Landmarks of South America. World heritage sites in latin america
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Attractions
South America is the birthplace of the Amazon and the impenetrable jungle. The Chavin civilization was born here, and the culture of the Naskans forever inscribed South American ceramics in the annals of the world's artistic heritage. The natural conditions of South America are diverse and contrasting. There are plains and long mountain ranges, and volcanoes and earthquakes also continue to disturb the continent. Today we will tell you about the seven natural wonders of South America. Read and be surprised!
Iguazu Falls, Brazil and Argentina
Iguazu Falls- one of the largest waterfall complexes in the world - is located on the Argentine-Brazilian border, 320 km east of the city of Asuncion in Paraguay, at the intersection of the Iguazu and Parana rivers. It was discovered in 1541 by the Spanish conquistador Alvaro Nunez Caseso de Vaca. Alvaro went to the jungle in order to find gold. In fact, he found it, only in a figurative sense, because the Iguazu Falls are considered one of the main attractions of Brazil and Argentina.
The name of the waterfall comes from the Guarani language and means "big water". And nothing surprising. The average volume of water falling from above is 1.2 million cubic meters per second, so you can imagine what a roar there is for the entire district. About once every forty years, during a drought, Iguazu dries up completely, and during such a period the waterfall also disappears, and only the rock remains.
The last drought was in 2006. Now, on the contrary, the authorities are concerned about the high water level in the river, therefore, due to the threat to the safety of tourists, the approach to the famous "Devil's Throat", the most famous waterfall of the complex, was closed.
If the Iguazu cascades were a single, continuous wall of water, then it would be the widest waterfall in the world, but this is not the case, and today the African Victoria Falls has the widest continuous water wall.
In order not to stop only at the waterfalls, take a tour of the Iguazu National Park to see the real jungle with its virgin flora and fauna.
Tour to Iguazu Falls
Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
Galapagos Islands is an archipelago in the Pacific Ocean, located 972 km west of Ecuador and consisting of 13 main volcanic islands, 6 small islands and 107 rocks and alluvial areas. It is known not only for the huge number of animals that can no longer be found anywhere else, but also for the fact that at one time Charles Darwin conducted his research here, after which he created his Theory of Evolution.
The islands were officially discovered in March 1535 by the priest Thomas de Berlanga, who sailed on a ship from Panama to Peru, but lost his course. In 1978, the islands became part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, and in 1985, the World Biosphere Reserve. The famous traveler Thor Heyerdahl visited here in 1953 in search of the heritage of the famous Incas.
The flora and fauna of the islands is extremely unusual and diverse. The main plant in the Galapagos is the prickly pear cactus, which grows to gigantic sizes. Since not a drop of rain falls on the islands for 8 months a year, this desert dweller has practically no competitors here.
There are only 9 species of mammals here, but they are all found exclusively in the Galapagos. Marine iguanas live here, similar to lizards and get their food in the sea, sometimes at a depth of up to 10m. They are adjacent to sea lizards and the main decoration of the islands - giant Galapagos tortoises.
Galapagos tortoises are among the longest-lived world record holders. They live for 200 or more years. There are as many as 60 species of birds in the Galapagos archipelago, and half of them live only here.
There are 13 varieties of finches alone. Galapagos pigeons, Galapagos buzzards, Galapagos flightless cormorants, and masked boobies are not found elsewhere. These amazing birds in the mating season give each other beautiful green branches as a symbol of love.
Believe it or not, a special kind of penguin lives on the islands. The islands are very much appreciated by diving enthusiasts, because in addition to dolphins, tropical fish and whales, it is fashionable to meet huge flocks of fur seals and sea lions here.
On one of the islands - Isabella - there are several volcanoes. Sierra Negra- the most famous, it is the second volcano in the world in terms of the size of the crater, after the famous Ngoro Ngoro in Tanzania. The diameter of the crater is about 7 kilometers. The entire surface of the crater is black lifeless volcanic rock, in contrast to Ngoro-Ngoro, whose crater is a flowering valley filled with animals.
Route to the Galapagos Islands
Atacama Desert, Chile
Atacama Desert considered one of the driest places on Earth. There are territories here that have never been irrigated with water, where there is not a single blade of grass, not a single bush - only stones and silence. Some landscapes resemble the Moon, so the locals named one of the valleys after this celestial object.
The Chilean desert is also popular as the Sahara Desert in Africa, which is why all Chilean guidebooks put it in the top five most significant places in the country.
There are a lot of salt marshes on the territory, which were formed after the lakes dried up. If you see this place from afar, it will seem to you that this is a lake. It is actually a thick layer of ice that glistens in the sun.
About 160 species of cacti grow in the Atacama (90 of them are endemic) and about 200 species of animals live, mainly reptiles and insects. The flora includes plants such as llareta and quenoa, a type of tree that grows at the highest altitude in the world.
The desert is not adapted for life, but there is a lot of copper here and, accordingly, mining is the main occupation of local residents.
There is a unique art object in the desert, a sculpture of a giant hand as a sign of the helplessness and loneliness of a person in the sands.
The statue "Hand of the Desert" was created by the Chilean sculptor Mario Irarrasabal in 1992 and this is the only thing that reminds of the presence of a person for several tens of kilometers around.
Atacama Desert Tour
Perito Moreno Glacier, Argentina
Perito Moreno- one of the most unique glaciers on the planet, where the frozen water is unrealistically blue, and the total mass of ice overtakes a 16-story building in height. If you happen to come to Argentina, be sure to visit Los Glaciares National Park. Located near the city of Calafet.
The glacier was named after the Argentine explorer Francisco Moreno, who first explored the region in the 19th century. Translated from Spanish, the name Perito Moreno means "scientist Moreno."
Every day the glacier moves forward by 2 meters, in a year it overcomes the path of 700 meters. But it is melting at the same rate, so we can say that the glacier is standing still.
The most interesting thing is that the glacier comes ashore at a speed of 2 meters per day (it turns out that it rises by almost 700 meters per year). However, at the same time, it melts at the same rate, so in fact, for 90 years, Perito Moreno has stood still.
You can watch this miracle of nature from specially equipped viewing platforms. One of them is located at Cape Magellan. For convenience, bridges are laid everywhere, along which you can wander indefinitely, there are benches where you can simply observe this bewitching beauty.
