south america introduction. south america total area: 17,840,000 km² (4 th largest continent)...
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South AmericaIntroduction
South America
Total Area: 17,840,000 km²(4th 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)
CountriesArgentina
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)
BrazilArea:8,514,877 sq km
Population: 199,321,413
Language:Portuguese
Religion:73% Roman Catholic15% Protestant
Major Cities:Brasilia (capital)(3.7 million people)Sao Paulo(19.8 million peopleRio de Janeiro(12.4 million people)
Chile
Area:756,102 sq km
Population: 17,067,369
Language:Portuguese
Religion:70% Roman Catholic15% 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 GuianaArea:83,534 sq km
Population: 236,250
Language:French
Religion:mostly Roman Catholic
Major Cities:Cayenne (capital)(103,000 people)
Administrative region of France
GuyanaArea:215,000 sq km
Population: 740,000
Language:English
Religion:30% Protestant28% Hindu8% 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)
SurinameArea:163,820 sq km
Population: 560,157
Language:Dutch, English
Religion:27% Hindu25% Protestant22% Roman Catholic20% Muslim
Major Cities:Paramaribo (capital)(259,000 people)
Uruguay Area:176,215 sq km
Population: 3,316,328
Language:Spanish
Religion:47% Roman Catholic34% non-Catholic Christian 17% atheist/agnostic
Major Cities:Montevideo (capital)(1.6 million people)
VenezuelaArea: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 (2nd 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
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 9th 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.