What oceans wash South America? South America - Do we know everything about the continents?

The border between the Americas runs along the Isthmus of Panama and 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

• 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 beginning of XXI 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, development is noticeable everywhere in South America market economy and international cooperation, 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 in such a way that today about 500,000 Chileans have German origin. 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. Moreover, Brazil is a country Latin America, 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 implements economic policy free market since the establishment of a military dictatorship in 1973 and has been aggressively increasing social spending since the restoration of democratic rule in the early 1990s. This led to economic stability and interest rates at a low level.

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 with 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.

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, tropical forests Amazonia, Rio de Janeiro, El Salvador, Margarita Island, Natal, Buenos Aires, Sao Paulo, Angel Falls, Cusco, Lake Titicaca, Patagonia, Cartagena and the 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 of America. South American countries have a rich tradition of music. Most famous genres: cumbia from Colombia, samba, bossa nova from Brazil, and tango from Argentina and Uruguay. Also well known is the non-profit folk genre Nueva Canción is a musical movement that originated 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 significant 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 languages in countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Venezuela and Chile. The most popular studied foreign languages in South American countries the languages ​​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). Others popular types 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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South America is a continent located in the Western Hemisphere of our Planet. It is crossed by the Equator line and divides this continent into two parts. One part (the largest) belongs to the Southern Hemisphere, and the second (the smallest) belongs to the Northern Hemisphere.

The mainland ranks 4th among the continents in terms of its area - 17,840,000 km². On its territory, including adjacent islands, there are 15 states, three of which are dependent. By clicking on the link, you can see a detailed list of South American countries in a table with capitals and characteristics. The population is approximately 400 million people.

In the west, the continent is washed by the Pacific Ocean, in the east by the Atlantic Ocean, and in the north by the Caribbean Sea, which is the border between North America and South America.

Extreme points of the continent of South America

Northern point - Cape Gallinas is located in Colombia on the Caribbean Sea.

Southern (mainland) point - Cape Froward is located in Chile on the Brunswick Peninsula on the shores of the Strait of Magellan.

Southern (island) point – Diego – Ramirez – the most southern point America and Chile, which consists of a group of islands covering an area of ​​just over one square kilometer.

The western point, Cape Parinhas, is located in Peru.

The eastern point is Cape Cabo Branco, located in Brazil.

Relief of South America

The continent of South America is divided by relief into the Mountain West and the Plain East.

The Atacama Desert is located in Chile and is the driest place on our Earth. There are places in the desert where rain falls once in several decades. The air humidity is the lowest here. The only vegetation found is cacti and acacias.

The western part of the continent consists of the Andes mountain system, stretching across seven countries of South America, and the eastern part of the plains. In the North there is the Guiana Plateau, 1930 km long and 300–1000 m high.

In the east of the mainland is the Brazilian Highlands, whose area is about 4 million km2. 95% of Brazil's population lives here. The highest point of this highland is Mount Bandeira. Its height is 2897 meters. Due to the enormous natural diversity, the Brazilian Highlands are divided into three parts: the Atlantic, Central and Southern Plateaus.

To the south of the Brazilian Highlands is the Laplata Lowland, on the territory of which states such as Paraguay and Uruguay, the northern part of Argentina, the southern part of Brazil and the southeast of Bolivia are located. The area of ​​the lowland is more than 3 million km2.

The Amazonian lowland is a lowland covering an area of ​​over 5 million km2. It is the largest lowland on our Planet.

South America climate

There are 6 climatic zones in South America: Northern and Southern subequatorial zones, Equatorial, Tropical, Subtropical and Temperate zones.

The climate of South America in most of its parts is subequatorial and tropical, with clearly defined dry and wet seasons. The equatorial humid climate is characteristic only of the Amazonian lowland. In the south of the continent, a subtropical and temperate climate prevails. Temperatures in the northern plains all year round 20-28 degrees. In the Andes, temperatures decrease with altitude. Even frosts are possible. On the Brazilian plateau, temperatures in winter can drop to 10 degrees, and on the Patagonian plateau to zero degrees.

