Federations in South America. South America: countries and cities

Today, the states of South America are among the world's most significant producers of mineral raw materials and agricultural products. In addition, as in Africa, most countries here specialize in the extraction of several types of minerals. This economic orientation is the result of the continent's colonial past.

From the history of the states of South America

Since ancient times, South America was inhabited by Indian tribes (Inca, Quechua, Aymara, etc.). Scientists believe that the first people appeared on the mainland 17 thousand years ago. They came here from the territory North America. In the first half of the 15th century. the country of the Incas was formed here. By the time Europeans discovered South America, they had created a strong state with developed agriculture. Other tribes at that time were still at a primitive level of development. With the discovery of South America, mainly Spaniards and Portuguese settled here. They founded first trading posts and then colonies. The states of South America became independent in early XIX V. They freed themselves from colonial oppression earlier than African countries, and therefore have a higher level of development.

South American states today

Today there are 12 independent states in South America. Most are republics in structure. There are also 3 dependent territories on the mainland. On this moment All countries in South America are considered developing. The largest are located in the flat east. These are Brazil, Argentina and Venezuela. They are distinguished by large territories and diverse natural resources (Chile, Peru, Colombia, Bolivia, Ecuador). Argentina, Brazil and Chile are characterized by a fairly high level of economic development. Other countries are agrarian-industrial in nature.

Brazil

Brazil is the largest country in South America. By its structure it is a federal republic. Until 1822, Brazil was a colony of Portugal. The country ranks first on the mainland in terms of development of the mining industry. Significant reserves of iron ore, gold, bauxite, manganese and other ore minerals are concentrated here. Well developed textile, clothing, automotive and chemical industry. In addition, Brazil is famous for the production of coffee, cocoa and sugar cane.

Rio de Janeiro is considered the symbol of the country. It is one of the most beautiful cities in the world and the largest tourist center in South America.

Argentina

Argentina is the second largest country in South America. By its structure, it is considered a republic with its capital in Buenos Aires. Until 1816, Argentina was a colony of Spain. There are few Indians among the country's population. In Argentina there are many descendants of not only Spanish settlers, but also Italians, English, and French. Most of the population lives in cities that are located on the coast.

Argentina is a developed country in South America. The engineering and mining industries are of great importance here. But the main wealth is the pampa, huge plains with fertile lands.

Peru

Peru is the third largest country on the continent by area. Half of its population are Spanish-speaking Peruvians, and the second part are Indian peoples (Quechua, Aymara). In the mining industry. Processing industries are represented by ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy. Coffee and cocoa are grown in Peru. There are many enterprises along the coast where sardines, anchovies and other seafood are processed.

Suriname

Suriname is the most small state South America. By its structure it is a republic. Suriname gained independence in 1975, before which the country was underdeveloped. However, oil production is of great importance to the Suriname economy.

One of the continents of the Earth - South America. The location corresponds to the name - most of it is located mainly in the Southern Hemisphere, and a very small patch is in the Northern Hemisphere. It is washed by the waters of two world oceans - the Pacific and the Atlantic.

The continent's area is approximately 17.8 million square meters. km, and the population is 386 million people.

The continent itself is very interesting for its unusual, vibrant and unexplored nature. First of all, you should pay attention to the interesting landscape. The Andes mountain range immediately comes to mind, which is a world landmark as the longest (length approximately 9 thousand km). Surprisingly, the mountains continue to grow and amaze residents with their activity. Volcanic eruptions occur here regularly and quite strong earthquakes.

Near the highlands lies the abundant and wide Amazon River, famous for its swampy jungle. Next to such a beautiful oasis are the driest places on the planet - deserts, steppes of Argentina and Uruguay, where heat, drought and dust reign. Not far from such lifeless places there are deep lakes with the world's highest waterfalls that crash against the rocks. The North is washed by the hot waters of the Caribbean Sea, and the South is attracted by Tierra del Fuego and the frosty fresh Atlantic, which is adjacent to the beautiful glaciers of Antarctica, its icebergs and penguins frolicking on them. Anyone, regardless of their preferences and interests, will find a corner to their liking on this continent.

How many countries are there in South America?

The continent consists of 12 independent countries:

There are also 3 territories that have not acquired sovereignty and depend on large European countries:

• French Guiana (belongs to the possessions of France)
• Falkland (or Malvinas) Islands
• South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (both islands are part of Great Britain).

