south america

South America: The Land of the Ancients

Info

• Surrounded by bodies of water; Pacific and Atlantic Ocean

• Closest continent; North America

• Ancient civilizations; Aztecs

• Consists of 12 countries

Info

• Total Land Area: 17,840,000 square kilometers

• Population: estimated to be 371,090,000 (as of 2005)

Highest Point

• Aconcagua, Mendoza, Argentina 32°39′12″S 70°0′40″W at 6961 m

Lowest Point

• Laguna del Carbón, Santa Cruz, Argentina 49°34′34″S 68°21′5″W at −105 m

Largest Lake

Lake Maracaibo

• Connected to the Gulf of Venezuela

• 13,210 square kilometers

• Largest lak in South America

• One of the oldest lakes on Earth

Longest River

Amazon River

• Largest river by discharge of water in the world; average of 209,000 cubic meters per second

• 6,437 kilometers long

Amazon River

Mountain Range

Andes

• Biggest mountain ranges in the world

• 8,000 KM long and 700 KM wide

• Average height of about 4,000 KM

• Second highest mountain range in the world, next to Himalayas

• Extends from north to south and lie in seven countries of South America

Mountain Ranges

Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta

• 40 KM from the Caribbean coast

• Very different from Sierra Nevada in California, USA

• 5,700 meters high

• Pyramid shaped

• Range of 38,505 SQ KM and surrounded by three departments; La Guajira, Magdalena and Cesar

Countries

• Argentina

Countries

• Bolivia

Countries

• Brazil

Countries

• Chile

Countries

• Colombia

Countries

• Ecuador

Countries

• Guyana

Countries

• Paraguay

Countries

• Peru

Countries

• Suriname

Countries

• Urugay

Countries

• Venezuela

Man-made Wonders

Statue Of Christ The Redeemer

• Brazil

• Monument of Jesus Christ

• Symbolizes peace by the people of Brazil

Man-made Wonders

Moai, Ester Island

• Chile

• 887 Moias found in the island

• Uknown reason for the creation of these statues

Man-made Wonder

Salt Cathedral

• Zipaquirá, Colombia

• Found in a salt mine near Bogota

• Beautiful

Naural Wonders

Iguazu Falls, Argentina/Brazil

Atcama Desert, Chile

Amazon River

Angel Falls, Venezuela

Torres del Paine, Chile

Perito Moreno Glacier, Argentina

Kaieteur Falls, Guyana

Tierra del Fuego, Argentina