River systems of South America.

The following river systems are located on the mainland: Parana, Orinoco, Amazon, Paraguay, Uruguay.

The Amazon is the world's largest river in terms of basin area (7,180 thousand km²), formed by the confluence of the Ucayali and Marañon rivers. Considered one of the seven natural wonders of the world. Brazil owns most of the basin. It flows mainly through the Amazonian lowland and flows into the Atlantic Ocean.

The Paraná is the second longest river on this continent, flowing in the southern part of the continent. It flows through the territory of Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay. Just like the Amazon flows into the Atlantic Ocean.

Paraguay is a river that is a right tributary of the Paraná. It divides the Republic of Paraguay into Northern and Southern Paraguay, and in its southern part it is the state border between Paraguay and Argentina.

Uruguay is a river originating in Brazil and formed by the confluence of the Canoas and Pelotas rivers. Is the border between Brazil and Uruguay. Its river system is the country's main source of water supply. The country's largest hydroelectric power station is also located here.

The Orinoco is a river that flows through Venezuela and flows into the Atlantic Ocean. Its peculiarity is the bifurcation of the river. The Casichiare River separates from it, which flows into the Rio Negro River. This river is home to the white river dolphin or Amazonian and one of the largest - the Orinoco crocodile.

Lakes of South America

Maracaibo (translated as “Land of Mary”) - large lake with brackish water, located in Venezuela. The depth of this lake differs significantly in its southern and northern parts. The northern one is shallow, and the southern one reaches (by different sources) from 50 - 250 meters. This lake is also one of the oldest lakes.

Titicaca (titi - puma, kaka - rock) - the most big lake in terms of fresh water reserves and second in area after Maracaibo. More than three hundred rivers flow into this lake. It is navigable. Archaeological research shows that the city of Wanaku is located at the bottom of the lake.

Patos is a lake located on the coast of Brazil. Its length is 280 km and its width is 70 km. It is separated from the ocean by a sand spit 8 km wide. Large hydroelectric power stations are located on it. Salt, fish and oil are mined here.

Flora of South America

Thanks to the warm climate and huge amounts of rainfall, the plant world in South America is very diverse. Each climate zone has its own flora. A large area is occupied by jungles, which are located in the tropical zone. Here grow: chocolate and melon trees - papaya, rubber trees, various palm trees, orchids.

To the south of the jungle, deciduous and evergreen plants grow in equatorial forests. Here grows a tree called quebracho, which has very durable wood. In the subtropical zone you can find vines and cacti. Further, moving south, there is a steppe zone where feather grass and various grasses grow. Beyond this zone, deserts and semi-deserts begin, where dry shrubs grow.

Fauna of South America

The fauna of the mainland is as diverse as the flora. The tropics are home to monkeys, sloths, jaguars, anteaters, parrots, hummingbirds, toucans and many other animals. The Amazon jungle is home to crocodiles, anacondas, piranhas, the rodent copybara, and river dolphins. Only here you can meet a wild cat - an ocelot, similar to a leopard. The savanna is inhabited by armadillos, peccary pigs, spectacled bears, ostriches, pumas, foxes and maned wolves. The plains area is home to: deer, llamas, and pampas cats. Only in South America can you find deer - pudú, only 30-40 cm high. Huge tortoises live on the Galapagos Islands, which belong to South America.

South America is one of the continents located in different hemispheres of the Earth. This continent is unique in its geographical features, because there are only two continents on Earth, which are intersected by the equator.

General characteristics of the history of South America

Probably, South America in terms of history is one of the most unique (along with Africa) continents. Historians have identified several clear periods of its development. First, the chronology of life in South America can be divided into the stage before and after the expedition of Christopher Columbus. When America was still unknown to Europeans, autochthonous nations and tribes were in a state of prosperity. One has only to remember the civilizations of the Aztecs and Mayans, their rich culture. The arrival of European conquerors leads to the decline of local civilizations. The second period is the time of colonization. Chronologically, the countries of the continent of South America remained under the jurisdiction of Spain and Portugal for a relatively short time (from 1500 to 1800), but during this time life on the mainland completely changed. Newly formed languages, new state formations, and nationalities appeared. The way of economic life has changed. From the 1810s to the present, the third period of development of the continent is observed. National liberation movements arose in many countries, the victory of which led to the emergence of independent states on the mainland.

