South America
South America is the fourth-largest continent, dominated by the Amazon Basin, the world's largest tropical rainforest, and the Andes Mountains, the world's longest mountain range. It is a continent of dramatic contrasts, from the driest desert (Atacama) to the wettest rainforest, from ancient Inca c…
Countries
12
Area
18M km²
Population
434M
Major Cities
6 featured
Overview
South America is the fourth-largest continent, dominated by the Amazon Basin, the world's largest tropical rainforest, and the Andes Mountains, the world's longest mountain range. It is a continent of dramatic contrasts, from the driest desert (Atacama) to the wettest rainforest, from ancient Inca civilizations to modern megacities.
Geographic Facts
The Andes Mountains (7,000 km) are the world's longest continental mountain range.
Aconcagua (6,961 m) is the highest peak in the Americas.
The Amazon River discharges more water than any other river in the world.
The Atacama Desert in Chile is the driest non-polar desert on Earth.
Angel Falls in Venezuela is the world's highest uninterrupted waterfall at 979 m.
Climate
South America's climate ranges from tropical in the Amazon basin, to subtropical in central Brazil and Argentina, arid and semi-arid in the Atacama and Patagonian desert, and temperate in southern Chile and Argentina.
Major Languages
Famous Landmarks
Christ the Redeemer
Machu Picchu
Iguazú Falls
Amazon Rainforest
Galápagos Islands
Perito Moreno Glacier
Featured Countries in South America
Brazil
Brasília
Brazil is the largest country in South America and the fifth-largest in the world by area. It is home to the Amazon rainforest, the world's most biodiverse region, as well as stunning beaches, vibrant cities, and a rich cultural heritage born from Indigenous, Portuguese, and African roots.
Argentina
Buenos Aires
Argentina is the second-largest country in South America and eighth-largest in the world. From the towering Andes in the west to the vast Pampas grasslands in the center and Patagonia in the south, Argentina offers stunning natural diversity, vibrant cultural life, and some of South America's finest cities.
Showing 2 of 12 countries. More country profiles are being added regularly.