South America is a continent located in the Western Hemisphere of our Planet. It is crossed by the Equator line and divides this continent into two parts. One part (the largest) - belongs to the Southern Hemisphere, and the second (smallest) - to the Northern Hemisphere.
The mainland ranks 4th among the continents in terms of its area - 17 840 000 km². On its territory, including the adjacent islands, there are 15 states, three of which are dependent. By clicking on the link, you can see a detailed list of South American countries in the table with capitals and characteristics. The population is approximately 400 million.
In the west, the continent is washed by the Pacific Ocean, in the east - the Atlantic Ocean, in the north - the Caribbean Sea, which is the border between North America and South America.
Extreme points of mainland South America
North Point - Cape Gallinas is located in Colombia on the Caribbean Sea.
South (mainland) point - Cape Froward is located in Chile on the Brunswick Peninsula on the shores of the Strait of Magellan.
South (island) point - Diego - Ramirez is the southernmost point of America and Chile, which consists of a group of islands covering an area of just over one square kilometer.
Western Point - Cape Parinyas is located in Peru.
The eastern point is Cape Cabo Branco, located in Brazil.
Relief of South America
The mainland South America is divided in relief into the Mountainous West and the Plain East.
The Atacama Desert is located in Chile and is the driest place on our Earth. There are places in the desert where it rains once in several decades. The air humidity is lowest here. Of the vegetation, only cacti and acacias are found.
The western part of the mainland consists of the Andes mountain system, stretching across seven states of South America, and the eastern part of the plains. In the North there is the Guiana Plateau 1930 km long and 300-1000 m high.
In the east of the mainland, the Brazilian Highlands are located, with an area of about 4 million km2. It is home to 95% of the Brazilian population. The highest point of this highland is Mount Bandeira. Its height is 2897 meters. Due to the enormous natural diversity, the Brazilian Highlands are divided into no three parts: the Atlantic, Central and South Plateau.
To the south of the Brazilian Highlands is the Laplatan Lowland, on the territory of which are located such states as Paraguay and Uruguay, the northern part of Argentina, the southern part of Brazil and the southeast of Bolivia. The lowland area is more than 3 million km2.
The Amazonian lowland is a lowland covering an area of over 5 million km2. It is the largest lowland on our planet.
South America climate
There are 6 climatic zones in South America: North and South subequatorial belt, Equatorial, Tropical, Subtropical and Temperate belt.
The climate of South America is mostly subequatorial and tropical, with distinct dry and wet seasons. The equatorial humid climate is typical only for the Amazonian lowland. In the south of the continent, a subtropical and temperate climate prevails. In the northern plains the temperature is 20-28 degrees all year round. In the Andes, the temperature decreases with altitude. Even frosts are possible. On the Brazilian Highlands, the temperature in winter can drop to 10 degrees, and on the Patagonia plateau to zero degrees.
River systems of South America.
The following river systems are located on the mainland: Parana, Orinoco, Amazon, Paraguay, Uruguay.
The Amazon is the world's largest river in terms of basin area (7180 thousand km²), formed by the confluence of the Ucayali and Marañon rivers. It is considered one of the seven natural wonders of the world. Brazil owns most of the basin. It flows mainly along the Amazonian lowland and empties into the Atlantic Ocean.
Parana is the second longest river on this continent, flowing in the southern part of the continent. It flows through the territory of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay. Just like the Amazon, it flows into the Atlantic Ocean.
Paraguay is a river, is the right tributary of the Parana. Divides the Republic of Paraguay into Northern and Southern Paraguay, and also in its southern part is the state border between Paraguay and Argentina.
Uruguay is a river that originates in Brazil and is formed by the confluence of the Canoas and Pelotas rivers. It is the border between Brazil and Uruguay. Its river system is the main source of water supply for the country. The largest hydroelectric power plant in the country is also located here.
Orinoco is a river that flows through Venezuela and flows into the Atlantic Ocean. Its feature is the bifurcation of the river. The Casiquiare River is separated from it and flows into the Rio Negru River. This river is home to a white river dolphin or Amazonian and one of the largest is the Orinoco crocodile.
Lakes of South America
Maracaibo (translated as "Land of Mary") is a large brackish lake located in Venezuela. The depth of this lake differs significantly in its southern and northern parts. The northern one is shallow, and the southern one reaches (according to various sources) from 50 - 250 meters. This lake is also one of the oldest lakes.
