Flags of South America

Argentina

Argentina stretches across the south of South America down to Tierra del Fuego, with the capital Buenos Aires. It is famous for the Pampas, tango and beef.

💡 Did you know? The 'Sun of May' in the centre of the flag recalls independence from Spain.

Bolivia

Bolivia is a landlocked country in the Andes of South America, with the seats of government La Paz and Sucre. It holds the world's largest salt flat.

💡 Did you know? The seat of government La Paz, at around 3600 metres, is one of the highest-lying capitals in the world.

Brazil

Brazil is the largest country in South America, with the capital Brasília. It holds most of the Amazon rainforest.

💡 Did you know? The stars on the flag show the sky over Rio de Janeiro on the night the republic was proclaimed in 1889.

Chile

Chile is an extremely long country on the west coast of South America, with the capital Santiago. It reaches from the Atacama Desert to Patagonia.

💡 Did you know? Chile is over 4300 kilometres long but on average only about 180 kilometres wide.

Colombia

Colombia lies in north-west South America with coasts on both the Pacific and the Caribbean, with the capital Bogotá. It is a major coffee producer.

💡 Did you know? Colombian highland coffee is regarded as some of the best in the world.

Ecuador

Ecuador lies on the west coast of South America right on the equator, with the capital Quito. The famous Galápagos Islands belong to it.

💡 Did you know? The country is named after the equator (Spanish 'ecuador'), which runs right through it.

Guyana

Guyana lies on the north coast of South America on the Atlantic, with the capital Georgetown. Large parts are covered by dense rainforest.

💡 Did you know? Guyana is the only South American country where English is the official language.

Paraguay

Paraguay is a landlocked country in the heart of South America, with the capital Asunción. It lies between Argentina, Brazil and Bolivia.

💡 Did you know? Paraguay is one of the few countries in the world whose flag has a different front and back.

Peru

Peru lies on the west coast of South America, with the capital Lima. The heart of the Inca Empire, with Machu Picchu, lay here.

💡 Did you know? The Inca city of Machu Picchu lies hidden high in the Andes and is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

Suriname

Suriname lies on the north coast of South America on the Atlantic, with the capital Paramaribo. Large parts are covered by rainforest.

💡 Did you know? Suriname is the smallest country in South America by area.

Uruguay

Uruguay lies on the Atlantic coast of South America between Argentina and Brazil, with the capital Montevideo. It is one of the smallest but most stable countries on the continent.

💡 Did you know? Uruguay won the very first football World Cup in 1930, which it hosted itself.

Venezuela

Venezuela lies on the north coast of South America on the Caribbean, with the capital Caracas. The highest waterfall on Earth plunges down here.

💡 Did you know? Angel Falls in Venezuela, at almost a thousand metres, is the highest waterfall in the world.