South America | Facts, Land, People, & Economy

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</div> </div> </div> <main> <div class="md-page-wrapper"> <div id="content" class="md-content"> <div class="md-article-container template-desktop infinite-pagination"> <div class="infinite-scroll-container article last"> <article class="article-content container-lg qa-content px-0 pt-0 pb-40 py-lg-20 content md-expanded" data-topic-id="555844"> <div class="grid gx-0"> <div class="col-auto"> <div class="topic-left-rail md-article-drawer position-relative d-flex border-right-sm border-left-sm open"> <div class="drawer d-flex flex-column open"> <div class="left-rail-section-content"> <div class="topic-left-rail-header text-truncate bg-gray-50 position-relative text-right d-flex align-items-center"> <div class="tlr-title px-20 py-15 text-left"> <em class="material-icons text-gray-400 d-lg-none" data-icon="toc"></em> <a class="font-serif font-weight-bold text-black link-blue" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America"> South America</a> </div> <button aria-label="Close" class="js-sections-close-button btn-link btn-sm btn d-lg-none position-absolute top-0 p-10 right-0"> <em class="material-icons font-26" data-icon="close"></em> </button> </div> <div class="section-content pl-10 pr-20 pl-sm-50 pr-sm-60 pl-lg-5 pr-lg-10 pt-10 pt-lg-0 bg-gray-50 clear-catfish-ad"> <div class="toc mb-20"> <div class="font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mx-15 mb-15 mt-20"> Table of Contents </div> <ul class="list-unstyled my-0" data-level="h1"><li data-target="#ref1"><div class="pl-25"><a class="link-gray-900 w-100" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America">Introduction</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li><li data-target="#ref41745"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/Geologic-history">Geologic history</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref41746"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/Geologic-history#ref41746">The Precambrian</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref41747"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/Geologic-history#ref41747">The Trans-Amazonian cycle</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref41748"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/Geologic-history#ref41748">The Brazilian cycle</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref41749"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/The-Paleozoic-Era">The Paleozoic Era</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref41750"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/The-Paleozoic-Era#ref41750">Early Paleozoic events</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref41751"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/The-Paleozoic-Era#ref41751">The formation of Pangea</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref41752"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/The-Paleozoic-Era#ref41752">The Mesozoic and Cenozoic eras</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref41753"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/The-Paleozoic-Era#ref41753">Events in the Mesozoic</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref41754" class="has-children"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/The-Paleozoic-Era#ref41754">The Andean orogeny</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref41755"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/The-Northern-Andes">The Northern Andes</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref41756"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/The-Northern-Andes#ref41756">The Central Andes</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref41757"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/The-Northern-Andes#ref41757">The Southern Andes</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref41758"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/The-Northern-Andes#ref41758">Present geologic setting</a></li></ul></li></ul></div></li><li data-target="#ref41759"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/The-Northern-Andes#ref41759">The land</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref41760"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/The-Northern-Andes#ref41760">Relief</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref41761"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/The-Andes-Mountains">The Andes Mountains</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref41762"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/The-Andes-Mountains#ref41762">The plateaus</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref41763"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/The-Andes-Mountains#ref41763">The lowlands</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref41764"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/The-Andes-Mountains#ref41764">Drainage</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref41765"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/Rivers">Rivers</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref41766"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/Lakes">Lakes</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref41767"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/Lakes#ref41767">Marshes and swamps</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref41768"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/Lakes#ref41768">Soils</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref41769"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/Lakes#ref41769">Climate</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref41770"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/Factors-influencing-climate">Factors influencing climate</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref41771" class="has-children"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/Factors-influencing-climate#ref41771">Climatic regions</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref41772"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/Factors-influencing-climate#ref41772">Tropical