South America Map Quiz – Be a Whiz with this South America Map Quiz
Written by Jessica Holom
Last updated · 6 min play time
Think you have what it takes to navigate your way around the South America map? Then test your skills with this South America map quiz! From Paraguay to Uruguay, Brazil to Bolivia, guide the pack in our map of South America.
Quiz written by
Jessica HolomJessica Holom is a freelance writer and digital nomad with a background in literature, art, and writing. She believes curiosity never killed a single cat and enjoys learning, world-exploring, and writing about both.
South America Map Quiz Questions
20 Questions · 283 Plays · No comments
Question 1
As the only country in South America with a coastline on both the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea, this state is pretty beachy. Name that biodiverse nation.
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AVenezuela
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BBrazil
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CColombia
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DPuerto Rico
Colombia
Colombia was named after Italian explorer Christopher Columbus. Sharing a land border with Ecuador, Panama, Brazil, Venezuela, and Peru, the country boasts a coast on both the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, as well as one of the world’s highest capital cities, Bogotá, at 8661 feet. It also boasts one of the highest biodiversities in the world, with the highest amount of species by area of any country.
Question 2
Located high within the Andean mountain range, this country is home to the world’s largest saltwater flat. Name that landlocked nation.
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ABolivia
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BUruguay
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CPeru
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DChile
Bolivia
A third of Bolivia is within the Andes Mountains, giving the country’s northern section an average elevation of 18,000 feet with its highest snow-capped peak of Nevado Sajama topping out at 21,463 feet. Bordered by Paraguay, Brazil, Peru, Chile, and Argentina, Bolivia features a 24-hectare butterfly sanctuary, one of the world's largest; the world’s highest navigable lake, Lake Titicaca, at 12,507 feet (shared with Peru); and the world’s largest salt flat, Salar de Uyuni, stretching 4,086 square miles.
Question 3
Named after an element, this second largest country in South America features the southernmost city in the world. Name that silver nation.
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AParaguay
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BCuba
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CBrazil
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DArgentina
Argentina
“Argentum” means silver in Latin, lending its elemental name to Argentina. Characterized by the rugged landscape of Patagonia, which it shares with its neighbor, Chile, Argentina is a natural wonderland, featuring more than thirty national parks and bordering the Andes mountains. Ushuaia, known as “the end of the world," is also located here, making for a great launching point from the southernmost city to Antarctica.
Question 4
The longest and narrowest country in the world has a coastline that spans 4,040 miles. Name that skinny nation.
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AChile
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BBolivia
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CArgentina
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DNew Hampshire
Chile
Boasting a mild Mediterranean-like climate, Chile’s long and narrow form allows for plenty of beachside resorts, known as balnearios. The country also forms part of Patagonia, with its glacial fjords and rainforests and is one of the only countries in which you can see penguins. While there, visit Atacama Desert, the driest desert on Earth, and Easter Island, off Chile’s coast.
Question 5
Get your boots on; it’s time to climb! Reaching elevations of 8,000 feet, what mountainous country is home to Machu Picchu?
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ASuriname
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BBolivia
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CPeru
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DCosta Rica
Peru
One of the world’s most famous UNESCO World Heritage sites is located in the Andes mountains of Peru. The lost city of the Incas is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, but it’s not the only feature of this beautiful country. Peru is also home to the 3,860 foot Cerro Blanco sand dune; the Giant Andean Condor, the largest flying bird on Earth; and Colca Canyon, which is twice as deep as the Grand Canyon, at 11,150 feet.
Question 6
Named after one of its rivers, meaning “river of the painted birds,” this tiny country hosts nearly half of its population in the capital of Montevideo. Name that Latin American nation.
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AUruguay
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BParaguay
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CPeru
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DGuatemala
Uruguay
Named after Uruguay River – a.k.a. the “river of the painted birds" – Uruguay is condensed into the capital. Montevideo is home to 1.4 million people (2017), nearly half of the country’s population of around 3.5 million (2017) – a population that’s so low, its cattle outnumbers its people, four to one. And if you hate climbing, the lowland’s highest point is only 1,684 feet above sea level, Cerro Catedral.
Question 7
This country must be a friendly neighbor, as it borders nearly every other country in South America. Name this giant of the continent.
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AArgentina
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BPeru
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CHonduras
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DBrazil
Brazil
Not only is Brazil the most populated nation in South America at 209 million (2017), it is also the largest country, neighboring nearly every country on the continent, apart from Chile and Ecuador. Being home to around 60 percent of the Amazon rainforest, Brazil is full of unique animals, including jaguars, armadillos, sloths, anteaters, capuchin monkeys, and many more species. The only South American country to speak Portuguese, the name Brazil comes from the Portuguese, brazilwood.
Question 8
The only nation on the continent to speak Dutch, what is the smallest country in South America?
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AParaguay
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BChile
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CSuriname
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DPanama
Suriname
This South American country may be the smallest in population and area, but sometimes the best things come in small packages. Religious tolerance is practiced here, and most of Suriname is composed of unspoiled rainforests, due to the country’s commitment to conservation. Nature is protected in Suriname, and there are plenty of reserves, sanctuaries, and national parks to explore. But do as the locals do and don't leave a trace behind.
Question 9
Due to equatorial bulge, the highest point on Earth is also located in this country that is named after a geographical feature. Name that middle-latitude nation.