Titicaca (titi - puma, kaka - rock) is the largest lake in terms of fresh water reserves and the second largest lake after Maracaibo. More than three hundred rivers flow into this lake. It is navigable. Archaeological research shows that the city of Wanaku is located at the bottom of the lake.
Patus is a lake located on the coast in Brazil. Its length is 280 km, and its width is 70 km. It is separated from the ocean by a sand spit 8 km wide. There are large hydroelectric power plants on it. Salt, fish and oil are mined here.
Flora of South America
Thanks to the warm climate and the huge amount of rainfall, the plant world in South America is very diverse. Each climatic zone has its own flora. A large area is occupied by the jungle, which is located in the tropical zone. Here grow: chocolate and melon trees - papaya, rubber trees, various palms, orchids.
To the south of the jungle, deciduous and evergreen plants grow in equatorial forests. A tree such as a quebracho grows here, which has a very durable wood. Vines and cacti can be found in the subtropical zone. Further, moving south, there is a steppe zone, where feather grass and various grasses grow. Behind this zone, deserts and semi-deserts begin, where dry shrubs grow.
Fauna of South America
The fauna of the mainland is as diverse as the flora. Monkeys, sloths, jaguar, anteaters, parrots, hummingbirds, toucans and many other animals live in the tropics. In the Amazon jungle there are crocodiles, anacondas, piranhas, rodent - kopibara, river dolphins. Only here you can find a wild cat - an ocelot, similar to a leopard. The savannah is inhabited by: armadillos, pigs - bakers, spectacled bear, ostriches, cougars, fox and maned wolf. In the zone of the plains live: deer, llamas, pampas cat. Only in South America can you find deer - pudu, only 30-40 cm high. Huge turtles live on the Galapagos Islands, which belong to South America.
- the fourth largest continent of the Earth.
Its area is 17.7 million square meters. km, but if we count with all the adjacent islands, then this value is slightly higher - 18.28 million square meters. km. South America resembles a triangle with its contours. The mainland is located mainly in the Western and Southern Hemisphere and partially in the Northern.
The mainland South America is surrounded on all sides by water. It is washed from the east by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, and from the west by the waters of the Pacific Ocean. From the north, South America is washed by the Caribbean Sea, which is the natural border between the two Americas.
The Isthmus of Panama in the northwest connects South America with North America.
Location of the extreme points of the continent
In degrees, the locations of the extremes of the continent are as follows:
- in the north - Cape Galinas (12 ° north latitude and 72 ° west longitude);
- on South - Cape Froward (53 ° 54 ′ south latitude and 71 ° 18 ′ west longitude);
- in the West - Cape Parinyas (4 ° 40 ′ south latitude and 81 ° 20 ′ west longitude);
- in the east confusion occurred - it is Cape Cabo Branca (7 ° 09´ south latitude 34 ° 46) or Cape Seixas (34 ° 47 west longitude).
History of the discovery of South America
The mainland South America was first seen by the navigator Amerigo Vespucci.
This is the Florentine traveler, after whom America was supposedly named. Vespucci is a Florentine by origin. He is a member of several Spanish and Portuguese expeditions to the shores of South America. Amerigo was the first to suggest that these lands are a new part of the world, and he proposed to call them New World. But in 1507, the cartographer Martin Waldseemüller, in his Introduction to Caomography, named the land America by the name of Amerigo Vespucci.
South America climate
South America is the wettest continent on earth. In terms of natural conditions, it is similar to Africa - humid forests with colorful birds and monkeys and endless grassy plains. But South America has far fewer deserts and far more mountains.
Thus, in most of South Africa the climate is subequatorial and tropical, in the south of the mainland it is subtropical and temperate.
If we talk about climatic zones, then there are deserts in South America.
Found in South America and semi-deserts, tropical and equatorial forests, pampas (steppes).
Pampas - a space devoid of woody vegetation Winter in the tropical zone is as hot as summer. Direct sunlight heats the earth's surface all year round. But this does not mean that there are no seasons here at all. They are simply not cold or warm, but dry or wet.
The fourth largest continent. It is washed by the waters of the Pacific and Atlantic Ocean. There are 12 states on its territory, where more than 387 million people live. In this article, we will look at the coordinates of the extreme points of South America and their names. We will pay special attention to Cape Horn.