If you doubt your abilities, go to the glacier on a small boat that sails 200-300 meters to Perito Moreno, you can’t get any closer, because every second there is a threat of a collapse of the glacier.
Get to Perito Moreno
Angel Falls, Venezuela
Angel Falls is the highest waterfall in the world, the Angel's water flow has to fly almost a kilometer to reach the ground. It is 20 times taller than Niagara Falls and is stunning. The waterfall is located in the tropical forests of Venezuela, on the territory of the Canaima National Park.
It was discovered in 1935 by American aviator and gold prospector James Crawford Angel, although it was first discovered in 1910 by Spaniard Ernesto Sánchez La Cruz. Angel was flying over the area in search of gold when he decided to land on the top of a certain mountain. There he saw a huge waterfall falling with a crash from a cliff. Soon everyone learned about the new waterfall, which was named after the pilot who discovered it.
Getting to the waterfall is not so easy - Angel is located in the wilderness of Venezuela. A trip to the waterfall includes a plane flight from the city of Caracas or Cuadad Bolivar to Canaima, and then another crossing by water. It is very difficult to predict whether the waterfall will be visible, since this area is often clouded with fogs.
Tour in Angel Falls
Kaieteur Falls, Guyana
ABOUT Kaieteur waterfall many do not even know, because it is overshadowed by Iguazu and Angel, however, Kaieteur Falls is one of the largest and most beautiful waterfalls in the whole world. Moreover, it is the most powerful waterfall in the world. It consumes more than 1,263 cubic meters of water every second, which is almost 2 times more than Niagara.
In terms of its height, it is 5 times higher than the Niagara Falls and twice the African Victoria. First Kaieteur waterfall It was discovered by the English geologist Charles Brown on April 24, 1870. It was the first white man who saw all the beauty and power of this amazing waterfall.
Kaieteur is located in the National Park of the same name, which completely surrounds the waterfall. Locals say that the waterfall got its name from the Indian leader Kaya, who, in order to save people, sacrificed himself by sailing along the Mazaruni River in a canoe.
The main reason that the waterfall is almost unknown to tourists is the lack of normal access to Kaietura. It is located in the Guyanese part of the Guiana Highlands in the center of tropical rainforests in a little-studied region of Guyana. Therefore, many prefer not to come here, because they do not know what to expect. Although there are an unusual number of mysterious and unique places here.
Take at least Roraima, a table mountain located in South America on its northeastern side. The place is so mystical that there are more than a hundred legends associated with it.
Route to Kaieteur waterfall
Lake Titicaca, Peru and Bolivia
mysterious Lake Titicaca is the largest alpine reservoir and the second largest lake of the continent. The name consists of the words of the Quechua language: "titi" - puma, the sacred animal of the Quechua Indians and "kaka" - rock.
It is located on the border of Peru and Bolivia, on the Altiplano plateau. More than 300 rivers flowing down from glaciers flow into the lake, and the Desaguadero River flows out, flowing into the endorheic Lake Poopo in Bolivia. The salinity of the water is about 1 ppm, so Titicaca is considered a freshwater lake.
Lake Titicaca It is considered the cradle of the civilization of the Incas, Teotihuacan and other peoples of the Andes. According to the mythology of the Incas, once the world was plunged into the abyss of darkness and cold, and the human race was on the verge of extinction. Some time after the flood, the god Viracocha emerged from the depths of Lake Titicaca.
Traveling through the islands of the lake, Viracochi ordered the Sun and Moon to rise. He recreated man and woman and sent them to all four directions, beginning the settlement of the world. Thus, Titicaca is considered the birthplace of the Inca civilization, whose spirits returned back to the lake after death.
For a long time, Titicaca haunted scientists who were looking for an underwater city called Wanaku, in which, according to legend, Inca gold was hidden. In 1968, the famous Jacques Yves-Cousteau descended to the bottom of the lake to find at least some signs of the sunken city. However, he only discovered ancient pottery.
Only in 2000, local archaeologists discovered the ruins of the temple at the bottom of the lake. According to preliminary estimates, these are the remains of the Tiwanaku civilization that once existed on this site, which existed even before the birth of the Inca civilization.
Tour to Lake Titicaca
What to see in South America? All the most interesting places and sights of South America: colorful photos and detailed descriptions. When going on vacation, you should carefully consider which places to visit in South America. South America is a great holiday destination that boasts of its unique natural, cultural and historical sights. Here you can get acquainted with the most famous and vice versa new sights of South America.
Perito Moreno Glacier located in Argentina, on the territory of the Los Graciares National Park in the Patagonian region. 78 km from the glacier is the village of El Calafate, connected with a large civilization by air. The area of Perito Moreno is 250 km². It is part of a large ice plateau, which ranks third in the world in terms of fresh water reserves.
Statue of Christ the Redeemer looks from the height of Corcovado on the Brazilian Rio de Janeiro. The height of the monument is about 38 m, the span of outstretched arms is 3 tens of meters, and the construction weighs almost 1.2 thousand tons. An electric train takes tourists to the top, from which a stunning panorama opens.
Angel Falls- the highest on the planet (800-1000 meters), overthrows its stream in the Canaima National Park in Venezuela. Formed by the waters of the Churun River and its tributary Karao. Churun means "Thunder" in the Pemon language.
Machu Picchu or Lost City of the Incas located at an altitude of just over 2 thousand meters above sea level, in the Peruvian Cusco. It was sacred, and was created in 1440 during the reign of the stern Pachacutec. In 1532, when the Spanish conquerors came to the country, Machu Picchu was not damaged due to its inaccessibility. In the same year, the townspeople mysteriously disappeared, leaving about 200 structures in their compact settlement, represented by temples, residences, public buildings ... Within Machu Picchu, you can see the old city with its clear structure, the winding streets of residential areas, the remains of temples and an altar for sacrifices. Good physical preparation will allow you to overcome the seemingly endless stairs leading to the "intuatana" - the stone to which the "sun is tied". Machu Picchu is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Easter Island is a territory of Chile. Tourists come here to look at the moai stone giants. In the compressed volcanic ash from which the statues are molded, according to legends, supernatural power lurks. Mysterious sculptures await guests within the Rapa Nui National Park and are under the auspices of UNESCO. They are human heads up to 20 m high, whose eyes are fixed on the heart of the island. No one knows how the statues got to Easter, the legends say "they came."