climates</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref41773"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/Factors-influencing-climate#ref41773">Temperate climates</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref41774"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/Factors-influencing-climate#ref41774">Arid climates</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref41775"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/Factors-influencing-climate#ref41775">Cold climates</a></li></ul></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref41776"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/Plant-life">Plant life</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref272277" class="has-children"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/Plant-life#ref272277">Grasslands</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref41784"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/Plant-life#ref41784">Savannas</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref41785"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/Plant-life#ref41785">Pampas</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref41777" class="has-children"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/Plant-life#ref41777">Vegetation zones</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref41778"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/Tropical-and-subtropical-rainforests">Tropical and subtropical rainforests</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref41779"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/Tropical-deciduous-forests">Tropical deciduous forests</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref41780"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/Tropical-deciduous-forests#ref41780">Caatinga</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref41781"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/Tropical-deciduous-forests#ref41781">South Brazilian forests</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref41782"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/Tropical-deciduous-forests#ref41782">Xerophytic associations</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref41783"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/Tropical-deciduous-forests#ref41783">Subantarctic rainforests</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref41786"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/Tropical-deciduous-forests#ref41786">Mountain vegetation</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref41787"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/Tropical-deciduous-forests#ref41787">Human influences on vegetation</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref41788"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/Animal-life">Animal life</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref41789" class="has-children"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/Animal-life#ref41789">Principal faunal types</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref41790"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/Animal-life#ref41790">Fish and bird life</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref41791"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/Animal-life#ref41791">Mammals</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref41792"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/Animal-life#ref41792">Amphibians and reptiles</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref41793"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/Animal-life#ref41793">Arthropods</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref41794" class="has-children"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/Animal-life#ref41794">Ecological communities</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref41795"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/The-Amazonian-and-Guianan-forests">The Amazonian and Guianan forests</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref41796"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/The-Amazonian-and-Guianan-forests#ref41796">East-central plateaus and lowlands</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref41797"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/The-Argentinian-Pampas">The Argentinian Pampas</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref41798"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/The-Argentinian-Pampas#ref41798">The southern Chilean forests</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref41799"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/The-Argentinian-Pampas#ref41799">The high Andes</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref41800"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/The-Argentinian-Pampas#ref41800">The arid west coast</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref41801"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/The-Argentinian-Pampas#ref41801">Human influences on wildlife</a></li></ul></li></ul></div></li><li data-target="#ref41802"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/The-people">The people</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref41803"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/The-people#ref41803">Ethnic origins and migrations</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref41804"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/The-people#ref41804">Indians</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref41805"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/Iberians">Iberians</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref41806"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/Iberians#ref41806">Africans</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref41807"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/Iberians#ref41807">Postindependence overseas immigrants</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref41808"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/Population-and-ecological-distribution">Population