Which country is the largest on the South American continent. Geography of South America
South America is the southern continent in America, located mainly in the Western and Southern Hemispheres of planet Earth, however, part of the continent is also located in the Northern Hemisphere. It is washed in the west by the Pacific Ocean, in the east by the Atlantic Ocean, in the north it is limited by North America, the border between the Americas runs along the Isthmus of Panama and the Caribbean Sea.
South America also includes various
islands , most of which belong to the countries of the continent. Caribbean territories belong toNorth America. South American countries that border the Caribbean Sea - including Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana- known as Caribbean South America.The continent's area is 17.8 million km² (4th place among continents), population - 385,742,554 people (4th place among continents).
The length from north to south is (approximately) 7350 km. Length from west to east - (approximately) 4900 km
Languages
The most widely spoken languages of South America are Portuguese and Spanish . Speaks Portuguese Brazil , whose population accounts for about 50% of the population of this continent. Spanish is the official language of most countries on this continent. Also in South America they speak other languages: in Suriname They speak Dutch, in Guyana they speak English, and in French Guiana they speak French. You can often hearnative Indian languages: Quechua (Ecuador, Bolivia and Peru), Guarani (Paraguay and Bolivia), Aymara (Bolivia and Peru) and Araucanian language(southern Chile and Argentina). All of them (except the last one) have official status in the countries of their linguistic area. Since a large proportion of the population of South America is made up of Europeans, many of them still retain their own language, the most common being Italian and German in countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Venezuela and Chile. The most popular foreign languages studied in South American countries are English, French, German and Italian.
Climate zones
There are 5 climate zones in South America:
Subequatorial belt(2 times), Equatorial belt, Tropical zone, Subtropical zone and Temperate Zone.Hydrography
The most important river systems in South America are Amazon, Orinoco and Paraná , the total basin of which is 9,583,000 km² (the area of South America is 17,850,568 km²). Most of the lakes in South America are located in Andes , the largest of which and the highest navigable lake in the world is Titicaca , on the border of Bolivia and Peru. The largest lake in area is the lake Maracaibo in Venezuela, it is also one of the oldest on the planet.
South America has the highest waterfall in the world - Angel . The most powerful waterfall is located on the mainland - Iguazu.
South America is the wettest continent Earth.
Minerals
The subsoil of South America contains a very diverse range of mineral resources. The largest deposits of iron ores are confined to the ancient Precambrian of Venezuela (Orinoco River basin) and Brazil (Minas Gerais state), the richest deposits of porphyry copper ores are located in the granitoid batholiths of the Central Andes. Rare element ore deposits are associated with ultramafic alkaline intrusions in Eastern Brazil. Deposits of tin, antimony, silver and other ores have been found on the territory of Bolivia. Foredeep and intermountain troughs of the Andes throughout their entire length contain deposits of oil and gas, especially rich within Venezuela. There are coal deposits; deposits of hard coal are known in the Upper Paleozoic, brown coal - in the Cenozoic. Bauxite deposits are confined to the young weathering crust (especially in Guyana and Suriname).
Animal and Plant World
The natural world of South America is one of the richest on the planet. In the Amazon River basin you can find at least 44,000 different species of plants, 2,500 species of river fish and 1,500 species of birds. The jungle is home to huge spiders that feed on birds, and mammals such as armadillos and sloths. The rivers of South America are home to sea cows, freshwater dolphins, giant catfish and electric eels. Thousands of species of forest insects have not yet been studied.
In the Andes, alnacs and vicunas from the camelid family are found. The large running bird rhea, or American ostrich, lives in the steppes of Pamna. In colder areas on the southern edges of the continent, penguins and seals are common. On the Galapagos Islands, lying in the Pacific Ocean west of the coast of Ecuador, you can find such rare representatives of the animal world as the famous giant tortoises.
Fertile soils nourish the continent's rich flora. South America is the birthplace of prickly araucaria, rubber plants, potatoes and many domestic plants (for example, monstera).
