In SSC, Banking, LIC, Railways, and other competitive exams, the General Awareness section plays an important role nowadays since it is a very scoring section. In this article, we will cover one of the topics of this section: “Countries and their Currencies”. this is a very easy topic; if students read it comprehensively they will score good marks and the possibility of their selection will increase.
South America: An Introduction
- South America is known as the “Continent of Extremes”.
- It is known as the land of the largest river in the world.
- The driest place on earth is called the Atacama Desert and is also present in the South American continent.
- South America is known for being the continent where most people of indigenous descent live. Therefore, it has a wide range of cultural traditions. As you know, there are approximately 300 languages in South America, and there are also hundreds of different cultures and traditions unique to the continent.
- Among the cultures and traditions of South America, the best known are the Christmas walnut cake, prepared with peas and vegetables on New Year’s Eve, and the magic cake at the maid of honour’s tea.
- The culture of South America was shaped by the Colombian civilization, the indigenous tribes, the African slaves, and the European and Asian immigrants.
Spanish is the most widely spoken official language in South America and Portuguese is also the main language in some South American countries. Other local languages are also spoken in this.
- Most of South America’s history revolves around its indigenous tribes. There were troops of Europeans, Indians, and also French who visited South America too early and settled. It is known that the first humans found on the continent were some humans who lived 15,000 years ago.
- These people were known to have crossed the Bering Land Bridge, now called the Bering Strait. This group of people came from Russia.
- South America has some of the greatest known civilizations in history anywhere in the world. There were also traces of resident Catholics. In addition, the minority population of South America consists of non-religious people. Art, culture, philosophy, and law have been influenced by the religions represented in South America.
- Like any other country, the South American continent allows full freedom to practice and profess any religion of your choice. It is also known that the South American states have no official state religion.
- The most famous foods of South America are based on the country’s origin and the civilizations the continent has had throughout history. For example, in Peru, ceviche is the most famous food. Some other famous South American foods are: arepas, empanadas, pisco sour, yerba mate, pastel, brigadeiros, dulce de leche, etc.
- The staple foods of South America are corn, potatoes, and other types of tubers. Authentic South American dishes are guaranteed to have everyone licking their fingers. Trout is a well-known food in South America. This is mainly consumed in the freshwater region. Peanuts are known to be native to South America.
List of countries and their currencies: South America
Serial No. |
Country |
Currency |
| 1 | Argentina | Argentine peso |
| 2 | Bolivia | Bolivian boliviano |
| 3 | Brazil | Brazilian real |
| 4 | Chile | Chilean peso |
| 5 | Colombia | Colombian peso |
| 6 | Ecuador | United States dollar |
| 7 | Falkland Islands (UK) | Falkland Islands pound |
| 8 | French Guiana (France) | European euro |
| 9 | Guyana | Guyanese dollar |
| 10 | Paraguay | Paraguayan guarani |
| 11 | Peru | Peruvian sol |
| 12 | South Georgia Island (UK) | Pound sterling |
| 13 | Suriname | Surinamese dollar |
| 14 | Uruguay | Uruguayan peso |
| 15 | Venezuela | Venezuelan bolivar |
Frequently Asked Questions:
Que1. What is the currency of Colombia?
Ans. Colombian peso
Que2. What is the currency of French Guiana (France)?
Ans. European euro
Que3. What is the currency of the Falkland Islands (UK)?
Ans. Falkland Islands pound
Que4. What is the currency of Guyana?
Ans. Guyanese dollar
Que5. What is the currency of Uruguay?
Ans. Uruguayan peso
Que6. What is the currency of Suriname ?
Ans. Surinamese dollar
Que7. What is the currency of Peru?
Ans. Peruvian sol
Que8. What is the currency of Venezuela?
Ans. Venezuelan bolivar
Que9. What is the currency of Bolivia?
Ans. Bolivian boliviano
Que10. What is the currency of Brazil?
Ans. Brazilian real