South America
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World map showing South America |
South America is a
continent situated in the
western hemisphere and, mostly, the
southern hemisphere, bordered on the west by the
Pacific Ocean and on the north and east by the
Atlantic Ocean;
North America and the
Caribbean Sea lie to the northwest.
As part of the
Americas like North America, South America is named after
Amerigo Vespucci, who was the first European to suggest that the Americas were not the
East Indies, but a
New World unknown to Europeans.
South America has an
area of 17,840,000
km² (6,890,000
sq mi), or almost 3.5% of the
Earth's surface. As of
2005, its
population was estimated at more than 371,000,000. South America ranks fourth in area (after
Asia,
Africa, and North America) and fifth in population (after Asia, Africa,
Europe, and North America).
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A satellite composite image of South America |
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Map of South America. (1750) Geograph: Robert de Vaugondy. |
Geographically, South America is generally considered a continent forming the southern portion of the
American landmass, south and east of the
Panama Canal transecting the
Isthmus of Panama. Depending on source, South and North America are sometimes considered a single continent or
supercontinent, while constituent
regions are infrequently considered
subcontinents. Geopolitically, all of
Panama â€" including the segment east of the Panama Canal in the isthmus â€" is often considered a part of North America alone and among the countries of
Central America.
It became attached to North America only recently (geologically speaking) with the formation of the Isthmus of Panama some 3 million years ago, which resulted in the
Great American Interchange. The
Andes, likewise a comparatively young and seismically restless mountain range, run down the western edge of the continent; the land to the east of the Andes is largely tropical
rain forest, the vast
Amazon River basin. The continent also contains drier regions such as
Patagonia and the extremely arid
Atacama desert.
The South American continent also includes various
islands, most of which belong to countries on the continent. The
Caribbean territories are grouped with North America. The South American nations that border the Caribbean Sea – including
Colombia,
Venezuela,
Guyana,
Suriname, and
French Guiana – are also known as
Caribbean South America.
South America contains the world's highest waterfall,
Angel Falls, the largest river (by volume), the
Amazon River, the longest mountain range, the
Andes, the driest desert,
Atacama, the largest rainforest, the
Amazon Rainforest, the highest capital city,
La Paz, Bolivia, and the world's southernmost town,
Puerto Toro,
Chile.
South America's major natural resources are
copper,
iron ore,
tin, and
oil. The many resources of South America have become useful around the world. However, they often have hindered the development of diversified economies. This has led to major highs and lows in the economy of South American states, often also causing political instability.
South America is home to many interesting and unique species of animals including the
llama,
anaconda,
pirana,
jaguar,
vicuna, and
tapir. The Amazon rainforests possess high
biodiversity, containing a major proportion of the
Earth's
species.
The largest country in South America by far, in both area and population, is
Brazil, followed by
Argentina. Regions in South America include the
Andean States, the
Guianas, the
Southern Cone, and
Eastern South America.
South America is thought to have been first inhabited by people crossing the
Bering Land Bridge, now the
Bering strait.
Pre-Columbian era
The
Muisca were the main indigenous civilization in Colombia. They established a confederation of many clans, or cacicazgos, that had a free trade network among themselves. They were goldsmiths and farmers.
The
ChavÃn established a trade network and developed agriculture by 900 BC, according to some estimates and archeological finds. Artifacts were found at a site called
ChavÃn de Huantar in modern
Peru at an elevation of 3,177 meters. ChavÃn civilization spanned 900 BC to 300 BC.
Holding their capital at the great city of
Cusco, the
Inca civilization dominated the Andes region from
1438 to
1533. Known as
Tawantinsuyu, or "the land of the four regions," in
Quechua, the Inca culture was highly distinct and developed. Cities were built with precise, unmatched stonework, constructed over many levels of mountain terrain.
Terrace farming was a useful form of agriculture. There is evidence of excellent metalwork in Inca civilization.
European colonization
In
1494, Portugal and Spain, the two great maritime powers of that time, on the expectation of new lands being discovered in the west, signed the
Treaty of Tordesillas, by which they agreed that all the land outside
Europe should be an exclusive
duopoly between the two countries. The Treaty established an imaginary line along a north-south
meridian 370
leagues west of
Cape Verde Islands, roughly 46° 37' W. In terms of the treaty, all land to the west of the line (which is now known to comprehend most of the South American soil), would belong to Spain, and all land to the east, to Portugal. As accurate measurements of
longitude were impossible at that time, the line was not strictly enforced, resulting in a
Portuguese expansion of Brazil across the meridian.
