leaders in the number of tourists include Brazil, Cuba, the Bahamas, Peru, and the Dominican Republic. Moreover, if the Dominican Republic, which belongs to the states of Latin America, is visited with the aim of spending unforgettable days on the beach, then people come to Peru to touch the traces of ancient civilizations.

The countries of Latin America are a wealth of colors and diversity of cultures.

Also see:

Largest cities in Latin America

Latin America is one of the regions of the world where the urban population predominates.

Many cities in Latin America are real giants, home to more than 10 million inhabitants.

They are the focus of the industrial and cultural development of the countries of South and Central America.

Natural areas of South America

South America is a continent with a humid and fairly warm climate. South America is crossed by the equator. Natural areas of South America: these are abundant forests, savannas, woodlands, mountain landscapes and a small area occupied by deserts.

Map of South America with cities in Russian

Question. List six countries in Latin America that have access to both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, and name their capitals. Answer. Colombia - Bogota, Panama - Panama, Nicaragua - Managua, Honduras - Tegucigalpa, Guatemala - Guatemala, Mexico - Mexico City.

Option 1

Questions

1. List six countries in Latin America that have access to both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, and name their capitals.
2. Is it true that the US gets 90% of its bauxite from Latin America?
3. The capital of one of the Latin American countries is the highest capital in the world.

   Name the capital and its absolute height. Name the country.

4. What is the level of urbanization in the most urbanized countries of continental Latin America?

   Countries and capitals of Latin America?

   Name these countries.

5. Give examples of the manifestation of signs of monoculture in crop production in Latin American countries.
6. Why is Latin America called Latin America?
7. What transport plays a leading role in the foreign economic relations of Latin America?
8. Name the northernmost country in Latin America.
9. Name a country that has 14 times more Portuguese speakers than Portugal.

Give a brief description of the Pan-American Highway.

Option 1

Answers

1. Colombia - Bogota, Panama - Panama, Nicaragua - Managua, Honduras - Tegucigalpa, Guatemala - Guatemala, Mexico - Mexico City.
2. Is it true.
3. La Paz.

   3630 m. Bolivia.

4. Over 80%: Argentina, Uruguay, Chile.
5. Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Haiti - coffee, Ecuador - bananas, Guyana - sugar cane.
6. The vast majority of Latin Americans speak the Romance languages ​​Portuguese and Spanish, which have a Latin base.
7. Nautical.
8. Mexico.
9. Brazil.

The Pan-American Highway is the longest in the world - 33 thousand km: from the US-Mexico border to Buenos Aires. It connects the capitals of most Latin American countries.

Option 2

1. List six island countries of Latin America and name their capitals.
2. Is it true that the US gets 90% of its tin concentrate from Latin America?
3. In one of the Latin American countries in the 19th century.

   The highest mountain railway in the world was built. Name the country, the highest point of the railway, the mountains.

4. What share of Latin America's GDP is concentrated in the region's three largest countries?

   Name these countries.

5. Give examples of a monocentric structure in the location of industry in Latin America.
6. Give examples of the diversity of ethnic composition of the population of Latin American countries.
7. What transport plays a leading role in the internal economic relations of Latin America?
8. Name the country where the southernmost point of Latin America is located.
9. Name a country where 80% of the population lives at an altitude of 3 thousand meters.

   m above sea level.

10. Give a brief description of the Trans-Amazon Highway.

Option 2

Answers

1. Cuba - Havana, Jamaica - Kingston, Haiti - Port-au-Prince, Dominican Republic - Santo Domingo, Bahamas - Nassau, Trinidad and Tobago - Port of Spain.

2. Truth.

3. Peru. 4800 m. Andes.

4. 2/3: Brazil, Argentina, Mexico.

5. Buenos Aires (Argentina), Montevideo (Uruguay), Mexico City (Mexico), Santiago (Chile) - 50 - 80% of the industry of these countries is concentrated here.

In Mexico, mestizos predominate, there are whites and Indians. In Uruguay, Argentina - Creoles and Indians, in Brazil - mulattoes, whites, blacks, Indians, Sambos.