Geography: South America

The geography of the continent is very diverse. In the American West southern continent there is a long range of mountains. The east, on the contrary, is absolutely flat. South America is one of two continents along which the equator runs. The territory of the mainland is huge. According to statistics, the length from south to north is approximately 7,600 kilometers, and from west to east about 5,000 kilometers.

The climate is heterogeneous. The hottest weather occurs near the equator. There are areas with a temperate climate. In mountainous areas there are frosts quite often. Temperature changes occur frequently.

South America: countries of the continent

On modern map continent we see 12 independent states. In terms of area and economic power, Brazil is the undisputed leader. The second largest country by area and, in principle, Brazil's main rival on the continent is Argentina, which is located in the south of the continent. The narrowest and longest country in this region is Chile. Most of the territory of this state is the Andes mountain ranges. In the north of the continent there is Venezuela, as well as the small states of Guyana and Suriname. On the Atlantic coast lies a small piece of its colonial past - the French territory of Guyana.

In the west and north-west of South America are Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. The state of Uruguay, located in the southeast of the mainland, borders only Brazil and Argentina. There are two countries on the continent that have absolutely no access to the ocean. These are Bolivia and Paraguay. This is the geography of this absolutely unique and interesting piece of Earth!

South America is the fourth largest continent on Earth. Its area is 17,850 thousand km2 without islands. Together with the islands - 18,280 thousand km2. Most of the continent is located in the southern hemisphere - it crosses it in the northern part. The continent expands its territory from south to north, reaching its maximum parallel length near the equator in the southern hemisphere. South America reaches its greatest width at 5° S - about 5150 km. South of 40° S. The width of the continent does not exceed 600 km.

South America borders only with. Geographical boundary with North America runs from the Gulf of Darien in the Caribbean Sea to Buenaventura Bay in the Pacific Ocean. Conventionally, the Isthmus of Panama is considered the border between the two continents. South America is separated from the rest of the continents only by oceans. When describing this continent, the meaning “most” is often used. And this is true. For example, the highest peak in the Western Hemisphere is Aconcagua; the longest mountain system in the world - ; the highest mountain lake in the world - Titicaca; the highest waterfall in the world - ; The driest coastal desert not only of the mainland, but also of the world is the Atacama.
Extreme points:

• North - Cape Gallinas
• South – Cape Froward
• Trap - Cape Parinhas
• Eastern – Cape Cabo Branco

South America is washed by the waters of two oceans, in the east by the Atlantic Ocean, and in the west by the Pacific Ocean.

The Atlantic coastal part of South America has a generally flat coastline. There are generally no fairly large and deeply protruding bays into the land. However, there are large semicircular bays off the coast. The most famous bay is San Pedros. It is known for the fact that this bay cuts into the land for 10 km, which is framed on both sides by basalt ledges covered with lava limestones. One basalt ledge has a height of 600 m and is called Santiori de Salvador. A figure rises on the edge of this ledge. Another ledge is called Santiori de Palmos and has a height of about 800 m, on the edge of which is the destroyed Santiori lighthouse, which is still in operation. This Santiori Bay is quite convenient; quite large ships can enter here. You can also note the Bay of San Matias, where the city of San Matias is located, which the local population called the city of fishermen. This place in South America is famous for its large number herring, which is of commercial importance. The large number of herring is caused by upwelling in coastal Atlantic waters.