Beginning in the
1530s, the people and natural resources of South America were repeatedly exploited by foreign
conquistadors, first from
Spain and later from
Portugal. These competing colonial nations claimed the land and resources as their own and divided it into colonies.
European diseases (
smallpox,
influenza,
measles and
typhus) to which the
native populations had no resistance, and systems of forced labor, such as the infamous
haciendas and mining industry's
mita, decimated the native population under Spanish control. After this, African
slaves, who had developed immunities to these diseases, were quickly brought in to replace them.
The Spaniards were committed to converting their native subjects to Christianity, and were quick to purge any native cultural practices that hindered this end. However, most initial attempts at this were only partially successful, as native groups simply blended Catholicism with their traditional beliefs. On the other hand, the Spaniards did not impose their language to the degree they did their religion, and the
Catholic Church's evangelization in
Quechua,
Nahuatl and
Guaranà actually contributed to the expansion of these native languages, equipping them with writing systems.
Eventually the
Natives and the Spaniards interbred, forming a
Mestizo class. These and the original natives were often forced to pay unfair taxes to the Spanish government and were punished harshly for disobeying their laws. Many native artworks were considered pagan idols and destroyed by Spanish explorers. This included the many gold and silver sculptures found in the Americas, which were melted down before transport to Europe.
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Physical map of South America |
Independence
The Spanish colonies won their independence between 1804 and 1824 in the
South American Wars of Independence.
Simón BolÃvar of Venezuela and
José de San MartÃn of Argentina led the independence struggle. BolÃvar led a great army southward while San MartÃn led an army across the Andes Mountains, meeting up with General Benardo O'Higgins in Chile, and marched northward. The two armies finally met in Guayaquil, Ecuador, where they cornered the royal army of Spain and forced its surrender.
In Brazil, a Portuguese colony,
Dom Pedro I (also Pedro IV of Portugal), son of the Portuguese
king Dom João VI, proclaimed the country's independence in
1822 and became Brazil's first
Emperor. This was peacefully accepted by the crown in Portugal. Although Bolivar attempted to keep the Spanish-speaking parts of the continent politically unified, they rapidly became independent of one another as well, and several further wars were fought, such as the
War of the Triple Alliance and the
War of the Pacific.
A few countries did not gain independence until the
20th century:
*
Trinidad and Tobago, from the
United Kingdom, in 1962
*
Guyana, from the
United Kingdom, in 1966.
*
Suriname, from
Dutch control, in 1975
French Guiana remains part of
France as of
2006, and hosts the
European Space Agency's principal
spaceport, the
Centre Spatial Guyanais.
Recent history
The continent, like many others, became a battlefield of the
Cold War in the late 20th century. The government of
Chile was overthrown in the early
1970s, as a late (and peculiar) development of the
U.S. Monroe Doctrine. Throughout the
1980s and
1990s,
Peru suffered from internal conflicts (see
Túpac Amaru Revolutionary Movement and
Shining Path). Other revolutions and military dictatorships have been common, but starting in the
1980s a wave of democratization came through the continent, and democratic rule is widespread now. Allegations of corruption remain common, and several nations have seen crises which have forced the resignation of their presidents, although normal civilian succession has continued.
International indebtedness became a notable problem, as most recently illustrated by
Argentina's
default in the early
21st century.
In recent years South American governments have drifted to the left, with
socialist leaders being elected in
Chile,
Bolivia,
Brazil,
Venezuela, and a leftist president in
Argentina and
Uruguay. Despite the move to the left, South America is still largely capitalist.
As of 2002, South America's unemployment rate was 10.8 %.
Due to histories of high inflation in nearly all South American countries, interest rates and thus investment remain high and low, respectively. Interest rates are usually double that of the United States. For example, interest rates are about 22 % in Venezuela and 23 % in Suriname. The exception is Chile, which has built its market economy longer, since the president
Augusto Pinochet.
The
South American Community of Nations is a planned continent-wide
free trade zone to unite two existing
free-trade organizations—
Mercosur and the
Andean Community.
The economic gap between the rich and poor in most South American nations is considered to be larger than in most other continents. In
Venezuela,
Paraguay,
Brazil,
Bolivia and many other South American countries, the richest 20 % may own over 60 % of the nation's wealth, while the poorest 20 % may own less than 5 %. This wide gap can be seen in many large South American cities where makeshift shacks and slums lie next to skyscrapers and upper-class luxury apartments.
