South America Introduction

South America Total Area: 17,840,000 km² (4 th largest continent) Population: 387,500,000 Population Density: 22 persons per km

Geographic Features Dominated by the Amazon Rainforest and the Andes Mountains Population found primarily near the coast Dominated in total area and population by Brazil Cultural pluralism (European imprint) ◦Many ethnic minorities interact in a larger society dominated by a majority group while still maintaining their unique culture ◦Where did everyone come from? Incan empire, Europe, Portuguese, Africans (former slaves), Asians, Arabs, Amerindians. Regional economic disparities (Favelas) Rapid urbanization

Major Landforms Amazon River Amazon Rainforest Andes Mountains The Pampas

Andes Mountains -Longest mountain chain in the world (7,200 km)

Countries Argentina Bolivia Brazil Chile Colombia Ecuador French Guiana (France) Guyana Paraguay Peru Suriname Uruguay Venezuela

Argentina Area: 2,780,400 sq km Population: 42,192,494 Language: mostly Spanish Religion: 92% Roman Catholic Major Cities: Buenos Aires (capital) (12-15 million people)

Bolivia Area: 1,098,581 sq km Population: 10,290,003 Language: mostly Spanish Religion: 95% Roman Catholic Major Cities: La Paz (capital) (2.3 million people)

Brazil Area: 8,514,877 sq km Population: 199,321,413 Language: Portuguese Religion: 73% Roman Catholic 15% Protestant Major Cities: Brasilia (capital) (3.7 million people) Sao Paulo (19.8 million people Rio de Janeiro (12.4 million people)

Chile Area: 756,102 sq km Population: 17,067,369 Language: Portuguese Religion: 70% Roman Catholic 15% Evangelical Major Cities: Santiago (capital) (5.9 million people)

Colombia Area: 1,138,910 sq km Population: 45,239,079 Language: Spanish Religion: 90% Roman Catholic Major Cities: Bogota (capital) (10 million people)

Ecuador Area: 283,561 sq km Population: 15,223,680 Language: Spanish Religion: 95% Roman Catholic Major Cities: Quito (capital) (1.8 million people)

French Guiana Area: 83,534 sq km Population: 236,250 Language: French Religion: mostly Roman Catholic Major Cities: Cayenne (capital) (103,000 people) Administrative region of France

Guyana Area: 215,000 sq km Population: 740,000 Language: English Religion: 30% Protestant 28% Hindu 8% Roman Catholic Major Cities: Georgetown(capital) (132,000 people)

Paraguay Area: 406,752 sq km Population: 6,541,591 Language: Spanish Religion: 90% Roman Catholic Major Cities: Asuncion (capital) (2 million people)

Peru Area: 1,285,216 sq km Population: 29,549,517 Language: Spanish Religion: 81% Roman Catholic Major Cities: Lima (capital) (8.8 million people)

Suriname Area: 163,820 sq km Population: 560,157 Language: Dutch, English Religion: 27% Hindu 25% Protestant 22% Roman Catholic 20% Muslim Major Cities: Paramaribo (capital) (259,000 people)

Uruguay Area: 176,215 sq km Population: 3,316,328 Language: Spanish Religion: 47% Roman Catholic 34% non-Catholic Christian 17% atheist/agnostic Major Cities: Montevideo (capital) (1.6 million people)

Venezuela Area: 912,050 sq km Population: 28,047,938 Language: Spanish Religion: 96% Roman Catholic Major Cities: Caracas (capital) (3 million people)

Religions

Annual Rainfall Amazon rainforest receives more than 200 cm of rainfall each year.

Languages Portuguese -about 194 million, mostly in Brazil Spanish -about 193 million throughout South America French -spoken only in French Guiana Other Languages -Dutch in Suriname -English in Guyana

Amazon River -6,400 km long (2 nd in the world) -equal to distance from New York City to Rome -largest volume of water flow in the world -carries 20% of the world’s fresh water -Amazon Basin covers 7 million km²

The Amazon River starts small in the Andes Mountains of Peru.

As it moves east, the volume of water increases and the river begins to widens.

Eventually, the river widens and becomes the mightiest of all rivers.

At this point, the river is easier to navigate and is the main route for the transport of people and goods.

River Dolphins

The mouth of the Amazon (also known as the delta) is more than 60 km across.

Amazon Delta as seen from space

Amazon Rainforest -Covers 7 billion km² -If the Amazon Rainforest were a country, it would be the 9 th largest in the world. -20% of the world’s oxygen -5 million species of plants and animals -20% of the world’s water - Only 1% of plants have been studied for medicinal use. -Of the 1%, hundreds of helpful medicines have been created including cancer- related drugs.