Video source: AirPano.ru

Upwelling is the rise of cold, and therefore biomass-rich waters. Here you can find not only herring, but also maramish, sprat, nocatus, and red pike. In this regard, this place is the second largest distribution center for all pelican species, after the Namib. Other lesser-known bays include: San Jorge, San Padre, Chilida. You can also note such an interesting bay as La Plata Bay. This is a bay-estuary that is formed when it flows into the ocean. Off the western shore of this bay there is a small island called Parana Cuxa. According to modern scientists, this island is a diatreme. A diatreme is an explosion tube or microvolcano. This bay is wide and long in size, with many convenient bays. Small bays also occur at the river's mouth. This mouth forms a fairly wide Gulf of Ispolinida, but there is little convenient places due to the fact that this place is swampy with permangamete silts.

B is quite wide. Almost all the way to the ocean floor, the territory can be disturbed by small underwater canyons. For example, the canyon of the Gigantic Cauldron. There are many legends that ancient Atlantis was located here. IN Atlantic Ocean Near the equator, the South Trade Wind Current approaches the shores of South America. At Cape San Roqui it is divided into two branches, one of which, called the Guiana Current, heads northwest along the coast of the mainland, to the Antilles, and the other, the Brazilian Current, goes southwest to the mouth. The cold Falkland Current runs off the southeastern coast of the mainland. The meeting of the Brazilian and Falkland Currents occurs between 40 and 35°S. in the La Plata area. Now let's move to the Pacific coast. What can we say about this? First of all, I would like to note that the continental one in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of South America is quite narrow, and in some places it is completely absent.

In the immediate vicinity of the mainland there is a strip of deep-sea oceanic depressions. This depth in some places can reach up to 7500m. The Pacific coast is rugged in different ways in different places. For example, high ruggedness coastline observed in the southwest, where many large and small islands are scattered, which can form archipelagos. For example, the archipelago and Chilean. The bays located here are quite narrow and winding. The largest bays of this place include Penas and Corcovado. There are also . The most famous is the Strait of Magellan, which separates the Tierra del Fuego archipelago from the mainland. The northwestern coast of South America is also less rugged up to 5°S. If there are convenient bays along the coast of the mainland, then the most convenient bay in this territory is the Gulf of Guayaquil. This is quite a wide and comfortable bay.

All along the Pacific coast of South America, the influence of the powerful cold Peruvian Current is felt, which carries its waters from the south to the equator. There is also a warm current flowing off the extreme northwestern coasts, but its influence is not great. Directly to the north, South America is washed by waters. The Caribbean coast is quite rugged. There are a number of convenient bays that separate significant peninsulas from the mainland. In the east of this sea the bay and the peninsula of Paria are separated. The Gulf of Venezuela is found here, which is the largest here in size. The Gulf of Venezuela forms two peninsulas: Paraguana in the east and Guajira in the northwest. The Gulf of Darien, which is located at the base of the Isthmus of Panama, is also found here. There are not many islands around the mainland of South America.

Countries of South America: features of the continent

The countries of South America attract many tourists with their pristine nature and special flavor. From childhood, anyone knows about the wilds of the Amazon, colorful carnivals, fiery dances, exotic. Of course, civilization has significantly changed the map of South America, and there are practically no unexplored places on it. But the legendary attitude towards the exoticism of this distant land remains, and people strive to visit there. Those wishing to visit these countries need to know at least a little about them. Wikipedia about South America provides the necessary minimum set of information.

Continent Information

The geographical position of South America can be imagined: the mainland is located mostly in the Southern Hemisphere of the globe, and only a small part of it is in the Northern Hemisphere. The location of the continent on the planet is fixed by the following extreme points of South America and their coordinates: north - Cape Gallinas (12°27'N, 71°39'W);

continental south - Cape Froward (53°54'S, 71°18'W); island south – Diego Ramirez (56°30′ S, 68°43’ W); west - Cape Parinhas (4°40' S, 81°20' W); east - Cape Cabo Branco (7°10' S, 34°47' W). South America has a territory of 17.9 million square meters. km, and the total population is about 387.5 million people.

The history of the development of the continent is divided into 3 characteristic periods:

• Autochthonous civilizations: the stage of formation, flourishing and complete collapse of local civilizations (Indian ethnic groups, incl. Incas).
• Colonization (XVI-XVIII centuries): almost the entire continent had the status of Spanish and Portuguese colonies. The period of the birth of statehood.
• Independent stage. Characterized by extremely unstable political and economic development, but the final formation of state borders.