GDP per capita (PPP) 2005| Rank in world | Country | GDP
per capita | | 50 | Argentina | 14,109 |
| 56 | Chile | 11,937 |
| 65 | Uruguay | 10,028 |
| 68 | Brazil | 8,584 |
| 81 | Colombia | 7,565 |
| 96 | Venezuela | 6,186 |
| 97 | Peru | 5,983 |
| 99 | Suriname | 5,683 |
| 105 | Guyana | 4,612 |
| 107 | Paraguay | 4,555 |
| 113 | Ecuador | 4,316 |
| 125 | Bolivia | 2,817 |
Source:
List of countries by GDP (PPP) per capitaRoman Catholicism is the dominant religion. French Guiana also has a large number of
Protestants. Guyana and Suriname are exceptions, with three major religions:
Christianity in general,
Hinduism, and
Islam.
Other branches of
Christianity like
Protestantism has grown steadily in South America.
Jewish communities are found across South America, the largest are
Sao Paulo,
Brazil and
Buenos Aires,
Argentina. There are significant numbers of
Armenian,
Greek and other
Eastern Orthodox churches founded by immigrants from the
Middle East.
Portuguese and
Spanish are the primary languages of the continent. The majority of South Americans (51%) speak
Portuguese. However, most South American countries are
Spanish-speaking, and nearly all of the continent's
Lusophones reside in
Brazil. Among other languages used by many South Americans are:
*
Aymará in
Bolivia and
Peru.
*
Quechua in
Bolivia,
Peru,
Ecuador, and parts of Argentina and Chile.
*
Guaranà in
Paraguay.
*
English in
Guyana.
*
Hindi in
Suriname.
*
Dutch and
Indonesian in
Suriname.
*
Italian in certain pockets across southern South America in
Brazil,
Argentina and
Uruguay,
German in certain pockets in
Brazil,
Argentina,
Chile and
Paraguay.
*
Welsh remains spoken and written in the historic towns of
Trelew and
Rawson in recently settled parts of
Patagonia, Argentina.
*
Mapudungun, in parts of Chile and certain pockets of Argentina.
* Small cluster groups of
Japanese speakers in Brazil,
Peru and
Ecuador.
*
Arabic speakers, often of
Lebanese and
Syrian descent in Arab communities of Brazil and Argentina.
The continent's upper classes and well-educated people study English and French. There are small
Spanish speaking areas of Southernmost Brazil, due to the proximity of
Uruguay. South Americans are culturally enriched by the historic connection with Europe, especially
Spain and "
pop culture" impact from North America. (
the U.S.).
South American nations have a rich variety of music. Some of the most famous genres include
samba from
Brazil,
tango from
Argentina and Uruguay and
cumbia from
Colombia. In the late 20th century,
Rock en Espanol emerged by young hipsters influenced by British pop and American rock in
Argentina and
Chile. However, this music genre has grown to include
Colombia,
Ecuador,
Peru,
Venezuela and
Brazil which has a Portuguese-language pop rock industry.
Because of South America's ethnic mix, South American cuisine takes on African, American Indian, and European influences.
Bahia,
Brazil, is especially well-known for its West African-influenced cuisine. Argentines and Chileans regularly consume wine, while Argentina along with
Paraguay and
Uruguay enjoy a sip of
Mate a regional gourd cultivated for its drink.
Pisco is a distilled liquor enjoyed in
Peru and
Chile.
Ethnic groups and indigenous peoples of South America include:
*
Aymara*
Awá*
Banawa*
Caiapos*
Chibcha*
Cocama*
Chayahuita*
Enxet*
European descendants, especially from
Spain,
Portugal,
Italy and
Germany.
*
Ge*
Guarani*
Jivaroan*
Juris*
Mapuche*
Mestizo*
Quechuas*
Shipibo*
Xucuru*
Urarina*
Yagua*
Zaparos Indigenous peoples, such as the
Urarina of
Amazonia, make up the majority of the population in
Peru and
Bolivia, and are a significant element in most other former
Spanish colonies. Exceptions to this include
Argentina and
Uruguay. At least three of the Amerindian languages (
Quechua in
Peru and
Bolivia,
Aymara also in
Bolivia, and
Guarani in
Paraguay) are recognized along with
Spanish as national languages.
Mestizos
"
Mestizo" is a term of
Spanish origin used to designate the peoples of mixed
European and
Amerindian racial strain inhabiting the region spanning
the Americas.
Mestizos officially make up the majority of the populations of
Chile (60%),
Colombia (58%),
Ecuador (65%),
Paraguay (95%) and
Venezuela (67%). Figures in other countries are
Argentina (about 13%),
Bolivia (30%),
Brazil (about 12%),
Uruguay (8%) and
Peru (37%).
