Naya America. Mainland South America

South America- the fourth largest continent. The area of ​​South America is 17,833,000 square meters. km. Extreme points of South America:

• North: Cape Galinas (12°N, 72°W);
• South: Cape Horn (56° S, 72° W);
• Western: Cape Parinhas (5° S. 81° W);
• Eastern: Cape Cabo Branco (8° S, 35° W).

South America is in the Western Hemisphere, the continent overlaps, most of it is in the Southern Hemisphere. South America forms one part of the world - America. South America is separated from North America. The continent is washed from the west, and from the east. To the north is the Caribbean Sea. The huge Drake Passage separates it from.

The coast of the mainland is rather weakly indented. Most bays are small, formed at the mouth of rivers as the ocean moves inland. The largest is La Plata Bay in the southeast of the mainland. The southern coast of the mainland is heavily indented, where there is an archipelago, separated from the mainland by the famous Strait of Magellan - the most difficult route that all sailors have traversed.

The average height of the continent is quite small, which is explained by the large territory occupied by the lowlands: Amazonian, Orinoco and. These are fairly flat, sometimes swampy areas that coincide with the basins of the corresponding rivers. Between them there are three plateaus: the Brazilian, the Guiana and with heights from 500 to 2000 m. The Andes stretch along the western coast - a huge mountain system with a length of 9 thousand km. They are a continuation and part of the Pacific volcanic ring. The Andes are home to the highest peak of South America - Mount Aconcagua (6960 m), as well as a number of volcanoes - Cotopaxi (5897 m), Chimborazo (6267 m).

The entire northern and most of the central part of the continent is in the equatorial and subequatorial regions. here all year round it does not fall below +20°С, in summer it reaches +30°С. There is a lot of precipitation all year round; in the subequatorial winter a dry period begins. The tropical climate zone is present only in the southern part of the continent; there is a pronounced winter dry period, precipitation falls only in summer. In the east of the continent it is humid, humid air comes from the Atlantic Ocean. As you approach the west coast, the climate becomes drier; the Atacama Desert is located on the west coast.

The subtropical zone is located in the southern hemisphere between 30° N. w. and 40° N. w. On the west coast, this is a climate type with warm summers (+20°C), fairly warm (+10°C) and wet winters. A humid subtropical climate forms on the east coast, with precipitation up to 2000 mm. precipitation. Between these zones there is a zone of continental subtropical climate, with dry, hot (+25°C) summers and warm (+10°C) winters. occupies the southern tip of the continent. Temperate forms on the west coast, with warm winters, cool summers and high rainfall. The east coast is dominated by a temperate continental climate, cold in winter, down to -30°C, warm in summer, up to +20°C, and little precipitation all year round.

The entire Amazonian lowland is occupied by humid equatorial forests - selva. This is a unique natural area with a huge variety of flora and fauna. Various types of palms and rubber trees, ficus, ceiba, and many lianas and orchids grow here. Almost all animals in the selva are good swimmers, and many have adapted to moving through trees. There are many monkeys, birds, porcupines, tapirs, the largest predator is the jaguar, the only representative of the cat family that willingly moves on water. The Amazon forests are home to the world's smallest birds - hummingbirds - and the largest butterflies, spiders, and beetles.

Savannas and woodlands are also a very large natural area. In the north it is located on the Guiana Plateau and is called llanos, in the south it occupies and is called campos. Here there are ferrallitic and red-brown soils; in the llanos there are isolated trees - acacias, palms; in the campos mainly cereals and legumes grow. There are many large animals - deer, peccaries, pumas, jaguars, crocodiles and manatees live in the rivers.

South of the campos begins the pampa - the steppes of South America. Most of the pampa has been developed by humans; crops are grown here and sheep are raised. In some areas, wild animals remained - ostriches, llamas, deer.

And it occupies a small territory - Atacama, here there are desert soils, mainly cacti grow. In the Andes there is an altitudinal zone; in the upper zones there are llamas and guanacos, chinchillas, almost exterminated because of their valuable fur. The largest bird on Earth, the condor, lives here.

