Latin America Challenge 1

Question

Depending on how it's defined, Latin America includes all of South and Central America, plus parts of North America and the Caribbean. As a public school student in the USA, I never learned mush about this large and diverse region. To make up for my ignorance, I've been trying to educate myself about the history, geography and culture of Latin American. I thought it might be fun for all of us to learn together through a series of short challenges. If the response to this first post is good, I'll post additional challenges every few days.

Don't try to look up the answers - see how much you already know! Every reasonable response will receive at least one vote. You can answer as many times as you want, but please only one answer per response.

Today's challenge: What was the first country in Latin America to build a railroad?

Great idea - SpanishPal, Jul 25, 2011

Answer 1

Cuba?

We have a winner! The first railroad in Latin American opened in Cuba in 1838. See details below. - LaBurra, Jul 25, 2011

Felicidades, SP! - SonrisaDelSol, Jul 25, 2011

Gracias - SpanishPal, Jul 25, 2011

Answer 2

Someone already said Cuba, but I'm going with Cuba as well. I thought I remember from reading Our Man in Havana that the first railroad in the Latin American world was there. Spanish Pal, I voted you up. So if we're wrong now we have company!

Well you seem to know what you're talking about, in my case it was just a random guess. So let's see where the wagon will arrive at :) - SpanishPal, Jul 25, 2011

Well, knowing what I'm talking about would be an overstatement. A vague recollection would be more like it! We'll see. - Jeremias, Jul 25, 2011

You were right - SpanishPal, Jul 25, 2011

Answer 3

Chile

Cl;ick for more amazing info

Very interesting link. Thank you! - LaBurra, Jul 25, 2011

Answer 4

Costa Rica

Answer 5

I would guess Panama, being a part of Columbia before Theodore Roosevelt's presidency. To get cargo from ocean to ocean.

Answer 6

Answer: Cuba. The first railroad was built between the cities of Havana and Guines, approximately 30 miles. It began operation in 1838. Chile's first railroad opened in 1852 and Brazil's in 1854.

Thanks to everyone for your thoughtful answers!

Answer 7

Ecuador..?

Answer 8

Argentina?

No, not Argentina. - LaBurra, Jul 25, 2011

Answer 9

Mexico?

Another good guess, but not correct. - LaBurra, Jul 25, 2011

Answer 10

Brazil

The first railroad in Brazil began operation in 1854, 16 years after the first railroad in Latin America. - LaBurra, Jul 25, 2011

Answer 11

My guess is Colombia - I know it was one of the bigger "banana republics"

Good guess, but it wasn't Columbia. - LaBurra, Jul 25, 2011