Geography of South America and the Andes Mountains

South America boasts no shortage of great rivers. The Madeira River stretches some 3,250 kilometers and the Parana dwarfs it at 4,880 kilometers. Most impressive of all is the longest river in South America is the Amazon River

Angel Falls is a waterfall in Venezuela. It is the world's highest uninterrupted waterfall, with a height of 979 meters in South America.

           Oil production in Central & South America is at a high level of more than 7 million barrels per day since a decade ago. The latest figure is 7.5 million barrels per day. Two countries currently dominate Central and South American oil production: Venezuela and Brazil.

Traditionally, Venezuela had been South America’s biggest producer. Its oil reserves (18% of the world’s total) outstrip those of Saudi Arabia. But the political and economic instability of recent years has taken its toll on production. In 2005, Venezuela’s daily output was 3.3 million barrels. By 2016 it was down to 2.4 million barrels per day.

As Venezuela’s production has waned, Brazil has been growing significantly since 1985. In 2016, Brazil’s daily output of 2.6 million barrels gave it a 35% regional share, making it, for the first time, South America’s largest producer. Working in Brazil’s favor has been a supportive strategy regarding exploration bids which has attracted interest by international oil companies, coupled with the development of new offshore technologies.

The Pampas region in Argentina and Uruguay is famous for its fertile soil and is the primary wheat-producing area of South America.

Traveling from North to South in South America, the vegetation zones generally transition from the tropical grasslands (Llanos) to the tropical rainforests (Selvas), then to the subtropical grasslands (Gran Chacos), and finally to the temperate grasslands (Pampas).

The Llama is a camelid native to the Andes mountains in South America. Kangaroos are native to Australia, giraffes to Africa, and gorillas to Africa.

The Central Valley of Chile experiences a Mediterranean climate, which is characterized by dry summers and wet, rainy winters.

The Uruguay River flows southward and eventually empties into the Rio de la Plata, which is an estuary of the Atlantic Ocean.

The total area of South America is approximately 17.8 million square kilometers.

South America is the fourth largest continent in the world, following Asia, Africa, and North America.

The Pacific Ocean borders the entire western coast of South America.

Brazil is the largest country in South America by both area and population.

Santiago is the capital and largest city of Chile.

The Strait of Magellan is a navigable sea route in southern Chile that separates mainland South America to the north and Tierra del Fuego to the south.

South America contains 12 sovereign independent countries, along with a few territories and departments. The 12 independent nations are Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, and Venezuela.

South America is generally divided into four major physical divisions: the Andes Mountains, the Central Plains, the Eastern Highlands, and the coastal strips.

Both the Equator and the Tropic of Capricorn pass through the South American continent.

Cape Horn is the southernmost headland of the Tierra del Fuego archipelago of southern Chile and is widely considered the southernmost point of the South American continent.

The Andes is the longest continental mountain range in the world, stretching along the entire western coast of South America.

The latitudinal extent of South America is approximately from 12 degrees North to 55 degrees South.

The longitudinal extent of South America is approximately from 35 degrees West to 81 degrees West.

The Eastern Highlands of South America consist of three main regions: the Guiana Highlands in the northeast, the Brazilian Highlands covering most of eastern Brazil, and the Patagonian Highlands in the south. Together they form the ancient shield areas east of the Andes.

The climate of South America is influenced by its vast latitudinal extent, the presence of the high Andes mountains, and the impact of prevailing winds and ocean currents (like the Humboldt Current).

The central lowlands of South America are formed by the drainage basins of the Orinoco, Amazon, and La Plata river systems. These basins cover a vast portion of the continent's interior.

The Andes are a classic example of young fold mountains, formed by the subduction of the Nazca Plate beneath the South American Plate. This geological process is relatively recent in Earth's history.

The Patagonian Plateau is located in the rain shadow of the Andes, which prevents moisture from reaching the region. This results in a cold, arid climate classified as a cold desert.

The Pacific Ring of Fire is a major area in the basin of the Pacific Ocean where a large number of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur. It is characterized by highly active volcanic arcs.

Lake Titicaca, located on the border of Peru and Bolivia in the Andes, is widely recognized as the highest navigable lake in the world due to its high altitude and large surface area.

Mount Aconcagua, located in Argentina, is the highest mountain in the Andes and the highest peak in both the Western and Southern Hemispheres.

Ecuador is the world's largest banana producer, benefiting from its ideal climate and position as a top exporter. The country's banana industry is a major part of its economy. Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay focus more on grains and cattle ranching.

Brazil has been the world's largest producer of coffee for over 150 years, benefiting from its vast tropical climate and suitable soil conditions.

Chile holds the world's largest copper reserves and is the leading producer and exporter of copper globally, with mining being a cornerstone of its economy.

Peru is a global leader in the fishing industry, largely due to the nutrient-rich waters of the Humboldt Current along its coast.

Brazil is one of the top global producers of maize (corn), consistently ranking among the top three countries alongside the United States and China.

Brazil is often referred to as the 'coffee pot of the world' because it produces a significant portion of the global coffee supply.

Plantation farming involves large-scale, single-crop cultivation designed for commercial export, often requiring significant labor and infrastructure.

Santiago is the capital and largest city of Chile, situated in a valley surrounded by the Andes and the Chilean Coast Range.

South America is a major exporter of various agricultural commodities, including coffee, cotton, and sugar, which are vital to the economies of many nations on the continent.

Lima is the capital and largest city of Peru, located on the Pacific coast. The other options are misspelled or incorrect: Caracas (Venezuela), Asuncion (Paraguay), and Quito (Ecuador). Lima has been Peru's capital since the Spanish colonial era.

Ecuador is known for having a high population density relative to its land area compared to other South American countries, particularly in its Andean highlands.

Like many developing regions, South American countries import a variety of goods, including industrial machinery, energy resources like coal, and foodgrains to supplement domestic supply.

In Latin America, a person of mixed European and Indigenous (Indian) ancestry is referred to as a Mestizo. A Mulatto is a person of mixed European and African ancestry.

Llamas are native to Peru, Chile, Bolivia, and Argentina in South America. They are related to the camel and are the oldest domesticated animal in the world.

The Uspallata Pass, Bermejo Pass or Cumbre Pass, is an Andean pass which provides a route between the wine-growing region around the Argentine city of Mendoza, the Chilean city Los Andes and Santiago the Chilean capital situated in the central Chilean valley.

Chile is historically famous for its vast deposits of sodium nitrate, which was a major export for the country in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Tropical Grasslands
East Africa- Savanna
Brazil- Campos
 Venezuela- Llanos
Temperate Grasslands
 Argentina- Pampas

1. America- Prairie
2. Africa- Veld
3. Asia- Steppe

Australia- Down

Puerto Miranda is an oil port situated on the east side of Lake Maracaibo in Venezuela opposite to the city of Maracaibo and is operated by the Venezuelan State Oil Company (PDVSA PETROLEO, S.A.) It is the largest crude oil export port in South America.

The Peru Current (also known as the Humboldt Current) is a cold, low-salinity ocean current that flows along the western coast of South America.