Area of ​​the continent South America. The seas and oceans surrounding South America

There are many countries on it, for example, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, Brazil. Almost each of them has access to the sea, since the size of the mainland is not too large. What kind of waters is it washed by?

Pacific Ocean

It is worth starting to list the oceans washing from the Pacific. It is the oldest and largest on the planet, with an area of ​​178 million kilometers. On such a territory, it would be easy to place all the continents at the same time. The name is associated with a traveler who first visited the ocean in fine weather and was captivated by its calmness. It has an oval shape with the widest part at the equator. It was only in the nineteenth century that it was really possible to explore it widely, although the first expeditions to study the coastline of South America were carried out by James Cook and Ferdinand Magellan. Now these issues are dealt with by a special international organization.

Near the Tuamotu Islands, the ocean is often stormy, but off the coast of South America, the weather is stable, with a light wind. Calm areas are characterized by periodic showers. The Pacific Ocean has a significant impact on life in the countries of South America. Many states are engaged in fishing in the water area, they harvest shellfish, crabs, and in some regions they grow edible algae.

Atlantic Ocean

Listing the oceans washing South America, the second is to mention the Atlantic. It covers an area of ​​92 million square kilometers and is distinguished by the fact that it unites the polar regions of the earth. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge runs through the center of the ocean, along which various volcanic islands rise from the water. The most famous of them can be called Iceland. The deepest part is located off the coast of South America: the Puerto Rico depression reaches a depth of 8742 meters. In the tropical part, the southeast trade winds blow and there are no cyclones, off the coast of Brazil they have a green color, and dark blue predominates in the rest of the areas. Where the Amazon flows into the Atlantic, the water seems cloudy, in addition, this is a place of low salinity, which is why there are no corals here, but other animals and plants thrive in abundance. During the Age of Discovery, the ocean was the most important waterway to South America.

Unofficial Southern Ocean

In geography, even now there are many controversial topics. The traditional answer to the question of which oceans surround South America suggests two names. But there is another theory. According to her, the ring of waters that separates the mainland from Antarctica has the features of a separate ocean. Despite the fact that the issue of borders remains difficult, some scholars distinguish this territory. The Southern Ocean covers 86 million square kilometers, its average depth is about 3 kilometers, and the lowest point is the South Sandwich Trench. Off the coast of America, there are quite gentle slopes, and at the bottom there are small ridges and basins. Currents and bottom sediments affect mainly Antarctica. In South America, it is difficult to notice the influence of this hypothetical ocean.

caribbean sea

The position of the mainland greatly affects the life of its inhabitants, industry and even climate. Studying the seas and oceans washing South America, it is not difficult to be convinced of this. For example, the Caribbean Sea is a popular region for vacation travel and an area rich in oil. It is located in the north of South America, covering an area of ​​2 million square kilometers. Washes the shores of Venezuela, Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, Belize, Cuba, Haiti, Jamaica and Puerto Rico. There are many coral reefs here. The coastline of South America is full of all kinds of bays and bays. This territory is the only answer to the question of which seas wash South America, and is located in a tropical climate with periodic hurricanes and precipitation from 250 to 9000 millimeters. Many fish, amphibians live here, and on the shores you can meet a variety of birds. Gorgeous beaches ensure the continued popularity of the Caribbean. The waters surrounding South America are popular with divers. However, ordinary travelers from Brazil, the USA and Canada also like to relax here.

warm currents

Listing the seas and oceans washing South America, many forget about the currents. Meanwhile, this can be called a serious mistake, because it is they who often determine the climate on the coast. The warmest parts of South America can be called the Atlantic regions: this ocean is warmer than the Pacific. The coasts washed by the Guiana and Brazilian currents stand out especially, they are the most comfortable and make the eastern part of the mainland a more popular destination for tourism.

cold currents

The seas and oceans surrounding South America are warm enough, but still the difference in the waters can be extremely noticeable. In the Pacific, many more of which pass close to the mainland. For example, near Antarctica, South America is washed by the Falkland Current and the West Wind Current. The latter was named so in the era of the great geographical discoveries. The west coast is also washed by the cold, which is why the climate and fauna in Peru differ markedly from those in Brazil. At the same time, the arrangement of countries is quite similar. Therefore, it is necessary to take into account not only the seas and oceans washing South America, but also the currents.

America, consisting of two continents and thus forming one part of the world, is located in two hemispheres at once.

North America, respectively, is located in the northern hemisphere, South America - in the southern. Relative to the zero meridian, the continent of America is located in the west.

Geographical position

America is called absolutely all the lands that are located between the western part of the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific coast. The total area of ​​this part of the world, entirely located in the Western Hemisphere, is 42 million km 2, which, in percentage terms, occupies 28.5% of the entire land area on planet Earth.