All countries of South America are unique in their own way.

Argentina and Brazil

The largest countries are called Latin (because of the language), which literally catches your eye due to their size. Argentina covers an area of ​​more than 2500 square meters. km. The capital of the state is Buenos Aires. Many tourists consider it the most beautiful in the world. A famous carnival is held here on January 16, which attracts guests from all over the world.

Brazil is probably the most famous of all the countries in South America and the most attractive for tourists. The owner of the largest territory, population and unusual nature. A popular tourist destination - a vibrant southern city Rio de Janeiro, which has an abundance of beaches and hosts many carnivals every year.

A small state with no access to the ocean. The most famous and largest city - Santa Cruz, however, the capital is Sucre, whose population is 370 thousand people. The government of the country, surprisingly, is located in a completely different city - La Paz, also known for its species.

Venezuela

A place with a pleasant, warm climate, which can be found on the map in the northern part of the continent. In the capital of the country - the city Caracas- guests relax on the shores of the Caribbean Sea, and then embark on excursions through the untouched tropics.

Guyana, Paraguay and Suriname

Small countries, interesting solely for their nature. They are difficult to find on the map due to their small size. There are no skyscrapers or other modern monuments here. The architecture has preserved as much primitiveness as possible; most of the jungle has remained virgin and untouched. The climate is humid, but the vegetation is very diverse.

Colombia and Ecuador

A state named after the discoverer of America. Tourist wealth consists of a huge number of museums, where the entire cultural heritage is revealed - from the native Indian atmosphere to the European one acquired in the course of history. The country's capital is little known - the city of Bogota, where the population is just over 7 million people. Colombian attractions such as the river Caño Cristales, where the water is so clear that you can see the bottom with all the colorful algae and mosses.

Compared to Colombia, it is less popular, and the territory is several times smaller, but it is also located here a large number of cultural monuments and museums, which are of great interest to guests.

Peru

Territory of ancient civilizations, rich unsolved mysteries. The capital of the state is a city Lima, located on the ocean. Natural conditions so unusual and diverse that they have become home to the most amazing animals and birds on the planet. For example, the condor, whose wingspan is 3 meters. When visiting a country, tourists first go to the city Machu Picchu famous for the sacred valley of the Inca civilization.

Uruguay and Chile

It’s quite easy to find them on the map: small countries on the coasts of the southern part Latin America. Chile, according to one poet, is the most beautiful country in the world, with the Andes on one side and the Pacific coast on the other. The capital, Santiago, is constantly filled with tourists who love an unusual holiday.

Uruguay boasts of its hospitality. Although it is small, it is full of all types of recreational entertainment - from architectural monuments to active sports(surfing).

The remaining territories, which are rather colonies of other large European states, are interesting in terms of quality beach holiday However, here you can find historical and cultural monuments of past times. South America is an amazing place with unique nature, where everyone will find something to do and relax to their liking.

South America is the fourth largest continent, belonging to the group of southern continents: the map shows that most of it is located in the Southern Hemisphere, and only a small region is in the Northern Hemisphere. On a total area of ​​17,800 sq. km there are 12 countries of South America, as well as 3 independent territories, and each country has its own official language, flag, currency, culture and customs. Let's take a closer look at which states are part of South America.

general characteristics

South America is characterized by amazing diversity and indescribable flavor of absolutely all countries located on the continent.

Before the conquest of the mainland in the 16th century by the Spanish conquerors, Indians lived here. Over time, the Portuguese and Spaniards brought people from Africa to the continent as labor. Subsequently, many regions of South America were settled by immigrants from Western and of Eastern Europe. Despite the great differences in culture, religion and general way of life different peoples live on common territory surprisingly calm, without serious conflicts.

Rice. 1. Population of South America

By race, the entire population of the mainland can be divided into three main types:

• Indians;
• Europeans;
• black people.

In Colombia, Venezuela, Paraguay and Ecuador, the local population is mostly represented by mestizos - descendants of Indians and Europeans. In Brazil, Venezuela and Colombia there are quite a lot of representatives of the Negroid race, and in Chile, Uruguay and Argentina, Europeans have an advantage. And only in Peru and Bolivia do the indigenous people of South America form a majority.

