Major countries of South America. South America

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 of it 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 of the countries has its own state language, flag, currency, culture and customs. Let us consider in more detail which states are part of South America.

general characteristics

South America is characterized by an 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. After a while, the Portuguese and Spaniards brought Africans to the continent as a labor force. 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 nations live on common territory surprisingly calm, without serious conflicts.

Rice. 1. The population of South America

On a racial basis, 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 - the advantage is for the Europeans. And only in Peru and Bolivia do indigenous peoples of South America form the majority.

The most widely spoken languages ​​are Spanish and Portuguese. However, the population of South America is so diverse and many-sided 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 the countries of the former Soviet Union. Often on the streets you can hear the colorful speech of the native Indians: Aymara, Quechua, Guara, Araucan.

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Rice. 2. South America on the map

Table “List of South American countries and their capitals”

Brief overview of the countries of South America

Each country of the continent has its own characteristics.

• Brazil It 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 - a 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 wet jungle. Up to 90% of the territory of Guyana is occupied by dense forests.
• Guiana - despite the fact that this is the territory of South America, however, it is impossible to get into this French region without a visa.
• Colombia - is distinguished by a large number of museums, which contain the richest 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. In the capital - Asuncion - there are many original architectural monuments.
• Peru – Mountain country located in the Andes West Coast. She is full of mysteries and amazing stories, because it was here that the Inca civilization once developed.
• Suriname - the smallest state in South America, which has preserved a unique colonial style.
• Uruguay - the country is famous, first of all, thanks to its traditional carnival, which in its significance and scope is in no way inferior to the Argentinean.
• Chile - the country is located in a very picturesque place, along the Pacific coast, partly in highlands Andes.
• Ecuador - an equatorial country in which monuments have been preserved ancient culture, museums.

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 mainland 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 the whole world, unknown, bright, alluring and frightening at the same time. Each country of 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 1700-2000 USD on average, then sale and promotional tickets can be bought with a discount of up to 50%. The most profitable for Russians is to buy a ticket to Venezuela (the cheapest one can be bought for 500-810 USD on the days of maximum discounts). Or fly to the relatively massive countries of the Caribbean, such as Cuba and the Dominican Republic, from where you can already move 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 sailing across the Atlantic Ocean, but a full-fledged cruise calling at the ports of Europe and Central America.

Transport in South America

Inside the continent, air travel is quite expensive, but cruise travel by sea is widespread (the cost depends on the class of the liner). Railways are used mainly for cargo 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

AT different parts South America has a different climate. In the north - the equatorial zone with maximum high temperatures in January, in the south - a frosty polar zone. This is where you can meet New Year in a bikini under the scorching sun, and then go to a more familiar climate zone to a ski resort in the Andean highlands. In the south of the mainland, plump king penguins roam with might and main - Antarctica is close!

Hotels

If you find yourself in South America for the first time and are accustomed to the international class of service, choose large hotel chains (preferably international ones). Rooms in them cost from 50-90 USD per day. Students and exotic lovers often settle in small hotels or private apartments - the cost can start from 15-20 USD per day. 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 beach holiday- luxurious beaches of the Caribbean coast, a fashionable secluded vacation on Margarita Island, and for the active: 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 country's highest mountain peak - Pico Bolívar (4981 m).

Guyana- a state on the northeast coast of South America. The capital is Georgetown. Almost 90% of the country is occupied by wet jungles. It is precisely because of the unfavorable conditions for tourism in the traditional sense that Guyana is visited primarily by ecotourists. They have chosen the waterfalls of the Guiana Highlands, the Pacaraima Mountains, the national parks of Kaieteur and Ivokrama, where visitors learn the wisdom of rafting, and also make hiking and horseback riding through the Rupununi savannahs.

Guiana(or French Guiana) - the largest overseas region of France, located in the northeast of 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 settlements local residents concentrated in the coastal strip, the central regions are practically deserted.

