The 2nd Largest Country in South America

What is the second largest country in South America? The total area of South America extends to 17,835,252 km² divided across 12 countries. 

Eight South American countries rank among the ten most significant countries in the Americas. Argentina is the second largest country in South America, covering 1,073,234 square miles and having a population of over 45,195,774 people. 

Paraguay is the second-largest country in South America by population. As of 9 October 2022, its current population was 7,330,888. It ranks 106th among the most significant countries by population.

Argentina- The 2nd Largest Country by Size

Argentina is a large country in the southern part of South America. It ranks eighth in the list of the largest countries in the world and is the second largest country in South America, following Brazil. It is around one-third the size of the U.S. 

Argentina is bordered by Chile and the Andes Mountains to the west.

To the east of the Andes, the inner part of the country is outstretched and fertile grassland called the Pampas. 

The Atlantic Ocean is the country’s eastern frontier. Bolivia has a northwest border, and Paraguay is the north. The Andes’s high mountain spine, called the Andes Cordillera, forms a natural 3,195-mile border with Chile.

The country is split into the Andes, the North, the Pampas, and Patagonia. 

5 Famous Landmarks in Argentina

The Argentinian landscape is vast and wild, full of roaring waterfalls and hidden remains of ancient civilisations. Argentina features plenty of cultural, natural, and historical landmarks.

The cities are filled with life, from busy streets and food markets to creative corners packed with bookstores and cafes. Its natural spectacles combine numerous wild landscapes, from cloudy jungles to high-altitude glaciers. Let’s have a look at the top 5 landmarks:

Tren A Las Nubes

The Tren a las Nubes, or in English Train to the Clouds, is Argentina’s most famous train trip. The journey starts from Salta and takes passengers through some of the country’s most stunning landscapes.

The train travels through the Lerma Valley, passing by the bright Quebrada del Toro and even across a stunning bridge. From an incredible altitude of 4200 metres above sea level, the views over the desert canyon of La Polvorilla are spectacular.

The train is the world’s fourth highest and reaches the peak of its trip at 4200 metres high at the end of the railway line. The journey to the Clouds is not short, so it could take around 15 hours.

Museo Arquelogia De Alta Montana

The Museo Arquelogia de Alta Montana, or MAAM as it is locally called, was one of the first museums in Argentina. The museum holds one of the most significant exhibitions in the world, concentrating on Incan culture and heritage.

The most prominent collection in the Incan exhibition is of the child sacrifices left on some of the most challenging peaks in the Andes.

Find any of the three mummified children. The bodies are on a rotation extending six months each. The bodies were found at the peak of Llullaillaco in 1999 and are a harsh reminder of the sacrifices the Incan people made centuries ago.

Recoleta Cemetery

Recoleta Cemetery is sometimes called the “world’s best cemetery”. It is located in Buenos Aires and is one of the landmarks that can not be missed.

The graves there are not the same as the underground ones but are splendid and decorated mausoleums above ground, making it an exciting place to explore.

The cemetery’s design is distinctive. Each mausoleum features Romanesque pillars, intricate scrolls, and carvings. The mausoleums are unusually low, with multiples resting at about shoulder height.

Some of Argentina’s most significant figures, such as Evita, are buried in the cemetery. It is worth visiting, as the site contains over 6400 graves.

Buenos Aires Obelisk

It was built in 1936 to celebrate Pedro de Mendoza’s foundation of Buenos Aires’s fourth centenary in 1536. The monument is one of the most prominent landmarks in Argentina. It marks the spot where the national flag of Argentina was first raised.

Argentinian architect Alberto Prebisch designed the 67.5-metre-tall obelisk. Inside the structure, a ladder leads up to the viewing platform, which is closed to the public.

Shrine of Llullaillaco Summit

The Shrine of Llullaillaco Summit is the world’s highest ceremonial site.

The site commemorates where the Llullaillaco mummies were discovered between 1983 and 1985 in northwest Argentina. 

Three pristine child mummies are exhibited at the Museo Arquelogia de Alta Montana. The mummies discovered at the shrine were buried with over 100 objects, such as fabrics, silver, gold, and pottery. One of the girls was found wearing a decorated ceremonial headdress.

Because of the extremely cold and dry climate at the summit of Llullaillaco, the mummies were exceptionally well preserved and are among the best-preserved mummies in the world.

Today, on getting to the summit, a small shrine has been built to remember the children who were sacrificed as part of the Incan ceremonies.

Argentina’s Prominent 4 Haunted Places

Argentina has multiple areas where ghosts stay. You should consider visiting these horror places with a torch in Argentina. Bajo Negro lies at Cinco Saltos, a region commonly referred to as the City of Witches. 

Black magic and so much darkness and occurrences are happening in the region. Bajo Negro is well-known for being the home of witchcraft and dark magic. Rumour say that Bajo Negro sees no sunshine. 