South America is an amazing continent; it can easily be called a continent of contrasts. Here is the longest mountain system - the Andes, the largest Amazon River, the largest tropical rain forest on the planet, the driest Atacama Desert, the largest lakes - Maracaibo and Titicaca, one of the richest seas in the world. South America has the greatest diversity of flora and fauna on Earth, spread over a fairly wide range of landscapes. This is truly a unique world. Once upon a time there was a large continent, Gondwana, in the southern hemisphere. As a result of the movement of tectonic plates, it split (about 100 million years ago) into several smaller continents: Africa, Australia, India, Antarctica and South America, which became an island cut off from the rest of the world. About 80 million years ago, as a result of the collision of tectonic plates on the continent, mountain building began, which resulted in the Andes. Mountains stretch along the entire length of the continent (more than 8,000 km) on the western border. In the north, the slopes are covered with tropical forests, the mountain peaks are so sky-high that the snow never melts, despite the fact that they are located on the equator.

In the central Andes lies the high-mountain dry Altiplano desert, further south the mountains become lower and we get closer and closer to Antarctica. In the far south, Patagonia has the largest area of ​​ice in the world (more than 18,000 km2), excluding the polar regions. Glaciers (glaciers) stretch all the way to the sea. Under the shadow of the Patagonian peaks, fierce winds blow and heavy snowfalls occur. Patagonia is a pretty harsh place to live.
In the middle of the Andes mountain range, at an altitude of 4000 m, the Altiplano plateau lurks. This plateau is poor in oxygen, with cold, piercing cold air, and a shortage of water. Melt water flows here from the surrounding mountain peaks, evaporating into huge salt lakes. They freeze at night and heat up in the sun during the day. These places are the least suitable for living. The Bolivian Andes are home to the largest salt flat on the planet. But nevertheless, the islands existing among these salt seas are inhabited. For example, flamingos come here during the mating season, as the local salt water is full of their favorite food.
The emergence of the Andes created unique natural areas both in the mountains themselves and in the lowlands. This giant barrier changed the climate of South America and remade the map of the entire continent, radically changing the direction
its main rivers. Once upon a time, part of the Amazon was a huge swamp connected to the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. The rising Andes caused the rivers to flow east. The Amazon irrigates 40% of South America, 6500 km, 1/5 of all the planet's water. The largest freshwater fish in the world is found here. Covering the space from the Andes to the Atlantic with an almost continuous carpet, the Amazonian jungle surpasses any forest on the planet in terms of diversity of life. Powerful tropical rains pour into the Amazon jungle, feeding it with water. Mountains are an obstacle to winds carrying moisture, so to the west of the mountains there are areas where not a drop of rain falls for several years. The Atacama Desert, the driest desert in the world, is one such area. It stretches a narrow strip between the mountains and the ocean. The humid air cools as it passes over the cold ocean current and every day the desert is covered with a dense layer of fog coming from the Pacific Ocean, and the moisture condenses on the lichens covering the cacti.
The eastern part of the south of the continent is characterized by a dry climate, but not because there is no water, but because there is wind. Here in the grassy steppes of Patagonia, the wind never stops for a minute. In windswept Patagonia, a hole in the ground makes excellent housing, even for birds. On the cliffs by the sea, parrots make holes in the sandstone for them to live in, one of the few places where parrots live on the sea coast.
For almost 100 million years, South America was separated from the rest of the world and developed on its own. But about 3 million years ago, tectonic movements raised the earth from the depths, connecting North and South America with each other. And along this bridge, like along an avenue, migration of animals began in both directions. The vast plains are one of the oldest South American landscapes. Over the entire history of the continent, they have hardly changed.
Of course, people tried to change the surrounding nature as much as possible. But due to the fact that most of the continent is inaccessible to humans and does not meet the necessary conditions for survival, there are still vast areas of pristine nature that amaze the imagination. The landscapes of South America and its nature owe their existence to the unusual history of this continent.

Information

• Territory: 17,840,000 km²
• Population: 387,489,196 (2011) people.
• Names of residents: South American, American
• Includes: 12 states
• Dependent states: 3
• Time Zones: UTC-2 to UTC-5
• Largest cities South America : Sao Paulo, Lima, Bogota, Rio de Janeiro, Santiago, Caracas, Buenos Aires, Salvador, Brasilia, Fortaleza
• : Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Venezuela, Guyana, Colombia, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, Guiana, Chile, Ecuador...