and ecological distribution</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref41809"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/Population-and-ecological-distribution#ref41809">The present population</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref41810" class="has-children"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/Population-and-ecological-distribution#ref41810">Culture areas</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref41811"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/Population-and-ecological-distribution#ref41811">American Indian heritage regions</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref41812"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/Population-and-ecological-distribution#ref41812">African heritage regions</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref41813"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/Population-and-ecological-distribution#ref41813">European heritage regions</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref41814"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/Linguistic-patterns">Linguistic patterns</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref41815"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/Linguistic-patterns#ref41815">Religious patterns</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref41816"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/Linguistic-patterns#ref41816">Sociological changes</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref41817"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/Linguistic-patterns#ref41817">Demographic patterns</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref41818"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/The-demographic-transition-and-fertility">The demographic transition and fertility</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref41819"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/Effects-of-rapid-population-increase">Effects of rapid population increase</a></li></ul></li></ul></div></li><li data-target="#ref41820"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/Effects-of-rapid-population-increase#ref41820">The economy</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref41821"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/Effects-of-rapid-population-increase#ref41821">Resources</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref41822" class="has-children"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/Effects-of-rapid-population-increase#ref41822">Mineral resources</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref41823"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/Mineral-fuels">Mineral fuels</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref41824"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/Mineral-fuels#ref41824">Iron and ferroalloys</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref41825"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/Mineral-fuels#ref41825">Nonferrous base metals</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref41826"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/Precious-metals-and-gemstones">Precious metals and gemstones</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref41827"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/Precious-metals-and-gemstones#ref41827">Nonmetallic deposits</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref41828" class="has-children"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/Precious-metals-and-gemstones#ref41828">Biological resources</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref41829"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/Precious-metals-and-gemstones#ref41829">Botanical resources</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref41830"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/Precious-metals-and-gemstones#ref41830">Animal resources</a></li></ul></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref41831"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/Forestry-and-fishing">Forestry and fishing</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref41832"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/Forestry-and-fishing#ref41832">Agriculture</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref41833" class="has-children"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/Forestry-and-fishing#ref41833">Principal crops</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref41834"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/Food-crops">Food crops</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref41835"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/Food-crops#ref41835">Specialized cash crops</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref41836"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/Food-crops#ref41836">Livestock</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref41837"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/Industry">Industry</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref41838"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/Industry#ref41838">Power and irrigation</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref41839"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/Trade">Trade</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref41840"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/Trade#ref41840">Internal trade</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref41841"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/Trade#ref41841">External trade</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref41842"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/Transportation">Transportation</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref41843"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/Transportation#ref41843">Roads</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref41844"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/Transportation#ref41844">Railways</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref41845"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/Transportation#ref41845">Maritime