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

Paraguay called the heart of America, because this country has no access to the sea. Its population has retained its identity: the Indian dialect of Guarani is here state language on par with Spanish. The capital is Asuncion. "Guiana" is translated from Guaran as "great river" - meaning the Rio Paraguay (the third most full-flowing and longest river of the continent), dividing the country into the arid Gran Chaco plain and the humid regions between the Rio Paraguay and Rio Alta Parana. The country was chosen by ecotourists and connoisseurs of superbly preserved architectural monuments from the period of the Jesuit state.

Peru a country on the west coast of South America. The capital is Lima. Fans of antiquities know Peru as the place of the Inca settlement - the Inca state of Tahuantinsuyu 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 mysterious Nazca lines, the origin of which scientists still cannot explain. In total, there are more than 180 museums in Peru and many archaeological parks lost in the Andes valleys.

Visa-free entry to 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 unusual places: Tropical forests, Atabru waterfalls, Cau, Wanotobo, Galibi reserve, Sipaliwini region, which occupies most of the territory, 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, come to Uruguay between January and April. Connoisseurs of colonial architecture will surely 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 to 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 Andes highlands. The capital is Santiago. In Chile, balneological tourism is widespread (33 sanatorium bases with water and mud treatment), beach holidays (the areas of Arica, Iquique, Valparaiso), as well as trips to the national parks of La Campana, Torres del Paine, to Lake San Rafael, to places Altiplano and San Pedro and, of course, the famous Easter Island. For lovers skiing- 15 resorts with slopes from the most extreme to the easiest.

Ecuador located in the northwest of the mainland and got its name from the Spanish "equator". The capital is Quito. special attention The Galapagos Islands, famous not only for their fauna, but also for their fantastic beaches, the Oriente National Park and a journey through the Amazon, the El Kayas region with 200 lakes and lagoons, a monument to the ancient culture of Ingapirca and museums of the colonial and pre-colonial eras in Quito deserve to be famous not only for their fauna, but also for their fantastic beaches.

A visa-free regime for visiting Ecuador has been introduced for Russian tourists 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 (Malvinas) Islands, which are still disputed by Great Britain and Argentina. Tourists arrive on the islands as part of cruise tours. The most common activities are mountain climbing, hiking and rafting in kayaks and kayaks. The Falkland (Malvinas) Islands 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 mainland at the end of the Cretaceous into Africa, Australia, Antarctica and South America, the latter remained a separate continent. Connecting the current North and South America, the Isthmus of Panama appeared about three million years ago, significantly affecting the flora and fauna of the continent.

variety of landscapes and climatic zones strikes the tourist's imagination. 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. A movement that continues to this day earth's crust in this region causes earthquakes and eruptions of active volcanoes.

The famous Amazon flows here, the second largest river on the planet, always full-flowing thanks to its numerous tributaries. On its shores, the endless Amazonian jungle rises, so dense that some of their areas remain unexplored to this day.

The Amazonian jungle is called the "lungs of the planet."

In contrast to the Amazonian rainforests on the mainland is one of the driest places on the planet, the Atacama Desert in northern Chile. In Argentina and Uruguay, the pampas are hot and dusty.

There are vast lakes in South America, and high waterfalls, and rocky islands. 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.

All the states of South America appeared as a result of liberation wars and revolutions directed against former colonialists such as Spain, Portugal and Great Britain. The history of the formation of countries Latin America no less interesting than the European one, and much more expressive.

States of South America

The modern political map of South America has thirteen states and two dependent territories, one of which - the Falkland Islands - still cannot be divided by Great Britain and Argentina. Because of this dispute, there was even a war in 1982, as a result of which control over the islands was finally established by the UK. Argentina, however, did not recognize this fact and continues to call the Malvinas Islands, which should emphasize their belonging to the South American Republic.

Brazil is the largest country in South America both in terms of area and population. The territory of Brazil was colonized by the Portuguese, who ruled these lands until 1822, when the country's independence from the mother country was proclaimed.