Iguazu- a waterfall mix at the river of the same name, located on the border territory of Argentina and Brazil, within the national parks of two states with the same name "Iguazu". Both are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Every year they gather an audience of 2 million tourists, for whom observation platforms are equipped and excursion routes are organized leading directly to the foot of the Iguazu. Local residents entertain guests with national songs and dances, dressed up in colorful attire.
Nazca- the desert of the southern coast of Peru, famous for geoglyphs, which are geometric inscriptions on the surface of the plateau. Today, almost 3 dozen drawings similar to a spider, a monkey, a bird, a flower and other objects are distinguishable. In addition, the lands are slashed with 13 thousand features and 7 hundred figures together with a hundred spiral ornate patterns. Features of the desert climatic zone allowed geoglyphs to survive to this day. Distinguishing the inscriptions while on the ground is problematic, since some of them reach hundreds of meters in length. The structuredness and harmony of the lines were discovered from a bird's eye view at the beginning of the last century. The attraction is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Titicaca- the greatest lake in South America, located in the territories of Peru and Bolivia, at an altitude of about 4 thousand meters. The highest navigable on the planet. Revered as a saint. Peculiar, since its two halves are quite different. Connects the "twins" Strait of Tikin. The larger water area is called Lago Grande, the smaller Lago Pequeño. Funny from the point of view of Russian phonetics, the name of the lake is translated as "Mountain Puma". It would seem that you can see when you come to the lake, except for the boundlessness of the water surface? Andes! As well as 41 different-sized islands, the largest of which is the Island of the Sun. There are up to 180 different ruins on Sunny Island dating back to the year 500! It is quite logical that there is also the Island of the Moon to the east, on which there are also many ancient ruins. Takville Island will be interesting, where there is no electricity, cars and other benefits of civilization, and the locals profess the rule of three NOT: do not lie, do not steal and do not be lazy.
Galapagos Islands are a Pacific archipelago west of Ecuador, includes a damn dozen volcanic formations, plus half a dozen ordinary islets, coupled with 107 rocky and alluvial lands. The oldest of the islands is already about 10 million years old, and the youngest Isabela and Fernandina are still forming, erupting on them occurred not so long ago, in 2005. They have the status of a National Park, and were once a shelter for convicts, today they are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site and a protected area of the world biosphere. Notable for the natural and animal world of endemic nature. Each of the islands in the Galapagos is unique and original.
The UNESCO list in the United States includes the main natural and cultural attractions of the country. Of course, the Statue of Liberty is known all over the world. It stands on an island in Manhattan Bay and has long become a symbol of the country. The monument was donated to the United States by France in the 19th century. It was created by sculptors Bartholdi and Eiffel. The latter was responsible for the frame of the statue. At the same time, it is alleged that the copper from which it was made was purchased in the Russian Empire. She was taken out of the territory of modern Bashkortostan. The total height of the monument, together with the pedestal, is ninety-three meters. In addition to its aesthetic value, the statue has practical benefits and serves as a lighthouse for ships sailing to the port.
UNESCO natural sites in the United States are represented primarily by the Grand Canyon. This is a unique place on earth. The canyon is located in Arizona and is an integral symbol of North America. For geologists, it is of great scientific value, since the geological layers here allow us to understand how our planet was formed in the last two billion years. On the territory of the canyon, traces of the habitation of ancient people were also found. Another important aspect is the incredible beauty of the local scenery. Together, all these factors give a unique wonder of the world, which is included in the World Heritage.
Another natural attraction of the country, protected by UNESCO in the United States, is the Yellowstone National Park. On its territory there are amazing lakes, rivers and waterfalls. And Yellowstone Lake is recognized as one of the largest alpine reservoirs in the world. The famous Yellowstone geysers are also located here. The largest of them Excelsior splashes hot water to a height of over 100 meters. The park has unique forests that have been preserved in their original form. They are inhabited by bison and grizzly bears.
The natural attractions of the United States include such national parks as Olympic and Mesa Verde.
The first place in the Top 10 attractions of South America is rightfully occupied by the foggy city of Machu Picchu, covered with legends and myths, or the Old Mountain in the Quechua Indian language. Mysterious ruins that everyone dreams of seeing, whose heart in their youth sank from breathtaking stories about the mysterious civilizations of the past.
Machu Picchu consists of two sectors - urban and agricultural. In the city you can see the main attractions of this place: the Temple of the Three Windows, the Stone of the Sun and the House of nobles made of polished granite. This city is a living symbol of Peru's ancient history.
Machu Picchu - city15th centurylocated on a mountain range at an altitude of 2,430 metersabove sea levelV province of Urubamba, 80 kilometers northwest of another landmark in South America, the city Cusco.
2. Galapagos Islands (Ecuador)
Each of us knows Charles Darwin and his Theory of Evolution, it was the Galapagos Islands that prompted Charles Darwin to think about the Theory of Evolution.
Although the islands of the Galapagos archipelago are located 1000 kilometers from continental Ecuador, they are a real attraction of South America. The archipelago consists of 127 islands, islets and rocks, of which 19 are large.97% of the total surface of the Galapagos is declared a national park and only the remaining 3% of the territory can be inhabited by a person, and only these 3% of the territory is open to tourists.About 30,000 people live on the islands and about 170,000 tourists visit the islands every year.
It is home to such amazing animals as giant tortoises, marine iguanas and Darwin's finches.
3. Amazon rainforest
This attraction of South America is located on the territory of several countries, but mainly in Brazil. The Amazon forests make up more than half of the remaining rainforests on the planet and are considered the true lungs of the planet, also include the largest and most biodiverse ecosystem in the world. More than 16,000 species of animals live in the forests.
4. Angel Falls (Venezuela)
Angel Falls is the highest and most impressive waterfall in the world, many tourists will put Niagara Falls in first place, but believe me, the water falling from a height of almost a kilometer leaves an indelible impression, the sound that penetrates to the bones.
Unfortunately, this truly majestic waterfall is located in the impenetrable jungle in not the most friendly country in the world, it can only be reached by river or by air.
