High in the Andes: where life expectancy struggles at just 35 years
Ever since North Korea all but closed itself off from the rest of the world, it has often been referred to as the "Hermit Kingdom." The East Asian country's borders are some of the most impenetrable in the world, and the tight restriction of information in and out of the country prove the accuracy of its nickname.
While Thailand is known for its particularly friendly population, the nickname "Land of Smiles" goes a bit deeper than that. In Thai culture, there are no less than 13 distinct smiles that convey different meanings. For example, the yim yaw smile is a taunting smile that says "I told you so," while the yim cheun chom smile is a smile of pride and admiration.
Ireland has always been associated with the color green, and for good reason. The island nation's heavy, year-round rainfall makes its lands some of the lushest in all of Europe; truly an emerald shining in the Atlantic.
Few countries today evoke such primordial visions as Iceland. The raw, intimidating, and majestic landscape of glaciers, colossal igneous rock formations, and active volcanoes give Iceland the apt nickname of the "Land of Ice and Fire."
The French's affectionate nickname for their homeland is fairly self-explanatory. While the shape of the nation isn't a perfect hexagon, it does have roughly six main sides, hence the nickname.
There are many myths that seek to explain the origin of South Korea's nickname, ranging from ancient mistranslations to a visiting poet from India, but everyone agrees that witnessing the dawn in the calm forests or seaside mountains of South Korea make it obvious that "Land of the Morning Calm" is a fitting nickname.
The sheer volume and quality of the poets and poetry that come out of the South American nation of Chile make this one a no-brainer. Pablo Neruda, Gabriela Mistral, and Roberto Bolaño are just a few of the internationally adored poets who hail from the "Land of Poets."
The round-topped mountains that roll through the lush hills of beautiful Rwanda, including five volcanoes, make it easy to see why this Central African country is known as the "Land of a Thousand Hills."
Canada is known as the snowy crown on top of the Americas, a land with towering mountaintops and crystal clear glacial lakes. With the Canadian Arctic accounting for 40% of the second-largest country on earth, it's easy to understand why it is known as the "Great White North."
The Nile River, apart from being the longest river in the world, is immensely important not only to Egyptians, but to humanity as a whole. Since civilization first started to crop up along its banks, the gift of irrigation and rich soil in an otherwise dry area was essential to Egypt becoming one of the oldest and most enduring civilizations in the world.
The jewel of the Balkans along the coast of the Adriatic Sea, Croatia's nickname is fairly straightforward. Off the Croatian coast, over a thousand tiny, uninhabited islands can be found dotting the pristine waters.
Many choose to affectionately refer to the massive country of Brazil by its pre-colonial name. Long before Europe was even aware of the American continents, the native Tupi-Guaraní referred to their home as Pindorama, which translates to "Land of the Palms."
Finland's nickname also appears to be self-explanatory at first glance. However, the real numbers prove that name to be a gross understatement. Finland is home to just under 188,000 lakes. In relation to its people, that's one lake for every 26 Finns!
Bulgaria has long been associated with its breathtaking natural growths of roses. Deep in the Rose Valley, the Rose Festival is held every May and June, where thousands of locals and visitors rise before dawn to pick fresh roses by hand. This, added on to the fact that Bulgaria produces the most sought-after rose oil in the world, makes it clear why this country is known as the "Land of Roses."
One of the most famous nicknames of any European country, Italy earned this playful nickname due to the shape of the Italian Peninsula, which shares a striking resemblance to an upside-down piece of footwear.
Albania's culture is deeply intertwined with the symbol of the eagle. Not only is the golden eagle the Eastern European country's national bird, but the eagle has also been the only ever-present figure on the Albanian flag throughout its turbulent past. Many see similarities between the spirit of the eagle and the spirit of Albania, and choose to proudly call it the "Land of the Eagles."
Monaco is not only the second-smallest country in the world, but also the richest per capita, earning it the nickname the "Billionaire's Playground." Due to its unique and total absence of income tax and its prohibitively high cost of living, it is the premiere choice of residence for the world's wealthiest. Some studies estimate that one in every three residents of Monaco is at least a millionaire.