The nature of South America is under threat of destruction. As people cut down forests, many species of forest animals and invaluable plants that have not adapted to new living conditions disappear without a trace..
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Report about South America
South America geographical location
South America together with North America form one of the parts of the world called America. These continents are connected by the Isthmus of Panama. South America is the fourth largest continent on Earth.
The continent's area is 18 million km2. The length of South America from north to south is 7000 km, and from west to east about 5000 km.
The continent is washed by two oceans: from the west by the Pacific Ocean, from the east by the Atlantic Ocean. There are quite a few islands near the mainland. The coastline is slightly indented. The northern shores of South America are washed by the waters of the Caribbean Sea.
South America climate
South America is the rainiest continent, because a significant part of it is located in equatorial latitudes. Moist, sea air enters this area from the oceans. The continent is home to the wettest place on the planet. On the western part of the slope of the Andes mountain system, near their northern end, so much water falls in rains per year that, if it flowed, it could cover the ground with a water layer of 15 meters. Near this place is the Atacama Desert - the driest place on Earth, where not a single drop of rain falls for years.
South America is located in the following climatic zones: subequatorial, equatorial, subtropical, tropical and temperate.
South America natural areas
Many natural areas have formed in South America. The largest areas are occupied by humid equatorial forests, savannas and woodlands, steppes and semi-deserts.
The equatorial rainforests are rich in flora and fauna. The savannas and woodlands of South America are poorer in the species composition of plants and animals than the savannas of Africa.
Relief and minerals
At the base of the continent lies the South American Plate. There are no earthquakes or active volcanoes on its territory. As a result of the processes of platform uplift, the Guiana and Brazilian plateaus, the Amazonian, La Plata and Orinoco lowlands appeared.
On the western coast of the continent are the Andes, they belong to the Pacific Ring of Fire. The highest peaks of South America are Mount Aconcagua, Chimborazo, and the Cotopaxi volcano.
Among the mineral resources on the mainland there are deposits of sedimentary, metamorphic and igneous rocks - oil, ore, uranium, diamonds, tungsten, platinum, gold, non-ferrous metals and natural gas.
South America population
The population of the mainland is about 422,5 million people and every day there is more of it. The indigenous population are Indians who belong to the Mongoloid race. But after the discovery of the continent by Europeans, the Spaniards and Portuguese began to quickly populate it. Later, blacks were brought in as labor force. Today the population of South America is diverse.
South America animals
It is rare to see large animals on the continent. Armadillos, sloths, exotic birds, anteaters, snakes, insects, crocodiles, predatory fish, piranhas, rhea ostriches, pumas, jaguars, and deer live here.
South America countries
There are 13 independent states in South America. Of these, Brazil, Argentina, and Chile stand out by area and level of economic development.
Sights of South America
The most popular attractions in South America are the Machu Picchu complex, the vast tropical Amazon, Lake Titicaca, Angel Falls and Iguazu in Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, the Perito Moreno Glacier, Easter Island and the Nazca Desert.
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The border between the Americas runs along the Isthmus of Panama and the Caribbean Sea.
South America also includes various islands, most of which belong to the countries of the continent. The islands in the Caribbean Sea belong to North America. The South American countries that border the Caribbean Sea - including Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana and Panama - are known as Caribbean South America.
The word “America” in the name of this continent was first used by Martin Waldseemüller, putting on his map the Latin version of the name Amerigo Vespucci, who, in turn, was the first to suggest that the lands discovered by Christopher Columbus are not related to India, but are the New World, first to Europeans unknown.
The tallest waterfall in the world, Angel Falls, is located in South America. The most powerful waterfall, Iguazu, is also located on the mainland.
South America is the wettest continent on Earth.
