Around the World in the Hetzel Kitchen

Name : Named after Simon Bolivar Location : Central South America, southwest of Brazil Area : Over 1,000,000 sq km, 28th in the world          Slightly less than three times the size of Montana (what a horrible comparison...) Coast : One of only two landlocked countries in South America (thanks, Social Studies!) Population : Over 10 million, 83rd in the world Capital : La Paz, highest capital in the world Religion : 95% Roman Catholic Conventional Long Form of Name : Plurinational State of Bolivia Diplomacy : In 2008, both the US and Bolivia expelled the ambassador to the other country.  These positions remain vacant. Airports : 881, 8th in the world Drugs : World's third-largest cultivator of coca; 3rd largest producer of cocaine Source:  CIA World Factbook From the beginning, Bolivia was a country I was looking forward to.  And no, not because of a Jeopardy question this time.  Now, we're back to grade school an...

Background : Bhutan has had a lot of changes and foreign influence over time, as both Britain and India have controlled their foreign affairs while they tried to control their internal ones.  They are transitioning away from a traditional monarchy.  If I am understanding the CIA Factbook correctly. Location : Southern Asia, between China and India Area : Less than 40,000 sq km, 136th in the world           About half the size of Indiana Name : Translates as Land of the Thunder Dragon, which refers to the violent storms from the Himalayas Geography : Controls several key Himalayan passes Population : Over 700,000; 164th in the world (consistent with the first modern census, not the government reported figures) Median age : 24.2 years Capital : Thimphu Diplomacy : The US and Bhutan have no formal diplomatic relations National Anthem : Translated, the title means "The Thunder Dragon Kingdom" Labor : 4% unemployment rate...

Background : Benin was the first African country to successfully transfer power from a dictatorship to democracy Location : Western Africa, between Nigeria and Togo Area : Over 1000,000 sq km, 101st in the world           Slightly smaller than Pennsylvania Coast : 121 km, Difficult access due to sandbanks Population : Almost 9.5 million, 89th in the world Birth rate : Over 38 births/1000 population; 15th in the world Life expectancy at birth : 59.84 years, 188th in the world HIV/AIDS : 1.2%, 39th in the world Health : Very high risk of major infectious disease Official language : French Literacy : Only 23.3% for women over the age of 15 Capital : Porto-Novo Disputes : Many border issues with neighbors, including Togo, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Nigeria Cuisine : Staples include corn and yam.  Fruit is easy to find, but meat is expensive Source:  CIA World Factbook It wasn't very hard to figure out the national dish o...