Geological and climatic features

If you look at the extreme points of South America, you can see that the continent stretches for a long distance from north to south, which causes a variety of geological forms and climatic zones. IN in general terms geological structure can be assessed as the existence of a mountainous western part and a flat east. The average height of mainland South America is about 580 m above sea level, but mountain ranges with fairly high peaks predominate in the west. Almost along the entire western coast of the ocean stretches a mountain range - the Andes.

In the northern part there is the elevated Guiana Highlands, and in the eastern part there is the Brazilian Plateau. Between these two hills, a large area is occupied by the Amazonian Lowland, formed by the river of the same name. The mountain system is a young geological formation and is characterized by volcanic activity, as well as fairly frequent earthquakes.

A significant area in the southwest of the continent was captured by the lifeless Atacama Desert. In addition to the Amazon, the lowland plains are formed by 2 more large rivers - the Orinoco (Orinoco Lowland) and the Parana (La Plata Lowland).

The natural zones of South America change with distance from the equator - from the very hot equatorial zone in the north of the continent to the cold polar zone in the extreme south (in areas approaching Antarctica). The main climatic zones are the equatorial zone, the subequatorial zone (on both sides of the equator), tropical, subtropical and temperate zones.

The tropical and subequatorial zones cover most of South America, causing a characteristic alternation of very wet and extremely dry periods. The Amazonian lowland is dominated by an equatorial climate with constant humid heat, and closer to the south of the continent, first a subtropical and then a temperate climate appears. In flat areas, i.e. over a large area of ​​the northern part of the continent, the air warms up to 21-27°C all year round, but in the south, temperatures of 11-12°C can be observed even in summer.

Taking into account geographical location The winter season in South America is June-August, and the summer season is December-February. Seasonality clearly manifests itself only with distance from the tropics. In winter in the south of the continent, temperatures often drop to frost. The high humidity of South America should be highlighted - it is considered the wettest continent. At the same time, the Atacama Desert is one of the places where any precipitation is very rare.

Natural features of the continent

The diversity of climatic zones also leads to a diversity of natural manifestations. Peculiar business card are the Amazonian jungle, which occupies a vast territory. In many places of impenetrable forests no human has yet set foot. Given the area they occupy, these jungles are called “the lungs of the planet.”

The Amazon forest and other plains of the equatorial and tropical zones amaze with the abundance of flora species. The vegetation is so dense that it is almost impossible to pass. Everything grows upward, towards the sun - as a result, the height of vegetation exceeds 100 m, and tiered life occurs at different heights. Vegetation can be distributed at 11-12 levels. The most characteristic jungle plant is the ceiba. There are a large number of different types of palm trees, melon tree and many other varieties of flora.

The most famous animals of South America live in the Amazon region. Here you can see the rarest representative of the fauna - the sloth. Selva becomes a haven for the smallest bird in the world - the hummingbird, large number amphibians (including poisonous frog). Huge anacondas are amazing, the record holder among rodents is calibara, tapirs, freshwater dolphins, jaguars. Only here there is a wild cat - the ocelot. In the Amazon itself and its tributaries in a huge number crocodiles live. The predator, the piranha fish, has become legendary.

After the Amazonian jungle, it’s the savannahs’ turn. Only here can you find the quebracho tree with very hard wood. Small savannah forests give way to steppe. The fauna of savannahs is also capable of striking with its inhabitants. South Americans are especially proud of their armadillos. In the savannas there are anteaters, rheas (ostriches), pumas, kinkajous, and spectacled bears. Llamas and deer graze in the steppe areas. In mountainous areas you can find mountain llamas and alpacas.

Natural attractions

The natural attractions of South America can safely include entire areas that amaze with their originality and pristine nature. Unique in all respects is the southern tip of the continent - the island of Tierra del Fuego, blown by Antarctic winds and storms. The entire mountain range (Andes) with its frozen and active volcanoes and pointed tops. The highest peak is very beautiful - Aconcagua Peak (6960 m).