5. Atacama Desert (Chile)
The Atacama Desert is the oldest desert on Earth, it is also the driest place in the world, which is especially noticeable in the vicinity of the abandoned city of Yungay. The average rainfall is about 15 mm per year, and in some places there has never been moisture. Such unique characteristics have developed due to two factors, high location and occurrence between two mountain ranges, which makes it difficult for water masses to enter.
6. Rio de Janeiro (Brazil)
On the 6th place in our Top 10 attractions in South America, there is the most famous and famous city in South America, namely the magnificent Rio de Janeiro or simply Rio. If you want to feel the spirit of this continent, feel its atmosphere, Rio will give you such an opportunity, thanks to the enchanting carnivals and the cosmopolitan Copacabana beach.
7. Colca Canyon (Peru)
Colca Canyon is one of the deepest canyons in the world, over 3,000 meters deep and twice as deep as the most famous canyon in the world, the Grand Canyon in the USA.
8. Los National ParkGlaciares (Argentina)
The largest national park in Argentina, takes an honorable 8th place in the Top 10 attractions in South America. This amazingly beautiful place amazes with its majesty, here you understand the insignificance of man and the power of nature.
Los Glaciares has the largest ice cap in the world and feeds 47 large glaciers.The most famous of them is the Perito Moreno Glacier,unique among glaciers as it advances while others recede.The park is also home to Lake Argentino, the largest in the country.
9. Pantanal (Brazil)
In Brazil, there are the largest wetlands - the Pantanal, or simply swamps, but these swamps are home to one of the richest ecosystems in the world. Among the rarest animals inhabiting the Pantanal wetlands are the marsh deer, the giant river otter, the crested hermit eagle, the giant anteater and the Paraguayan caiman. The Pantanal is home to one of the largest predators on earth, the jaguar.
10. Quito (Ecuador)
At number 10 on our Top 10 South American Attractions is the capital of Ecuador, Quito, which is truly unique among all the capitals of the world.This is the highest capital in the world was founded by the Spaniards in the distant1534, but the city is unique not because of its location above sea level, but because of the well-preserved colorful old colonial city of Quito. It is in it that you can feel the spirit of the colonizers of South America.
Located in the northern highlands of Ecuador, the city is surrounded by volcanoes that can be seen on a clear day.Quito is the only capital in the world threatened by active volcanoes.
UNESCO World Heritage Sites in South America Total in the world - 962 (as of July 2012). In South America, only 67 (7%) Brazil 19 Peru 11 Argentina 8 Colombia 7 Bolivia 6 Chile 5 Ecuador 4 Venezuela 3 Suriname 2 Paraguay 1 Uruguay 1
Brazil: Ouro Preto Ouro Preto is a city and municipality in Brazil, part of the state of Minas Gerais. Former state capital. An integral part of the mesoregion Belo Horizonte agglomeration. The city was founded in 1711. It was the center of the "gold rush" of the XVII-XVIII centuries. in Brazil. After the depletion of gold reserves, it fell into disrepair. It is now a tourist center, best known for its baroque architecture. The population is about 64 thousand people. The first Brazilian city to be listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The central monument is the Catholic Church of St. Francis.
Brasilia On April 21, 1960, President Juscelino Kubitschek de Oliveira moved the capital of Brazil to Brasilia, becoming the country's third capital after Salvador and Rio de Janeiro. The move of the federal administration to the new capital led to the fact that Brasilia became the center of executive, legislative and judicial power. The project for the construction of the new capital, called the "pilot plan" was developed by the architect Lucio Costa. Given the terrain and flood zone of the Parano reservoir, the "pilot plan" is actually an adaptation of a similar project proposed by Luis Kruls in 1893. Most of the administrative and public buildings in the city were designed by the famous Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer. In 1987 the city was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Iguazu Iguazu National Park is a national park of Brazil and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, located in the state of Parana. It is famous for its waterfall (part of the province of Misiones) and its picturesque wildlife that is found in Argentina in (especially a large variety of endangered species. This is the most unique place in the world, since birds are concentrated on one piece of land), which includes rare and 5 forest species.
Iguazu Falls In 2011, the Iguazu Falls were recognized as one of the seven natural wonders of the world by the results of a worldwide competition. The name Iguazu comes from the Guarani words y (water) and guasu (large). Various tribes of Indians lived in the vicinity. According to one legend, the waterfall was formed in the following way: The legend says that God wanted to marry a beautiful aboriginal woman named Naipu, but she escaped with her lover in a canoe. In anger, God cut the river, creating waterfalls, dooming the lovers to an eternal fall.
Pantanal Pantana l (from pântano - “marshy lowland, wet lowland”) is a vast marshy tectonic depression in Brazil, small parts of it are also located in Bolivia and Paraguay, in the Paraguay River basin. The total area is approximately between 150-195 thousand km², it is one of the largest wetlands on the planet. The fauna is amazingly diverse: about 3500 plant species, 650 bird species, 230 fish species, 80 mammal species, 50 reptile species. There are about 20 million crocodiles. There are a number of specially protected natural areas within the Pantanal, including the Pantanal Nature Reserve, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Piazza San Francisco in the city of San Cristovan Piazza San Francisco in the city of San Cristovao is a quadrangular open space surrounded by the monumental buildings of the Church of St. Francis and the monastery, the church and Santa Casa da Misericordia, a provincial-style palace and other buildings dating from different historical periods . This monumental ensemble and the surrounding eighteenth-nineteenth-century houses create an urban landscape that reflects the history of the city since its inception. It is an example of a typical architecture of a religious nature that has developed in northeastern Brazil.
Jão Jão National Park is a national park in the state of Amazonas in Brazil and a UNESCO World Heritage Site located between 1º 00' - 3º 00' S. sh. and 61º 30’ - 64º 00’ W. e. It is the largest forest reserve in South America, covering an area of over 5.6 million acres (23,778.9 km²). Entrance to the park is limited; it requires written permission from the Brazilian government to enter. Jau National Park is known as a good example of rainforest conservation in the Amazon. Jaguars, manatees, pink river dolphins and many other animals can be found in the park.
Diamantin Diamantina, a colonial settlement surrounded by rugged rocky mountains, recreates the life of the 18th century diamond miners. The city is a symbol of the triumph of cultural and artistic activity of a person who lived in adverse natural conditions.