People say that multiple witches organise strange rituals in this place. There have been constant sightings of secret cult members adorned in dark shrouds performing paranormal activities. Let’s have a look at the following two haunted places. 

 Gran Hotel Viena

The Gran Hotel Viena is located in Cordoba. It was built in 1940 with the sole aim of hosting many European guests. In 1977, flooding affected the hotel’s surroundings. 

The government sorted the situation by granting affected families refuge at the deserted hotel. After noticing other inhabitants in the house, the elated families found their newfound happiness was short-lived. 

Witnesses confirm seeing some ghosts in the hotel. Some people saw the ghost of the first security guard withholding keys at home. The other ghost is thought to be his lover, who mysteriously disappeared the year the hotel was constructed. 

Pellegrini Lake

Pellegrini Lake is a real-life horror story that will make you crazy. Pellegrini Lake lies in the Cinco Saltos region. A child drowned while crossing the lake. 

Visitors have reported hearing screams and weird cries from a child around the area. The locals assert that the child’s soul is still restless. Unidentified flying objects have been reported around the lake, which is thought to be a meeting spot for witches. It is one of the scariest sites you can see in Argentina.

El Palacio de Los Bichos

El Palacio de Los Bichos lies at Campana 3220, Villa del Parque. It is a 5-story house constructed in the 20th century, near the railway lines. 

Giordano, the house’s owner, constructed it for his newly engaged daughter, Lucia and her violinist fiancé. After their weddings, the young couple celebrated with some family members and walked outside the house to wait for their carriage. 

The disaster happened when they were hit by a moving train while crossing the other side of the road. People reported ghosts dancing and shouting in the house; spirits have also been noticed around the areas of the building that the grieving father locked after the tragedy. 

La Iglesia Santa Felicitas

The La Iglesia Santa Felicitas is a church at Isabel la Catolica 50, Barracas. It was constructed in honour of Felicitas Guerrero. Felicitas got married when she was just a teenager; she had a child who died before he was six years old. Her husband died when she was 24 years old, and she had to remarry. 

Her new husband became violent and jealous when he knew she loved someone else. In anger, he hit her and murdered her in the process. Her ghost has been restless since her death. It is thought that if anyone touches her statue, misfortune will happen to them.

Paraguay- The 2nd Largest Country by Population

Paraguay currently features a population growth rate of around 1.5%. Accordingly, the population will reach 7.6 million by 2020.

Paraguay has a total land area of 397,300 Km2. 61.6 % of the population is metropolitan. The median age is 26.3. 

Bordering countries include Argentina, Bolivia, and Brazil. Paraguay is located on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina.

Most Famous Monuments in Paraguay

Paraguay is undoubtedly impressive. It features a collection of celebrated cultures and deep-rooted traditions. A visit to the monuments in Paraguay starts with typical sightseeing tours, which offer an enriching experience of panoramic colonial buildings. 

Asunción is the capital city of Paraguay, the most populous city, and the most important commercial centre. It keeps flourishing more than ever. Indulge yourself in the overwhelming energy of the locals, coated in the stunning tongue of the Paraguayan language. Let’s check the most famous landmarks in Paraguay:

Casa Mayor Art Gallery

Address: Malutin 263, entre Guido Spano y Olegario Victor Andrade, Paraguay

Casa Mayor Art Gallery is a vivid space filled with creativity, colour, and art in every corner. This famous landmark in Paraguay is clean and well-preserved. It features a lovely theatre, an incredible art gallery, and a restaurant. 

The restaurant serves coffee and tasty food. It also offers a small parking lot, making it an excellent location for conferences and events.

Museo de la Memoria

Address: Chile 1066 entre Jejuí y Manduvirá, Paraguay

It is a significant Paraguay monument commemorating the country’s turbulent past. You can learn all the information on Paraguay’s history and military dictatorship. 

It features moving scenes and stories, files, collections of objects, and photographs of the horrors that the victims of the dictatorship endured. The guide describes this living record of the country’s heinous past.

National Pantheon of the Heroes

Address: Chile, Paraguay

This national monument in Paraguay is a well-known tourist attraction and a symbol of hope and determination. It is located in the commercial area of Paraguay, so it is easy to access. 

It is worth a visit due to its solid construction, fascinating architecture, and colourful stories of heroes. It was constructed to honour and recognise the selfless actions of Paraguay’s heroes who have battled in past wars. 

Various plaques reflect an appreciation for the sacrifices made besides multiple honourary inscriptions. All historical events are celebrated on the stages of the Pantheon. Guides arrange free tours for the comfort of visitors.

Museo de Bellas Artes 

Address: Eligio Ayala 1345, Paraguay

The entrance to Paraguay’s small but famous historical site is from the back street. It is home to a collection of art by local and European artists. It contains a lovely variety of more than 650 works of valuable art, sculptures, well-made paintings, ceramics, photographs and prints distributed across six different rooms. 

