South America is the continent of nature
records. The Amazon, the world's largest rainforest, Lake
Titicaca, the world's highest lake, the Andes, the world's
longest mountain range, and Atacama, the world's driest
desert, all contribute to turning the South American
continent into an eldorado of nature experiences. At the
same time, world history has made the culture active and
versatile with a fascinating mixed population of African,
Native American and European origin.
Area: 18 million kmē
Number of inhabitants: 387 million
Largest country (by population)
- Brazil - 191 million
- Colombia - 46 million
- Argentina - 41 million
- Peru - 29 million
- Venezuela - 27 million
Sources:
Countryaah
The geography and climate of South America
The South American continent is mainly located in the
southern hemisphere. The equator runs through the northern
part of the continent and has named the beautiful country of
Ecuador. The country's position at the equator means, among
other things, that there is only a half-degree difference in
the average temperature during the coldest and hottest
months. In contrast, the rest of the continent may exhibit
slightly larger deviations in terms of climate. The
northernmost countries have tropical climates, while the
southernmost parts of Chile and Argentina down towards the
Antarctic extend into the polar climate belt. The rainfall
is also not evenly distributed. The huge Amazon jungle has
plenty of rain throughout the year, while the Atacama Desert
in northern Chile is content with about 1 mm per year.
South America's wildlife
South American wildlife differs in some from other
continents, and has adapted to the different natural areas.
In the Andes, llama climbs among the scattered bushes, in
the rainforests, the jaguar roams in search of deer and
tapirs, when it does not reach Argentina's elongated pampas
for well-fertilized livestock. The special wildlife of the
isolated Galapagos Islands, which has been developed
entirely without outside influence, is a whole chapter in
itself.
The population of South America
The population of South America is as complex as nature
is diverse. The continent's forefathers, Inca Indians, Mayan
Indians and Aztecs built up highly developed civilizations
crushed by Spanish and Portuguese conquerors with dreams of
fertile agricultural lands and gilded eldoradon. Today,
miseries, which are descendants of both Indians and
Europeans, make up the majority of the population. The rest
are exclusively European in origin or have African
ancestors, which were shipped mainly to Brazil from Africa
in the 18th and 19th centuries. In the most impassable
rainforest areas and in the high plains of the Andes, the
native population has avoided European influence, and in
some places in Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia, old Incas
languages are still spoken.
History of South America
The first European on the continent was Columbus who
landed in the Bahamas in 1492, believing that he had come to
some hitherto unknown Indian islands. It was Amerigo
Vespucci who first discovered that it was a new continent.
The new continent came to have its name after him. Soon,
exploration of the "new world" began to take off, and Spain
and Portugal shared virtually all of South America among
themselves. In the first quarter of the 19th century, almost
all countries became independent, but European dominance has
left clear traces in the culture of several of the South
American countries.
Travel to South America
On a trip to South America, nature experiences are
basically a must. A cruise between the Galapagos Islands
means close contact with turtles, sea lions and sea iguanas.
In Ecuador, you can hike on the volcanoes of the Andes or
explore the Amazon based on a genuine jungle lodge, while
the huge waterfall Iguazu can be experienced on the border
between Brazil and Argentina. But there is much more to see
on the multi-faceted continent. You can plan your trip past
small colonial cities with cozy, paved streets and buildings
in classic Baroque style. There are also great experiences
to be had in the region's major cities such as the Buenos
Aires city of Tangon or the world's most beautiful
metropolis - Rio de Janeiro. History Indians can meet on
trips to Cuzco and in the forgotten Machu Picchu town in
Peru; today's Indians are found on floating islands of reed
in the high Titicaca lake. A trip to South America can also
contain a good deal of mysticism, for example in the form of
the fascinating Nazi lines in geometric and animal-like
shapes or on the mythical Easter Island with its colossal
stone sculptures of up to 40 tons.
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