Serra da National Park. Capivara The Serra da Capivara National Park is located in the state of Piauí in northeastern Brazil. The park contains many monuments of prehistoric rock art, which were discovered by the archaeologist Nyede Gidon. On her own initiative, a park was created to preserve the images. In 1991 it was listed as a World Heritage Site. The area of the park is 1291.4 square meters. km. As archeological research shows, in ancient times Serra da. Capivara was very densely populated and had the largest concentration of prehistoric farms in ancient America.
Peru: Cusco Cusco (Spanish: Cuzco, Quechua Qusqu, Qosqo) is a city in the southwest of Peru, the administrative center of the Cusco region and the province of the same name. Population - 350 thousand people (2011). Cusco is a city of ancient history. Archaeological excavations have found that people have settled in these places for more than 3 thousand years. There is an Indian legend according to which the founder of the city is the first Inca - Manco Capac. The name of the city, translated from the Quechua language, the official language of the Inca Empire, means the Navel of the Earth, that is, in fact, the Center of the World, which fully corresponded to the role of the capital. On November 15, 1533, the expedition of Francisco Pizarro arrived here and, according to historical tradition, the Spaniards "re-founded" their city. In 1950 there was an earthquake that badly damaged the Dominican monastery and the church of St. Dominic, which was built on the basis of Coricancha (Temple of the Sun). Inca architecture, on the contrary, successfully survived the earthquake. At first it was believed that many of the old Inca walls were lost, but it turned out that the granite walls of Coricancha survived, as well as many walls throughout the city. Some wanted to restore the buildings of the colonial period, but some of the inhabitants of Cusco demanded that the walls that were in sight be left. Thus, tourists from all over the world had the opportunity to see the ancient buildings in the heart of the big city. The 1950 earthquake was the second to destroy a Dominican monastery, the first having occurred in 1650.
Machu Picchu Ma chu Pi kchu is a city of ancient America, located on the territory of modern Peru, on the top of a mountain range at an altitude of 2450 meters above sea level, dominating the valley of the Urubamba River. In 2007 he was awarded the title of the New Wonder of the World. Also, Machu Picchu is often called "the city in the sky" or "the city among the clouds", sometimes called the "lost city of the Incas". Some archaeologists believe that this city was created as a sacred mountain haven by the great Inca ruler Pachacutec a century before the conquest of his empire, that is, approximately in 1440, and functioned until 1532, when the Spaniards invaded the territory of the Inca empire. In 1532, all its inhabitants mysteriously disappeared. Similar to Machu Picchu, the high-mountain city of Choquequirao lasted much longer, until the 1570s. The Spanish conquistadors never made it to Machu Picchu. This city was not destroyed. We do not know the purpose of its construction, nor the number of inhabitants, nor even its real name.
Manu Park National Park was organized in 1977 on the territory of the Madre de regions. Dios and Cusco, and in 1987 was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Manu area is 19,098 km², of which the national park occupies 15,328 km², the rest is a reserve zone. The main part of the territory is the Amazonian forests, but some part is located in the Andes at an altitude of up to 4200 m. A large number of species of flora and fauna live in Manu. More than 15 thousand species of plants and about a thousand species of birds have been found on its territory (more than a tenth of all bird species and about 1.5 times more than in Russia). On the territory of the park, the population of the Inca toad, endemic to Peru, is protected.
Lima Lima - the capital and largest city of the Republic of Peru, as well as the administrative center of the department of Lima, is the economic, political and cultural center of the country. On January 18, 1535, the Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro founded the city of Ciudad de los Reyes, which means "city of kings" in Spanish. The culture of Lima was greatly influenced by the Indian heritage of Peru, as well as the ancient civilization of the Incas who lived on Peruvian soil before it was conquered by the Spaniards. Before the rise of the Inca Empire, in the 1st c. BC e. - 7th c. n. e. Lima culture existed in the territory of Lima. The legacy of the highly developed Inca civilization can be seen not only in the numerous archaeological sites and finds that are stored in the museums of Lima, but also in the modern folk art of the inhabitants of the capital of Peru.
Nazca Geoglyphs The Nazca Lines are a group of giant geometric and shaped geoglyphs on the Nazca Plateau in southern Peru. On the plateau, stretching for more than 50 kilometers from north to south and 5-7 kilometers from west to east, about 30 drawings are known today (a bird, a monkey, a spider, flowers, etc.); also about 13 thousand lines and stripes and about 700 geometric figures (primarily triangles and trapezoids, as well as about a hundred spirals). Thanks to the semi-desert climate, they have been preserved since ancient times. Since the images reach several hundred meters in length and are difficult to recognize from the ground, they were officially discovered only in modern times, when flying over the plateau in the first half of the 20th century. In 1994 they were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The Nazca lines pose many questions to historians - who created them, when, why and how. Indeed, many geoglyphs cannot be seen from the ground, so it remains to be assumed that with the help of such patterns, the ancient inhabitants of the valley communicated with the deity. In addition to the ritual, the astronomical significance of these lines is not excluded. It seems likely that the Nazca could have been observing astronomers, at least according to Dr. Phyllis Pitluga (an astronomer at the Chicago Planetarium). After an intensive study of the relative position of the stars in Nazca using computer methods, she came to the conclusion that the famous image of the spider was conceived as a diagram of a giant star cluster in the constellation of Orion, and the straight lines conjugated with this figure - like an arrow, the lines characterize the change in declination of three stars in Orion's Belt .
Argentina: Peninsula Valdez Valdez is a peninsula on the Atlantic coast of Argentina. Area - 3625 km². Most of the peninsula is uninhabited territory. There are several salt lakes, the largest of which lies 42 meters below sea level. This is the lowest point on land for South America. In 1999, the Valdes Peninsula was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List - primarily for its unique and rich fauna. On the coast of the peninsula there are colonies of marine mammals such as the southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) and eared seals. In the Gulf of Nuevo (Golfo Nuevo), separating the peninsula from the mainland Patagonia, southern right whales (Eubalaena australis) are found, other species of whales also swim for breeding, because the water in the bay is warmer and calmer than in the open ocean. There are killer whales off the coast. On land, ostriches are common nandu, guanaco, mara (known as the Patagonian hare or Patagonian guinea pig).
