southamerica

South America is a continent located mostly in the southern hemisphere. It is bordered by the Caribbean Sea to the north, the Pacific Ocean to the west, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Drake Passage and Southern Ocean to the south, and is connected to North America by the Isthmus of Panama. It covers about 6.9 million square kilometers and has a population of roughly 430 million. The continent comprises 12 sovereign states—Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, and Venezuela—with several overseas territories such as French Guiana (an overseas department of France).

Geographically diverse, the Andes run along the western edge, the Amazon and Orinoco basins crisscross the interior, and there are arid regions such as the Atacama Desert as well as fertile plains and highlands. The continent contains major ecosystems including the Amazon rainforest, the Pantanal wetlands, and Patagonian steppes. Key rivers include the Amazon, Orinoco, and Paraná-Paraguay system. The climate ranges from tropical in the north to temperate in the south, with extreme aridity in parts of northern Chile and southern Peru. The southern tip includes Tierra del Fuego.

The economy is diverse, with Brazil as the largest national economy, followed by Argentina, Colombia, and Peru. Exports include soybeans, coffee, beef, minerals, and oil. Languages are predominantly Spanish and Portuguese, with Portuguese official in Brazil and Spanish in most other countries; several indigenous languages have official status in various nations.

Historically, the region was home to advanced civilizations such as the Inca. It was colonized mainly by Spain and Portugal, gaining independence in the early 19th century. Today, South American countries participate in regional groups such as MERCOSUR and UNASUR.