transport</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref41846"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/Transportation#ref41846">Waterways</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref41847"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/Transportation#ref41847">Air transportation</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref272278"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/Cultural-life">Cultural life</a></li></ul></div></li></ul> <a class="toc-extra-link link-gray-900" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/additional-info"> References & Edit History</a> <a class="toc-extra-link link-gray-900" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/facts/South-America"> Related Topics</a> </div> <div class="tlr-media-slider pb-10 mb-30"> <a class="section-header link-gray-900 font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mb-10 mx-10" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America/images-videos"> Images & Videos</a> <div class="slider js-slider position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center mw-100 "> <div class="slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden d-flex overflow-hidden text-nowrap ml-15"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708/https://cdn.britannica.com/86/3886-050-2785B482/South-America-political-continent.jpg" data-href="/media/1/555844/3438" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708im_/https://cdn.britannica.com/86/3886-004-8E425C5A/South-America-political-continent.jpg" alt="South America" height="50"/> </a> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708/https://cdn.britannica.com/04/3404-004-D607F53E/Paulo-Afonso-Falls-Sao-Francisco-River-Brazil.jpg" data-href="/media/1/555844/13393" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708im_/https://cdn.britannica.com/04/3404-004-D607F53E/Paulo-Afonso-Falls-Sao-Francisco-River-Brazil.jpg" alt="Paulo Afonso Falls" height="50"/> </a> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708/https://cdn.britannica.com/21/10021-004-E049182A/Villavincencio-Chapel-Andes-Mountains-Argentina-Mendoza-provincia.jpg" data-href="/media/1/555844/107042" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708im_/https://cdn.britannica.com/21/10021-004-E049182A/Villavincencio-Chapel-Andes-Mountains-Argentina-Mendoza-provincia.jpg" alt="Villavincencio Chapel" height="50"/> </a> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708/https://cdn.britannica.com/81/61181-050-642C267F/cliffs-region-Lake-Nordenskjold-Torres-del-Paine.jpg" data-href="/media/1/555844/107043" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708im_/https://cdn.britannica.com/81/61181-004-58435235/cliffs-region-Lake-Nordenskjold-Torres-del-Paine.jpg" alt="Patagonia" height="50"/> </a> <a 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Gade</div> <div class="editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 clamp-description text-black">Professor of Geography, University of Vermont, Burlington. Author of <i>Plants, Man and the Land in the Vilcanota Valley of Peru.</i></div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link byline-link editor-link p-0 gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor"> Daniel W. Gade</span>, <div class="editor-popover popover p-0"> <a class="d-block p-20 gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/contributor/Gino-Germani/1056"> <div class="editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold">Gino Germani</div> <div class="editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 clamp-description text-black">Monroe Gutman Professor of Latin-American Studies, Harvard University. Author of <i>Política y sociedad en una época de transición.</i></div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link byline-link editor-link p-0 gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor"> Gino Germani</span>, <div class="editor-popover popover p-0"> <a class="d-block p-20 gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/contributor/Victor-A-Ramos/3989"> <div class="editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold">Victor A. Ramos</div> <div class="editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 clamp-description text-black">Professor of Geology, University of Buenos Aires. Author of "The Birth of Southern South America" in <i>American Scientist </i>and other articles.</div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link byline-link editor-link p-0 gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor"> Victor A. 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data-type="other"><div class="slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden d-flex"><div class="rw-track d-flex align-items-center"><div class="rw-slide col-100 px-20"><figure class="md-assembly card print-false" data-assembly-id="3438" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a style="min-height: 160px;" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708/https://cdn.britannica.com/86/3886-050-2785B482/South-America-political-continent.jpg" class="position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/555844/3438"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708im_/https://cdn.britannica.com/86/3886-050-2785B482/South-America-political-continent.jpg"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708im_/https://cdn.britannica.com/86/3886-050-2785B482/South-America-political-continent.jpg?w=300" alttext="South America" data-width="1432" data-height="2000" loading="eager"></picture><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><a class="md-assembly-title font-weight-bold mb-5 d-inline-block font-16 font-sans-serif media-overlay-link" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708/https://cdn.britannica.com/86/3886-050-2785B482/South-America-political-continent.jpg" data-href="/media/1/555844/3438">South America</a></figcaption></figure></div><div class="rw-slide col-100 px-20"><figure class="md-assembly card print-false" data-assembly-id="13393" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a style="min-height: 160px;" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708/https://cdn.britannica.com/04/3404-004-D607F53E/Paulo-Afonso-Falls-Sao-Francisco-River-Brazil.jpg" class="position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/555844/13393"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708im_/https://cdn.britannica.com/04/3404-004-D607F53E/Paulo-Afonso-Falls-Sao-Francisco-River-Brazil.