World map showing South America
South America is a continent soouth america situated in the western hemisphere and, mostly, the southern hemisphere, bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east southamerica by the Atlantic Ocean; south americs North America and the Caribbean Sea lie to the northwest.
As part of the Americas like North America, South America is aouth america named after Amerigo Vespucci, south amarica who was the first European to suggest that the Americas were not the East Indies, but sout america a New World unknown to Europeans.
South America has an area of 17,840,000 km² south amerca (6,890,000 sq mi), or almost 3.5% of the Earth's surface. As of 2005, its population was estimated at more than 371,000,000. South south anerica America ranks fourth in area (after Asia, Africa, south amrica and North America) and fifth south americ in population (after Asia, Africa, Europe, and North America).
A satellite composite image of South America
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Contents
- 1 Geography
- 2 History
- 2.1 Pre-Columbian south ameica era
- 2.2 European colonization
- 2.3 Independence
- 2.4 Recent soth america history
- 3 Economy
- 4 Culture
- 5 People
- 6 Territories
- 7 Sources
- 8 See south ameria travel south america also
- 9 External links
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Geography
-
Main article: south america flights Geography of South America
Map of South America. (1750) Geograph: south america map Robert de Vaugondy.
South America is generally considered a continent forming the southern portion of the American landmass, south and east of south america travel the Panama Canal transecting the columbia south america Isthmus of Panama. Depending on source, South and North America are sometimes considered a single continent or africa south america europe travel flights supercontinent, while constituent regions are cheap plane air tickets flights europe asia south america infrequently considered subcontinents. Geologically, almost all of mainland South America sits on the South American Plate. Geopolitically, all of Panama cheap airline tickets south america – including the segment east of the Panama Canal in the isthmus – is often considered a part endangered species south america of North America alone and among the countries of Central plane tickets south america America.
It became attached to North America only recently (geologically speaking) with the formation of cheap south america air tickets the Isthmus of Panama some 3 million years south america cheap air plane tickets ago, which resulted in the Great American Interchange. The Andes, likewise a comparatively young and seismically facts about south america restless mountain range, run down the western edge of travel mexico asia south america spain france italy the continent; the land to the east of the Andes is largely tropical rain forest, the vast maps south america Amazon River basin. The continent also contains drier regions such as Patagonia and the south america countries extremely arid Atacama Desert.
The South American facts on south america continent also includes various islands, many of which belong to countries on the continent. Many of the islands of the Caribbean (or West history on south america Indies) – e.g., the Leeward and Lesser south america maps Antilles – sit atop the Caribbean Plate, a tectonic plate colombia south america with a diffuse topography. The islands of Aruba, Trinidad, and Tobago sit maps of south america on the northerly South American continental shelf. The Netherlands Antilles and the federal dependencies of Venezuela lie along the northerly South American map south america continental slope. Geopolitically, the south america cruise travel island states and overseas territories of the Caribbean are generally grouped as a part or subregion of North America. [1] [2] [3] political map of south america The South American nations that border the Caribbean Sea – including Colombia, Venezuela, columbia, south america Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana – countries of south america are also known as Caribbean South America.
South America contains the world's highest waterfall, Angel investigator south america Falls, the largest river (by volume), the Amazon River, the longest mountain range, map of north and south america the Andes, the driest desert, Atacama, the largest rainforest, south america geography the Amazon Rainforest, the highest capital city, La Paz, Bolivia, the highest commercially navigable mountain in south america lake in the world, Lake Titicaca, and the world's southernmost town, Puerto Toro, Chile.
South America's south america facts major natural resources are copper, iron ore, tin, fun facts about south america and oil. The many resources of South America have become useful around the world. However, they often have hindered atlas south america the development of diversified economies. This has led to major highs and lows in the economy of South countries in south america American states, often also causing political instability.
South America is home to many interesting and unique map for south america species of animals including the llama, anaconda, pirana, jaguar, vicuna, and interesting facts about south america tapir. The Amazon rainforests possess high biodiversity, containing rainforests in south america a major proportion of the Earth's species.
The largest what is the largest country in south america country in South America by far, in both area and population, is Brazil, followed by Argentina. Regions in capitals of south america South America include the Andean States, the Guianas, the Southern Cone, and list the countries of south america Eastern South America.
History
-
Main article: History of South America
It has been suggested that this south america cities article or section be merged physical features of south america with
History of South America. (Discuss)
South America is thought to have been first inhabited by people crossing the Bering Land Bridge, now geography on south america the Bering Strait.