African ancestry
Africans first arrived with the Spanish and Portuguese in the
16th century. Most were brought as slaves and delivered to
Brazil and the
Caribbean.
Brazil now has about 60 million black people (The second largest of the world).
Venezuela,
Colombia (having the 3rd largest in the hemisphere), and
Guyana also have significant black populations. All the American and Caribbean countries have seen important contributions by Afro-South Americans. Historical research on this subject has become more and more prevalent during the last four decades.
Mulato is a term of
Spanish origin (
Mulatto in English) describing
Latin Americans of mixed African and European ancestry/descent.
Zambo is a term used in some
South American countries describing people of mixed African and Indigenous/Amerindian ancestry/descent. The feminine form is
zamba.
Name of territory,
with flag | Area
(km²) | Population
(1 July 2002 est.) | Population density
(per km²)! Capital |
|---|
| Argentina | 2,766,890 | 39,537,943 | 14.3 | Buenos Aires |
| Bolivia | 1,098,580 | 8,857,870 | 8.1 | La Paz, Sucre[La Paz is the administrative capital of Bolivia; Sucre is the judicial seat.]
|
| Brazil | 8,511,965 | 186,112,794 | 21.9 | BrasÃlia |
Chile[Includes Easter Island in the Pacific Ocean, a Chilean territory frequently reckoned in Oceania. Santiago is the administrative capital of Chile; ValparaÃso is the site of legislative meetings.]
| 756,950 | 15,980,912 | 21.1 | Santiago |
| Colombia | 1,138,910 | 42,954,279 | 37.7 | Bogotá |
| Ecuador | 283,560 | 13,363,593 | 47.1 | Quito |
Falkland Islands (UK)[Claimed by Argentina.]
| 12,173 | 2,967 | 0.24 | Stanley |
| French Guiana (France) | 91,000 | 195,506 | 2.1 | Cayenne |
| Guyana | 214,970 | 765,283 | 3.6 | Georgetown |
| Paraguay | 406,750 | 6,347,884 | 15.6 | Asunción |
| Peru | 1,285,220 | 27,925,628 | 21.7 | Lima |
South Georgia and
South Sandwich Islands (UK)[Also claimed by Argentina, the South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands in the South Atlantic Ocean are commonly associated with Antarctica (due to proximity) and have no permanent population, only hosting a periodic contingent of about 100 researchers and visitors.]
| 3,093 | â€" | â€" | Grytviken |
| Suriname | 163,270 | 438,144 | 2.7 | Paramaribo |
| Uruguay | 176,220 | 3,415,920 | 19.4 | Montevideo |
| Venezuela | 912,050 | 25,375,281 | 27.8 | Caracas |
Central America[Continental region as per UN categorisations/map; depending on definitions, Aruba, Netherlands Antilles, Panama, and Trinidad and Tobago have territory in one or both of South and North America.]: |
Panama[Panama is generally considered a transcontinental country in Central America (UN region) and South America; population and area figures are for South American portion only, east of the Panama Canal.]
| 25,347 | 540,433 | 21.3 | Panama City |
| Total | 17,846,954 | 371,814,437 | 20.8 |
Notes:Usage
Among people in some
English-speaking countries, there is a tendency to confuse the linguistic and geographic divisions of the Americas: thus,
Mexico, some
Central American and
Caribbean territories, despite their location in North America, are mistakingly included in South America. The term
Latin America is correctly used when referring to those territories whose official or national languages come from
Latin (namely
Portuguese,
Spanish, and
French). Conversely,
Anglo-America is used to refer to areas whose major languages are
Germanic (namely
English) such as
Guyana,
Suriname,
Belize,
Jamaica, and much of the
West Indies. Similarly, areas where English is prominent are considered part of the
Anglosphere.
* "South America".
The Columbia Gazetteer of the World Online. 2005. New York: Columbia University Press.
*
Americas (terminology)*
CONMEBOL*
Economy of South America*
Flags of South America*
Latin America*
Middle America*
History of the Americas*
South American Community of Nations*
List of Latin American artistsGeography*
Physical map of South AmericaNews*
NOTISUR -- Political and social news of South America (in Spanish)*
Infolatam. Information and analysis of Latin America (Spanish)*
The Council on Hemispheric Affairs An independent source of Latin American news and opinion (in English)
Sports*
CONMEBOL -- Confederación Sudamericana de Fútbol (The South American Football Confederation) in Spanish and Portuguese