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708im_/https://cdn.britannica.com/04/3404-004-D607F53E/Paulo-Afonso-Falls-Sao-Francisco-River-Brazil.jpg?w=300" alttext="Paulo Afonso Falls" data-width="452" data-height="300" loading="eager"></picture><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><a class="md-assembly-title font-weight-bold mb-5 d-inline-block font-16 font-sans-serif media-overlay-link" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708/https://cdn.britannica.com/04/3404-004-D607F53E/Paulo-Afonso-Falls-Sao-Francisco-River-Brazil.jpg" data-href="/media/1/555844/13393">Paulo Afonso Falls</a><div class="md-assembly-caption mt-5 text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span>Paulo Afonso Falls on the São Francisco River, Alagoas, Brazil.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></div></figcaption></figure></div><div class="rw-slide col-100 px-20"><figure class="md-assembly card print-false" data-assembly-id="107042" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a style="min-height: 160px;" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708/https://cdn.britannica.com/21/10021-004-E049182A/Villavincencio-Chapel-Andes-Mountains-Argentina-Mendoza-provincia.jpg" class="position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/555844/107042"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708im_/https://cdn.britannica.com/21/10021-004-E049182A/Villavincencio-Chapel-Andes-Mountains-Argentina-Mendoza-provincia.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708im_/https://cdn.britannica.com/21/10021-004-E049182A/Villavincencio-Chapel-Andes-Mountains-Argentina-Mendoza-provincia.jpg?w=300" alttext="Villavincencio Chapel" data-width="231" data-height="300" loading="eager"></picture><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><a class="md-assembly-title font-weight-bold mb-5 d-inline-block font-16 font-sans-serif media-overlay-link" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708/https://cdn.britannica.com/21/10021-004-E049182A/Villavincencio-Chapel-Andes-Mountains-Argentina-Mendoza-provincia.jpg" data-href="/media/1/555844/107042">Villavincencio Chapel</a><div class="md-assembly-caption mt-5 text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span>Villavincencio Chapel in the Andes Mountains, Argentina. </span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></div></figcaption></figure></div></div></div><button disabled="true" class="prev-button js-prev-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-lg btn-blue m-20"><span class="material-icons" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_left"></span></button><button disabled="true" class="next-button js-next-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-lg btn-blue m-20"><span class="material-icons" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></span></button></div><p class="topic-paragraph"><strong><span id="ref470521"></span>South America</strong>, fourth largest of the world’s <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/science/continent" class="md-crosslink" data-show-preview="true">continents</a>. It is the southern portion of the landmass generally referred to as the New World, the <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/Western-Hemisphere" class="md-crosslink" data-show-preview="true">Western Hemisphere</a>, or simply the Americas. The <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/science/continent" class="md-crosslink autoxref" data-show-preview="true">continent</a> is compact and roughly triangular in shape, being broad in the north and <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="tapering" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/tapering" data-type="EB">tapering</a> to a point—<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/Cape-Horn" class="md-crosslink" data-show-preview="true">Cape Horn</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/Chile" class="md-crosslink" data-show-preview="true">Chile</a>—in the south.</p><span class="marker p1"></span><span class="marker AM1 am-inline"></span><span class="marker MOD1 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">South America is bounded by the <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/Caribbean-Sea" class="md-crosslink" data-show-preview="true">Caribbean Sea</a> to the northwest and north, the <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/Atlantic-Ocean" class="md-crosslink" data-show-preview="true">Atlantic Ocean</a> to the northeast, east, and southeast, and the <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/Pacific-Ocean" class="md-crosslink" data-show-preview="true">Pacific Ocean</a> to the west. In the northwest it is joined to <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/North-America" class="md-crosslink" data-show-preview="true">North America</a> by the <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/Isthmus-of-Panama" class="md-crosslink" data-show-preview="true">Isthmus of Panama</a>, a <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/science/land-bridge" class="md-crosslink autoxref" data-show-preview="true">land bridge</a> narrowing to about 50 miles (80 km) at one point. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/Drake-Passage" class="md-crosslink" data-show-preview="true">Drake Passage</a>, south of Cape Horn, separates South America from <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/Antarctica" class="md-crosslink" data-show-preview="true">Antarctica</a>.