Los Glaciares Los Glaciares National Park (Spanish: Parque Nacional Los Glaciares, glaciers) is a national park located in Patagonia (South America), in the Argentine province of Santa Cruz. The area of the park is 4459 km². In 1981 it was included in the World Heritage List. Founded in 1937, Los Glaciares is the second largest national park in Argentina. The park owes its name to the huge ice cap in the Andes, which feeds 47 large glaciers, of which only 13 flow towards the Atlantic Ocean. This ice mass is the largest after the ice of Antarctica and Greenland. In other parts of the world, glaciation begins at least 2,500 m above sea level, but in Los Glaciares Park, due to the size of the ice cap, glaciers begin at 1,500 m and slide down to 200 m, eroding the slopes of the underlying mountains. Los Glaciares Park is a popular international tourism destination. Tours start in the village of El. Calafate, located on Lake Argentino, and in the village of El Chalten, located in the northern part of the park at the foot of Mount Fitz Roy.
Humahuaca Gorge or Valley of La Quebrada de Humahuaca (Spanish: La Quebrada de Humahuaca) is a picturesque valley in northwestern Argentina, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Humahuaca Valley stretches for 155 km from north to south and is located at an altitude of more than 2 kilometers above sea level, which increases towards the north. Located in the province of Jujuy, about 1649 km from Buenos Aires. It got its name from the small town of Humahuaca (Spanish: Humahuaca). The Rio Grande flows through the valley, which is much more full-flowing in summer than in winter, which is due to the peculiarities of the local climate. The valley is the crossroads of the economic and cultural ties of the region, it has been inhabited since ancient times - the settlements of indigenous American peoples are more than 10,000 years old, in the Middle Ages the caravan route of the Inca Empire passed through the valley, and later - to the Viceroyalty of Rio de La Plata. The most important battles of the Argentine War of Independence took place on the territory of the valley. Included in the list of cultural heritage sites on July 2, 2003.
Colombia: Cartagena Cartagena (Spanish: Cartagena de Indias) is the fifth largest city in Colombia, adm. center of the Bolivar department, a port on the Caribbean coast. The well-fortified citadel of the 17th century is located on the island of Getsemaní and the mainland cape, but other islands, as well as part of the mainland, are included in the modern city. Founded by the Spaniards in 1533, at the height of the treasure hunt, Cartagena served as the most important transit point for the export of treasures stolen in America to Europe. Almost all the famous pirates of the Caribbean have been here. Gold was brought here and loaded onto ships sailing to Spain. On the way, many of the treasures fell into the hands of pirates. The city itself was robbed five times. The most successful and shameless robber was the famous English pirate and traveler - Sir Francis Drake. He managed to get from Cartagena a ransom of ten million pesos, unheard of at that time, which greatly pleased Queen Elizabeth. In 1741, an English expedition was launched against the city, the largest in the 18th century, but the Spaniards managed to defend the city. In 1811, Cartagena, along with other Spanish provinces, broke away from the metropolis, but the local port remained in the hands of the Spaniards until 1821. After Colombia gained independence, the commercial importance of Cartagena was undermined, and the city quickly fell into decay. An economic revival began in the 1920s with the discovery of South American oil fields and the construction of an oil pipeline to Cartagena. Since then, the city has become a major oil loading port. In 1980, the historical monuments of Cartagena (the fortress, the main square with the cathedral, the church of St. Peter, the palace of the Inquisition, the university building) were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Tierradento Archaeological Park The park is famous for its several pre-Columbian underground crypts. The crypt usually has a west-facing entrance, a spiral staircase, and a main chamber, usually at a depth of 58 meters, surrounded by several smaller chambers, each chamber containing one body. The walls are painted with geometric, anthropomorphic and zoomorphic designs using red, white and black paints. Some statues and remains of ceramics and textiles barely survived due to the fact that the graves were repeatedly looted. The burial complex dates back to the 1st millennium AD. e. Burials included in the archaeological park date from the 6th to 9th centuries. The details of sculptures and drawings are reminiscent of similar details of cultural monuments of San Agustín (Colombia). The park brings significant profit to the local economy due to the large number of visitors, both from Colombia and abroad. It belongs to the UNESCO world heritage sites.
Los Katios The Los Katios National Park was created in the north of Colombia, in the border area with the state of Panama. On the other side of the border, another protected area has been created - the Darien National Park. On the territory of Colombia, Los Katios National Park appeared in 1976, today its area has grown to 72 thousand hectares. The nature of the park is represented by the following natural areas: tropical forests and floodplain swamps. The territory of Los Katios Park lies around the Atrato River. On its banks and among the nearby complexes of wet forests, a total of about 600 plant varieties were found. A rather remarkable local species is the cotton tree. This is a typical tropical species that belongs to the mallow family. The homeland of this species is considered to be Mexico, some countries of Central America, the Caribbean Islands, and the tropical region of West Africa.
Colombian Coffee Cultural Landscape An outstanding example of a sustainable and productive cultural landscape. It is unique and represents an expressive symbol of the tradition characteristic of coffee-growing regions throughout the world. The territory includes six agricultural regions with 18 urban centers in the foothills of the western and central Andes ranges. It reflects the age-old tradition of growing coffee in small patches in tall forest and the way farmers adapt farming to the harsh mountain conditions. The architecture of the urban areas, located mainly on the tops of relatively gentle hills above the coffee plantations running down the slopes, is distinguished by the Spanish influence of the period of colonization. The building materials of that time were, and in some places still are, clay and bent reeds for walls and clay tiles for roofs.
Bolivia: Potosi Potosí (Quechua P'utuqsi "roar", Spanish Potosí) is the capital of the Potosi department of the same name in Bolivia. Already in 1625 it was one of the largest cities in terms of population (160,000 inhabitants) in the Old and New Worlds (surpassing the then London and Paris in terms of population) and the world's largest industrial center (during the development of silver mines in the 16th-17th centuries). The population of the city is about 160 thousand people. The city is located at an altitude of 4090 m above sea level and is one of the highest cities in the world. The city is located on the railway line Oruro - Sucre. The most important center of the country's mining industry. Tin, silver and copper are mined here. Potosi is also known as the capital of Bolivian Quechua folklore, and folk art festivals are held here every year. In Potosi, which was the largest silver deposit in South America from 1556 to 1783, this metal was mined for 820513893 pesos. The mining town of San is named after Potosi. Luis Potosi in Mexico
Sucre Sucre (Sucre) - one of the capitals of Bolivia, the seat of the Supreme Court. Most government offices in Bolivia are located in the city of La Paz. The population of the city is 247,300 people. (2006). Sucre is located in south-central Bolivia. In 1839, the city was named in honor of Antonio José de Sucre y Alcalá (1795-1830), "Grand Marshal Ayacucho" (Gran Mariscal de Ayacucho) - one of the leaders of the war for the independence of the Spanish colonies in Latin America and President of Bolivia in 1826 - 1828.