Pre-Columbian era
The Muisca were map of columbia south america the main indigenous civilization in Colombia. They established a confederation of many clans, or cacicazgos, south america geography facts that had a free trade network among themselves. They were goldsmiths and tallest mountain in south america farmers.
The Chavín established a trade network and developed cheap flights to south america agriculture by 900 BC, according to some estimates and archeological finds. Artifacts were found at a site called Chavín de Huantar in name the countries in south america modern Peru at an elevation of 3,177 meters. south america countries capitals Chavín civilization spanned 900 BC to 300 BC.
Holding their capital at the great city of Cusco, south america interesting facts the Inca civilization dominated the list of countries in south america Andes region from 1438 to 1533. Known as Tawantinsuyu, or "the land of the four regions," in Quechua, the Inca culture was south america climate highly distinct and developed. Cities were built with precise, unmatched atlas of south america stonework, constructed over many levels of mountain terrain. Terrace farming was blank map of south america a useful form of agriculture. There is evidence of excellent metalwork in Inca civilization.
European colonization
Physical map of population of south america South America
In 1494, Portugal and Spain, the two great maritime powers of that time, on the expectation of north south america map new lands being map of central and south america discovered in the west, signed the Treaty of Tordesillas, by which they agreed that all the land outside Europe should be an exclusive duopoly between south america map with capitals celebrations in columbia, south america the two countries. The Treaty established an imaginary line along a north-south meridian 370 leagues west of Cape spanish speaking countries in south america Verde Islands, roughly 46° 37' W. In terms of the treaty, all land what is the largest city in south america to the west of the line (which is now adventure travel europe south america known to comprehend most of the South American soil), would belong to Spain, and all land to the east, to Portugal. As accurate detailed map of south america measurements of longitude were flag of columbia south america impossible at that time, the line was not strictly enforced, resulting in south america economy a Portuguese expansion of Brazil across the meridian.
Beginning in the 1530s, the people and natural resources of South America were what is the highest mountain in south america repeatedly exploited by foreign conquistadors, first from Spain and later from Portugal. These what is the smallest country in south america competing colonial nations claimed the land and history of central south america resources as their own and divided it into colonies.
European diseases (smallpox, largest country in south america influenza, measles, and typhus) to which the native populations had no resistance, and people of south america systems of forced labor, such as the infamous haciendas and mining industry's mita, spanish courses in south america decimated the native population under Spanish control. After this, African slaves, who had developed immunities to these spanish schools in south america diseases, were quickly brought in to replace them.
The Spaniards were committed to converting their native subjects to Christianity, and were quick to cities in columbia south america purge any native cultural practices that hindered highest peak in south america this end. However, most initial attempts at this were only partially successful, as native groups simply blended Catholicism with relative location of south america their traditional beliefs. On the other hand, rivers in south america the Spaniards did not impose their language to the degree they did their religion, and the Catholic columbia south america culture Church's evangelization in Quechua, Nahuatl and Guaraní actually contributed to the expansion of these list of countries capitals for south america native printable map of central south america languages, equipping them with writing systems.
Eventually the Natives and the Spaniards interbred, forming a Mestizo class. These and the original natives south america political physical maps were often forced to pay unfair what three bodies of water border south america taxes to the Spanish government and were punished harshly for disobeying their laws. Many native artworks were considered pagan idols and destroyed by Spanish exotic places in south america explorers. This included highest mountain in south america the many gold and silver sculptures found in the Americas, which were melted down before transport to Europe.
Independence
The Spanish colonies won their independence between 1804 and 1824 in the what are the countries of south america South American Wars of Independence. Simón Bolívar of Venezuela and José de San Martín of capital cities in south america Argentina led the independence struggle. Bolívar led a great capital of countries in south america army southward while San Martín led an army across the Andes Mountains, meeting up with General facts on columbia in south america Bernardo O'Higgins in Chile, and marched northward. The two armies finally met in Guayaquil, landform of south america Ecuador, where they cornered the royal army of Spain list the cities of south america and forced its surrender.
In Brazil, a Portuguese colony, Dom Pedro I (also Pedro IV of Portugal), son of the Portuguese king name the countries in central south america physical map of south america Dom João VI, proclaimed the country's independence in 1822 and became Brazil's first Emperor. This was peacefully accepted by population in south america the crown in Portugal. Although Bolivar attempted to keep the Spanish-speaking parts of the continent politically unified, they road atlas south america rapidly became independent of one south america major cities another as well, and several further wars were fought, such as the War of the Triple Alliance tourism in columbia, south america and the War of the Pacific.