Rivers
- Amazon
- Parana
- Paraguay
- Uruguay
- Orinoco
Lakes
- Titicaca
- Maracaibo
- Patus
Extreme points
- Northern - Cape Galinas 12°27′ N. w. 71°39′ W d. (G) (O)
- Southern (mainland) - Cape Froward 53°54′ S. w. 71°18′ W d. (G) (O)
- South (island) - Diego Ramirez 56°30′ S. w. 68°43′ W d. (G) (O)
- Western - Cape Parinhas 4°40′ S. w. 81°20′ W d. (G) (O)
- Eastern - Cape Cabo Branco 7°10′ S. w. 34°47′ W d. (G) (O)
Political divisions of South America
|
Countries and territories |
Area (km²) |
Population density (per km²) |
|
| Argentina | |||
| Bolivia | |||
| Brazil | |||
| Venezuela | |||
| Guyana | |||
| Colombia | |||
| Paraguay | |||
| Peru | |||
| Suriname | |||
| Uruguay | |||
| Falkland Islands (disputed between Britain and Argentina) | |||
| Guiana (France) | |||
| Chile | |||
| Ecuador | |||
| South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands (UK) | |||
| Total |
- South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands have no permanent population.
- The islands belong to Great Britain and belong to the overseas self-governing territory of the Falkland Islands.
- South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands are considered part of Antarctica.
Policy
In the political arena, the beginning of the 21st century in South America was marked by the arrival of left-wing forces; socialist leaders were elected in countries such as Chile, Uruguay, Brazil, Argentina, Ecuador, Bolivia, Paraguay and Venezuela. Against this background, the development of a market economy and international cooperation is noticeable everywhere in South America, for example, the organizations MERCOSUR and the Andean Community were created, the goals of which are the free movement of citizens, economic development, the removal of customs duties and a policy of common defense.
Since 2004, the Union of South American Nations, also known as UNASUR, has existed and developed - an organization that unites almost all the countries of South America, created on the model of the European Union. Within the framework of the union, an advisory South American Defense Council has been created, it is planned to create a common parliament, as well as the creation of a single market and the elimination of customs tariffs between the participating countries.
Demography
Ethnic groups
At the ethnic level, the population of South America can be divided into three types: Indians, whites and blacks. In countries such as Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay and Venezuela, the demographics are dominated by mestizos (descendants of marriages between Spaniards and the indigenous population). Only in two countries (Peru and Bolivia) do Indians form a majority. Brazil, Colombia and Venezuela have significant populations of African descent. In countries such as Argentina, Uruguay, Chile and Brazil, the majority of the population is of European origin, of which in the first two the majority of the population is descendants of immigrants from Spain and Italy. Descendants of the Portuguese, Germans, Italians and Spaniards live in the south and southeast of Brazil. 
Chile received waves of emigration from Spain, Germany, England, France, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Scandinavia, Greece and Croatia throughout the 18th and early 20th centuries. According to various sources, from 1,600,000 (10% of the population) to 4,500,000 (27%) people from the Basque country live in this country. 1848 was the year of mass immigration of Germans (also Austrians and Swiss) and partly French, mainly to the southern regions of the country, hitherto completely uninhabited, but rich in nature and minerals. This immigration of Germans continued after the first and second world wars such that today about 500,000 Chileans are of German descent. In addition, about 5% of Chile's population are descendants of Christian immigrants from the Middle East (Palestinians, Syrians, Lebanese, Armenians). Also, about 3% of the Chilean population are genetic Croats. The descendants of the Greeks number about 100,000 people, most of them live in Santiago and Antofagasta. About 5% of the population is of French origin. From 600,000 to 800,000 - Italian. Germans immigrated to Brazil mainly during the 19th and 20th centuries in connection with political and social events in their homeland. Today, about 10% of Brazilians (18 million) are of German descent. In addition, Brazil is the Latin American country where the largest number of ethnic Ukrainians live (1 million). Ethnic minorities in South America are also represented by Arabs and Japanese in Brazil, Chinese in Peru and Indians in Guyana.
Economy of South America
In the post-crisis years of 2010-2011, the economies of Latin American countries showed serious growth rates, ahead of the world average: in 2010 growth was 6%, and the forecast for 2011 speaks of 4.7%. Due to historically high inflation in almost all South American countries, interest rates remain high, typically double those in the United States. For example, the interest rate is about 22% in Venezuela and 23% in Suriname. The exception is Chile, which has pursued free-market economic policies since the establishment of a military dictatorship in 1973 and has aggressively increased social spending since the restoration of democratic rule in the early 1990s. This resulted in economic stability and low interest rates.