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APeru
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BUruguay
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CEl Salvador
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DEcuador
Ecuador
Move over, Mount Everest. Mount Chimborazo places Ecuador at the highest point on Earth. Because of its location along the equator, Mount Chimborazo is 1.5 miles higher than Everest, as the equator bulges out, but due to mountain peaks being measured from sea level, Everest gets all the credit. After climbing the 20,548-foot mountain, hop a ship over to the Galapagos to visit the wildlife at the world’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Question 10
As one of only two landlocked countries on the continent, this country features the second largest river in South America (after the Amazon, of course). Name the “Heart of South America".
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AParaguay
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BUruguay
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CArgentina
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DNicaragua
Paraguay
Due to its location, Paraguay is often referred to as the "Heart of South America". Along with Bolivia, its neighbor, the country is locked in by Argentina, Brazil, and Bolivia. Featuring the 1,628-mile Paraguay River, the second longest in South America, the country is characterized by swampland, scrubland, and subtropical forests.
Question 11
Fallen angels call this country home, at least according to the world's tallest waterfall. Name that northern nation.
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ABolivia
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BGuatemala
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CVenezuela
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DColombia
Venezuela
Venezuela stakes its claim in the world’s tallest waterfall, Angel Falls, at 3,212 feet. Located on the northern coast, Venezuela is megadiverse, with species like sloth, anteaters, manatees, Amazon river dolphins, and crocodiles roaming the land. It also has one of the largest natural gas and oil reserves on the planet.
Question 12
With a majority of the country uninhabited, this “land of many waters” features the world’s widest single-drop waterfall. Name that wet nation.
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ASuriname
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BGuyana
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CColombia
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DArgentina
Guyana
With a single drop of 741 feet, Guyana’s Kaieteur Falls blows Niagara’s 167-foot drop out of the water. The largely uninhabited nation is made up of about 70 percent dense rainforest and is considered a Caribbean nation, speaking English as an official language.
Question 13
Time to race the Giant Tortoise. Name the Ecuadorian islands that were made famous by Darwin, who formulated his Theory of Evolution here.
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AGalapagos Islands
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BChannel Islands
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CFalkland Islands
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DPuerto Rico
Galapagos Islands
The Galapagos Islands are most closely associated with Charles Darwin, who observed the animals on the island archipelago in 1835. He wrote his Theories of Natural Selection and Evolution based on his discoveries here. Located off the coast of Ecuador, visit San Cristobal and Santa Cruz on the 40-volcanic-island archipelago.
Question 14
This motorless island is the perfect place to let loose. Which country owns the beach-goer's paradise of Ilha Grande?
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ADominican Republic
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BEcuador
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CBrazil
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DArgentina
Brazil
Owned by Brazil, Ilha Grande will truly let you unplug and unwind. Motor vehicles are absent from the remote island, allowing a relaxing paradise where one can clear one’s head.
Question 15
Situated in the Caribbean around 470 miles from its owner, the little island of San Andres is a scuba-diver's paradise. Who does it belong to?
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AColombia
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BVenezuela
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CPeru
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DGuatemala
Colombia
Colombia owns the coral island of San Andres in the Caribbean Sea. Lying around 470 miles off of Colombia’s coast, San Andres is high in biodiversity. After visiting the wildlife sanctuary of Old Point Regional Mangrove Park or an underwater viewing at the Seaflower Biosphere Reserve, kick back with some reggae music on one of the island’s stunning beaches.
Question 16
Wanna go further south than “the end of the world”? Visit the tiny Navarino Island, which is owned by what country?
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AIsla Grande
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BSuriname
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CEl Salvador
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DChile
Chile
Isla Navarino is owned by Chile and situated south of Ushuaia across the Beagle Channel. Although it’s largely uninhabited, Puerto Williams claims to be the world’s southernmost city (did you hear that Ushuaia?!), and technically that might be right. Regardless of how south it is, the island is stunning, featuring barbed mountain peaks, rocky harbors, Beech forests, and astounding views.
Question 17
The largest island in South America belongs to this nation.
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ABrazil
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BChile
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CBelize
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DParaguay
Chile
At 3,241 square miles, Chile’s Isla Grande of Chiloé is the largest island in South America. With rainforests, dunes, and countless beaches in the west, and farming, crafting, and fishing in the east, the island’s culture is incredibly diverse and divided by its Coast Range peaks.
Question 18
Located 186 miles off this country’s coast in the Caribbean, La Blanquilla island fans out into rare black coral. Name its owner.
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AVenezuela
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BChile
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CSuriname
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DCosta Rica
Venezuela
Venezuela lays claim to La Blanquilla island, which is a stunning destination, frequented by the rich, in the Mediterranean Sea. Reefs surrounding the island feature rare black coral and rare species, including the French angelfish, the flying fish, and the porcupine fish.
Question 19
Wanna visit the moai? Then hop a ship over to this island, located in the Pacific Ocean. But tuck in, because it’s going to be a long ride.
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AGalapagos Islands
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BPuerto Rico
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CChannel Islands
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DEaster Island
Easter Island
Easter Island, located in the Pacific Ocean more than 2,000 miles away from South America’s west coast, is owned by Chile. The Polynesian Island features 887 large statues which were sculpted by the Rapa Nui people between 1100 and 1680 AD.
Question 20
Named after a Daniel Defoe character, this castaway must be some great adventure. Name the Chilean island named after him.
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ATom Hanks Island
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BSpaniard Island
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CFriday Island
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DRobinson Crusoe Island
Robinson Crusoe Island
Robinson Crusoe Island off the coast of Chile is also known as Desert Island. But with clear waters perfect for fishing, kayaking, and sailing, most people wouldn't mind being deserted on this island.
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