A few countries did not gain what is the capital of south america independence until the 20th century:
- Trinidad and Tobago, from the United Kingdom, in 1962
- Guyana, from the United Kingdom, in 1966.
- Suriname, from what is the culture of south america Dutch control, in 1975
French Guiana remains part of France as of what is the currency of south america 2006, and hosts the European Space Agency's principal spaceport, world atlas, south america the Centre Spatial Guyanais.
Recent history
The continent, like many others, became a battlefield of the Cold War in north and south america the late 20th century. The government of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Uruguay number of countries in south america were overthrown or displaced by U.S.-aligned military dictatorships in the 1960s and 1970s. south america 10 largest cities Their governments detained tens of thousands of political prisoners, many of whom were south america animals tortured and/or killed (on inter-state collaboration, 5 geography themes on south america see Operation Condor). Economically, they began a transition to neoliberal economic policies. They placed their own actions within the U.S. maps of the south america Cold War doctrine of "National Security" against names of rivers in south america internal subversion. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Peru suffered south america capital cities from internal conflicts (see Túpac Amaru Revolutionary Movement and Shining Path). Revolutionary movements and right-wing military dictatorships have been common, but south america cruises starting in the 1980s a wave of democratization came through south america fast facts the continent, and democratic rule is widespread now. Allegations of corruption remain common, and several nations have states capitals of south america seen crises which have forced the resignation of their presidents, although normal civilian tropical rainforest in south america succession has continued.
International indebtedness became a notable building products manufactured in columbia south america problem, as most recently illustrated by Argentina's default in the early 21st century.
In recent years South American governments have drifted to list all south america countries the left, with socialist republic of columbia, south america leaders being elected in Chile, Bolivia, Brazil, Venezuela, and a leftist president in Argentina and Uruguay. Despite the move to the south america for kids left, South America is still largely capitalist.
With the founding of beaches in south america the South American Community of Nations, South America has started down the road of countries in continent of south america economic integration, with plans for political integration in the European major physical features in south america Union style.
Economy
As of 2002, South America's unemployment rate was maps of central south america 10.8 %.
Due to histories of high inflation in nearly all outline map of south america South American countries, interest rates and thus investment remain high and low, respectively. Interest rates are usually double physical feature maps of south america that of the United States. For example, interest rates are about physical features of south america map 22 % in Venezuela and 23 % in Suriname. The exception is Chile, which has been successfully south america quiz implementing free market economic policies since the 1980s cheap airfares within south america and increased its social spending since the return of democratic rule in the early 1990s. This has cheap russia fligts to south america led to economic stability and interest rates in south america flag the low single digits.
The South American Community of Nations is a planned continent-wide free trade zone to unite two existing cheapest place to retire in south america free-trade organizations—Mercosur and the Andean Community.
The economic gap between map of south america in spanish the rich and poor in most South American nations is considered to be larger than in most other continents.citation needed] In Venezuela, Paraguay, Brazil, Bolivia and many other adventure travel south america South American countries, the richest 20 % may own over 60 % of the nation's wealth, while the cheap flights south america poorest 20 % may own less than 5 %. This wide gap can be seen in many ciphertrust content filtering south america large South continent of south america map American cities where makeshift shacks and slums lie next to skyscrapers endangered species of south america and upper-class luxury apartments.
GDP per capita (PPP) 2005
| Rank in world |
Country |
GDP
per capita |
| 50 |
Argentina |
14,109 |
| 56 |
Chile |
11,937 |
| 65 |
Uruguay |
10,028 |
| 68 |
Brazil |
8,584 |
| 81 |
Colombia |
7,565 |
| 96 |
Venezuela |
6,186 |
| 97 |
Peru |
5,983 |
| 99 |
Suriname |
5,683 |
| 105 |
Guyana |
4,612 |
| 107 |
Paraguay |
4,555 |
| 113 |
Ecuador |
4,316 |
| 125 |
Bolivia |
2,817 |
Source:List of countries by GDP (PPP) per capita
Culture
-
Main article: interactive maps of north south america Culture of South America
Roman Catholicism is the dominant religion. French south america rivers maps Guiana also has a large number of volunteer south america Protestants. Guyana and Suriname are exceptions, with three major religions: Christianity in general, Hinduism, and Islam.
Other branches adventure travel south america brazil of Christianity like Protestantism have grown steadily chile, south america in South America. Jewish communities are found across South America, the largest are Sao Paulo, Brazil and Buenos Aires, Argentina. There are significant numbers of fact about south america Armenian, Greek and germany cheap air fares tickets cheap flights south america other Eastern Orthodox churches founded by immigrants from the Middle East.