A book maintained at the entrance explains everything about the stunning pieces in the museum. An amiable and knowledgeable guide also willingly explains the various works in detail.

Estacion Central del Ferrocarril Museo

Address: Eligio Ayala, Paraguay, Paraguay

This fascinating railroad museum in Paraguay railway station displays various documents and objects from the past. It features a few rooms in Paraguay’s historic building. It is filled with old materials, electronic goods and radios, a steam locomotive and two rail cars. 

The original architecture and tools are maintained, and the historic vehicles are undoubtedly worth looking at.

The Hidden Gems in Paraguay

Paraguay is often overlooked when travelling around South America. Guidebooks do not provide enough information about its hidden gems, leaving it uncharted territory.

However, it’s a country rich with natural wonders, exceptional wildlife, and colonial metropolises for those with information. Let’s check the most famous hidden gems in Paraguay:

Encarnación

Encarnción is Paraguay’s “Pearl of the South” and is possibly the country’s most attractive city, with its charming riverwalk and famous urban beaches. 

It’s a spot where worlds collide: colonial mansions run alongside the streets, bordered by locals selling nuts and oranges to tourists. For cultural information, head to the adorning cathedral and watch the sunset among the locals from San José beach.

Cerro Cora National Park

Cerro Corá National Park is the largest National Park in Paraguay. It lies in the Amambay Department, around 50 km from the department’s capital, Pedro Juan Caballero, and the frontier with Brazil.

Cerro Corá hosts various sites from Paraguayan history, such as the spot where the last battle of the Paraguayan war occurred in the 19th century. 

It is where Francisco Solano López passed away due to an attack from troops of the Triple Alliance of Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay. Solano López is regarded as a national hero in Paraguay and was the nation’s second president.

Cerro Corá also features natural attractions, including many hills and impressive geological formations, which is rare in commonly flat Paraguay. Cerro Muralla is the most well-known because of its natural stone wall that people can climb. 

The park housed abundant wildlife like monkeys, jaguars, tapirs, and more. While spotting the animals may not be easy, you can easily see their footprints.

You can quickly enter the park by car. The other option is to take a bus between Pedro Juan Caballero and Concepción and get off at the entrance. 

You do not need to pay entrance fees to the park. You need water and food for your stay at Cerro Corá National Park. You can refill your water bottle through Park’s administration.

You can stay at the campsite without additional charge. It features showers and toilets. You may also ask to sleep in the Park’s administration, which usually has an extra bed.

Yaguarón

Yaguarón is home to the most stunning church in the country and the only complete church from the Reductions.

Its simple pitched roof, substantial wooden columns, and detached wooden bell tower are remarkable. If you have the time to visit it inside, you should. In that case, seeing this gloriously harmonious spectacular of painted and inscribed wood is a great chance.

Fray Luis Bolaños and Fray Alonso de San Buenaventura established Yaguarón shortly after Itá, about 1586–87. Today, Yaguarón still has a fascinating band called Peteke Petek. The band plays traditional music on old instruments, including the turú (cow’s horn) and drums of various sizes and shapes. 

There are two ideas of the derivation of the town’s name. It derives from the Guaraní jaguar (father of a dog), referring to a vast and terrifying dog used to threaten the place, or from the name of a reputable cacique (chief), Ñaguaru. 

Salto de Monday

Salto de Monday, the exquisite Paraguayan waterfall, lies just a few miles from the Iguazu Falls, one of the most famous falls in South America.

So, this spectacular cascade in Paraguay is mainly missed by tourists who run to more well-known waterfall parks in nearby Argentina and Brazil. 

Salto de Monday is a peaceful, relaxed affair free from the crowds’ hustle and bustle. However, it is not as impressive as the other nearby waterfalls. 

Saltos del Monday is not famous worldwide; however, for the pre-Hispanic Guarani indigenous, the local waterfall has mythological significance and functions as a significant meeting place. 

Visitors can enjoy short hikes through the rare Atlantic Forest, picnic under towering trees, or watch the chocolate-coloured Monday River roar down the greenery cliffs. 

Watch for outstanding birds named Great Dusky Swifts swooping in and out of the waterfall. These birds hide their nests behind the water to protect their young from jungle predators.

Filadelfia

Filadelfia is an entirely unexpected little town in the centre of Paraguay. Inhabited by Soviet Union Mennonites in the early 20th century, it is still German-speaking, and the primary industry is dairy. 

It features a quaint ice cream store in the centre and some delightfully traditional hotels with some European charm. Arrange a trip into the wild; the surrounding plains house pumas, jaguars, and the Chaco peccary.

South America consists of 12 countries. Argentina is the second largest country by population, while Paraguay is the second largest. Both countries have unique natural beauty and stunning landmarks.