The most common languages ​​are Spanish and Portuguese. However, the population of South America is so diverse and diverse that here you can hear English, French, German, Italian speech - these foreign languages are the most popular and are taught in school. Russian is spoken only by tourists and immigrants from former countries Soviet Union. You can often hear the colorful speech of the indigenous Indians on the streets: Aymara, Quechua, Guara, Araucanian.

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Rice. 2. South America on the map

Table “List of South American countries and their capitals”

Brief overview of South American countries

Each country on the continent has its own characteristics.

• Brazil is the largest country in terms of area and population. Known throughout the world for its first-class beaches and carnivals in Rio de Janeiro.

Rice. 3. Carnival in Rio de Janeiro

• Argentina - notable for its capital Buenos Aires, which annually hosts the famous carnival procession.
• Bolivia – Sucre is officially considered the capital of the country, but the local government prefers the largest and beautiful city in Bolivia - La Paz.
• Venezuela - the country in which the north comes into its possession. On the outskirts of Caracas there is a National Park with untouched tropical nature.
• Guyana - This is a country of constantly humid jungle. Up to 90% of Guyana's territory is occupied by dense forests.
• Guiana – despite the fact that this is the territory of South America, it is impossible to enter this French region without a visa.
• Colombia – is distinguished by a large number of museums, which contain a rich cultural and historical heritage. This country is a symbiosis of two cultures - Indian and European.
• Paraguay - a country that does not have its own access to the sea. The capital, Asunción, has many original architectural monuments.
• Peru – Mountain country, located in the Andes on the west coast. She is full of mysteries and amazing stories, because it was here that the Inca civilization developed at one time.
• Suriname - the smallest state in South America, which has preserved a unique colonial style.
• Uruguay – the country is famous, first of all, for its traditional carnival, which in its significance and scope is in no way inferior to the Argentinean one.
• Chile – the country is located in a very picturesque place, along the Pacific coast, partly in mountainous area Andes.
• Ecuador - an equatorial country in which monuments have been preserved ancient culture, museums.

Uruguay. The area of ​​Brazil is 8512 thousand km2, according to this indicator the country ranks 5th in the world after Russia, and. The population is 159.7 million people, the form of government is a republic, the capital is (1.5 million inhabitants).

The basis of Brazil's relief is the Amazonian lowland - a huge swampy plain covered with dense jungle and indented by rivers.

In the north and south, respectively, are the Guiana and Brazilian plateaus - plains with a pronounced dry period, located high above sea level. Most of the country's territory is located between the equator and the southern tropics; equatorial and subequatorial ones are noted here, only tropical on the southeast coast. The temperature here is constantly high, rarely dropping below +20 °C. In the western part of Brazil, precipitation falls up to 2500 mm throughout the year; in the rest of the territory, the main precipitation falls in the summer.

The country's population is quite diverse in its ethnic and racial composition. Until the mid-19th century, Brazil was a country, so a large part of the population is made up of descendants of Portuguese colonists. Together with other immigrants, they make up the majority of the population - 55%. Representatives of the Negroid and mulatto communities also live in Brazil. In the depths of the jungle, tribes have survived at a fairly low level of development. The level of urbanization in the country is very high - 78%, the largest cities are Sao Paulo (16.5 million inhabitants), (10.2 million), Belo Horizonte (3.8 million).

Most of the country is covered with forests, which makes forestry one of the country's specialization industries. The jungle has huge reserves of valuable timber, but unregulated logging is destroying unique forests. The government of the country is forced to take measures to preserve the forest. Brazil is also rich in: manganese, nickel, and there are deposits of bauxite and gold.

Brazil is the most significant country in South America, its economic development goes fast. Agriculture is at a high level, corn, rice, sugar cane, citrus fruits, coffee, and cocoa beans are grown. In addition, industry is also developing: mining,...

Venezuela

Venezuela is a country in the northern part of South America. It has access to the Caribbean Sea (Atlantic Ocean), bordered by Guyana in the east, in the south and Colombia in the west. Area - 912 thousand km2, population - 21.6 million people. According to the form of government, it is a republic, the capital is (3 million inhabitants).

Most of the country is located in the east, the Guiana Plateau is located in the east, and the Andes ranges are in the west. The climate is mainly subequatorial, in the north of the country it is tropical. It is warm throughout the year, with precipitation ranging from 4000 mm in the foothills of the Andes to 700 mm on the plateau. The country is crossed from south to north by the Orinoco River, which flows into the Atlantic Ocean. On its tributary, the Churun ​​River, which originates on the Guiana Plateau, is the highest in the world.