Portuguese and Spanish are the primary giana south america languages of the continent. The majority of South Americans (51%) speak Portuguese. However, most South American countries are Spanish-speaking, michelin north america greenville south carolina and nearly all of the continent's Lusophones reside a map of south america in Brazil. Among other languages used by many South chili south america Americans are:
- Aymará in Bolivia and Peru.
- Quechua in Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, and parts of Argentina and Chile.
- Guaraní in flights south america flights Paraguay.
- English in Guyana.
- Hindi in Suriname.
- Dutch and Indonesian in Suriname.
- Italian in mountains in south america certain pockets across southern South America in Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay
- German in certain pockets in Brazil, Argentina, Chile and south america atlas Paraguay.
- Welsh remains spoken and written in the historic towns of Trelew and Rawson south america news in recently settled parts of Patagonia, Argentina.
- Mapudungun, in the slave trade in south and central america parts of Chile and certain pockets of Argentina.
- Small cluster groups cheap flights south america cheap flights south america of Japanese speakers in Brazil, Peru and Ecuador.
- Arabic speakers, often of Lebanese colombia, south america and Syrian descent in Arab communities of Brazil and Argentina.
In some countries the continent's upper classes and well-educated people study English and French. There south america adventure spain travel are small Spanish speaking areas of Southernmost air america south travel Brazil, due to the proximity of Uruguay. South Americans are culturally enriched by the historic connection america information south travel with Europe, especially Spain and "pop culture" impact from North America. (the U.S.).
South American nations have a rich central and south america cheap airfare to south america variety of music. Some of the most famous genres include samba from Brazil, hairdresser jobs in south america tango from Argentina and Uruguay and cumbia from Colombia. Also well known is the non-commercial folk genre Nueva Canción movement which was founded in Argentina natural aids treatment south america and Chile and reference education colleges and universities south america quickly spread to the rest of the Latin America in various forms. The Peruvian coast south america adventure germany travel is the creator of the fines guitar and cajon duos or trios in the most mestizo south america culture (mixed race) of South American rhythms such as brightmail content filtering south america the Zamacueca (from Lima), the Tondero (from Piura), the 18th century popular Creole Valse or Peruvian Valse and cheap flights poland to south america the soulful Arequipan Yaravi
In the late 20th century, Rock en Espanol emerged by young fishmeal suppliers in south america hipsters influenced by British pop and American rock in Argentina and Chile. However, this music genre has grown flights poland south america to south america adventure europe travel include Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela and Brazil which has a Portuguese-language pop rock industry.
Because of South America's ethnic mix, South American cuisine south america beaches babes takes on African, American Indian, and European influences. south america property values Bahia, Brazil, is especially well-known for its West African-influenced cuisine. travel germany in south america Argentines and Chileans regularly consume wine, while Argentina along with Paraguay, Uruguay and people in southern Chile and Brazil enjoy venomous snakes of south america fer-de-lance a sip of Mate a regional gourd cultivated for its drink. Pisco endangered species and south america is a distilled liquor enjoyed in Peru and Chile.
People
Ethnic groups indians in south america and indigenous peoples of South America include:
- Alcalufu
- Atacamenos
- Aymara
- Africans
- Awá
- Banawa
- Caiapos
- Chibcha
- Cocama
- Diaguitas
- Chayahuita
- Enxet
|
- European descendants,
especially from Spain, Portugal, Italy and Germany.
- Ge
- Guarani
- Jivaroan
- Juris
- Mapuche
- Mestizo
|
- Pehuenche
- Quechuas
- Shipibo
- Xucuru
- Urarina
- Yagua
- Zaparos
|
|
Indigenous peoples, such as the Urarina of Amazonia, make up the rivers of south america majority of the population south america trees in Peru and Bolivia, and are a significant element in most other former Spanish colonies. south america vegetation Exceptions to this include Argentina and Uruguay. At least three of the Amerindian languages (Quechua south poland america flights in Peru and Bolivia, Aymara also in Bolivia, and Guarani in Paraguay) vegetable from south america are recognized along with Spanish as national languages.
Territories
The countries in this table waterfalls in south america are categorised according to the scheme for geographic regions and subregions used by the whats the width of the content south america United Nations, and data included are per sources in blank maps of south america cross-referenced articles. Where they differ, provisos are clearly indicated.
