South America Capitals Quiz
Can you match South American countries with their capitals?
🇨🇴 Colombia
Capital: Bogotá
Bogotá – Colombia’s high-altitude capital in the Andes
Bogotá is Colombia’s capital and largest city, located on the Bogotá savanna in the Eastern Cordillera of the Andes at about 2,600 meters above sea level. Historically nicknamed the “Athens of South America”, the city is the country’s main political, educational, financial, and cultural center. Its urban landscape includes colonial districts, government institutions, universities, museums, business areas, and a large public transport network.
📜 Timeline of Bogotá
1538: Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada established the Spanish settlement that developed into Bogotá.
1810: Bogotá became a major center of the independence movement that eventually led to the creation of an independent Colombian state.
19th Century: Bogotá consolidated its position as the country’s political and administrative capital.
2021: Main construction work began on Bogotá Metro Line 1, the first line of the city’s metro system.
Today: Bogotá remains Colombia’s national capital while major transport projects, including Metro Line 1, continue to reshape mobility across the city.
📊 Quick Stats
Founded
1538
Language
Spanish
Currency
Colombian Peso (COP)
Geography
Situated on the Bogotá savanna in the Andes
Time Zone
Colombia Time (COT), UTC−5
Colombia does not observe daylight saving time.
Calling Code
+57
Driving Side
Right-hand traffic
Nickname
“Athens of South America”
🏙️ Notable Neighborhoods
- La Candelaria: Bogotá’s historic center, with colonial-era buildings, museums, churches, universities, and government institutions.
- Zona Rosa: A commercial and entertainment district known for restaurants, shopping, and nightlife.
- Usaquén: A northern district with a historic center, restaurants, shops, and a well-known Sunday market.
🏛️ Iconic Landmarks
Monserrate
A mountain overlooking Bogotá with a church and viewpoints above the city.
Plaza de Bolívar
Bogotá’s main civic square, surrounded by national and local government buildings, the cathedral, and historic architecture.
Gold Museum
A major museum containing one of the world’s largest collections of pre-Hispanic goldwork and other archaeological objects.
Bogotá Metro Line 1: 2026 Construction Update
Bogotá is building its first metro line, a major addition to the capital’s public transport system. Metro Line 1 is being constructed primarily as an elevated railway and will connect southwestern Bogotá with central and northern parts of the city.
The project reached 82.33% overall completion as of August 31, 2026. Construction continued across the viaduct, stations, railway infrastructure, public-space works, and the Bosa depot and workshop complex.
In mid-September, the completed viaduct reached 18 kilometers, about three-quarters of the line’s total elevated route. The 18-kilometer mark was reached during the weekend of September 12–13.
Train testing on the viaduct was also underway in early September, with trains running on completed sections in both directions. These tests allow the railway, train systems, signaling, communications, and other operating systems to be checked as construction progresses.
Bogotá remains Colombia’s political and administrative center, with historic districts, national institutions, universities, businesses, and a transport system undergoing major expansion through the construction of Metro Line 1.