</p><span class="marker p2"></span><span class="marker AM2 am-inline"></span><span class="marker MOD2 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Relatively few islands rim the continent, except in the south. These include the glaciated coastal archipelagoes of <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/Argentina" class="md-crosslink" data-show-preview="true">Argentina</a> and <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/Chile" class="md-crosslink" data-show-preview="true">Chile</a>. The <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/Falkland-Islands" class="md-crosslink" data-show-preview="true">Falkland (Malvinas) Islands</a> are east of southern Argentina. To the north, the <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/West-Indies-island-group-Atlantic-Ocean" class="md-crosslink" data-show-preview="true">West Indies</a> stretch from Trinidad to Florida, but those islands usually are associated with North America. Of the remainder, most are small oceanic islands off the coasts of South America, including the <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/Galapagos-Islands" class="md-crosslink" data-show-preview="true">Galapagos Islands</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/Ecuador" class="md-crosslink" data-show-preview="true">Ecuador</a>, in the Pacific Ocean.</p><span class="marker p3"></span><span class="marker AM3 am-inline"></span><span class="marker MOD3 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">South America has a total area of about 6,878,000 square miles (17,814,000 square km), or roughly one-eighth of the land surface of <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/Earth" class="md-crosslink autoxref" data-show-preview="true">Earth</a>. Its greatest north-south extent is about 4,700 miles, from <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/Point-Gallinas" class="md-crosslink autoxref" data-show-preview="true">Point Gallinas</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/Colombia" class="md-crosslink autoxref" data-show-preview="true">Colombia</a>, to Cape Horn, while its greatest east-west extent is some 3,300 miles, from <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/Cape-Branco" class="md-crosslink" data-show-preview="true">Cape Branco</a>, Brazil, to Point Pariñas, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/Peru" class="md-crosslink autoxref" data-show-preview="true">Peru</a>. At 22,831 feet (6,959 metres) above <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/science/sea-level" class="md-crosslink autoxref" data-show-preview="true">sea level</a>, <span id="ref470529"></span><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/Mount-Aconcagua" class="md-crosslink" data-show-preview="true">Mount Aconcagua</a>, in Argentina, near the border with Chile, is not only the continent’s highest point but also the highest elevation in the Western Hemisphere. The <span id="ref470530"></span><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/Valdes-Peninsula" class="md-crosslink">Valdés Peninsula</a>, on the southeastern coast of Argentina, includes the lowest point, at 131 feet (40 metres) below sea level. In relation to its area, the continent’s coastline—some 15,800 miles in length—is exceptionally short.</p><span class="marker p4"></span><span class="marker AM4 am-inline"></span><a class="link-module shadow-sm d-block qa-quiz-module" href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/quiz/exploring-south-america-quiz"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708im_/https://cdn.britannica.com/13/83413-131-74674637/Rio-de-Janeiro-bay-Atlantic-Ocean-rock.jpg" alt="Sugar Loaf and Botafogo Bay, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil." class="rounded-sm mr-15" width="70"/> <div class="line-clamp clamp-5"> <div class="module-title bg-green">Britannica Quiz</div> <div class="font-weight-semi-bold mt-5">Exploring South America Quiz</div> </div> </a><span class="marker MOD4 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">The name <span id="ref470531"></span><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/Americas" class="md-crosslink" data-show-preview="true">America</a> is derived from that of the Italian navigator <span id="ref470532"></span><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/biography/Amerigo-Vespucci" class="md-crosslink" data-show-preview="true">Amerigo Vespucci</a>, one of the earliest European explorers of the New World. The term America originally was applied only to South America, but the <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="designation" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708/https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/designation" data-type="MW">designation</a> soon was applied to the entire landmass. Because <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/Mexico" class="md-crosslink" data-show-preview="true">Mexico</a> and <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/Central-America" class="md-crosslink" data-show-preview="true">Central America</a> share an<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/topic/Iberian" class="md-crosslink" data-show-preview="true"> Iberian</a> heritage with nearly all of South America, this entire region frequently is grouped under the name <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/Latin-America" class="md-crosslink" data-show-preview="true">Latin America</a>.</p><span class="marker p5"></span><span class="marker AM5 am-inline"></span><span class="marker MOD5 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">South America’s geologic structure consists of two dissymmetric parts. In the larger, eastern portion are found a number of stable shields forming highland regions, separated by large basins (including the vast <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/Amazon-River" class="md-crosslink" data-show-preview="true">Amazon</a> basin). The western portion is occupied almost entirely by the <span id="ref470533"></span><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/Andes-Mountains" class="md-crosslink" data-show-preview="true">Andes Mountains</a>. The Andes—formed as the South American Plate drifted westward and forced the oceanic plate to the west under it—constitute a gigantic backbone along the entire Pacific coast of the continent. The basins east of the Andes and between the eastern highlands have been filled with large quantities of sediment washed down by the continent’s great rivers and their tributaries.