7. Automotive.

9. Bolivia.

10. Trans-Amazonian highway - “penetration line”. It stretches along the Amazon River, south of it, for 5.5 thousand km and serves for the development of the logging industry and agriculture of the Amazon.

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 considered territories of special national interest for 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, constitutes 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

World Travel

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19.01.18 10:38

Climbing up the obstinate hills are ancient houses of cheerful colors, powerful Catholic cathedrals, welcoming harbors with shimmering turquoise waves, narrow streets overlooking the balconies of buildings densely covered with tropical flowers. All of these are cities in Latin America, preserving the memory of the colonial past and making generous concessions to the present and the future (in the form of skyscrapers winking at the sun with panoramic windows). Do you think that this top will be headed by the contrasting Rio de Janeiro or the Argentine dandy Buenos Aires? But no. We will show you other 10 cities in Latin America that you need to see live.

From the Valley of the Incas to the mausoleum of the great navigator: the most colorful cities in Latin America

Brazilian Salvador: up and down the passenger elevator

In Brazil's third largest city, Salvador, you can enjoy a wonderful mix of African, European and indigenous cultures from Latin America. It has some of the finest examples of colonial architecture in the Americas, and is surrounded by beautiful beaches. In Salvador's old central districts you'll find a collection of pastel-colored buildings dating back to the time when the Portuguese fortified their borders - now protected by UNESCO. This is the Upper Town, where, in addition to architectural monuments, there are many important institutions (some of them are also located in historical buildings), museums and temples. In the Lower Town you will have a unique shopping experience, descending into the middle of shopping centers on an unusual form of transport - the passenger elevator (Lacerda lift).

Lima: Pre-Columbian Artifacts and Gastronomic Wonders

Lima, the capital of Peru and a very interesting city, was once the richest in Latin America, a reflection of that era can be found in the main square, Plaza Mayor. The treasures of ancient pre-Columbian civilizations, exhibited at the National Museum and Larco Museum, are one of the main motivations of tourists. And here’s another great “bait”: the gastronomic wonders that famous chefs create in Lima (for example, Pedro Miguel Schiaffino and Gaston Acurio). The historical center of Lima is called the City of Kings, it captivates with colonial architecture, the modern Miraflores district attracts sun seekers and inveterate fashionistas, but Barranco is considered a haven for bohemians.

Cusco: Gateway to Machu Picchu

Speaking about Peru, we cannot forget about the main attraction of the country, the sacred valley of Machu Picchu, the most impressive and well-preserved Inca ruins, evidence of the stunning pre-Columbian era. This means that in our list of cities in Latin America we cannot do without Cusco; it is not for nothing that it has long been nicknamed “The Gateway to Machu Picchu”. Despite the fact that Cusco is often overcrowded with tourists, it has managed to maintain its face. So, before you go on an Inca mountain trek, admire the Baroque and Renaissance fortresses, temples, mansions and palaces, starting from the Plaza de Armas (the heart of Cusco and its central square). In recent years, this city has managed to emerge from the shadow of Lima and become the pearl of the country, because everything about it - from the former Temple of the Sun to the delicious Andean cuisine - is very popular with travelers.

Colombian Cartagena: a charmer with a special charm

This is where the heroine of the cult adventure comedy “Romancing the Stone” Joan Wilder (Kathleen Turner) was heading, but she mixed up the buses and ended up in the impenetrable jungle. Cartagena is a colorful city in Colombia that attracts more tourists than the country's capital, Bogota. And there are reasons for that! This is a charming city with an ancient waterfront protected by fortresses, photogenic cobbled alleys and colorful squares. All this makes Cartagena (full name Cartagena de Indias) one of the most romantic cities in Latin America. Named after Cartagena in Spain, the magnificent old town (St. Peter's Church, University, Palace of the Inquisition, Main Square, Cathedral) is filled with colonial charm and is protected by UNESCO.

