SOUTH AMERICA
Peru, Republic of Suriname, Republic
The history of South America is very
wide as it includes numerous
civilizations and cultures that
developed over many years without
having contact with populations from
other continents. However, at
present, history is usually divided in
pre-Columbian times, European
discovery, colonization,
independence, the consolidation of
nations and contemporary history.
South America, also called South
America or South America. It is the
southern subcontinent of America. It
is crossed by the equatorial line at its
northern end, thus remaining with
most of its territory within the
Southern Hemisphere. It is located
between the Atlantic Ocean and the
Pacific Ocean. It occupies an area of
17.8 million km², which represents
42% of the American continent and
12% of the emerged lands, and is
inhabited by 6% of the world
population.
In South America there are 12
countries: Argentina, Republic of
Bolivia, Federative Republic of Brazil,
Republic of Colombia, Republic of
Chile, Republic of Ecuador,
Cooperative Republic of Guyana,
Republic of Paraguay, Republic of
Oriental of Uruguay and Bolivarian
Republic of Venezuela.
However, there are regions that are
part of other countries, such as
French Guiana, which is French
territory. The islands of South
Georgia, Sandwich and Malvinas
belong to Great Britain, although the
Argentine Republic claims its
sovereignty.
The population of North America is
composed of three large groups and
the mixture of these: Native
Americans and Eskimos (the native
Argentina: capital Buenos Aires
inhabitants of the region), Europeans
(British, Spanish, French, Portuguese, It is the second largest country in
German, Italian, Dutch) and African South America, the fifth most
race black populous in the Americas and the
eighth largest in the world.
Agriculture, livestock and energy
resources are its main source of
wealth. It has very varied landscapes,
from the rain forests, great plains,
gigantic mountain ranges with eternal
ice, to deserts and inhospitable
steppes. It borders Chile, Uruguay,
Bolivia, Paraguay and Brazil.
Brazil: capital Brasilia
It is the largest country in South
America (occupies half of the
continent), the fifth largest in the
world and the sixth most populous. Its
natural resources make it an
agricultural and industrial giant. In
turn, it has the largest and richest
ecosystem on the planet: the
Amazon. It borders to the north with
Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana,
Suriname and French Guyana and
part of the Atlantic Ocean, to the east
with the Atlantic Ocean, to the
southeast with Uruguay, Argentina
and Paraguay, and to the west with
Bolivia and Peru.
Bolivia: capital La Paz
This country occupies the fifth place
in extension after Brazil, Argentina,
Peru and Colombia, and next to
Paraguay is one of the countries that
has no exit to the sea. However, this
country has been benefited not only
with a great cultural variety but
especially with an exuberant mineral
wealth.
Chile: capital Santiago
Located at the western end of the
continent, this country corresponds to
a long and narrow strip of land
between the Andes and the Pacific
Ocean. At present and for some
decades, this country has established
itself as one of the most solid and
diversified economies, whose pillars
are mining, forestry, fishing and
tourism. It borders Argentina, Peru
and Bolivia, and is bathed by the
Pacific Ocean.
Colombia: capital Bogotá
This country occupies the fourth place
in South America in extension and
second place in terms of population
(after Brazil). Geographically
privileged as it is in a strategic corner
of our subcontinent giving them
coasts in the Atlantic and Pacific
oceans. This gives a variety of
climates and landscapes and great
biodiversity.
In Colombia, five natural regions are
clearly differentiated: the Atlantic or
Caribbean, the Andean, the Pacific,
the Orinoquía or the Eastern Plains
and the Amazon.
Ecuador: capital Quito
It is a state in western South America,
with coasts bathed by the Pacific and
crossed by the equator. It borders to
the north with Colombia, to the south
and to the east with Peru and to the
west with the Pacific Ocean. Its
territory includes the famous
Galapagos Islands, located 1,120 km
west of the coast. The Ecuadorian
relief is divided into three areas: the
coast, the Sierra and the Amazon
plains.
Paraguay: capital Asunción
It is one of the Mediterranean
countries (without exit to the sea) of
South America. It borders to the north
with Bolivia, to the east with Brazil
and to the west and south with
Argentina. The Paraguay River
crosses the territory from north to
south and divides it into two zones: to
the west a great flood plain, the Gran
Chaco and to the east, a fertile jungle
plain.
Peru: capital Lima
It limits to the north with Ecuador and
Colombia, to the east with Brazil, to
the southeast with Bolivia, to the
south with Chile and to the west with
the Pacific Ocean.
Suriname: capital Paramaribo
It is the smallest country in South
America and is located in the
northeast part of the subcontinent. It
borders to the north with the Atlantic
Ocean, to the east with Guyana, to
the west with French Guyana and to
the south with Brazil. Its population is
ethnically diverse: Creoles (mixture of
whites and blacks), Indians, African
Americans, Indonesians, Chinese, ANDRES FELIPE ESPINOSA
Amerindians and Europeans.
LUIS ALFONSO MALDONADO
Uruguay: capital Montevideo
Country located to the southeast of
South America, which limits the north
with Brazil, the west with Argentina,
the east with the Atlantic Ocean and
the south with the estuary of the Río
de la Plata. It is the second smallest
country in South America, after
Suriname.
Venezuela: capital Caracas
It is located in the extreme north of
South America. It limits the north with
the Caribbean Sea, the west with
Colombia, the east with Guyana and
the south with Brazil. Three regions
make up the Venezuelan geography:
the Andes mountain range (which
forks in the Perijá and Mérida
mountain ranges), the Guayanés
massif and the Llanos area.