South America relies on exports of goods and natural resources. Brazil (the seventh largest economy in the world and the second largest in the Americas) leads in total exports at US$137.8 billion, followed by Chile at US$58.12 billion and Argentina at US$46.46 billion.
The economic gap between rich and poor in most South American countries is considered larger than in most other continents. In Venezuela, Paraguay, Bolivia and many other South American countries, the richest 20% own more than 60% of the country's wealth, while the poorest 20% own less than 5%. This wide gap can be seen in many large South American cities, where temporary shacks and slums stand next to skyscrapers and luxury apartments.
| Countries |
GDP (nominal) in 2009 |
GDP per capita in 2009 |
HDI in 2007 |
|
| Argentina | ||||
| Bolivia | ||||
| Brazil | ||||
| Chile | ||||
| Colombia | ||||
| Ecuador | ||||
| Falkland Islands | ||||
| Guiana (France) | ||||
| Guyana | ||||
| Paraguay | ||||
| Peru | ||||
| Suriname | ||||
| Uruguay | ||||
| Venezuela |
Tourism
Tourism is becoming an increasingly important source of income for many South American countries. Historical monuments, architectural and natural wonders, diverse food and culture, picturesque cities, and stunning landscapes attract millions of tourists every year to South America. Some of the most visited places in the region: Machu Picchu, Amazon Rainforest, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, Margarita Island, Natal, Buenos Aires, Sao Paulo, Angel Falls, Cusco, Lake Titicaca, Patagonia, Cartagena and Galapagos islands. 
South American culture
South American culture has been influenced by historical ties to Europe, especially Spain and Portugal, as well as popular culture from the United States. South American countries have a rich tradition of music. The most famous genres are cumbia from Colombia, samba, bossa nova from Brazil, and tango from Argentina and Uruguay. Also well known is the non-commercial folk genre Nueva Canción, a musical movement that was founded in Argentina and Chile and quickly spread to the rest of Latin America. People on the Peruvian coast created excellent duets and trios on guitar and cajon in a mixed style of South American rhythms, such as Marinera in Lima, Tondero in Piure, in the 19th century the Creole Waltz or Peruvian Waltz was popular, the soulful Arequipan Yaravi and, at the beginning of the 20th century, the Paraguayan Guarania. At the end of the 20th century, Spanish rock appeared under the influence of British and American pop rock. Brazil was characterized by Portuguese pop-rock.
South American literature became popular throughout the world, especially during the Latin American Boom in the 1960s and 1970s, and following the emergence of authors such as Mario Vargas Llosa, Gabriel García Márquez, Pablo Neruda, and Jorge Luis Borges. 
Due to its broad ethnic ties, South American cuisine has borrowed heavily from African, American Indian, Asian and European peoples. For example, the cuisine in Bahia, Brazil, is well known for its West African roots. Argentines, Chileans, Uruguayans, Brazilians and Venezuelans regularly consume wine, while Argentina, along with Paraguay, Uruguay, and people living in southern Chile and Brazil prefer mate or the Paraguayan version of this drink - terere, which differs from other topics, that it is served cold. Pisco is a distilled grape liqueur produced in Peru and Chile, however, there is ongoing dispute between these countries regarding its origin. Peruvian cuisine combines elements of Chinese, Japanese, Spanish, African and Andean cuisine.
Languages
The most widely spoken languages in South America are Portuguese and Spanish. Portuguese is spoken in Brazil, which accounts for about 50% of the continent's population. Spanish is the official language of most countries on this continent. Also in South America they speak other languages: in Suriname they speak Dutch, in Guyana they speak English, and in French Guiana they speak French. You can often hear the indigenous languages of the Indians: Quechua (Ecuador, Bolivia and Peru), Guarani (Paraguay and Bolivia), Aymara (Bolivia and Peru) and Araucanian (southern Chile and Argentina). All of them (except the last one) have official status in the countries of their linguistic area. Since a large proportion of the population of South America is made up of Europeans, many of them still retain their own language, the most common being Italian and German in countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Venezuela and Chile. The most popular foreign languages studied in South American countries are English, French, German and Italian.
