This South America geography quiz mixes capitals and country borders with rivers, mountains, islands and coastal geography. Answer 20 multiple-choice questions, get a short explanation after each answer and finish with a score out of 20.
There is no timer. Questions cover both country locations and the physical features that connect or separate them.
Test your mental map of South America
20 questions · No timer · One point per correct answer
Easy, Medium and Hard are relative editorial difficulty levels for general geography learners, not standardized ratings. Every correct answer earns one point.
Choose an answer, then open “Show answer” to check it yourself. Interactive scoring appears when JavaScript is available.
Choose one answer, select Check answer, then continue to the next question.
Your South America quiz result
Easy
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Correct answer: Brasília.
Brasília is the national capital of Brazil.
Easy
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Correct answer: Andes.
The Andes extend along western South America across several countries.
Easy
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Correct answer: Peru.
Lima is the capital of Peru.
Easy
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Correct answer: Atlantic Ocean.
The Amazon River reaches the Atlantic Ocean on the coast of northern Brazil.
Medium
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Correct answer: Ecuador.
The Galápagos Islands are part of Ecuador. The archipelago lies in the Pacific Ocean.
Medium
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Correct answer: Paraguay.
Paraguay has no sea coast. That is what landlocked means.
Easy
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Correct answer: Buenos Aires.
Buenos Aires is the national capital of Argentina.
Easy
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Correct answer: Pacific Ocean.
Mainland Chile’s western coast faces the Pacific Ocean.
Medium
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Correct answer: Peru and Bolivia.
Lake Titicaca lies on the border between Peru to the west and Bolivia to the east.
Easy
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Correct answer: Colombia.
Bogotá is the capital of Colombia.
Medium
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Correct answer: Chile.
The Atacama Desert lies in northern Chile.
Medium
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Correct answer: Argentina and Chile.
Tierra del Fuego includes Argentine territory to the east and Chilean territory to the west.
Hard
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Correct answer: Orinoco River.
Part of the Colombia–Venezuela boundary follows the Orinoco River. Rivers can serve as international boundaries.
Medium
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Correct answer: Argentina and Brazil.
Brazil lies to Uruguay’s north and northeast, while Argentina lies to its west.
Hard
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Correct answer: Paramaribo.
Paramaribo is the capital of Suriname.
Easy
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Correct answer: French Guiana.
French Guiana is an overseas part of France. It is not an independent country.
Medium
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Correct answer: Strait of Magellan.
The Strait of Magellan separates the Tierra del Fuego archipelago from mainland South America.
Medium
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Correct answer: Caribbean Sea.
The Guajira Peninsula’s western shore faces the Caribbean Sea.
Hard
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Correct answer: Venezuela.
Canaima National Park is in southeastern Venezuela. Its characteristic tepuis are table mountains.
Medium
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Correct answer: Argentina and Brazil.
The Iguazú waterfall system lies on the border between Argentina and Brazil.
Turn your score into a map check
Each correct answer earns one point, with no penalty for a wrong answer. At the end, select Review answers to see every question and explanation, or Try again to replay the same set. The quiz does not save your score between visits.
- For capitals: locate the country first, then identify its capital. Do not automatically choose the best-known city.
- For shared features: look on both sides of the border. A lake, waterfall or archipelago can be shared by neighboring countries.
- For map relationships: connect each feature with the surrounding land and water, from mountain ranges to coastal peninsulas.
For a wider challenge, try the world geography quiz. If you would rather recall country names and fill a map, play the countries of the world quiz.
What Did We Learn Today?
South America is easier to picture when its places are connected: the Andes follow the west, the Amazon reaches the Atlantic, Lake Titicaca straddles Peru and Bolivia, and Iguazú Falls spans Argentina and Brazil. Islands, countries and overseas territories are different kinds of places, so identifying their relationships matters as much as remembering their names.
Sources & Data Notes
The questions use established locations and relationships. French Guiana is treated as an overseas part of France, and Tierra del Fuego as an archipelago shared by Argentina and Chile. River and lake questions avoid length, elevation and area rankings, which depend on definitions. References below support the answers and explanations.
- Capital-city references from UNData: UNData country profile: Brazil; UNData country profile: Peru; UNData country profile: Argentina; UNData country profile: Colombia; UNData country profile: Suriname.
- Mountains, deserts and coasts: Chilean Andes; Site Information: Paranal Observatory; Chile: Facing the Pacific Ocean.
- Rivers, lakes and waterfalls: Amazon River; Observing our Planet from Low Earth Orbit; Earth from Space: Lake Titicaca; Iguazu National Park.
- Islands and the Strait of Magellan: Galápagos Islands; Tierra del Fuego by Sentinel-1D.
- Landlocked status and country borders: Standard country or area codes for statistical use: M49; Ubicación Geográfica.
- French Guiana’s status: Overseas departements, regions and collectivities.
- The Guajira Peninsula and Canaima’s table mountains: Earth from Space: Guajira Peninsula, Colombia (STS046-104-27); Canaima National Park.