</p><span class="marker p6"></span><span class="marker AM6 am-inline"></span><div class="marketing-INLINE_SUBSCRIPTION marketing-content" data-marketing-id="INLINE_SUBSCRIPTION"><div class="container p-20"> <div class="grid shadow bg-navy-dark border-radius border-black p-0"> <div class="pl-0 col-10"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708/https://premium.britannica.com/student-subscription/?utm_source=inline&utm_medium=mendel&utm_campaign=student-subscription"> <img class="text-left" style="max-width: 100%;" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708im_/https://cdn.britannica.com/marketing/ThistleCroppedWhiteonBlue.png"/> </a> </div> <div class="col text-left"> <div class="text-white h3 mt-20 ml-0">Special 30% offer for students! Finish the semester strong with Britannica.</div> <a class="btn btn-m mb-20 btn-orange-dark" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708/https://premium.britannica.com/student-subscription/?utm_source=inline&utm_medium=mendel&utm_campaign=student-subscription-strong">Learn More</a> </div> </div> </div> </div><span class="marker MOD6 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">No other continent—except Antarctica—penetrates so far to the south. Although the northern part of South America extends north of the Equator and four-fifths of its landmass is located within the tropics, it also reaches subantarctic latitudes. Much of the high Andes lie within the tropics but include extensive zones of temperate or cold climate in the vicinity of the <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/Equator" class="md-crosslink" data-show-preview="true">Equator</a>—a circumstance that is unique. The great range in elevation produces an unrivaled <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="diversity" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708/https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diversity" data-type="MW">diversity</a> of climatic and ecological zones, which is probably the most prominent characteristic of South American geography.</p><span class="marker p7"></span><span class="marker AM7 am-inline"></span><span class="marker MOD7 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">The original inhabitants of South America are believed to have descended from the same Asiatic peoples who migrated to North America from <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/Siberia" class="md-crosslink" data-show-preview="true">Siberia</a> during the most recent (<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/science/Wisconsin-Glacial-Stage" class="md-crosslink" data-show-preview="true">Wisconsin</a>) <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/science/ice-age-geology" class="md-crosslink autoxref" data-show-preview="true">ice age</a>. Few of these peoples, however, survived the arrival of Europeans after 1500, most <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="succumbing" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708/https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/succumbing" data-type="MW">succumbing</a> to disease or mixing with people of European and (especially in Brazil) African origin. Some parts of the continent are now industrialized, with modern cities, but the people in rural areas still follow an agricultural way of life. The wealth of mineral products and renewable resources is considerable, yet economic development in most of the continent lags behind the more industrially advanced regions of the world. Nonetheless, concern has arisen about the rapidly increasing and often destructive exploitation of these resources.</p><span class="marker p8"></span><span class="marker AM8 am-inline"></span><div class="one-good-fact-module"> </div><span class="marker MOD8 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">For discussion of individual countries of the continent, see specific articles by name—e.g., <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/Argentina" class="md-crosslink" data-show-preview="true">Argentina</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/Brazil" class="md-crosslink" data-show-preview="true">Brazil</a>, and <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/Venezuela" class="md-crosslink" data-show-preview="true">Venezuela</a>. For discussion of major cities of the continent, see the articles <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/Buenos-Aires" class="md-crosslink" data-show-preview="true">Buenos Aires</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/Caracas" class="md-crosslink" data-show-preview="true">Caracas</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/Lima" class="md-crosslink" data-show-preview="true">Lima</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/Rio-de-Janeiro-Brazil" class="md-crosslink" data-show-preview="true">Rio de Janeiro</a>, and <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/Sao-Paulo-Brazil" class="md-crosslink" data-show-preview="true">São Paulo</a>. For discussion of the <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="indigenous" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708/https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/indigenous" data-type="MW">indigenous</a> peoples of the continent, see the articles <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/topic/South-American-Indian" class="md-crosslink" data-show-preview="true">South American Indian</a>; and <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/topic/pre-Columbian-civilizations" class="md-crosslink" data-show-preview="true">pre-Columbian civilizations</a>. Related topics are discussed in the articles <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/Latin-America" class="md-crosslink" data-show-preview="true">Latin America, history of</a>, and <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/art/Latin-American-literature" class="md-crosslink" data-show-preview="true">Latin American literature</a>. <span id="ref3727"></span></p><span