Map and Overview Human Geography Features What? The Amazon Rainforest has been rapidly Key Fact: About 20% of destroyed over the past 50 years – since 1970, 150 acres of -South America is the fourth-largest continent in the total rainforest are Deforestation nearly 800.000 km² of rainforest has been lost. rainforest has the world. It covers about 17.8 million km². It lies destroyed every The main causes are agriculture, illegal logging, now been minute of the day. completely in the western hemisphere. and human encroachment into the forest. cleared. Where? -South America is the fifth-most populous The Inca Empire was the largest empire in pre- colonial South America. Machu Picchu was a On a 2,430 Key Fact: continent in the world – it has a population of metre It was built in 1450 Machu Picchu large Incan citadel (fortified central area of mountain ridge in classic Inca style around 420 million people (although over half of town). Incans abandoned it after the Spanish in southern with dry stone walls these people live in Brazil). invaded. It remained unknown until 1911. Peru. Throughout the 16th-17th centuries, European When? Key Fact: settlers (mainly from Portugal and Spain, but -The Equator cuts through the continent. Most of Colonisation/ Most countries Portuguese and also the French, Dutch and British) invaded and gained Spanish are the South America is in the southern hemisphere. Languages colonised South America. South Americans still independence main languages on in the 19thC. the continent. -Most of the people live on the east and west speak European languages today. The Rio Carnival is a festival held every year When? coasts; the southern coast and centre of the Key Fact: before Lent. It is considered the largest carnival Friday before The Rio Carnival continent are sparsely populated. Ash Wednesday The Rio Carnival in the world, with over 2 million people has taken place to Ash attending daily. It is filled with parades of since 1723. revelers, dancers, floats and displays. Wednesday. The coffee plant is grown in abundance in South Where? Key Fact: America, and many countries from the Mainly Brazil, Brazil produces 2.5 Coffee Trade continent are the biggest producers of coffee in Colombia and million tonnes per Countries of South America the world. Coffee is a huge regional export. Peru. year. Largest S. American countries Most populous S. American countries There are 12 countries in Physical Geography Features 1. Brazil– 8.5 million km² South America, and a 1. Brazil – 210 million people 2. Argentina – 2.8 million km² 2. Colombia – 49 million people Where? further 4 states that are The Amazon River is the longest river in South Key Fact: Peru, Bolivia, 3. Peru – 1.3 million km² 3. Argentina – 44 million people The Amazon America, and by some definitions, the world. It The Amazon is fed by listed as dependencies of Colombia, Brazil, 4. Peru – 32 million people hundreds of 4. Colombia – 1.15 million km² River has a huge volume, discharging 20% of all river Ecuador, other nations. tributaries. 5. Bolivia – 1.1 million km² 5. Venezuela – 32 million people discharge into the ocean in the world! Venezuela Key Fact: The Amazon Rainforest is the largest rainforest What? The Amazon The Amazon contains There are 16,000 Brazil Argentina in the world. The rainforest is about 5.5 million around 390 billion Rainforest tree species. km² across nine different nations. trees! Brazil is by far the largest and most Argentina is a country located in the The Amazon rainforest is so bio-diverse that it What? Key Fact: populous country in South America. It is southern half of South America. Argentina is the 8th houses 1 in every 10 known species of animals. Many creatures An unknown also the 5th largest country in the world, by both area largest country in the world by area, and the largest There are around 2.5 million insect species, are dangerous amount of Amazon Animals to humans, e.g. animals have and population. The official language is Portuguese, Spanish-speaking country. Argentina endured a long 2,000 birds & mammals, 428 amphibians, and snakes, piranha become extinct th and the most populous city is Sao Paulo. Rio de Janeiro fight for independence with Spanish invaders in the 19 378 reptile species One in 5 of all fish species live fish, poison dart since the 1970s, harbour is its most famous landmark. Brazilians are Century, followed by a painful civil war. The climate in in the Amazon River and its tributaries. Animals frogs and because of known for samba dancing and a love of football. Argentina varies hugely from north to south. include the jaguar, caiman, and anaconda. electric eels. deforestation. Key Fact: Colombia Peru The Atacama Desert is one of the driest places The Atacama Where? The desert is so dry in the world. There are some places where there The Atacama due to its position in a Desert Colombia is a country in the north-west Peru is a country on the western side of has been no recorded rainfall! Desert is in Chile. ‘two-way’ rain of South America. Colombia has been inhabited by South America. It has a diverse landscape, ranging shadow. Key Fact: indigenous peoples since at least 12,000 BCE. However, from arid plains to the Andes mountains. Peru is known The Andes are the tallest mountains in South Where? The peak of Mount America (and in the world after the mountain Through 7 the Spanish arrived in 1499 and conquered much of the for being the centre of the Inca Empire – the Inca ruins Chimborazo is the different South region. As a result, the national language is Spanish. of Machu Picchu remain a major tourist attraction The Andes ranges in Asia). The range is about 7,000km furthest point from long, extending north to south. The world’s American Much of the population live in the highlands. today. The national language in Peru is Spanish. the centre of the highest volcanos are in the Andes. countries. Sao Francisco– 2,830km earth. Longest Rivers Highest Mountains Purus – 2,960km Jurua– 3,100km Madeira – 3,380km Parana – 4,880km Huascaran – Monte Pissis– Ojos del Solado – Cruces Sur – Cerro Bonete Aconcagua – 6,962m Amazon – 6,400km 6,749m – 6,759m 6,768m 6,793m 6,893m .