The ancient city of Tiwanaku Tiwanaku or Taipikala is an ancient settlement in Bolivia, 72 km from La Paz near the eastern shore of Lake Titicaca. According to the materials of excavations, this settlement dates back to 1500 BC. e. Already in the II-IX centuries. Tiwanaku - the largest city in the Central Andes region - was the center of the state of Pukin. In the Pukin language, it was called Taipikala, that is, "the center of the world." At that time, the city occupied about 6 km², and had 40 thousand inhabitants. Approximately in 1180, the city was abandoned by the inhabitants, after the defeat of Pukin by the Kolya (Aymara) tribes. Puma Punku stone structures are located 1 km from Tiwanaku. The language of the Tiwanaku and Mollo cultures was most likely the Pukin language, whose speakers switched to Quechua and Spanish in the 18th century. During the existence of the Inca Empire, its rulers did not use the Quechua language, which was spoken by the population of the empire, but the secret language "Capac Simi" (also most likely Puquina).
Noel Kempff Mercado (National Park) Noel Kempff National Park. Mercado is located in the province of José. Miguel de Velasco of the Santa Cruz department in eastern Bolivia on the border with Brazil. The territory of the park is 15,838 km 2, which makes it one of the largest parks in the entire Amazon basin. In 2000, the park was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Chile: Easter Island About Easter Island - an island in the South Pacific Ocean, the territory of Chile. The local name of the island is Rapa Nui (rap. Rapa Nui). Area - 163.6 km². Along with the archipelago, Tristan da Cunha is the most remote inhabited island in the world. The distance to the continental coast of Chile is 3703 km, to Pitcairn Island, the nearest inhabited place, is 1819 km. The island was discovered by the Dutch traveler Jacob Roggeveen on Easter Sunday 1722. The capital of the island and its only city is Hanga Roa. In total, 5034 people live on the island (2011). Rapa Nui is largely known for its moai, or stone statues made of compressed volcanic tuff, which, according to the beliefs of local residents, contain the supernatural power of the ancestors of the first king of Easter Island - Hotu-Matu'a. In 1888, annexed by Chile. In 1995, Rapa Nui National Park became a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Easter Island Moai - stone statues on the coast of Easter Island in the form of a human head with a body truncated approximately to the level of the belt. Their height reaches up to 20 meters. Contrary to popular belief, they do not look towards the ocean, but inland. Some moai have red stone caps. Moai were made in quarries in the center of the island. How they were delivered to the coast is unknown. According to legend, they "walked" on their own. Recently, enthusiastic volunteers have found several ways to transport stone blocks. The Norwegian traveler Thor Heyerdahl in his book "Aku-Aku" gives a description of one of these methods, which was tested in action by local residents. So, one of the Moai, overturned from the pedestal, was hoisted back by using logs slipped under the statue as levers, by swinging which it was possible to achieve small movements of the statue along the vertical axis. Movements were recorded by lining the upper part of the statue with stones of various sizes and alternating them. Actually, the transportation of the statues could be carried out by means of a wooden sledge. The local resident presents this method as the most probable, but he himself believes that the statues still reached their places on their own. Many unfinished idols are in the quarries. A detailed study of the island gives the impression of a sudden cessation of work on the statues.
Sewell Mining town Sewell is an uninhabited mining town in Chile, located in the Andes at an altitude of 2000-2250 m in the commune of Machali, Cachapoal province, O'Higgins region, 85 km south of the country's capital - Santiago. The only large mining settlement in the 20th century, which was built for year-round use. In 2006 it was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The city was founded in 1904 by the Braden Copper Co. for copper mining in the world's largest underground copper mine, El Teniente. The city was built on steep mountain slopes that did not allow the use of wheeled vehicles, on the sides of a large central staircase that rose from the railway station. Along the stairs there were irregularly shaped platforms with decorative plantings of trees and shrubs, which served as public and green spaces of the city. From the central staircase, horizontal passages radiated in both directions, which led to smaller squares and staircases that connected parts of the city that lay at different levels. The buildings on the streets are made of wood, many of them painted in bright colors - green, yellow, red and blue. In 1998, the Chilean government declared Sewell a national monument, and in 2006 UNESCO listed it as a World Heritage Site as an outstanding example of a city that was created by industrial companies in remote parts of the world to extract and process natural resources using local labor.
Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works The Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpetre Works are now dormant saltpeter works located in northern Chile. In 2005 they were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Humberstone and Santa Laura are located 48 km east of the city of Iquique in the Atacama Desert in the Tarapaca region of northern Chile. Among other saltpeter developments that are included in this World Heritage site are Chacabuco, Maria Elena, Pedro de Valdivia, Puelma and Aguas Santas and others (in total, among the Humberstone and Santa Laura enterprises there are more than 200 former saltpeter developments) .
Ecuador: Galapagos Islands Galapagos Islands - an archipelago in the Pacific Ocean, 972 km west of Ecuador, consisting of 13 main volcanic islands, 6 small islands and 107 rocks and alluvial areas. It is believed that the first island was formed 5-10 million years ago as a result of tectonic activity. The youngest islands - Isabela and Fernandina - are still at the stage of formation, the last volcanic eruption was observed in 2005. The Galapagos Islands belong to the state of Ecuador and make up the province of Galapagos. The population of the archipelago is 25,124 (2010). Area - 8010 km². The islands are known primarily for the large number of local species of fauna and for the study of Charles Darwin, which served as the first impetus for Darwin to create an evolutionary theory of the origin of species. The islands got their name from the giant sea turtles that lived on them, in Spanish they were called in the plural "galápagos" - "water turtles". In 1986, the surrounding water area with a total area of 70,000 km² was declared a "marine conservation area", the second largest after the Australian Great Barrier Reef. In 1990, the archipelago became a haven for whales. In 1978, UNESCO declared the islands a World Heritage Site, and in 1985 a Biosphere Reserve.