Source. worldgeotour.ru

South America is a continent crossed by the equator, with an area of ​​18.13 million km², most of which is located in the Southern Hemisphere. South America is located between the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean. It was connected to North America very recently (in a geological sense) with the formation of the Isthmus of Panama. The Andes, a relatively young and seismically unstable chain of mountains, extend along the western border of the continent; The lands east of the Andes are occupied mainly by tropical forests, the vast Amazon River basin.

South America ranks fourth in area, after Eurasia, Africa and North America. It ranks fifth in terms of population, after Asia, Africa, Europe and North America.

It is believed that human settlement occurred through the Bering Isthmus, now the Bering Strait, and there is also speculation about migration from the South Pacific Ocean.

From the 1530s, the native population of South America was enslaved by European invaders, first from Spain and later from Portugal, who divided it into colonies. During the 19th century, these colonies gained independence.

South America also includes various islands, most of which belong to the countries of the continent. The Caribbean territories belong to North America. The South American countries that border the Caribbean Sea - including Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana - are known as Caribbean South America.

The largest country in South America by area and population is Brazil. Regions of South America include the Andean States, Guyanese Highlands, Southern Cone and Eastern South America.

Climate

The climate is mostly subequatorial and tropical, in the Amazon it is equatorial, constantly humid, in the south it is subtropical and temperate. The entire northern lowland part south of America to the southern tropics has average monthly temperatures of 20-28 °C. In summer they drop to the south to 10 °C, in winter on the Brazilian plateau to 12 °C, in Pampa to 6 °C, on the Patagonian plateau to 1 °C and below. The windward slopes of the Andes in Colombia and southern Chile, Western Amazonia and adjacent slopes of the Andes, the eastern slopes of the Guiana and Brazilian plateaus, and in the rest of the east up to 35 °S receive the greatest amount of precipitation per year. w. 1-2 thousand mm falls per year. Dry areas west of Pampa, Patagonia, south Central. The Andes and especially the Pacific slope between 5-27 °S. w.

Natural areas

Equatorial forests (selva) are located on both sides of the equator, occupying almost the entire Amazonian lowland, the slopes of the Andes and the northern Pacific coast.

Along the Atlantic coast there are tropical rainforests close to typical Hyla. The soils are red ferrallitic. The trees reach 80 m (ceiba), melon tree, cocoa, and rubber-bearing hevea grow. The plants are entwined with vines, there are many orchids, in the Amazon - Victoria regia.

The fauna is associated with numerous tree layers; there are few terrestrial animals. Near the water there are tapirs, capybaras, in the rivers there are gharial crocodiles, in the treetops there are howler monkeys and sloths, among the birds there are macaws, toucans, hummingbirds, boas, including anacondas, are typical. There is an anteater, among the predators - jaguar, puma, ocelot.

Savannas occupy the Orinoco Lowland and most of the Guiana and Brazilian highlands. The soils are red ferrallitic and red-brown. In the northern hemisphere, tree-like spurges, cacti, mimosas, and bottle trees are found among the tall grasses (llanos). The southern one (campos) is much drier and has more cacti. There are no large ungulates, but there are peccaries, armadillos, anteaters, rhea ostriches, pumas, and jaguars.

The South American steppes (pampa) have fertile reddish-black soils, dominated by cereals. Typical species are fast pampas deer, pampas cat, several species of llamas, and rhea ostriches.

Deserts and semi-deserts are located in the temperate zone in Patagonia. Soils are brown and grey-brown, dry cereals, cushion-shaped shrubs. The fauna is similar to the pampa (nutria, small armadillos).

Areas of altitudinal zonation. The most complete set of belts is in the equator region.

There are two large regions on the mainland - the Orient and the Andes. In the East, the Amazon, the Brazilian Highlands, the Orinoco Plains, and Patagonia are distinguished.

Inland waters

Rivers have huge river systems. It is fed by rain; most rivers belong to the Atlantic Ocean basin.