Historical summary
According to historical records, the South American continent was discovered by the Portuguese navigator Columbus, who mistakenly believed that he had reached India. The fact that this is a completely new continent, previously unknown to the European community, was told by Amerigo Vespucci. As a result of colonization, the local population was destroyed, and these lands were settled by conquistadors. A little later, numerous states grew up on this territory.
Previously, in order to get from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific, mariners had to go to the extreme southern point of South America. Here is the Drake Passage, where the currents of these two giant bodies of water join. It was the only sea route until 1920. During this period, the Panama Canal was put into operation, located on the isthmus of the same name, connecting North and South America. Since then, the extreme southern point has become less attractive for navigation, since this route was much longer and more dangerous.
North point
Cape Galinas is the northern tip of the mainland. It is located in the territory that belongs to the state of Colombia. The shores of the cape are washed by the waters of the Caribbean Sea.
The northernmost point of South America has the following coordinates: 12 ° 27 ′ s. NS. and 71 ° 39 ′ W. etc.
West point
The western tip of the mainland is called Cape Parinyas. It was discovered by the Spaniards in 1527. Geographically, the cape belongs to Peru. The settlement of Negritos is closest to the westernmost point. It is located 5 km from Cape Parinyas, washed by the waters of the Pacific Ocean and has the following coordinates: 4 ° 40 ′ S. NS. and 81 ° 20 ′ W. etc.
East point
The eastern tip of the mainland is located in Brazil. It has the name Cabo Branco, which is translated from Portuguese as "white cape". Not far from this place (8 km) is the city of Juan Pesao. The discoverer of the cape was Diego Lepe, a Spanish navigator who arrived on the coast of South America in 1500. There is a lighthouse and a commemorative plaque on which it is indicated that this is the easternmost point of the continent. However, in our time, scientists have established that in fact this title belongs to Cape Seixas, which is located about half a kilometer from Cabo Branco. Point coordinates - 7 ° 10'S. NS. 34 ° 47´ W etc.
The southernmost point of South America
It is worth noting that there are several southern extremities:
- Cape Froward;
- Diego Ramirez;
So which option is correct? Let's start in order.
Cape Froward is the southernmost point of South America, which is located directly on the mainland. Its coordinates are 53 ° 54 ′ S. NS. and 71 ° 18 ′ W. e. It is located on the Brunswick Peninsula, which belongs to the state of Chile. The cape is washed by the waters of the Strait of Magellan. The English pirate T. Cavendish gave this name to the cape in January 1587. The word forward is translated from English as "unfavorable", "willful". The nearest settlement is located at a distance of 40 km.
Another extreme point is the Diego Ramirez group of islands. They are located southwest of Cape Horn. The distance between these geographical objects is about 100 km. Based on these data, the rocky island of Aguila, which is part of the Diego Ramirez group, can be considered the southernmost island point.
Cape Horn is considered by many people to be the southernmost point. However, this is fundamentally wrong. To understand the issue, you should carefully study the map of the continent. In fact, the southernmost point of South America is Cape Froward, located in Chile on the Brunswick Peninsula. Island tip - Aguila (Diego Ramirez group).
Nevertheless, Cape Horn itself and its history are of great interest.
Cape Horn
The Tierra del Fuego archipelago consists of many islands, the southernmost of which is Horn Island. Quite often this group of islands is called "the end of the world." They are separated from the mainland by the Strait of Magellan. Cape Horn is considered the southernmost limit of the archipelago. The group of islands became part of the Cabo de Ornos National Park.
If we calculate the distance from the southern tip of the archipelago to the coldest continent on Earth - Antarctica, it will be slightly less than 800 km. In 2005, UNESCO declared Cape Horn a Natural Heritage of Humanity.
This place was discovered in 1616 by Dutch sailors who were looking for a new route to India. The expedition was headed by Willem Schouten from the town of Horn. Crossing the Strait of Magellan, the ships bypassed the rocky island, beyond which the endless Pacific Ocean opened up to mariners. The leader of the expedition decided to name it Hoorn - after the Dutch city.
Bad reputation
Cape Horn is notoriously infamous, as the route passing by is one of the most difficult. Until 1920, it was possible to get from one ocean to another only by bypassing the islands of Tierra del Fuego. The northern route was even more difficult to maneuver. The only chance to get from the Atlantic to the Pacific is to cross the Drake Passage.