Sport
Sports play an important role in South America. The most popular sport is football, professionally represented by the Confederation of South American Football (CONMEBOL), which is part of FIFA and organizes tournaments, the main ones being the Copa America (an international tournament) and the Copa Libertadores (a competition between clubs). Uruguay, a South American country, hosted the first FIFA World Cup in 1930, and in the entire history of the competition, South American countries have won 9 times out of 19 (Brazil 5 times, Argentina and Uruguay 2 times each). Other popular sports are basketball, swimming and volleyball. Some countries have national sports, such as pato in Argentina, tejo in Colombia and rodeo in Chile. As for other sports areas, we can highlight, for example, the popularity of rugby, polo and hockey in Argentina, motor racing in Brazil and cycling in Colombia. Argentina, Chile and Brazil became champions of the Grand Slam tennis tournaments.
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brief information
When Christopher Columbus's ships reached Cuba and Haiti in 1492, the Portuguese were confident that they had sailed to the West Indies. However, in fact, they discovered previously unknown lands to the world, which later became known as South America and North America.
South America was once called “Spanish America” long ago, but the times when the Spaniards and Portuguese ruled this continent are long gone. Now in South America there are 12 completely independent states, each of which is of great interest to inquisitive travelers.
Geography of South America
Most of the continent of South America is located in the southern hemisphere of the Earth. In the west, South America is washed by the Pacific Ocean, and in the east of the continent by the Atlantic Ocean. In the north, the Isthmus of Panama and the Caribbean Sea separate South America from North America.
There are many islands in South America - Tierra del Fuego, Falkland Islands, Chiloe, Galapagos Islands, Wellington, etc. The total area of South America is exactly 17.757 million square meters. km. This is approximately 12% of the Earth's land area.
The climate in most of the South American continent is equatorial, subequatorial and tropical. In the south the climate is subtropical and temperate. Ocean currents and mountain systems have a huge influence on the climate of South America.
The longest river in South America is the Amazon (6,280 km), which flows through Peru and Brazil. The largest South American rivers also include: Paraná, São Francisco, Tocantins, Orinoco and Uruguay.
There are several very beautiful lakes in South America - Maracaibo (Venezuela), Titicaca (Peru and Bolivia), and Poopo (Bolivia).
On the territory of the equatorial belt of South America there are dense humid equatorial forests - selva, and in the depths of the continent there are tropical and subtropical steppes - campos.
The Andes mountain range (Southern Cordillera), the length of which is about 9 thousand kilometers, passes through almost the entire territory of South America.
The highest mountain on this continent is Aconcagua (6,959 meters).
Population of Young America
At the moment, the population of South America reaches 390 million people. It has the fifth largest population among all continents (Asia is first, followed by Africa, Europe and North America).
Representatives of all three major races live on the territory of the South American continent - Caucasians, Mongoloids and Negroids. Since the mixing of races in South America proceeded without any problems, now on this continent there are many representatives of mixed racial groups (mestizo, mulatto, sambo). South American aborigines (Indians) belong to the Mongoloid race. The largest Indian peoples are the Quechua, Araucan, Aymara and Chibcha.
In South American countries, the population speaks mainly Spanish and Portuguese. Indian peoples speak their own local languages (for example, Araucanian).
Countries
At the moment, in South America there are 12 completely independent states (Argentina, Brazil, Venezuela, Bolivia, Paraguay, Guyana, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Chile, Suriname and Uruguay), as well as 3 dependent so-called. "territories" - French Guiana, Falkland Islands and Galapagos Islands.
The largest southern African country is Brazil, with an area of 8,511,970 square kilometers, and the smallest is Suriname (area - 163,270 sq. km).
