What are 4 facts about South America?
Atacama desert is the driest place in South America. Angel Falls are the world’s highest waterfalls. Amazon River Basin is the world’s largest river basin. The Andes are the world’s longest mountain range.
What is South America famous for?
South America is home to the world’s highest uninterrupted waterfall, Angel Falls in Venezuela; the highest single drop waterfall Kaieteur Falls in Guyana; the largest river by volume, the Amazon River; the longest mountain range, the Andes (whose highest mountain is Aconcagua at 6,962 m or 22,841 ft); the driest non- …
Why is it called South America?
Those portions of the New World landmass that widen out north of the narrow land bridge of the Isthmus of Panama became known as North America, and those that broaden to the south became known as South America. … They call the region between those two points Central America.
What is South America known as?
South America, fourth largest of the world’s continents. It is the southern portion of the landmass generally referred to as the New World, the Western Hemisphere, or simply the Americas.
What represents South America?
The portions of the landmass that lie south of the Isthmus of Panama became known as South America. Today, South America is home to the citizens of Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, the Falkland Islands, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, and Paraguay.
Why is South America interesting?
The world’s longest mountain range in the world is the Andes Mountains, located in South America. South America is home to the driest place on earth – the Atacama Desert. The Amazon Rainforest, which is the largest rainforest in the world, is located in South America.
How big is South America?
6.888 million mi²
South America/Area
South America has an area of 17,840,000 km² (6,890,000 sq mi), or almost 3.5% of the Earth’s surface. As of 2005, its population was estimated at more than 371,000,000. South America ranks fourth in area (after Asia, Africa, and North America) and fifth in population (after Asia, Africa, Europe, and North America).
What is the climate in South America?
In general, the weather in South America is hot and humid. Countries in the Amazon baisn like Northern Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador and Venezuela have are dominated by rainforest and have consistent hot and humid weather year-round with high rainfall. … The climate in South America is much more volatile further south.
What is the capital of South America?
Caracas, named officially as Santiago de León de Caracas, is the capital of Venezuela and the country’s largest city. Caracas has a population of over 2.9 million people.
…
Venezuela – Caracas.
…
Venezuela – Caracas.
| Country | Capital |
|---|---|
| Bolivia | Sucre |
| Brazil | Brasília |
| Chile | Santiago |
| Colombia | Bogotá |
Who discovered South America?
Christopher
Explorer Christopher Columbus sets foot on the American mainland for the first time, at the Paria Peninsula in present-day Venezuela. Thinking it an island, he christened it Isla Santa and claimed it for Spain. Columbus was born in Genoa, Italy, in 1451.
What people are in South America?
Four main components have contributed to the present-day population of South America—American Indians (Amerindians), who were the pre-Columbian inhabitants; Iberians (Spanish and Portuguese who conquered and dominated the continent until the beginning of the 19th century); Africans, imported as slaves by the colonizers …
How was South America formed?
In the Albian, around 110 mya, South America and Africa began to diverge along the southern Mid-Atlantic Ridge, giving rise to a landmass of Antarctica and South America. During the late Eocene, around 35 mya, Antarctica and South America separated and South America became a massive, biologically rich island-continent.
Who named South America?
Amerigo Vespucci
Italian explorer Amerigo Vespucci is best known for his namesake: the continents of North and South America. But why were these continents named after him, especially since his voyages happened after Christopher Columbus’ famed 1492 sail on the ocean blue?
When did South America get its name?
In 1534, Joachim von Watt labelled it simply America. Gerardus Mercator applied the names North and South America on his influential 1538 world map; by this point, the naming was irrevocable. Acceptance may have been aided by the “natural poetic counterpart” that the name America made with Asia, Africa, and Europa.
What country is part of South America?
South America includes 12 countries and two non-sovereign entities: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Falkland Islands (United Kingdom), French Guiana (France), Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay and Venezuela.
What was America’s original name?
On September 9, 1776, the Second Continental Congress adopted a new name for what had been called the “United Colonies.” The moniker United States of America has remained since then as a symbol of freedom and independence.
Who discovered mainland America?
Christopher Columbus
The Voyages of Christopher Columbus opened the New World. Italian navigator and explorer Giovanni Caboto (known in English as John Cabot) is credited with the discovery of continental North America on June 24, 1497, under the commission of Henry VII of England.
Who discovered South America in 1500?
The result was that most of South and Central America fell into the hands of Spain. Portugal colonised Brazil, which they discovered in 1500 and lies east of the line of Tordisillas. In the early 16th century, the Spanish began their conquest of the Americas.
Who discovered America in 1492?
Explorer Christopher Columbus
Explorer Christopher Columbus (1451–1506) is known for his 1492 ‘discovery’ of the New World of the Americas on board his ship Santa Maria.
How many continents are there?
List of the seven continents
| # | Continent | Area (Km²) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Asia | 31,033,131 |
| 2 | Africa | 29,648,481 |
| 3 | Europe | 22,134,900 |
| 4 | North America | 21,330,000 |