History of discovery

Europeans became reliably aware of the existence of South America after the voyage of Columbus in 1498, who discovered the islands of Trinidad and Margarita and explored the coastline from the Orinoco River delta to the Paria Peninsula. In the 15-16th centuries. The greatest contribution to the exploration of the continent was made by Spanish expeditions. In 1499-1500, the Spanish conquistador Ojeda led an expedition to the northern coast of South America, which reached the coast in the area of ​​modern Guiana and, following in a northwest direction, explored the coast from 5-6 ° S. w. to the Gulf of Venezuela. Ojeda later explored the northern coast of Colombia and founded a fortress there, marking the beginning of the Spanish conquests on that continent. The survey of the northern coast of South America was completed by the Spanish traveler Bastidas, who in 1501 explored the mouth of the Magdalena River and reached the Gulf of Uraba. The expeditions of Pinzón and Lepe, continuing to move south along the Atlantic coast of South America, in 1500 discovered one of the branches of the Amazon River delta, explored the Brazilian coast to 10 ° S. w. Solis went further south (up to 35° S) and discovered the Gulf of La Plata, the lower reaches of the largest rivers Uruguay and Parana. In 1520, Magellan explored the Patagonian coast, then went to the Pacific Ocean through the strait later named after him, completing his study of the Atlantic coast.

In 1522-58. The Pacific coast of South America was studied. Pizarro walked along the shores of the Pacific Ocean to 8° S. sh., in 1531-33. he conquered Peru, plundering and destroying the Inca state and founding the City of Kings (later called Lima). Later - in 1535-52. - Spanish conquistadors Almagro and Valdivia descended along the coast to 40° south. w.

Research into inland areas was stimulated by legends about the hypothetical “land of gold” - Eldorado, in search of which the Spanish expeditions of Ordaz, Heredia and others in 1529-46 crossed the Northwestern Andes in different directions and traced the flows of many rivers. Agents of German bankers Ehinger, Federman and others examined mainly the northeast of the continent, the upper reaches of the Orinoco River. In 1541, Orellana’s detachment crossed the continent for the first time in its widest part, tracing the middle and lower reaches of the Amazon River; Cabot, Mendoza and others in 1527-48 walked along the large rivers of the Parana - Paraguay basin.

The extreme southern point of the continent - Cape Horn - was discovered by the Dutch navigators Lemaire and Schouten in 1616. The English navigator Davis discovered the “Land of the Virgin” in 1592, suggesting that it was a single landmass; Only in 1690 Strong proved that it consists of many islands and gave them the name Falkland Islands.

In the 16th-18th centuries. detachments of Portuguese mestizos-Mamiluks, who carried out campaigns of conquest in search of gold and jewelry, repeatedly crossed the Brazilian plateau and traced the course of many tributaries of the Amazon. Jesuit missionaries also took part in the study of these areas.

To test the hypothesis about the spheroidal shape of the Earth, the Paris Academy of Sciences sent an Equatorial Expedition led by Bouguer and Condamine to Peru in 1736-43 to measure the arc of the meridian, which confirmed the validity of this assumption. In 1781-1801, the Spanish topographer Asara conducted comprehensive studies of the La Plata Bay, as well as the basins of the Parana and Paraguay rivers. Humboldt explored the Orinoco River basin, the Quito plateau, visited the city of Lima, presenting the results of his research in the book “Travel to the Equinox Regions of the New World in 1799-1804.” The English hydrographer and meteorologist Fitzroy in 1828-30 (on F. King's expedition) surveyed the southern coast of South America, and later led the famous voyage around the world on the Beagle ship, in which Darwin also took part. The Amazon and the Brazilian plateau adjacent to it from the south were explored by the German scientist Eschwege (1811-14), the French biologist Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire (1816-22), the Russian expedition led by Langsdorff (1822-28), and the English naturalist A. Wallace (1848- 52), French scientist Coudreau (1895-98). German and French scientists studied the Orinoco River basin and the Guiana Plateau, American and Argentine scientists studied the lower reaches of the Parana and Uruguay rivers in the La Plata region. Russian scientists Albov, who studied Tierra del Fuego in 1895-96, Manizer (1914-15), Vavilov (1930, 1932-33), made a great contribution to the study of this continent.

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, everyone knows about the wilds of the Amazon, colorful carnivals, fiery dances, and exotica. 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, including the 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. It is 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 general terms, the 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 Amazon 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 the 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. The Amazonian jungle, which occupies a vast territory, is a kind of calling card. 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, and a large number of amphibians (including the 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. Crocodiles live in large numbers in the Amazon itself and its tributaries. 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 peaks can also be called unique. 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. By the 21st century, the list of South American countries with 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 Brasilia, and the largest city is 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, Avila National Park, and 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. Attractions: 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, Uanotobo 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 treatment 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.