Regions
South America is generally divided into 3 main regions:
- Caribbean South America (Guyana, Colombia, Suriname, Venezuela, French Guiana).
- Andean states (Chile, Venezuela, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia and Bolivia).
- Southern Cone (Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil and Paraguay).
However, sometimes South America is divided into other regions:
- Andean countries (Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Chile, Peru and Bolivia);
- Laplatan countries (Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay);
- Brazil.
Cities in South America began to appear during the empires of the South American Indians - the Aztecs, Mayans and Incas. Perhaps the oldest South American city is the city of Caral in Peru, founded by Indians, archaeologists believe, about 5 thousand years ago.
Now the most populous South American city is Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina, which is home to almost 13 million people. Other major cities in South America are Bogota, Sao Paulo, Lima, and Rio de Janeiro.
More than 7 thousand km long and about 5 thousand wide, it has a total area of 17,800 square kilometers. The map of South America clearly shows us that it does not fit entirely into this continent; part of it is located in the North. The mainland's population is more than 385 million people. The cities of South America are amazing, they are stunning with the fusion of completely different, seemingly incompatible cultures: ancient and modern, European and Indian, and skyscrapers.
Characteristics
South America is a huge, completely unknown world, extremely vibrant and extremely interesting. The first thing that strikes the imagination is the variety of landscapes. The Andes (the ridge of South America and the world's longest mountain range at 9,000 km) have not yet calmed down: earthquakes and volcanic eruptions often occur here. Here there are tributaries of the famous Impenetrable Swampy Jungle in its jungle - the lungs of our planet. And nearby is one of the driest places on Earth - the Chilean deserts, the Argentine and Uruguayan steppes - hot, waterless, dusty. And nearby there are huge lakes, tall waterfalls and vast islands full of rocks. In the north there is the almost hot Caribbean Sea, in the south there is Tierra del Fuego and the cold storms of the Atlantic, the proximity of Antarctica with its penguins and icebergs. South America is so diverse that anyone can be interested in it, everyone will discover this continent.
Brazil
This is the largest state both in terms of area and population. The capital is Brasilia. The most vibrant city is Rio de Janeiro, full of tourists, carnivals and world-class beaches.
Argentina
It's also a big country. The capital is Buenos Aires, the city of the famous carnival (January 16), and for many inhabitants of the planet - the most beautiful in the world.
Bolivia
The government of this “middle” state prefers the city of La Paz, but the capital is Sucre. La Paz is very beautiful.
Venezuela
This is the place where South America, its north, and warm regions end. The capital of the country is Caracas, located on the shores of the Caribbean Sea, and on its outskirts begins the National Park with delightfully pristine tropical nature.
Guyana
Northeast coast, capital - Georgetown. A country of humid jungles - up to 90% of the territory is occupied by them.
Guiana
Although this is South America, it is a French overseas region and people are not allowed in without a visa. The administrative center is the city of Cayenne.
Colombia
North-west, capital - Bogota. The country is named after Columbus. There are many museums here, demonstrating the rich historical and cultural heritage, as well as an extremely interesting fusion of two cultures - European and Indian.
Paraguay
The capital is Asuncion, a beautiful and distinctive city with many architectural monuments.
Peru
The Andes of the western coast, the state of the Incas, which have not yet been solved. The capital is Lima, an amazingly beautiful city on the high shore of the ocean.
Suriname
A tropical country in the northeast of the mainland. Paramaribo is its capital, a city without skyscrapers, original, and has preserved its style.
Uruguay
This is the southeast of the continent. The capital, Montevideo, was glorified by a carnival that is no less famous than that of Argentina. Colonial architecture is not offended by eclecticism.
Chile
A long strip along the Pacific coast, breathtaking and As the poet said: “There is no country more beautiful than Chile.” The capital is Santiago, a city famous for coups, balneological tourism and beautiful views of the highlands.
Ecuador
An equatorial country in the northwest where the most important monuments of ancient culture, museums of the colonial and pre-colonial eras are concentrated.