However, the new state inherited the Portuguese form of government - the monarchy, and the new country began to be called the Brazilian Empire, which was headed by the son of the previous monarch. However, the monarchy in Brazil ended in 1889, when Emperor Pedro I was overthrown in a military coup. Since then, Brazil has been a republic.

List of South American countries

Every state that exists today in South America is a republic in form of government, and in many countries this is enshrined in the official name. In the name of some states, even the national composition is fixed, as, for example, in Bolivia.

Here is a list of all the states of South America and the territories that traditionally belong to it:

• Argentine Republic;
• Plurinational State of Bolivia;
• Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela;
• Guyana;
• Republic of Colombia;
• Republic of Paraguay;
• Republic of Peru;
• Republic of Suriname;
• Eastern Republic of Uruguay;
• the Falkland Islands, held by Britain but disputed by Argentina;
• Guiana - French overseas territory;
• Chile;
• Republic of Ecuador.

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands are undisputedly part of the United Kingdom, but they do not have a permanent population, or the population does not exceed twenty people.

North America

Both American continent connected though by a thin, but very important isthmus, which in the pre-colonial period ensured the connectivity of various cultures that existed on the two continents.

Some scholars believe that it was along this isthmus that the Indians, who belonged to the ancient cultures of South America and eventually ended up in Mexico, crossed.

In addition to common ancient roots, the states of North and South America have another common origin that is closer to modernity: they are all the fruits of European colonization, aggressive and merciless towards the local population, as a result of which many millions of people died and entire cultures and civilizations were destroyed. such as the Incas and Aztecs.

Rich North and Poor South

However, there are also many differences between countries such as the US and Canada and the states of Central and South America.

All Spanish-speaking countries and former Portuguese colonies are now classified as emerging economies. They experience frequent political and economic crises, as well as difficulties with public administration and excessive levels of corruption in the state apparatus.

In addition, cocaine is produced on an industrial scale in South America, which is then transported to the United States through Mexico. All this creates an environment for all sorts of abuses on the part of the authorities and the most comfortable conditions for conducting a criminal business, the victims of which are thousands of people every year.

Additional tension between the states of South America and the United States is created due to illegal migration, caused by the natural desire of people from the south to improve their living conditions.

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

The area of ​​the continent is approximately equal to 17.8 million square kilometers. 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 mountain range immediately comes to mind - the Andes, which is a world landmark as the longest (the length is approximately 9 thousand km). Surprisingly, at present, the mountains continue to grow and amaze the inhabitants with their activity. There are regular volcanic eruptions and quite strong earthquakes.

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

How many countries are in South America?

The continent consists of 12 independent countries:

And also there are 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 belong to the UK).

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

Argentina and Brazil

The largest countries, called Latin (because of the language), which literally catch the eye because of their size. Argentina covers an area of ​​more than 2500 sq. km. State capital - Buenos Aires. Many tourists consider it the most beautiful in the world. Here, on January 16, a famous carnival is held, which attracts guests from all over the world.

Brazil is probably the most famous of all South American countries and the most attractive for tourists. The owner of the largest territory, population and unusual nature. The most popular center for tourists - bright Southern City Rio de Janeiro, which has an abundance of beaches and many carnivals are held annually.

small state without 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 to the tropics untouched by people.

Guyana, Paraguay and Suriname

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

Colombia and Ecuador

The 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 capital of the country is little known - the city of Bogota, where the population is just over 7 million people. Such sights of Colombia as the river have gained worldwide popularity. Canyo 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 is of great interest to guests.

Peru

The territory of ancient civilizations, rich unsolved mysteries. State capital - 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, a 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 is quite easy to find them on the map: small countries on the coasts of the southern part of Latin America. Chile, according to one poet, is the most beautiful country in the world, where the Andes stretch on one side, and the Pacific coast on the other. The capital - Santiago - is constantly filled with tourists who love an unusual vacation.

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

The rest of the territories, which are rather colonies of other European large states, are interesting as a beach holiday, however, here you can find historical and cultural monuments of bygone times. South America is an amazing place with unique nature, where everyone will find something to do and relax to their liking.