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Showing posts with label Columbia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Columbia. Show all posts

Tuesday, September 8, 2026

Placenames in Brazil and South America named after famous people - not just Bolivia and Columbia

 Can you name places in Brazil and South America named after famous people? I immediately think of  Bolivia named after Simon Bolivar. 

Ask Gemini found me many more.

Brazil

  • Florianópolis (Santa Catarina): Named after Floriano Peixoto, the second President of Brazil.

  • Petrópolis (Rio de Janeiro): Named in honor of Emperor Pedro II of Brazil (Petrópolis translates to "City of Pedro").

  • Teresópolis (Rio de Janeiro): Named after Empress Teresa Cristina, wife of Emperor Pedro II.

  • Goiânia (Goiás) / Presidente Prudente (São Paulo): Named after Prudente de Morais, the first civilian President of Brazil.

  • Santos Dumont (Minas Gerais): Named after Alberto Santos-Dumont, Brazilian aviation pioneer.

  • Rondonôpolis (Mato Grosso) & State of Rondônia: Named after Cândido Rondon, famous Brazilian military officer, explorer, and indigenous rights advocate.

  • Duque de Caxias (Rio de Janeiro): Named after Luís Alves de Lima e Silva, Duke of Caxias, military hero and patron of the Brazilian Army.

  • Presidente Epitácio / Presidente Epitácio Pessoa: Named after Epitácio Pessoa, President of Brazil (1919–1922).

  • Joao Pessoa (Paraíba): Capital city named after João Pessoa Cavalcanti de Albuquerque, governor of Paraíba assassinated in 1930.


Rest of South America

Countries & Sovereign States

  • Colombia: Named after explorer Christopher Columbus.

  • Bolivia: Named in honor of Simón Bolívar, Venezuelan military leader and liberator of northern South America.

Capital & Major Cities

  • Sucre (Bolivia): Constitutional capital named after Antonio José de Sucre, Venezuelan independence hero and companion of Simón Bolívar.

  • Sarteneja / San Martin (Argentina & Peru): Dozens of towns across Argentina, Peru, and Colombia are named General San Martín in honor of José de San Martín, national hero and liberator of southern South America.

  • Valdupar (Colombia): Named after indigenous chief Eupar (Valle de Upar).

  • O'Higgins Region / Puerto O'Higgins (Chile): Named after Bernardo O'Higgins, supreme director and founding hero of Chilean independence.

  • Valdivia (Chile): Named after Spanish conquistador Pedro de Valdivia.

  • George Town (Guyana): Capital named after King George III of Great Britain.

  • Paramaribo (Suriname) / Cayenne (French Guiana): Port Louis / Cayenne named after French monarchs (King Louis XIV).

  • Barinas / Ciudad Bolívar (Venezuela): Formerly Angostura, renamed in 1846 to honor Simón Bolívar.

  • Maracaibo (Venezuela): Traditionally believed to be named after local Indigenous Cacique Mara.

Geographic Features & Regions

  • Magellan Strait (Chile/Argentina): Named after Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan, who navigated it in 1520.

  • Darwin Sound / Mount Darwin (Chile): Named after naturalist Charles Darwin during his voyage on HMS Beagle.

  • O'Higgins Glacier & Lake O'Higgins (Chile/Argentina): Named after Bernardo O'Higgins.

  • -ends-

  • How many more do you know? Please contact me through comments. 

  • This post will be updated later today and in the future.

    Please share links to your favourite posts.


Sunday, November 8, 2015

Gorgeous Girls In Glamorous National Costumes at World Travel Market: Ukraine; Columbia, UK, India


Ukraine.

Columbia.

Miss United Kingdom, India.


Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer.