One of the continents of the Earth is South America. The location corresponds to the name - most of it is located mainly in the Southern Hemisphere, and a very small piece - in the Northern. It is washed by the waters of two world oceans - the Pacific and the Atlantic.

The area of ​​the continent is approximately equal to 17.8 million square kilometers. km, and the population is 386 million people.

The continent itself is very interesting for its unusual, vibrant and unexplored nature. First of all, you should pay attention to the interesting landscape. The mountain range immediately comes to mind - the Andes, which is a world landmark as the longest (the length is approximately 9 thousand km). Surprisingly, at present, the mountains continue to grow and amaze the inhabitants with their activity. Volcanic eruptions and fairly strong earthquakes regularly occur here.

Near the highlands stretches the abundant and wide Amazon River, famous for its swampy jungle. In the neighborhood of such a beautiful oasis, the most arid places on the planet are located - deserts, steppes of Argentina and Uruguay, where heat, drought and dust reign. Not far from such lifeless places are deep lakes with the highest waterfalls in the world that beat against the rocks. The North is washed by the hot waters of the Caribbean Sea, and the South attracts with Tierra del Fuego and the frosty fresh Atlantic, which is adjacent to the beautiful glaciers of Antarctica, its icebergs and penguins frolicking on them. Any person, regardless of their preferences and interests, will find a corner to their liking on this continent.

How many countries are in South America?

The continent consists of 12 independent countries:

And also there are 3 territories that have not acquired sovereignty and depend on large European countries:

• French Guiana (belongs to the possessions of France)
• Falkland (or Malvinas) Islands
• South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (both islands belong to the UK).

All states of South America are unique in their own way.

Argentina and Brazil

The largest countries, called Latin (because of the language), which literally catch the eye because of their size. Argentina covers an area of ​​more than 2500 sq. km. State capital - Buenos Aires. Many tourists consider it the most beautiful in the world. Here, on January 16, a famous carnival is held, which attracts guests from all over the world.

Brazil is probably the most famous of all South American countries and the most attractive for tourists. The owner of the largest territory, population and unusual nature. The most popular center for tourists is a vibrant southern city Rio de Janeiro, which has an abundance of beaches and many carnivals are held annually.

A small state with no access to the ocean. The most famous and largest city - Santa Cruz, however, the capital is Sucre, whose population is 370 thousand people. The government of the country, surprisingly, is located in a completely different city - La Paz, also known for its species.

Venezuela

A place with a pleasant, warm climate, which can be found on the map in the northern part of the continent. In the capital of the country - the city Caracas- guests relax on the shores of the Caribbean Sea, and then embark on excursions to the tropics untouched by people.

Guyana, Paraguay and Suriname

Small countries, interesting only for their nature. They are hard to find on the map due to their small size. There are no skyscrapers or other modern monuments here. In architecture, primitiveness is preserved as much as possible, most of the jungle has remained virgin, untouched. The climate is humid, but the vegetation is very diverse.

Colombia and Ecuador

The state named after the discoverer of America. Tourist wealth consists of a huge number of museums, where the entire cultural heritage is revealed - from the native Indian atmosphere to the European one acquired in the course of history. The capital of the country is little known - the city of Bogota, where the population is just over 7 million people. Such sights of Colombia as the river have gained worldwide popularity. Canyo Cristales where the water is so clear that you can see the bottom with all the colorful algae and mosses.

Compared to Colombia, it is less popular, and the territory is several times smaller, but there are also a large number of cultural monuments and museums, which is of great interest to guests.

Peru

The territory of ancient civilizations, rich in unsolved mysteries. State capital - city Lima located on the ocean. Natural conditions are so unusual and diverse that they have become home to the most amazing animals and birds on the planet. For example, a condor whose wingspan is 3 meters. When visiting a country, tourists first go to the city Machu Picchu famous for the sacred valley of the Inca civilization.

Uruguay and Chile

It is quite easy to find them on the map: small countries on the coasts of the southern part of Latin America. Chile, according to one poet, is the most beautiful country in the world, where the Andes stretch on one side, and the Pacific coast on the other. The capital - Santiago - is constantly filled with tourists who love an unusual vacation.

Uruguay boasts of its hospitality. Although it is small, it is full of all kinds of recreational entertainment - from architectural monuments to active sports (surfing).

The rest of the territories, which are rather colonies of other European large states, are interesting as a beach holiday, however, here you can find historical and cultural monuments of bygone times. South America is an amazing place with unique nature, where everyone will find something to do and relax to their liking.

brief information

When the ships of Christopher Columbus reached Cuba and Haiti in 1492, the Portuguese were sure they had landed in the West Indies. However, in fact, they opened to the world previously unknown lands, which later became known as South America and North America.

South America was once also called "Spanish America", but the times when the Spaniards and the Portuguese ruled on 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 waters of the Pacific Ocean, and in the east of the continent by the Atlantic Ocean. To 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, the Falkland Islands, Chiloe, the 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 mass.

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: Parana, Sao 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 moist equatorial forests - selva, and in the depths of the continent there are tropical and subtropical steppes - campos.

The Andes mountain range (Southern Cordillera) runs through almost the entire territory of South America, the length of which is about 9 thousand kilometers.

The highest mountain of this continent is Aconcagua (6959 meters).

Population of South America

At the moment, the population of South America reaches 390 million people. This is the fifth place among all continents in terms of population (Asia is in first place, then 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 went without any problems, now there are many representatives of mixed racial groups (mestizos, mulattoes, sambos) on this continent. South American natives (Indians) belong to the Mongoloid race. The largest Indian peoples are the Quechua, Araucans, Aymara and Chibcha.

In the countries of South America, the population speaks mainly Spanish and Portuguese. Indian peoples speak their own local languages ​​(for example, Araucan).

Countries

At the moment, there are 12 fully independent states in South America (Argentina, Brazil, Venezuela, Bolivia, Paraguay, Guyana, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Chile, Suriname and Uruguay), as well as 3 dependent so-called. "territories" - French Guiana, the Falkland Islands and the Galapagos Islands.

The largest South African country is Brazil with an area of ​​8,511,970 square kilometers, and the smallest is Suriname (163,270 square kilometers).

Regions

South America is usually divided into 3 main regions:

1. Caribbean South America (Guyana, Colombia, Suriname, Venezuela, French Guiana).
2. Andean states (Chile, Venezuela, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia and Bolivia).
3. Southern Cone (Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil and Paraguay).

However, sometimes South America is divided into other regions:

1. Andean countries (Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Chile, Peru and Bolivia);
2. Laplat countries (Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay);
3. Brazil.

Cities in South America began to appear during the empires of South American Indians - the Aztecs, Mayans and Incas. Perhaps the oldest South American city is the city of Caral in Peru, founded by the Indians, as 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.

Uruguay. The area of ​​Brazil is 8512 thousand km2, according to this indicator, the country ranks 5th in the world after Russia, and. The population is 159.7 million people, according to the form of government it is a republic, the capital is (1.5 million inhabitants).

The basis of the relief of Brazil is the Amazonian lowland - a huge swampy plain covered with dense jungle and indented by rivers.

In the north and south, respectively, are the Guiana and Brazilian plateaus - plains with a pronounced dry period, located high above sea level. Most of the country's territory is located between the equator and the southern tropic, equatorial and subequatorial are noted here, only on the southeast coast is tropical. The temperature here is constantly high, rarely drops below +20 °C. In the western part of Brazil, up to 2500 mm of precipitation falls throughout the year, in the rest of the territory the main precipitation falls in the summer.

The country's population is quite diverse in its ethnic and racial composition. Until the middle of the 19th century, Brazil was, therefore, the descendants of the Portuguese colonists make up a large part of the population. Together with other immigrants from them, they make up the majority of the population - 55%. Representatives of the Negroid and mulattos also live in Brazil. In the depths of the jungle, tribes that are at a fairly low level of development have survived. The level of urbanization in the country is very high -78%, the largest cities are Sao Paulo (16.5 million inhabitants), (10.2 million), Belo Horizonte (3.8 million).

Most of the country is covered with forests, which makes logging one of the specialization industries for the country. There are huge reserves of valuable timber in the jungle, but unregulated logging destroys unique forests. The country's government is forced to take measures to preserve the selva. Brazil is also rich in: manganese, nickel, there are deposits of bauxite, gold.

Brazil is the most significant of the countries in South America, its economic development is proceeding rapidly. Agriculture is at a high level, corn, rice, sugar cane, citrus fruits, coffee, cocoa beans are grown. In addition, the industry is also developing: mining,.

Venezuela

Venezuela is a country in the northern part of South America. It has access to the Caribbean Sea (Atlantic Ocean), borders on Guyana in the east, in the south and Colombia in the west. The area is 912 thousand km2, the population is 21.6 million people. According to the form of government, it is a republic, the capital is (3 million inhabitants).

Most of the country is located on, in the east is the Guiana Plateau, in the west - the Andes ranges. The climate is mostly subequatorial, in the north of the country - tropical. Throughout the year it is warm here, precipitation falls from 4000 mm in the foothills of the Andes to 700 mm on the plateau. From south to north, the country is crossed by the Orinoco River, which flows into the Atlantic Ocean. On its tributary - the Churun ​​River, which originates in the Guiana Plateau, is the highest in the world.

Until 1630, Venezuela was a colony, so most of the country is of Spanish origin. The basis of the population are mestizos and mulattoes, the share of the indigenous population is insignificant. A very high level of urbanization -93%, but Venezuela, like many other Latin American cities, is characterized by a "false" . The largest cities are Caracas, Maracaibo (1.6 million people), Valencia (1.4 million people).

The most important element of the Venezuelan economy is the extraction and refining of oil, Venezuela is one of the member countries of OPEC. In general, it is a developing country with an average level of economic development. Other important industries besides oil are metallurgical, textile, and food industries. Cattle are bred, rice, corn, coffee, citrus fruits are grown, and fishing is developed.

Argentina

Argentina is the second largest country in the world, located in the southern part of the mainland. It borders Chile in the west, Bolivia and Paraguay in the north, and Uruguay in the northeast, and has access to the Atlantic Ocean. The area is 2763 thousand km2, the population is 34.6 million people. According to the form of government, it is a republic, the capital is Buenos Aires (11.8 million inhabitants).

North America: Canada, USA, Mexico…. South America: Colombia, Venezuela, Bolivia, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Guyana, Suriname, Guyana, Uruguay, Paraguay….

Canada, USA, (North America) ; Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Venezuela, Haiti, Guyana, Guatemala, Grenada, Honduras, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Colombia, Cuba, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru , El Salvador, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, Chile, Ecuador, Yamaaaaaaika)) , (Latin America).

Chile Peru Brazil Guyana Venezuela well, my favorite is Peru

North America Antigua and Barbuda - Antigua and Barbuda - a state on the islands of the same name and Redonda Island in the Lesser Antilles (Caribbean Sea) in North America Bahamas Barbados Belize Haiti Guatemala Honduras Grenada Dominica Dominican Republic Canada - Canada (pron. English, fr. ) - a state in North America, ranks second in the world (after Russia) in terms of area. It is washed by the Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic oceans and borders the United States in the south and northwest. , in the southeast - with Belize and Guatemala, in the northwest it is washed by the waters of the Gulf of California and the Pacific Ocean, in the east - by the waters of the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea Nicaragua Panama El Salvador St. Lucia St. Vincent and the Grenadines St. Kitts and Nevis USA Trinidad and Tobago Jamaica Latin (South) America Argentina - Spanish. Argentina The official name of the Argentine Republic (Spanish: República Argentina) is the second (after Brazil) state in South America in terms of territory and population. Aruba - Aruba - a small island in the Caribbean Sea off the coast of Venezuela, an autonomous territory of the Kingdom of the Netherlands Bolivia Brazil, the Federative Republic of Brazil - Brazil (port. República Federativa do Brasil) - the largest state in South America in terms of area and population, the Capital is the city of Brasilia Venezuela Guyana Colombia Paraguay Suriname Uruguay Falkland Islands (disputed by the UK and Argentina) French Guiana (France) Chile Ecuador Peru

ecuador peru chile south america brazil united states canada argentida

Antigua and Barbuda - Antigua and Barbuda - a state on the islands of the same name and Redonda Island in the Lesser Antilles (Caribbean Sea) in North America Bahamas Barbados Belize Haiti Guatemala Honduras Grenada Dominica Dominican Republic Canada - Canada (pronounced English, French) - state in North America, ranks second in the world (after Russia) in terms of area. It is washed by the Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic oceans and borders the United States in the south and northwest. , in the southeast - with Belize and Guatemala, in the northwest it is washed by the waters of the Gulf of California and the Pacific Ocean, in the east - by the waters of the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea Nicaragua Panama El Salvador St. Lucia St. Vincent and the Grenadines St. Kitts and Nevis USA Trinidad and Tobago Jamaica Argentina - Spanish. Argentina The official name of the Argentine Republic (Spanish: República Argentina) is the second (after Brazil) state in South America in terms of territory and population. Aruba - Aruba - a small island in the Caribbean Sea off the coast of Venezuela, an autonomous territory of the Kingdom of the Netherlands Bolivia Brazil, the Federative Republic of Brazil - Brazil (port. República Federativa do Brasil) - the largest state in South America in terms of area and population, the Capital is the city of Brasilia Venezuela Guyana Colombia Paraguay Suriname Uruguay Falkland Islands (disputed by the UK and Argentina) French Guiana (France) Chile Ecuador Peru

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The extreme point of the mainland is the place where the mainland ends and the ocean begins. The geographical coordinates of the extreme points of all continents are given below.

The extreme points of the mainland Eurasia

The continent of Eurasia includes two parts (they are also called parts of the world) - Europe and Asia.

Political map and list of all countries in South America with capital names

The names and coordinates of the extreme points of Europe and Asia are as follows:

Extreme points of Europe

North - Cape Nordkin, coordinates 71̊ 08′ north latitude, 27̊ 39′ east longitude;
South - Cape Marroki, 36̊ north latitude, 5̊ 36′ west longitude;
Western point - Cape Roca, coordinates 38̊ 46′ north latitude, 9̊ 29′ west longitude;
Eastern - Polar Urals, the point with coordinates 67̊45′ north latitude, 66̊ 13′ east longitude is considered extreme.

Extreme points of Asia

The northern point is Cape Chelyuskin, coordinate 77̊ 43′ north latitude, 104̊18′ east longitude;
South - Cape Piai, 1̊ 16' north latitude, 103.3 east longitude;
Western - Cape Baba, coordinates 39̊29′ north latitude, 26̊ 10′ east longitude;
Eastern - Cape Dezhnev, 66̊ 04' north latitude, 169̊ 39' east longitude.

Extreme points of mainland Africa

North - Cape El Abyad, coordinates 37̊ 21′ north latitude, 9̊ 45′ east longitude;
South - Cape Agulhas, 34̊ 49′ south latitude, 20̊ east longitude;
Western - Cape Almadi, coordinates 14̊ 44′ north latitude 17̊ 31′ west longitude;
Eastern - Cape Ras Hafun, 10 degrees. 25" north latitude, 51̊ 21' east longitude.

Extreme points of mainland North America

North - Cape Murchison, coordinates 71̊̊ 50′ north latitude, 94̊ 45′ west longitude;
South - Cape Maryato, 7̊ 13′ north latitude;
Western - Cape Prince of Wales, coordinates 65̊ 35′ north latitude, 168̊̊ west longitude;
Eastern - Cape St. Charles, coordinates 52̊ 24′ north latitude, 55̊ 40′ west longitude.

Extreme points of mainland South America

North - Cape Galinas, coordinates 12̊ 25′ north latitude, 71 degrees. 35' west longitude.
South - Cape Froward, 53̊ 54′ south latitude, 71 degrees. 18'W.
Western - Cape Parinhas, coordinates 81̊ 20′ west longitude;
East - Cape Kaabu Branco, 34̊ 46′ west longitude.

Extreme points of mainland Australia

North - Cape York, coordinates 10̊ 41′ south latitude, 142̊ 32′ east longitude;
South - Cape Yugo-Vostochny, 39̊ 11′ south latitude, 146̊ 25′ east longitude;
Western - Cape Steep Point, coordinates 26̊ 09′ south latitude, 113̊ 09′ east longitude;
Eastern - Cape Byron, 28̊ 40′ south latitude, 153̊ 34′ east longitude.

The extreme point of the mainland Antarctica, Cape Sifre, is located at 63̊ 13′ south latitude and 57̊ east longitude.

Political structure of South America

South America is only 24 countries. Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Venezuela, Guyana, French Guiana, Colombia, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, Falkland (aka Malvinas) Islands, Chile and Ecuador. The countries of South America are developing countries. Major economies: Brazilian and Argentine. South American countries

Countries	Capital Cities		Countries	Capital Cities
1. Agrantina	Buenos Aires		13. Mexico
2. Belize	Belmopan		14. Nicaragua	mexico city
3. Bolivia	La Paz		15. Panama	Managua
4. Brazil	Brasilia		16. South American countries in the table Paraguay	Panama
5. Venezuela	caracos		17. Peru	Asuncion
6 Guyana	Georgetown		18. Salvador	Lima
7. Guiana (France)	cayenne		19. Uruguay	San Salvador
8. Guatemala	Guatemala		20. Chile	Montevideo
9. Honduras	Tegucigalpa		21. Ecuador	Santiago
10. Greenland	Gotthob		22. Suriname	Quito
11. Canada	Ottawa		23. Falkland Islands (UK)	Paramaribo
12. Martinique	fort de france		24. South Georgia (UK)	Port Stanley

South Georgia is a British colony. From 1982 until March 2001, a small English military garrison (23 people) was stationed. He was relocated to the Falkland Islands. A research center operates on the site of the military base. The island has no economic significance, it is under the control of the Falkland Administration.

The political structure of the countries of South America

Countries	Capital Cities	head of state	Form of government
1. Agrantina (Republic of Argentina)	Buenos Aires		Parliamentary republic
2. Antilles	Willemstad	(Netherlands)
3. Belize	Belmopan	Queen of Great Britain (Governor General) + Prime Minister + 2-chamber Parliament Nat. Meeting	A constitutional monarchy
4. Bolivia (Republic of Bolivia)	La Paz	President + Bicameral National Congress	Parliamentary republic
5. Brazil (Federative Republic of Brazil)	Brasilia	President + Bicameral National Congress	Federal Republic
6. Venezuela	caracos
7. Guyana	Georgetown	The president	Parliamentary republic
8. French Guiana (Guiana Department) (France)	cayenne		Overseas territory of France
9. Guatemala	Guatemala
10. Honduras	Tegucigalpa	The president	Parliamentary republic
11. Greenland	Gotthob	(Denmark)
12. Canada	Ottawa
13. Martinique	fort de france	(France)
14. Mexico	mexico city
15. Nicaragua	Managua	The president	Parliamentary republic
16. Panama (Republic of Panama)	Panama	President + 1-chamber Legislative Assembly of People's Representatives	constitutional democracy
17. Paraguay	Asuncion	The president	Parliamentary republic
18. Peru (Republic of Peru)	Lima	The president	Parliamentary republic
19. Salvador (Republic of Salvador)	San Salvador	The president	Parliamentary republic
20. Falkland Islands (Malvinas) (UK)	Port Stanley	Queen of Great Britain + Governor	On South
21. South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (official name of South Georgia) (UK)	- (No)	Operated from the Falkland Islands by British spec. authorized	On South
22. Uruguay (Oriental Republic of Uruguay)		President + 2-chamber Parliament	Parliamentary republic
23. Chile	Santiago	President + 2-chamber Nat. Congress	Republic
24. Ecuador (Republic of Ecuador)	Quito	President + 1-chamber Nat. Congress	Republic
25. Suriname (Republic of Suriname)	Paramaribo	President + 1-chamber Nat. Meeting	constitutional democracy

The largest states of Latin America are Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Venezuela, Colombia, Chile, Peru.

Brazil occupies not only the largest land area in the South American region, but also ranks first in terms of population. Brazil is a federal republic with a presidential form of government. In this it is similar to Russia. By the way, there are special partnerships between Russia and Brazil, since both of these states are among the five BRICS countries.

One of the tiny states of Latin America are Bahamas. This state is still formally a British colony. Therefore, a little more than 300 thousand inhabitants of the Bahamas call themselves subjects of the British Crown. Despite the tiny size of the state, here very high standard of living. For comparison, we can say that it is many times higher than the standard of living in countries such as Argentina, Brazil and Mexico. Therefore, of all the countries that make up Latin America, the Bahamas has the highest economic performance.

In the immediate vicinity of the Bahamas, is the poorest state Haiti. It is one of the countries in Latin America with the lowest standard of living. It is believed that Haiti is one of the poorest countries on the planet. The economy of this Latin American state is particularly damaged by frequent destructive earthquakes and a high level of corruption.

Territories of the large countries of Latin America(slide) indicated for countries whose area is more than 100 thousand km2, and for small countries(slide)- the area of ​​which is less than 1 thousand km2.

The ratio of territories of countries in Latin America in % (slide 17) takes into account only countries whose territories make up more than 1% of the joint territory. The remaining countries with a territory of less than 1% of the total area are listed in the “Other” position. Their combined weight in the total territory is only 5.9%.

Home / Regions / South America / Geography of South America

Geography of South America. Geographic description of South America

Geography of South America
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South America borders the Caribbean Sea to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, northeast, and southeast. In the west, the continent is surrounded by the Pacific Ocean. In the northwest, the Isthmus of Panama connects South America with North America.

What countries are located in southern South America?

In South America, you can find very diverse landscapes and reliefs - from deserts to rainforests, and from plains to hills.

Geographical features of South America

Amazonian lowland

The Amazonian lowland (Amazonia) is covered by the largest rainforest in the world, and the Amazon River and over 1,000 of its tributaries run through its heart, seven of which are over 1,600 kilometers long. On average, it rains here 200 days a year, and the total rainfall is over 250 centimeters annually.

The lowland drains about 7,000,000 square kilometers and covers about one third of all of South America. Originating high in the Andes, this river system irrigates almost half of the continent, and in terms of the volume of water eventually poured into the ocean, then it has no equal.

Andean Cordillera (Andes)

This jagged mountain system, approximately 7,240 km long, stretches from the southern tip of South America all the way to Panama.

These mountains are the source of most of the continent's rivers, and many of their chains include dozens of peaks over 6,000 m, the highest peak being Aconcagua in Argentina (6,960 m). In addition, these mountains are home to some of the largest volcanoes on the planet, while in the far south, along the coast of Chile, large glaciers and ice blocks are common.

brazilian highlands

This magnificent area of ​​southeastern Brazil is almost 1,300 kilometers long and contains a variety of mountain ranges, notably the Serra de Mantiqueira, Serra do Paranapiataba, Serra Guerral, and Serra do Mar. The approximate highest point is 2245 m.

brazilian shield

This shield is a geological formation south of the Amazon. Hundreds of rivers and streams flow through this region on their way to the Amazon. These rivers contain a large number of migratory fish species.

Guiana Highlands

This highland, which is over 1,600 km long, stretches from southern Venezuela to the northern border of Brazil. This is a vast plateau marked by deep gorges, tropical forests, numerous rivers and waterfalls. It is famous for the highest waterfall in the world (Angel Falls), 979 m high. The highest point of the highlands is Mount Roraima on the border with Brazil, Guyana, and Vezezuela, with a height of 2,810 m.

Llanos

This large and highly fertile plain, located in eastern and central Colombia and central and southern Venezuela, is drained by the Orinoco River and many of its tributaries. Its approximate size is 582,000 sq. km.

Cape Horn

The southernmost point of South America, which remains a maritime legend to this day, because. sailing past this remote point and through its brutal waters is one of the most dangerous sea routes on the planet.

Tierra del Fuego

Located at the southern tip of South America, the Tierra del Fuego archipelago consists of one large island (48,100 sq. km in size), and a number of smaller islands. Presumably, the archipelago was named by the Portuguese traveler Ferdinand Magellan, the first explorer to circumnavigate the globe. The route he chose through the Strait of Magellan turned out to be the fastest and safest way to cross from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean for seaworthy commercial and research ships.

Pampas

Known for its large number of cattle ranches, this large plain in the southern part of the continent (in central Argentina) stretches for almost 1,600 km and covers a distance of 761,460 sq. km.

Pantanal

The Pantanal is the largest swamp in the world. It is located mainly in southwestern Brazil, and covers a distance of approximately 140,000 sq. km. up to 195,000 sq. km. An amazing number of aquatic plants grow on its territory, and a large number of various animal species live.

Patagonia

Located between the Andes and the Atlantic Ocean, and measuring approximately 1,600 km in length, Patagonia stretches south from the Rio Negro to Tierra del Fuego and the Strait of Magellan. It is mainly a rocky, barren land known for its beauty and amazing mountain landscapes.

Atacama Desert

Sparsely populated and high in Chile's Andes, this small desert (or plateau) is a cold place, and is one of the few deserts on Earth where it doesn't rain at all. It is approximately 160 km wide and 1,000 km long. The relief of the desert is completely lifeless, and is covered with small lakes of borax, the remnants of lava flows, and salt deposits.

Waterfalls of South America

Other images of South America

THE LARGEST

Map The biggest islands

• Greenland- (840,004 sq mi) (2,175,600 sq km)
• New Guinea- (303.381 sq mi) (785.753 sq km)
• Borneo- (288.869 sq. miles) (748.168 sq. km)
• Madagascar
• Baffin- (194.574 sq. miles) (503.944 sq. km)
• Sumatra
• Honshu- (88,982 sq mi) (225,800 sq km)
• United Kingdom
• Victoria- (85.154 sq. miles) (220.548 sq. km)
• Ellesmere- (71,029 sq mi) (183,965 sq km)

NOTE: Australia is widely considered as a continental landmass, not an island. In reality it is of course the largest island with a size of 2,941,517 sq miles (7,618,493 sq km).

THE BIGGEST ISLAND COUNTRIES

• Indonesia- (735,358 sq mi) (1,904,569 sq km)
• Madagascar- (226.917 sq. miles) (587.713 sq. km)
• Papua New Guinea- (178.704 sq. miles) (462.840 sq. km)
• Japan- (143,939 sq mi) (372,801 sq km)
• Malaysia- (127.320 sq. miles) (329.758 sq. km)
• Philippines- (115,831 sq mi) (300,000 sq km)
• New Zealand- (103.883 sq. miles) (269.057 sq. km)
• United Kingdom- (88.787 sq. miles) (229.957 sq. km)

NOTE: Great Britain is an island that unites the countries of England, Scotland and Wales, and is part of the country of the "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland", commonly referred to as Great Britain.

• Cuba- (42,804 sq miles) (110,861 sq km)
• Iceland

THE HIGHEST ISLANDS

• New Guinea- (16.503 feet) (5.030 meters)
• Hawaii, USA- (13,796 feet) (4,205 meters)
• Borneo, Indonesia- (13,698 feet) (4,175 meters)
• Formosa, China- (13.114 feet) (3.997 meters)
• Sumatra, Indonesia- (12.484 feet) (3.805 meters)
• Ross, Antarctica- (12.448 feet) (3.794 meters)
• Honshu, Japan- (12,388 feet) (3,776 meters)
• South Island, NZ- (12.349 feet) (3.764 meters)
• Lombok, Indonesia- (12.224 feet) (3.726 meters)

THE BIGGEST VOLCANIC ISLANDS

• Sumatra, Indonesia- (171.069 sq. miles) (443.066 sq. km)
• Honshu, Japan- (87.182 sq. miles) (225.800 sq. km)
• Java, Indonesia- (53,589 sq mi) (138,794 sq km)
• North Island, NZ- (43.082 sq. miles) (111.583 sq. km)
• Luzon, Philippines- (42,458 sq mi) (109,965 sq km)
• Iceland- (39,769 sq mi) (103,000 sq km)
• Mindanao, Philippines- (37,657 sq miles) (97,530 sq km)
• Hokkaido, Japan- (30.395 sq. miles) (78.719 sq. km)
• New Britain, PNG- (13,569 sq mi) (35,145 sq km)
• Halmaherea, Indonesia- (6,965 sq mi) (18,040 sq km)

THE LARGEST ISLANDS OF THE LAKE

Manitoulin, Lake Huron - (1,068 sq mi) (2,766 sq km)
Vozrozhdeniya, Aral Sea - (888 sq mi) (2,300 sq km)
René-Lavasseour, Manicouagan Reservoir, Quebec, Canada
- (780 sq mi) (2,000 sq km)
Olkhon, Lake Baikal - (282 sq. miles) (730 sq. km)
Samosir, Toba - (243 sq miles) (630 sq km)
King's Island, Lake Superior - (209 sq miles) (541 sq km)
Ukerewe, Lake Victoria - (205 sq mi) (530 sq km)
St. Joseph, Lake Huron - (141 sq mi) (365 sq km)
Drummond, Lake Huron - (134 sq mi) (347 sq km)
Idjwi, Lake Kivu, DRC - (110 sq mi) (285 sq km)

THE BIGGEST ISLANDS IN THE USA

Hawaii, Hawaii - (4,037 sq mi) (10,456 sq km)
Kodiak, Alaska - (3,672 sq mi) (9,510 sq km)
Prince of Wales, Alaska - (2,587 sq miles) (6,700 sq km)
Chichagov Island, Alaska - (2,085 sq miles) (5,400 sq km)
St. Lawrence, Alaska - (1,710 sq mi) (4,430 sq km)
Admiralty, Alaska - (1,649 sq mi) (4,270 sq mi)

What countries are in South and North America?

km)
Baranof, Alaska - (1,636 sq mi) (4,237 sq km)
Nunivak, Alaska - (1,625 sq mi) (4,210 sq km)
Unimac, Alaska - (1,606 sq mi) (4,160 sq km)
Long Island, New York - (1,401 sq mi) (3,629 sq km)

THE BIGGEST ISLANDS IN EUROPE

UK - (88,787 sq mi) (229,957 sq km)
Iceland - (39,769 sq miles) (103,000 sq km)
Ireland - (33,342 sq mi) (83,766 sq km)
West Svalbard - (15,200 sq mi) (39,368 sq km)
Sicily - (9,807 sq mi) (25,400 sq km)
Sardinia - (9,189 sq mi) (23,800 sq km)
Northeast Land - (5,792 sq miles) (15,000 sq km)
Cyprus - (3,572 sq mi) (9,251 sq km)
Corsica - (3,367 sq mi) (8,720 sq km)
Crete - (3,189 sq mi) (8,260 sq km)

All the states of South America appeared as a result of liberation wars and revolutions directed against former colonialists such as Spain, Portugal and Great Britain. The history of the formation of Latin American countries is no less interesting than the European one, and much more expressive.

States of South America

The modern political map of South America has thirteen states and two dependent territories, one of which - the Falkland Islands - still cannot be divided by Great Britain and Argentina. Because of this dispute, there was even a war in 1982, as a result of which control over the islands was finally established by the UK. Argentina, however, did not recognize this fact and continues to call the Malvinas Islands, which should emphasize their belonging to the South American Republic.

Brazil is the largest country in South America both in terms of area and population. The territory of Brazil was colonized by the Portuguese, who ruled these lands until 1822, when the country's independence from the mother country was proclaimed.

However, the new state inherited the Portuguese form of government - the monarchy, and the new country began to be called the Brazilian Empire, which was headed by the son of the previous monarch. However, the monarchy in Brazil ended in 1889, when Emperor Pedro I was overthrown in a military coup. Since then, Brazil has been a republic.

List of South American countries

Every state that exists today in South America is a republic in form of government, and in many countries this is enshrined in the official name. In the name of some states, even the national composition is fixed, as, for example, in Bolivia.

Here is a list of all the states of South America and the territories that traditionally belong to it:

• Argentine Republic;
• Plurinational State of Bolivia;
• Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela;
• Guyana;
• Republic of Colombia;
• Republic of Paraguay;
• Republic of Peru;
• Republic of Suriname;
• Eastern Republic of Uruguay;
• the Falkland Islands, held by Britain but disputed by Argentina;
• Guiana - French overseas territory;
• Chile;
• Republic of Ecuador.

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands are undisputedly part of the United Kingdom, but they do not have a permanent population, or the population does not exceed twenty people.

North America

Both American continents are connected by a thin, but very important isthmus, which in the pre-colonial period ensured the connectivity of the various cultures that existed on the two continents.

Some scholars believe that it was along this isthmus that the Indians, who belonged to the ancient cultures of South America and eventually ended up in Mexico, crossed.

In addition to common ancient roots, the states of North and South America have another common origin that is closer to modernity: they are all the fruits of European colonization, aggressive and merciless towards the local population, which resulted in the death of many millions of people and the destruction of entire cultures and civilizations. such as the Incas and Aztecs.

Rich North and Poor South

However, there are also many differences between countries such as the US and Canada and the states of Central and South America.

All Spanish-speaking countries and former Portuguese colonies are now classified as emerging economies. They experience frequent political and economic crises, as well as difficulties with public administration and excessive levels of corruption in the state apparatus.

In addition, cocaine is produced on an industrial scale in South America, which is then transported to the United States through Mexico. All this creates an environment for all sorts of abuses on the part of the authorities and the most comfortable conditions for conducting a criminal business, the victims of which are thousands of people every year.

Additional tension between the states of South America and the United States is created due to illegal migration, caused by the natural desire of people from the south to improve their living conditions.