South America is a continent located in the Americas, which is mostly Spanish-speaking. Brazil, which speaks Portuguese, is a major exception, and some native dialects still are used in tribal areas. The continent is ranked fourth in the world in area, and fifth in population. South America is bordered by the Caribbean Sea to the north, the Atlantic to the east, and the Pacific to the west.
The climate and geography of the continent are quite varied, and it is a place of extremes. The northern portion which includes Colombia, Venezuela, Suriname, Guyana, and French Guiana, is for the most part tropical or subtropical, and features warm climates, heavy rainfall, and dense vegetation. Much of Brazil, the largest country on the continent, is made up of the Amazon Basin, which includes the largest rainforest in the world, and also the largest river (by volume) in the world. Further south, the countries of Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Bolivia, and parts of Peru enjoy more temperate climates, although parts of Peru, Argentina, and Bolivia are considered subtropical. The Andes (along the western part of the continent) is the longest mountain range in the world; the Atacama Desert (Chile, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina) is the driest in the world; Angel Falls (Venezuela) is the highest waterfall in the world; La Paz (Bolivia) is the highest capital city; Lake Titicaca (Bolivia, Peru) is the highest navigable lake in the world; and Ushuaia (Argentina) is the southernmost city in the world.
Before the European arrival, several varied cultures flourished in different parts of the continent. The Inca are certainly the most well-known of these groups; their empire rising around the end of the 12th century, and their lands eventually stretching from the southern tip of Colombia, through Ecuador and Peru, and even into Argentina and Chile. The Incas were master builders, erecting many cities, monuments, and other architectural marvels. Certainly the mountain retreat of Machu Picchu is the most famous. In addition to being great builders, the Inca were sophisticated farmers, terracing the mountain land to keep it from washing away, and developing an intricate system of irrigation. Perhaps even more impressive than their monuments was their system of roads. The Inca road system was a relay system in which messages were run by couriers (who covered up to 150 miles per day), and featured more than 2,000 inns and rest areas complete with stores of food along the 14,000 miles of road.
Like all native peoples in the Americas, the arrival of the Europeans forever changed the face of the continent. Spanish and Portuguese quickly conquered the natives, and enslaved, killed, or otherwise decimated their populations. The African slave trade also left its mark on the continent, nowhere more evident than in Brazil. The northern regions of Brazil have strong African influences, from dances to food, and religious ceremonies.
The continent has seen its fair share of political problems and economic crises throughout the years-the Argentine Financial Crisis being the most recent-but, for the most part, is a fairly safe and stable region. As such, tourism to the area is always in full swing, and economic growth has taken hold in most countries. Each country certainly has its own identity, and from the tango in Argentina, to the samba in Brazil, and to the traditional dances and music of the Peruvian Andes, the region is culturally vibrant, and will remain that way for years to come. |