Venezuela was a colony until 1630, so the majority of the country is of Spanish origin. The majority of the population consists of mestizos and mulattoes, the share of the indigenous population is insignificant. Very high level urbanization -93%, but Venezuela, like many other Latin American cities, is characterized by a “false” rate. The largest cities are Caracas, Maracaibo (1.6 million people), Valencia (1.4 million people).

The most important element of the Venezuelan economy is oil production and refining; Venezuela is one of the OPEC member countries. In general, it is a developing country with an average level of economic development. Other important industries industries in addition to oil - metallurgical, textile, food. Divorced large cattle, rice, corn, coffee, citrus fruits are grown, and fishing is developed.

Argentina

Argentina is the second largest country in the world and is located in the southern part of the continent. It borders in the west with Chile, in the north with Bolivia and Paraguay, in the northeast with Uruguay, and has access to the Atlantic Ocean. Area - 2763 thousand km2, population - 34.6 million people. According to the form of government, it is a republic, the capital is Buenos Aires (11.8 million inhabitants).

More than 7 thousand km long and about 5 thousand wide, it has a total area of ​​17,800 square kilometers. The map of South America clearly shows us that it does not fit entirely into this continent; part of it is located in the North. The mainland's population is more than 385 million people. The cities of South America are amazing, they are stunning with the fusion of completely different, seemingly incompatible cultures: ancient and modern, European and Indian, and skyscrapers.

Characteristics

South America is a huge, completely unknown world, extremely vibrant and extremely interesting. The first thing that strikes the imagination is the variety of landscapes. The Andes (the ridge of South America and the world's longest mountain range at 9,000 km) have not yet calmed down: earthquakes and volcanic eruptions often occur here. Here there are tributaries of the famous Impenetrable Swampy Jungle in its jungle - the lungs of our planet. And nearby is one of the driest places on Earth - the Chilean deserts, the Argentine and Uruguayan steppes - hot, waterless, dusty. And nearby there are huge lakes, tall waterfalls and vast islands full of rocks. In the north there is the almost hot Caribbean Sea, in the south there is Tierra del Fuego and the cold storms of the Atlantic, the proximity of Antarctica with its penguins and icebergs. South America is so diverse that anyone can be interested in it, everyone will discover this continent.

Brazil

This is the largest state both in terms of area and population. The capital is Brasilia. The most vibrant city is Rio de Janeiro, full of tourists, carnivals and world-class beaches.

Argentina

It's also a big country. The capital is Buenos Aires, the city of the famous carnival (January 16), and for many inhabitants of the planet - the most beautiful in the world.

Bolivia

The government of this “middle” state prefers the city of La Paz, but the capital is Sucre. La Paz is very beautiful.

Venezuela

This is the place where South America, its north, and warm regions end. The capital of the country is Caracas, located on the shores of the Caribbean Sea, and on its outskirts there is a National Park with delightfully pristine tropical nature.

Guyana

Northeast coast, capital - Georgetown. A country of humid jungles - up to 90% of the territory is occupied by them.

Guiana

Although this is South America, it is a French overseas region and people are not allowed in without a visa. The administrative center is the city of Cayenne.

Colombia

North-west, capital - Bogota. The country is named after Columbus. There are many museums here, demonstrating the rich historical and cultural heritage, as well as an extremely interesting fusion of two cultures - European and Indian.

Paraguay

The capital is Asuncion, a beautiful and distinctive city with many architectural monuments.

Peru

The Andes of the western coast, the state of the Incas, which have not yet been solved. The capital is Lima, an amazingly beautiful city on the high shore of the ocean.

Suriname

A tropical country in the northeast of the mainland. Paramaribo is its capital, a city without skyscrapers, original, and has preserved its style.

Uruguay

This is the southeast of the continent. The capital, Montevideo, was glorified by a carnival that is no less famous than that of Argentina. Colonial architecture is not offended by eclecticism.

Chile

A long strip along the Pacific coast, breathtaking and As the poet said: “There is no country more beautiful than Chile.” The capital is Santiago, a city famous for coups, balneological tourism and beautiful views of the highlands.

Ecuador

An equatorial country in the northwest where the most important monuments of ancient culture, museums of the colonial and pre-colonial eras are concentrated.