South America is the fourth largest continent on Earth. Its length from north to south is more than 7,000 km, from west to east - about 5,000, and the total area reaches 17.8 km². Most of the continent is in the Southern Hemisphere. The total number of inhabitants is more than 385 million people: according to this indicator, South America ranks fourth among the continents. But if we discard the dry facts, one thing can be said: this is a whole world, unknown, bright, alluring and frightening at the same time. Each country on this continent deserves the closest study, the most curious tourists and the most enthusiastic reviews.

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How to get there

The cost of air travel to South American countries varies significantly on regular days and during sales periods. If a regular ticket can cost on average 1700-2000 USD, then sale and promotional tickets can be purchased with a discount of up to 50%. The most profitable option for Russians is to purchase a ticket to Venezuela (the cheapest can be purchased for 500-810 USD on days of maximum discounts). Or fly to relatively large Caribbean countries, such as Cuba and the Dominican Republic, from where you can travel to the mainland by domestic airlines.

If you have time and money, you can arrange an unforgettable ocean trip: a boat trip to Buenos Aires will cost 1500-2000 EUR. Such a voyage will take much more time than a flight, because most often it is not just a voyage across the Atlantic Ocean, but a full-fledged cruise calling at ports in Europe and Central America.

Transport in South America

Air travel within the continent is quite expensive, but cruise travel by sea is widespread (the cost depends on the class of the liner). Railways are used primarily for freight transportation - there are very few passenger trains, but bus service is very common. Traveling by bus, of course, is less comfortable, but very economical (prices vary depending on the country and destinations - tourist or domestic). In addition, car rentals are very cheap here.

Weather

Different parts of South America have different climates. In the north there is the equatorial zone with the highest temperatures in January, in the south there is the frosty polar zone. This is where you can celebrate the New Year in a bikini under the scorching sun, and then go to a more familiar climate zone at a ski resort in the Andean highlands. In the south of the continent, plump king penguins are walking around with might and main - Antarctica is close!

Hotels

If you find yourself in South America for the first time and are accustomed to international class of service, choose large hotel chains (preferably international). Their rooms cost from 50-90 USD per night. Students and exotic lovers often stay in small hotels or private apartments - the cost can start from 15-20 USD per day. The appearance and amenities of housing will depend on the country, proximity to popular resorts and personal luck. Prices on the page are for October 2018.

Iguazu Falls

South American countries

Venezuela- a state in the north of South America, washed by the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. The capital is the city of Caracas. Here there are conditions for a beach holiday - luxurious beaches of the Caribbean coast, a fashionable secluded holiday on the island of Margarita, and for an active one: Avila National Park near Caracas, the Amazonian jungle, the highest waterfall on the planet - Angel, the longest cable car in the world with a length of 12, 6 km and the highest mountain peak in the country - Pico Bolivar (4981 m).

Guyana- a state on the northeastern coast of South America. The capital is Georgetown. Almost 90% of the country is covered by humid jungle. It is precisely because of the unfavorable conditions for tourism in the traditional sense that Guyana is visited primarily by ecotourists. They are fond of the waterfalls of the Guiana Highlands, the Pakaraima Mountains, the Kaieteur and Iwokrama national parks, where visitors learn the wisdom of rafting, and also go on foot and horseback treks through the Rupununi savannas.

Guiana(or French Guiana) is the largest overseas region of France, located in northeastern South America. A French visa is required to enter Guiana. The administrative center is the city of Cayenne. 96% of the country's territory is occupied by tropical forests - this region is one of the most forested and environmentally friendly in the world. Tourist centers and villages of local residents are concentrated in the coastal strip, while the central areas are practically deserted.

Colombia- a state in the north-west of South America, named after the great traveler. The capital is Bogota. Russians are allowed visa-free entry into Colombia for up to 90 days. The country is famous for its historical heritage, many museums and the amazing fusion of European culture brought by the Spanish conquistadors in the 15th century and the Indian culture still carefully preserved in some areas of the country. Colombia has stunning nature: national parks, the peaks of the Sierra Nevada, the Amazon River, palm valleys and coffee plantations.

Paraguay called the heart of America, since this country is landlocked. Its population has retained its originality: the Indian dialect Guarani is the official language here along with Spanish. The capital is Asuncion. “Guiana” is translated from Guaranese as “great river” - this refers to the Rio Paraguay (the third largest and longest river on the continent), dividing the country into the arid Gran Chaco plain and the humid areas between the Rio Paraguay and Rio Alta Parana. The country has been favored by ecotourists and connoisseurs of superbly preserved architectural monuments from the period of the Jesuit state.