class="marker p9"></span><span class="marker AM9 am-inline"></span><span class="marker MOD9 mod-inline"></span><span class="md-raw-html"><div class="md-drag md-table-wrapper"><table> <caption> Selected World Heritage sites in South America </caption> <thead> <tr> <th scope="col"> site* </th> <th scope="col"> country </th> <th scope="col"> notes </th> </tr> </thead> <tfoot> <tr> <td colspan="3"> *The spelling or styling of place-names in this table may differ from those given on the World Heritage List; in addition, some place-names represent one or more constituent parts of larger World Heritage sites. </td> </tr> </tfoot> <tbody> <tr> <td scope="row"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/Arequipa-Peru" class="md-crosslink" data-show-preview="true">Arequipa</a> </td> <td> Peru </td> <td> colonial architecture </td> </tr> <tr> <td scope="row"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/Brasilia" class="md-crosslink" data-show-preview="true">Brasília</a> </td> <td> Brazil </td> <td> urban planning and architecture </td> </tr> <tr> <td scope="row"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/Cartagena-Colombia" class="md-crosslink" data-show-preview="true">Cartagena</a> </td> <td> Colombia </td> <td> colonial port, fortresses, and monuments </td> </tr> <tr> <td scope="row"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/Chan-Chan" class="md-crosslink" data-show-preview="true">Chan Chan</a> </td> <td> Peru </td> <td> ruins of pre-Inca Chimú capital </td> </tr> <tr> <td scope="row"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/Colonia-del-Sacramento" class="md-crosslink" data-show-preview="true">Colonia del Sacramento</a> </td> <td> Uruguay </td> <td> Portuguese and Spanish colonial architecture </td> </tr> <tr> <td scope="row"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/Cordoba-Argentina" class="md-crosslink" data-show-preview="true">Córdoba</a> </td> <td> Argentina </td> <td> Jesuit institutions and estates </td> </tr> <tr> <td scope="row"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/Coro" class="md-crosslink" data-show-preview="true">Coro</a> </td> <td> Venezuela </td> <td> Spanish, Dutch, and local architecture </td> </tr> <tr> <td scope="row"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/Cuzco" class="md-crosslink" data-show-preview="true">Cuzco</a> </td> <td> Peru </td> <td> Inca and colonial architecture </td> </tr> <tr> <td scope="row"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/Darien-region-Panama" class="md-crosslink" data-show-preview="true">Darién</a> </td> <td> Panama </td> <td> national park, rainforests, and wetlands </td> </tr> <tr> <td scope="row"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/Easter-Island" class="md-crosslink" data-show-preview="true">Easter Island</a> </td> <td> Chile </td> <td> monumental sculptures </td> </tr> <tr> <td scope="row"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/Galapagos-Islands" class="md-crosslink" data-show-preview="true">Galapagos Islands</a> </td> <td> Ecuador </td> <td> national park, unique ecosystem </td> </tr> <tr> <td scope="row"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/Mount-Huascaran" class="md-crosslink" data-show-preview="true">Huascarán, Mount</a> </td> <td> Peru </td> <td> montane national park </td> </tr> <tr> <td scope="row"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/Iguacu-Falls" class="md-crosslink" data-show-preview="true">Iguaçu</a> (Iguazú) </td> <td> Brazil and Argentina </td> <td> national parks, waterfalls, and subtropical rainforests </td> </tr> <tr> <td scope="row"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/Lima" class="md-crosslink" data-show-preview="true">Lima</a> </td> <td> Peru </td> <td> historic city centre </td> </tr> <tr> <td scope="row"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/Los-Glaciares-National-Park" class="md-crosslink" data-show-preview="true">Los Glaciares</a> </td> <td> Argentina </td> <td> national park, glacial lakes, and mountains </td> </tr> <tr> <td scope="row"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/Darien-region-Panama" class="md-crosslink" data-show-preview="true">Los Katíos</a> </td> <td> Colombia </td> <td> national park, rainforests, and wetlands </td> </tr> <tr> <td scope="row"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/Machu-Picchu" class="md-crosslink" data-show-preview="true">Machu Picchu</a> </td> <td> Peru </td> <td> Inca ruins </td> </tr> <tr> <td scope="row"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/Nazca-Lines" class="md-crosslink" data-show-preview="true">Nazca Lines</a> </td> <td> Peru </td> <td> extensive geoglyphs </td> </tr> <tr> <td scope="row"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/Pantanal" class="md-crosslink" data-show-preview="true">Pantanal</a> </td> <td> Brazil </td> <td> freshwater wetland ecosystem </td> </tr> <tr> <td scope="row"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/Potosi-Bolivia" class="md-crosslink" data-show-preview="true">Potosí</a> </td> <td> Bolivia </td> <td> colonial industrial city </td> </tr> <tr> <td scope="row"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/Quito" class="md-crosslink" data-show-preview="true">Quito</a> </td> <td> Ecuador </td> <td> colonial city centre </td> </tr> <tr> <td scope="row"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/Salvador-Brazil" class="md-crosslink" data-show-preview="true">Salvador</a> </td> <td> Brazil </td> <td> historic colonial centre </td> </tr> <tr> <td scope="row"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/place/Tiwanaku" class="md-crosslink" data-show-preview="true">Tiwanaku</a> </td> <td> Bolivia </td> <td> pre-Columbian ruins </td> </tr> <tr> <td scope="row"> Valdés Peninsula </td> <td> Argentina </td> <td> seals, whales </td> </tr> </tbody> </table></div> </span></section> <span class="md-signature"><a href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/contributor/Jean-P-Dorst/769">Jean P. Dorst</a></span> <span class="md-signature"><a href="/web/20240510054708/https://www.britannica.com/contributor/CW-Minkel/2010">C.W. 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