Santiago: a futuristic dandy against the backdrop of the Chilean mountains

The Chilean capital Santiago seems to be a much more modern city - a kind of futuristic dandy - compared to other participants in our top. It's a thriving metropolis with a beautiful backdrop (snow-capped mountain peaks), trendy galleries and prominent skyscrapers (thanks to the economic boom of the last decade). However, there are vineyards, colonial mansions, neoclassicism, and what a cuisine in Santiago! The cozy restaurants serve world-class cuisine and excellent local wine. Exquisite boutiques will satisfy any seasoned shopaholic. Situated in the Maipo Valley, framed by the stunning Andes Mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west, Santiago has withstood invasions, earthquakes and dictatorships to become one of Latin America's most popular cities.

Valparaiso: colorful houses scattered along the slopes

Compared to Santiago, which is in demand among tourists, another pearl of Chile - Valparaiso - fades slightly, but in vain. Valparaiso is a very beautiful port city, easily accessible from the capital (about two hours away). Bright multi-colored houses, surrealistically scattered along the slopes of the hill, are the calling card of Valparaiso. Many of the historic buildings have been renovated to become trendy restaurants and comfortable boutique hotels. The city has several bohemian quarters with perfectly preserved 19th-century mansions. Due to the fact that the streets of Valparaiso fit between steep cliffs, rugged coastline and hills, there are a lot of stairs, narrow pedestrian streets, if you feel sorry for your legs, you can use the funiculars.

Asuncion: Paraguayan Jewel

The beginning of the next city in Latin America was laid by the traveler, conquistador from Spain Juan de Salazar, who landed here in 1537. Now Asuncion is the capital of Paraguay, filled with attractions that are best explored by walking through the ancient center. About half a million people live in the city, so no fuss or traffic jams! Buildings from the 16th-18th centuries, cathedrals and churches built by the Jesuits, and even the Orthodox Church of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, built by Russian engineers in the 1920s, await you. But, of course, the most majestic is the National Cathedral, which takes on a completely different, otherworldly appearance at dusk with successful lighting. The city can be reached by car, plane or boat. Every July, a fair is held in the Paraguayan capital, where local food products, vegetables, fruits are presented, and national melodies are played - a very colorful festival!

Uruguayan capital Montevideo: art deco art nouveau, baroque

In one of the latest episodes of The Blacklist (now in its 5th season), the FBI's most wanted criminal, Raymond Reddington (James Spader), recommended that his interlocutor (who was in trouble) flee to Montevideo. Why, the concierge of the underworld, handling billions of dollars, won’t give bad advice! The capital of Uruguay remains underestimated: when wanting to visit the cities of Latin America, people choose the more “promoted” Rio or Buenos Aires. However, Montevideo is an outstanding metropolis, a large industrial port (which does not prevent the city from having more than 14 miles of luxurious beaches), a historical center carefully restored with Art Deco or Art Nouveau houses and a Baroque cathedral from 1726. There is even a bronze copy of Michelangelo's David in the city. Montevideo (the translation of the name is “view from the hill”) arose as a fortress at the entrance to La Plata Bay: the Spaniards defended themselves from smugglers. In modern Montevideo there are monuments and theaters, museums and skyscrapers, as well as the Centenario stadium, which hosted the World Cup (it used to accommodate 120 thousand people, after reconstruction there were 80 thousand seats left).

Santo Domingo: Residence of the Viceroys and Lighthouse of Columbus

There is probably no other city in Latin America (and perhaps not on Earth either) that would be so associated with the name of Christopher Columbus as Santo Domingo (the capital of the Dominican Republic). This jewel of the country, nestled in the south of Haiti, was discovered in 1496 by Christopher Columbus's brother Bartolomeo and named (by him) New Isabella. True, in 1502 the city received a name in honor of St. Dominic. Santo Domingo is the oldest existing settlement founded by Europeans in the Americas. Its buildings are a real excursion into the history of urban planning: Arabic style, Gothic, Romanesque, Renaissance. The Rosario Chapel dates back to the end of the 15th century, the Alcazar Castle (residence of the viceroys) was built by order of Christopher Columbus's son Diego in 1514. Until 1922, the ashes of Columbus himself were housed in the ancient Cathedral of Santa Maria la Menor. Nowadays, for the great navigator, a grandiose structure was erected (in the image and likeness of the Indian pyramids) - the Columbus Lighthouse. It was opened in 1992, its construction required more than 70 million dollars. The remains of the discoverer (at least what is considered his ashes) are placed in the Mayak mausoleum, guarded by a permanent guard of honor. The historical center (the so-called Colonial City) of Santa Domingo is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Ecuadorian Loja and Podocarpus National Park