Peru- a state on the west coast of South America. The capital is Lima. Fans of antiquities know Peru as the site of the Inca settlement - the Inca state of Tawantinsuyu was the largest empire of pre-Columbian America and still remains a mystery to ethnographers and archaeologists. Here is the famous Machu Picchu, which has become one of the new wonders of the world, and landscapes with the mysterious Nazca Lines, the origin of which scientists still cannot explain. In total, Peru has more than 180 museums and many archaeological parks, lost in the valleys of the Andes.

Visa-free entry into Peru is open for Russian tourists for up to 90 days.

Suriname- a state in the northeast of South America. The capital is Paramaribo. People come here in search of ecotourism in unusual places: tropical forests, Atabru, Kau, Wanotobo waterfalls, the Galibi Nature Reserve, the Sipaliwini region, which occupies most of the territory, and the Trio, Acurio and Wayana Indian reservations.

Uruguay- a state in the southeast of South America. The capital is Montevideo. If you want to relax on the beach, visit Uruguay between January and April. Connoisseurs of colonial architecture will certainly enjoy the sights of Cologna and Montevideo. Every year, a month and a half before Easter, two days before Lent, Catholics in Uruguay host a colorful carnival.

Visa-free entry into Uruguay is open for Russian tourists for up to 90 days.

Chile- a state in the southwest of South America, occupying a long strip from the Pacific coast to the highlands of the Andes. The capital is Santiago. In Chile, balneological tourism is common (33 sanatoriums with water and mud therapy), beach holidays (Arica, Iquique, Valparaiso regions), as well as travel to the national parks of La Campana, Torres del Paine, to Lake San Rafael, to the towns of Altiplano and San Pedro and, of course, to the famous Easter Island. For ski lovers - 15 resorts with slopes from the most extreme to simple.

Ecuador is located in the north-west of the mainland and gets its name from the Spanish “equator”. The capital is Quito. Particularly noteworthy are the Galapagos Islands, famous not only for their fauna, but also for their fantastic beaches, Oriente National Park and a journey through the Amazon, the El Kayas region with 200 lakes and lagoons, the ancient cultural monument of Ingapirca and museums of the colonial and pre-colonial eras in Quito.

A visa-free regime has been introduced for Russian tourists to visit Ecuador for up to 90 days.

In addition, South America includes the disputed island territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, as well as the Falkland Islands (Malvinas), which are still disputed by Great Britain and Argentina. Tourists arrive to the islands as part of cruise tours. The most common activities are mountaineering, hiking and kayaking. The Falkland Islands (Malvinas) are places almost forgotten by tourists. In terms of climate, their territory is close to Iceland: cold, strong winds, and not only seagulls, but also plump king penguins scurry along the coast.

Nature of South America

After the breakup of the Gondwana continent at the end of the Cretaceous period into Africa, Australia, Antarctica and South America, the latter remained an isolated continent. The Isthmus of Panama, which connects what is now North and South America, appeared about three million years ago, significantly influencing the flora and fauna of the continent.

The variety of landscapes and climatic zones amazes the tourist’s imagination. The Andes, the world's longest mountain range, is also called the "ridge" of South America, stretching almost its entire length for 9 thousand km. The highest peaks - Aconcagua (6960 m) in Argentina and Ojos del Salado (6908 m) are covered with snow all year round. The movement of the earth's crust in this region, which continues to this day, causes earthquakes and eruptions of active volcanoes.

The famous Amazon flows here, the second largest river on the planet, always full of water thanks to its numerous tributaries. On its banks rise the endless Amazonian jungle, so dense that some parts of it remain unexplored to this day.

The Amazon jungle is called the “lungs of the planet.”

In contrast to the Amazon rainforest, the mainland has one of the driest places on the planet, the Atacama Desert in northern Chile. Argentina and Uruguay have hot and dusty pampa steppes.

There are vast lakes, high waterfalls, and rocky islands in South America. From the north, the mainland is washed by the warm waters of the Caribbean Sea, while its southernmost point - the island of Tierra del Fuego - is subject to frequent storms of the cold Atlantic Ocean.