The weather conditions in this region are very unfavorable. It is rainy for about 280 days a year, and cyclones appear unpredictably. Westerly winds form a swift current. At the islands of the archipelago, the mouth of the stream narrows, which is why the largest rapids appear on the route. Because of the continental shallows, ocean shafts break, which contributes to the formation of large waves, whose height reaches 18 meters.
There is a huge ship graveyard here. Their death is associated with the harsh nature of these places. According to scientists, about a thousand ships have found their haven here.
It would seem that from the moment when the messenger on the ship "Santa Maria" shouted: "Earth!", A very long time has passed. Today, the continent of South America no longer looks as mysterious as it used to be. But this does not mean that you should not be interested in its history and geography. Although now there will be no talk about the history of the continent. We will just figure out what the southernmost point of South America is called and which place is considered the most northern on the mainland. We will also tell you about the western and eastern points of this continent.
Slight confusion with the east point
The easternmost point of the continent lies in Brazil. For a very long time it was believed that this is the Cape of Cabo Branco, that is, the "white cape". A beautiful lighthouse with a commemorative sign was built here. Nearby, literally eight kilometers away, is the city of Juan Pesoa. Initially, the cape was named San Augustine. The honor of opening belongs to the Spanish team led by Diego Lepe. It happened in 1500. But here's the bad luck, later it was precisely established that the extreme eastern point is the neighboring Cape Seixas.
Both points are close by. The distance between them is about 500 m; in fact, they are part of the territory of the nearby city (Juan Pesoa). Seixas is a high rock protruding into the sea. The height of this place is about 100 m. There are sandy beaches around.
South America is the fourth largest continent on the planet. In the east, it is washed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, in the west - by the Pacific, and the northern coast belongs to the Caribbean Sea. Let's take a closer look at the extreme points of South America - the wettest continent on the globe.
Geographic coordinates of the extreme points of South America
The area of the mainland is 17.7 million square meters. km, but if we count with all the adjacent islands, then this value is slightly higher - 18.28 million square meters. km.
The relief of the continent is very diverse and contrasting. In the east, plateaus, low and elevated plains prevail, while in the west are the Andes mountain ranges. The highest point is Mount Aconcagua - it rises above sea level at 6959 m.
Rice. 1. Aconcagua
If we draw a straight line along the mainland from the southernmost point to the northern one, then this distance will be 7350 km. The length from the east coast to the west in the widest part of South America will leave just over 5 thousand km.
In degrees, the locations of the extremes of the continent are as follows:
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- in the north - Cape Galinas (12 ° north latitude and 72 ° west longitude);
- on South - Cape Froward (53 ° 54 ′ south latitude and 71 ° 18 ′ west longitude);
- in the West - Cape Parinyas (4 ° 40 ′ south latitude and 81 ° 20 ′ west longitude);
- in the east - Cape Seixas (7 ° 09 ′ south latitude 34 ° 47 ′ west longitude).
Cape Galinas
The northernmost outlying point of the mainland is located in Colombia on Cape Gallinas, which belongs to the Guajira Peninsula. This point in the north is rather arbitrary, since the coastline is distinguished by smooth outlines.
Cape Galinas is notable for the fact that not far from it there is an ancient settlement of indigenous people - the Vayu Indians. Despite all modern achievements, they continue to live like their ancestors, observing ancient traditions and rituals.
Cape Froward
In Chile, on the small Brunswick peninsula, the southernmost point of the mainland is located.
For the first time the name of the cape appeared in 1587 and in translation it means "wayward", "rebellious". This is how the famous sea pirate Thomas Cavendish dubbed the cape, and this directly indicates the fact that it was not at all easy for medieval ships to pass by the cape.
Rice. 2. Cape Froward
In 1987, Cape Froward received its "insignia" - an impressive cross made of metal alloys.
Cape Parignas
In the west, the outermost point of South America is Cape Parinyas, which belongs to Peru. It is a coastal ledge on which the lighthouse is located.
Parinyas is a rather secluded place: the distance to the nearest settlement is more than 5 km. But it is precisely because of this that seals can be observed here in their natural habitat, which have chosen the neighboring bay.
Rice. 3. Cape Parinyas
Cape Seixas
There was little confusion over the definition of the extreme point in the east. For a long time, geographers were convinced that this was Cape Cabo Branco, which belongs to Brazil. A lighthouse was even built here as a memorial sign. However, later, in the course of more accurate measurements, it was recorded that the extreme point is located in the neighborhood - it is Cape Seixas.
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