To finish the list of Latin American cities to visit, we want to be a kind of “dark horse”. You may not have heard of this small town with a population of 130 thousand. This is Loja (Ecuador), occupying the southern part of the Cordillera Real mountain range, located near Peru (180 km to the border). The ancient city has interesting architecture and design, there are stunning churches and squares, museums and botanical gardens with 800 species of plants.

But the main advantage of Loja is different: next to the city there is the amazing Podocarpus National Park. The biological diversity of the park is amazing, because it is the intersection of four ecological zones: the Pacific, Amazon, Southern Andes and Northern Andes.

The park has many hiking trails, a fantastic landscape with hills and waterfalls, and is home to 560 species of birds and 68 species of mammals, including many endemics.

Description of Latin America: list of countries, capitals, cities and resorts. Photos and videos, 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 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, perched near their narrow isthmus.

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

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In a tourist sense, Latin America is a motley “bouquet” of destinations. People come here for everything - to personally touch legendary architectural monuments, to ride jeeps in national parks and, of course, to relax in style 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 been to the countries of Southeast Asia several times and are very demanding about living conditions (70% of all tourists book five-star hotels). Most people prefer an educational holiday to passively lying on the beach, for which Latin America has everything they need.

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

In Latin America with an area of ​​21 million square meters. km there are 46 states, more or less different from each other.

Latin American States

Several countries are the largest and most politically significant Latin American states.

Brazil
It is the largest country in Latin America with the largest population. The country is attractive to tourists for its nightclubs, impenetrable jungles and impressive waterfalls.

Mexico
A unique country, almost the most popular among travelers. Famous for the most popular beaches in the world, diving, ancient buildings of the Mayans and Aztecs.

Argentina
A country rich in a variety of attractions and entertainment (bullfighting, feeding predators, wine festivals, motorcycle racing, dolphin shows, etc.). The amazing nature of national parks with waterfalls and rare animals, skiing is an integral advantage of Argentina.

Costa Rica
This country is valued for its unique nature: volcanoes, nature reserves, mountain slopes, lakes, underwater national parks and exotic beaches.

Venezuela
This Latin American state attracts tourists with its unshakable ecosystem. The country can be proud of the highest waterfall in the world - Angel, rain forests of the Orinoco River and a wide variety of flora.

Peru
This is a mysterious country with objects of historical significance - Cusco, Machu Picchu.

Chile
A state with beautiful nature and popular ski resorts.

Bolivia
Multinational highland country with salt hotels and deserts, mountain lake Titicaca.

Colombia
This state is famous for its luxurious resorts, snow-capped Andes peaks, and frequent festivals and fairs.

Less developed countries in terms of economy and tourism include Panama, Uruguay, Paraguay, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Belize, Guiana and Guatemala.

Island states of Latin America

The island states of Latin America include the countries of the West Indies:

Barbados;
- Grenada;
- Dominican Republic;
- Dominica;
- St. Vincent;
- Grenadines;
- St. Kitts;
- Nevis;
- Saint Lucia;
- Jamaica;
- Trinidad;
- Tobago;
- Antigua;
- Barbuda;
- The Bahamas is a tiny but rich state, with a high standard of living and economy, it is famous for its luxurious hotels and pink flamingos;
- Haiti is practically the poorest country in the world: corruption and dictatorship do not bring prosperity to the state, and frequent earthquakes only worsen the economic situation;
- Cuba is distinguished by inexpensive shopping, cigars, rum, as well as developed surfing and water skiing.

The world of Latin America is unusual and unique, as it is characterized not only by an interesting style of communication between people, but also by climatic features and unusually beautiful nature.