Quito Quito (Spanish: San Francisco de Quito) - the capital, as well as the political, economic and cultural center of Ecuador, named after the ancient Kitu Indian tribe. Quito is admittedly one of the most beautiful cities in South America. It combines a large number of traditions and cultures. The architecture of the city is characterized by a harmonious interweaving of Spanish, Dutch and partly Indian style buildings. The city itself is located on a hilly area and is divided into three parts by huge hills: in the central part there is a colonial old city with museums and architectural monuments; the southern part of the city mainly concentrates working-class dwellings and industrial enterprises; the northern part - Modern Quito - is replete with financial centers, department stores, bank buildings and expensive housing. Also in the northern part of the city is the Quito International Airport. In 1978, the historic center of Quito became one of the first sites inscribed on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List. In the colonial part of the city, many cultural and historical monuments have been preserved, including the cathedral of the 17th century. , monasteries richly decorated with carvings and sculptures by ancient masters, as well as several notable secular buildings from the colonial period. In the churches of San Francisco, San. Agustín, La Campania and Santo Domingo have huge collections of ancient statues and paintings. The Church of San Francisco is the largest colonial building built by the Spaniards in South America.
Cuenca Cuenca (Spanish Cuenca) is the third largest city in Ecuador, the capital of the province of Azuay. The city is located in the Ecuadorian Andes (known as the "Sierra") at an altitude of about 2500 meters above sea level. The city was founded by Gil Ramirez Davalos in 1557 under the name of Santa Anda de los cuatro rios de Cuenca on the site of the ancient city of Tomebamba. The city center has many historical buildings of the colonial era, which are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The current population of the city agglomeration is about 400,000 inhabitants. Its economy is based on agriculture and industry. The city also has eight universities, the oldest of which is the University of Cuenca, which has about 12,000 students. The history of the city began long before the arrival of the Spaniards and even the Incas. The city was founded by the Cañari Indians under the name Guanpodeleg (meaning "earth as big as the sky") around 500. Approximately 50 years before the arrival of the Spaniards in America, the city was conquered by the Incas and was named Tumebamba. The Incas significantly rebuilt the city, replacing the architecture with their own, but not completely depriving the national consciousness of the Cañari people. The city became one of the political centers of the empire, but was destroyed during the struggle for power between Atahualpa and Huascar.
Venezuela: Canaima National Park Canaima National Park (Spanish: Parque Nacional Canaima) is a park in the southeast of Venezuela, on the border with Brazil and Guyana. The area of the park is about 30,000 km². It is located in the state of Bolivar and occupies approximately the same territory as the Gran Sabana Natural Park. The park was opened on June 12, 1962 and is the second largest in the country, second only to Parima-Tapirapeco. In 1994, Canaima was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The main attraction and value of the park are the tepui (flat-topped mountains) located there. The park's most famous tepui are Roraima (the highest and easiest to climb) and Auyantepui, home to the famous Angel Falls, the highest in the world. Tepuis are sandstones formed during an era when South America and Africa were part of the same supercontinent. The territory of the national park is the homeland of the Pemon Indian people, who revere tepui as the home of the mawari spirits. The park is located in a remote area; There are very few roads connecting settlements, so the main transport is small aircraft, as well as walking and canoeing along rivers. Most of the locals are pemons who are mainly employed in the tourism sector.
Santa Ana de Coro, the full name of Santa Ana de Coro (Spanish: Coro, Santa Ana de Coro) is a city in northwestern Venezuela, the administrative center and largest city of the state of Falcon. Population - 174 thousand inhabitants (2001). The city is located on a sandy plain at the base of the Paraguana Peninsula. The port of La Vela de Coro on the Caribbean coast is located 12 km northeast of the city center. In 1950, the historic center of the city was declared a national monument. In 1993, Koro was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Suriname: Paramaribo Paramaribo (Dutch. Paramaribo) is the administrative center, capital, largest city and main port of Suriname. The historic center of the city has been a World Heritage Site since 2002 (one of only two World Heritage Sites in Suriname along with the Central Suriname Conservation Area). Paramaribo was founded by the French in 1640. The name of the city in translation from Tupi-Guarani means "inhabitants of the big water". Since 1667, the city, together with the entire territory of Suriname, under an agreement between the Netherlands and Great Britain, came under the rule of the Netherlands and received the status of an administrative Dutch possession of Suriname. The colony was ceded to the Dutch in exchange for territories in North America (the area of modern New York). Since 1954 it has been the center of an autonomous state within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Officially, the city became the capital of the Republic of Suriname after the country achieved independence in 1975. The capital is home to the only university in the country, founded in 1968, the city has one museum where you can see archaeological exhibits, exhibitions on the history of Surinamese culture and the natural history of the region. The center of the city is Independence Square, located near the walls of the presidential palace. Immediately behind the palace is the city park, and to the east of the square is Fort Zeelandia, a coastal fortified fortress from the 17th century. In general, the architecture of the city is a combination of imposing brick colonial buildings with grassy squares of squares and wooden buildings, narrow streets lined with tall palm trees and mangroves fringing the city's waterfront.
Central Suriname Conservation Area The Central Suriname Conservation Area (Dutch. Natuurreservaat van Centraal-Suriname) is a conservation area in Suriname. The territory of the reserve occupies 16 thousand km², it consists mainly of tropical forests of the Guiana Highlands. The reserve is home to many species of animals, which are also under state protection. On the territory of the reserve there is a unique granite monolith - Voltzberg, whose age is 1.8 - 2 billion years. It has two peaks separated by a crack: one of them has a height of 245 meters above sea level, the other 209 meters. The monolith itself is located at an altitude of 150 meters above the surroundings. This monolith is 1.1 km long in the north-south direction and up to 700 meters wide in the east-west direction. Only at the top of the monolith there is sparse vegetation.
Uruguay: Colonia del. Sacramento Colonia del Sacramento (Spanish: Colonia del Sacramento, formerly port. Colônia do Sacramento) is a city and port in southwestern Uruguay, on the coast of La Plata Bay. Capital of the department of Colonia. Located about 177 km west of the country's capital, the city of Montevideo. The city is known for its historic district, which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The city's economy is based on textile production. Colonia del Sacramento is a free economic zone. The city was founded by the Portuguese in 1680.