The continent's river system is represented by large rivers. It is in South America that there is the highest waterfall - Angel, as well as the most powerful waterfall - Iguazu. The South American lakes are very beautiful - Titicaca, Maracaibo, Patus.

Statehood on the continent

As they liberated themselves from the colonialists, states formed on the continent. TO XXI century The list of countries in South America that have independence includes 12 states. This list also includes 3 territories administered by other countries.

The list of countries is as follows:

• Brazil. The largest state - with an area of ​​more than 8.5 million square meters. km and with a population of 192 million people. The capital is the city of Brasilia, and the most large city– Rio de Janeiro. The official language is Portuguese. The most spectacular and tourist-attracting event is the carnival. This is where the main beauties of the Amazon, Iguazu Falls, and beautiful Atlantic beaches are located.
• Argentina. The second largest country in terms of size and population (area - more than 2.7 million sq. km, population - about 40.7 million people). The official language is Spanish. The capital is Buenos Aires. The main tourist attractions are the Museum of the End of the World in Ushuaia (in the very south of the continent), silver mines, Patagonia with Indian exoticism, and a nature reserve with waterfalls.
• Bolivia. A state in the central part of the continent without access to the ocean. The area is almost 1.1 million square meters. km, and the population is 8.9 million people. The official capital is Sucre, but in fact its role is played by La Paz. Main attractions: Lake Titicaca, eastern slopes of the Andes, Indian national events.
• Venezuela. The northern part of the continent with access to the Caribbean Sea. Area – slightly more than 0.9 million square meters. km, population – 26.4 million people. The capital is Caracas. Here is Angel Falls, national park Avila, the longest cable car.
• Guyana. Located in the northeast and washed by the ocean. Area – 0.2 million square meters. km, population - 770 thousand people. The capital is Georgetown. Almost everything is covered with jungle, which attracts eco-tourists. Sights: waterfalls, national parks, savannah.
• Colombia. Country in the northwest, with an area of ​​1.1 million square meters. km and a population of 45 million people. The capital is Bogota. It has a visa-free regime with Russia. Famous for its historical museums, beaches, national parks.
• Paraguay. It occupies almost the center of South America, but has no access to the ocean. Territory – 0.4 million square meters. km, population – 6.4 million people. The capital is Asuncion. Monuments from the Jesuit period are well preserved.
• Peru. Located in the west of the mainland, on the Pacific coast. Area – slightly less than 1.3 million square meters. km, and the population is 28 million people. The capital is Lima. The main monuments of the Inca state are located here - Machu Picchu, the mystical Nazca Lines, and more than 150 museums.
• Suriname. The northeastern part of the continent, with a territory of about 160 thousand square meters. km and a population of 440 thousand people. The capital is Paramaribo. Routes to the Atabru, Kau, Uonotobo waterfalls, the Galibi Nature Reserve, and Indian settlements are open for tourists.
• Uruguay. A country in the southeastern part of the mainland with its capital in Montevideo. Area – 176 thousand square meters. km, population – 3.5 million people. Famous for its colorful carnival. Tourists are attracted by the beautiful beaches and architectural attractions.
• Chile. The state stretches along the Pacific coast and is limited by the high ridge of the Andes. Area – 757 thousand square meters. km, population – 16.5 million people. The capital is Santiago. The country has developed balneological health and ski centers. There are beautiful beaches and national parks.
• Ecuador. A country in the northeastern part with a territory of slightly more than 280 thousand square meters. km and a population of almost 14 million people, with the capital Quito. The most attractive places are the Galapagos Islands, national park, lakes, Ingapirku monuments, museums.

In addition to independent states, South America contains territories governed by other states: Guiana (an overseas territory of France); The South Sandwich Islands and South Georgia (administered by Great Britain), as well as the Falkland or Malvinas Islands, which have been long disputed between Great Britain and Argentina.

The countries of South America are considered quite attractive for tourists from around the world. Here you can enjoy pristine nature, historical monuments, and relax on beautiful beaches.