The continent is compact and about triangular in form, being broad in the north and tapering to a point—Cape Horn, Chile—from the south.
The continent's cultural and ethnic outlook has its origin Along with the conversation of Indigenous peoples with European conquerors and immigrants and, extra locally, with African slaves. Provided an extended history of colonialism, the overwhelming vast majority of South Americans discuss Spanish or Portuguese, and societies and states are rich in Western traditions.
Because of considerable geographical protection, the highlands are subdivided into your Atlantic, Southern and Central plateaus each with distinctive climatic ailments and also flora and fauna.
Due to diversity of topography and pluviometric precipitation disorders, the area's h2o assets range enormously in several spots. Inside the Andes, navigation possibilities are restricted, apart from the Magdalena River, Lake Titicaca as well as lakes from the southern areas of Chile and Argentina.
Historical past of South America There are a few anthropological indications that time back again to human beings inhabiting South America given that not less than the 12 months 9000 BCE. Through South America's early record of human inhabitants, it absolutely was commonly an agrarian Culture, that means that its inhabitants survived off of your land, using staples like fish and beans for meals. Animals like llamas and alpacas had been also domesticated about this time.
[forty seven] There was a heightened push in the direction of regional integration, While using the generation of uniquely South American establishments including the Andean Group, Mercosur and Unasur. Setting up with the election of Hugo Chávez in Venezuela in 1998, the location seasoned a pink tide – the election of many leftist and Middle-left administrations for most international locations, except the Guianas and Colombia.
The continent's cultural and ethnic outlook has its origin Using the interaction of Indigenous peoples with European conquerors and immigrants and, extra regionally, with African slaves. Supplied a long historical past of colonialism, the overwhelming the greater part of South Americans speak Spanish or Portuguese, and societies and states are rich in Western traditions.
Satellite look at of South America in the evening from NASA, showing the contrast between greatly populated coastal locations and the greater distant areas with the Amazonian interior and Patagonia South America incorporates a inhabitants of about 428 million men and women. They're dispersed regarding type a "hollow continent" with almost all of the population concentrated across the margins of the continent.[forty eight] On a single hand, there are various sparsely populated locations for example tropical forests, the Atacama Desert as well as icy portions read more of Patagonia.
Colombia is amongst the five largest producers on earth of coffee, avocado and palm oil, and among the 10 major producers on the earth of sugarcane, banana, pineapple and cocoa;
The prevailing local climate in locations near the equator is moist and warm. In regions near the South Pole, the local climate is predominantly chilly and dry. In mountainous parts, the local climate differs In keeping with altitude.
South check here America is found inside the Western Hemisphere, Along with the narrow Isthmus of Panama dividing it from its neighbors during the north. It's got a populace of approximately 439 million people, with almost 50 percent in the inhabitants located in Brazil, the most important region in South America.
The fluctuation in the cost of commodities in international markets has led historically to important highs and lows, booms and busts, inside the economies of South American states, normally leading to political instability.[58] This has led read more for phone calls to diversify production and raise trade check here inside South America by itself.[fifty eight]
In afterwards many years, societies which include that of your Incha civilization and the Mapuche, which really refers to a various team of indigenous citizens who lived in precisely what is nowadays often known as Argentina and Chile.
This was the 2nd complete war practical experience in the world once the American Civil War. It absolutely was considered the greatest war hard work from the heritage of all collaborating international locations, using Virtually 6 several years and ending with the entire devastation of Paraguay. The region misplaced 40% of its territory to Brazil and Argentina and shed sixty% of its population, which includes ninety% of your Adult click here men. The dictator Lopez was killed in fight as well as a new authorities was instituted in alliance with Brazil, which maintained occupation forces in the place right up until 1876.[35]