Name of territory,
with flights greece to south america flag |
Area
(km²) |
Population
(1 holidays south america florida July 2005 est.) |
Population density
(per km²) |
Capital |
| Argentina |
2,766,890 |
39,537,943 |
14.3 |
Buenos Aires |
| intersting facts about south america Bolivia |
1,098,580 |
8,857,870 |
8.1 |
La Paz, Sucre[1] |
| Brazil |
8,511,965 |
186,112,794 |
21.9 |
Brasília |
| Chile[2] |
756,950 |
15,980,912 |
21.1 |
Santiago |
| maps of north and south america Colombia |
1,138,910 |
42,954,279 |
37.7 |
Bogotá |
| messagelabs image filtering south america Ecuador |
283,560 |
13,363,593 |
47.1 |
Quito |
| Falkland natural resources map of south america Islands (UK)[3] |
12,173 |
2,967 |
0.24 |
Stanley |
| French Guiana (France) |
91,000 |
195,506 |
2.1 |
Cayenne |
| physical maps of south america Guyana |
214,970 |
765,283 |
3.6 |
Georgetown |
| Paraguay |
406,750 |
6,347,884 |
15.6 |
Asunción |
| Peru |
1,285,220 |
27,925,628 |
21.7 |
Lima |
recreational properties for sale south america South Georgia and
South Sandwich Islands (UK)[4] |
3,093 |
— |
— |
Grytviken |
| religion in south america Suriname |
163,270 |
438,144 |
2.7 |
Paramaribo |
| snakes of south america Uruguay |
176,220 |
3,415,920 |
19.4 |
Montevideo |
| Venezuela |
912,050 |
25,375,281 |
27.8 |
Caracas |
| Central America[5]: |
| Panama[6] |
25,347 |
540,433 |
21.3 |
Panama City |
| Total |
17,846,948 |
371,814,437 |
20.8 |
Notes:
- ^ La south america long distance call Paz is the administrative capital of Bolivia; Sucre south america news online is the judicial seat.
- ^ Includes Easter Island in the south asian migration to america Pacific Ocean, a Chilean territory frequently reckoned in Oceania. Santiago is adventure germany travel south america the administrative capital of Chile; Valparaíso is the site of legislative meetings.
- ^ Claimed by Argentina.
- ^ Also claimed by Argentina, adventure travel south america moscow the South Georgia and the South Sandwich bolivia south america Islands in the South Atlantic Ocean are commonly associated with Antarctica (due to proximity) and have no permanent central and south america map population, only hosting a periodic contingent of about 100 cheap airline tickets to south america paris france researchers and visitors.
- ^ Continental region as per UN categorisations/map; depending on definitions, Aruba, Netherlands Antilles, Panama, and cheap flights south america poland Trinidad and Tobago cheapest holidays to south america from uk have territory in one or both of South and North America.
- ^ Panama is generally considered a transcontinental cnn south america country in Central America (UN region) and South America; population and area figures are email system content filtering south america for South American portion only, east emailsystems image filtering south america of the Panama Canal.
Sources: GeoHive: The population of continents, regions and countries
Usage
Among people in some English-speaking countries, there is a france travel visa budget travel south america travel from tendency to confuse the linguistic and geographic divisions of the Americas: thus, Mexico, some Central American holidays in south america and Caribbean territories, despite their location in North map of atlantic south america America, are mistakenly included in South America. The mxlogic content filtering south america term Latin America is correctly used when referring to those territories whose official or national languages natural south america healing juice come from Latin (namely Portuguese, Spanish, and French). Conversely, norwegian south america cruise tour Anglo-America is used to refer to areas whose major languages are Germanic (namely English) such as Guyana, Suriname, people in south america Belize, Jamaica, and much of the West Indies. Similarly, areas peru, south america where English is prominent are considered part of the Anglosphere.
Sources
- "South America". The Columbia south africa cheapest air fares to south america Gazetteer of the World Online. 2005. New York: Columbia University Press.
See also
Wikibooks has more about south america adventure travel brazil this subject:
Wikijunior South America
Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
South America
- Americas (terminology)
- CONMEBOL
- Economy of South America
- Flags of South America
- Latin America
- Middle America
- History of the Americas
- South American south america outline map Community of Nations
- List of Latin American artists
External links
Geography
- Physical map of South America
News
- NOTISUR -- south america phone personals Political and social news south america rainforest of South America (in Spanish)
- Infolatam. Information and analysis of Latin America (Spanish)
- The Council on Hemispheric Affairs An independent source of Latin American news south america skiing and opinion south america tours (in English)
Sports
- CONMEBOL -- Confederación Sudamericana de Fútbol (The South American Football Confederation) in Spanish and Portuguese
Music
- Information about south america travel france South American Music. Also MP3 & video. In French.
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