Nestled between Austria and Croatia lies Slovenia, a small Central European country on the eastern side of the alps that is truly a hidden gem of the continent. Warm, beautiful mountainside towns like Bled truly prove that Slovenia lies on the sunny side of the Alps.
The vast, grassy steppes and endless farmlands of Ukraine have earned it the nickname of the "Bread Basket of Europe." According to the CIA World Factbook, Soviet-era Ukraine produced 25% of the grain for the entire Soviet Union.
Nearly half of Norway rests within the Arctic Circle. During the summer, the sun never quite dips beneath the horizon, bringing entire months of uninterrupted sunlight. Hence, the nickname.
Although much of Mexico's indigenous culture and history has been sadly hidden from popular sight, the nation's nickname stands as an enduring testament to the old languages of Mesoamerica. In Náhuatl, an old Aztec language, the word "Mexico" is a combination of the words Metztli (moon), Xictli (bellybutton), and co (place). Or, in rough translation, the "Navel of the Moon."
The Catholic city-state of Vatican City, the smallest country in the world, is routinely referred to as the "Holy See." While modern vocabulary may make this nickname confusing, "see" was once used as a noun, originating from the Latin word sede, meaning "seat." In this fashion, the Holy See is simply the holy seat of the papacy.
The Equator runs straight through the Southeast Asian nation of Indonesia, giving it an even climate almost year round. The islands that make up the country are largely covered in dense, lush rain forests, earning the nickname the "Emerald of the Equator."
The dragon has been an important symbol in Chinese culture for thousands of years. In the days of empire and dynasty, the dragon was often used to symbolize the emperor's strength and wide-reaching influence.
Much of Malaysia lies beneath the typhoon belt, along which massive tropical storms regularly wreak havoc upon much of Southeast Asia and Micronesia. But thanks to the fortuitous placement of this nation, it has rarely been the victim of tropical storms, earning it the nickname of the "Land Below the Wind."
The Māori people, who inhabited the islands of New Zealand long before the first Europeans arrived, call their island Aotearoa, which translates to "Land of the Long White Cloud," likely inspired by the long, thin mountain chains that act as the spine of the islands, which are often shrouded in cloud cover.
The reasoning behind Singapore's nickname may be more obvious than you might think. In Sanskrit, singa pura translates directly to "lion city." Legend has it this is the name Prince Sang Nila Utama gave to the land when he first arrived, after spotting an animal that may or may not have been a lion.
Haiti, the nation that shares the island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic and is part of the Greater Antilles archipelago, has long been admired for its breathtaking beauty, crystal clear waters, and lush, forested inland mountains. For these reasons, it has been given the nickname the "Pearl of the Antilles."
Sri Lanka, the small island off the coast of the Indian subcontinent known for its unique and glorious beauty, is affectionately called "India's Teardrop" because of its teardrop shape and its closeness to the southern coast of India.
Sources: (Skyscanner) (The Travelling Twins) (Krauma)
See also: Modern cities built on ancient ruins
Nicknames have always been a fun way to express the way you feel towards someone or something in your life. Whether it's your best friend or your pet, chances are you have a special name for them that's not quite the official designation. Maybe someone's given you a nickname, too. Well, it's only fitting that the countries of the world would get the same treatment, and many nations have received or given themselves nicknames that reflect what makes them unique. Some are straightforward, others are more imaginative, but they all reveal something about the country that makes it special.
Curious? Read on to learn how countries around the world got their nicknames.
How countries got their nicknames
The stories of national nicknames around the world
TRAVEL Names
Nicknames have always been a fun way to express the way you feel towards someone or something in your life. Whether it's your best friend or your pet, chances are you have a special name for them that's not quite the official designation. Maybe someone's given you a nickname, too. Well, it's only fitting that the countries of the world would get the same treatment, and many nations have received or given themselves nicknames that reflect what makes them unique. Some are straightforward, others are more imaginative, but they all reveal something about the country that makes it special.
Curious? Read on to learn how countries around the world got their nicknames.