In addition to the two continents, part of the world also combines small islands located next to them (for example, the island of Greenland). In the North, the coast of America is washed by the Arctic Ocean, the Pacific is on the right, the Atlantic is on the left. South and North America are at different latitudes and have the same longitude.

Geographic characteristics

In this case, it makes sense to talk about North and South America separately, since the relief of the continents differs significantly from each other.

Relief of North America:

• Central plains with a slightly undulating relief, which transforms into a glacial one to the north;
• the Great Plains, which are a huge foothill plateau in front of the Cordillera;
• the Laurentian Upland, gently undulating, reaching up to 6100 meters above sea level;
• Coastal lowlands in the southern part of the mainland;
• Mountains: Cascade, Sierra Nevada, Rocky, etc.

Relief of South America:

• Plain East;
• Mountainous west with the Andes system;
• Amazonian lowland;
• Brazilian and Guiana plateaus.

There are many climatic zones on the territory of North America, including both oceanic and continental, and subequatorial climates. The average monthly temperature in January varies from -36 degrees to +20 (at the extreme points of the mainland). In July it can be from -4 to +32. Most precipitation falls on the Pacific coast (about 3 thousand mm annually), the least - in the Cordillera (up to 200 mm). Summers are usually warm throughout the mainland. It is accompanied by rare dry winds or, on the contrary, showers.

South America includes 6 climatic zones at once, of which the subequatorial is repeated twice (in different territories), and once - tropical, temperate, subtropical and equatorial. At the same time, the tropics and subtropics reign over the vast majority of the territory, which means that dry and wet seasons are clearly expressed in South America. It is warm on the mainland: in summer (summer in the hemisphere begins in January), the temperature varies from 10 to 35 degrees, in winter - from 0 to 16. There is a lot of precipitation, especially in Chile and Colombia. There falls up to 10 thousand mm per year.

Americas

In this part of the world, especially in the northern part, the population density is very high. America unites on its territory a huge number of independent states and dependent zones, differing from each other in terms of population, economic well-being, level of development, etc.

Historically, North America, called the "New World" by Europeans, has become more prosperous. It is on this continent that two countries are located, which are considered a symbol of prosperity and financial prosperity of the 20th-21st centuries: Canada and the United States of America. In total, about 500 million people live in North America, which is approximately 7% of the world's population.

South America is also quite densely populated - the figure is approaching 380 million - but the region is incomparably poorer. South America - the mainland, where the countries are located, which were once colonies of more ancient European states; in addition, the stratification into rich and poor is more pronounced here.

List of countries in North America

The largest country is, of course, the United States. More than 300 million people, 9.5 million square kilometers, the largest industrial and commercial centers around the world allow the United States to confidently represent North America on the map.

Major countries in North America:

(with detailed description)

List of South American countries

In South America, the two leading countries are Brazil and Argentina. They are leading in terms of area, population, and economic success. It is these countries that can be called developing.

Major countries in South America:

(with detailed description)

Nature

In its northern part, America is very rich in water resources: lakes and rivers occupy most of the area, and the Mississippi and Miussuri are the longest river system in the entire earth. On the southern mainland, however, there is no shortage of water either - the Amazon flows through it, which is one of the largest sources of fresh water in the world.

Nature, plants and animals of North America

North America is similar in flora and fauna to Eurasia - there are both coniferous and deciduous forests, the famous oaks and cedars. Animals are also typical: moose, bears, squirrels, foxes. Toward the south, the landscape becomes deserted, dry, and the flora and fauna change...

Nature, plants and animals of South America

The southern mainland is occupied by plants and animals characteristic of equatorial forests and savannahs. There are large predators, crocodiles, many birds - especially parrots. A significant part of the territory is covered with tropical forests. There are many fish in the rivers, including piranhas. An extensive population of insects...

Climatic conditions

Seasons, weather and climate of the Americas

North America - more precisely, most of it - is located in a temperate and cold thermal zone, which is characterized by cold (down to -32 at the extreme point) winters and warm (about 25-28 degrees) summers. There are no special weather disasters here - with the possible exception of the Pacific coast, which periodically suffers from hurricanes.

South America, located in the zone of savannahs and equatorial forests, leans towards the tropics and subtropics according to the climatic type. Extremely humid, hot summer reigns here in December-February, but the "summer" months familiar to the inhabitants of the other hemisphere, on the contrary, are the coldest. The temperature in July drops to zero here and there...

Peoples of America

America is a part of the world with a very diverse population. Even the tribes of the Indians, who are considered the indigenous population of America, differ so much from each other that they consider each other to belong to different nationalities.

Peoples of North America: culture and traditions

Climatic zones

There are 5 climate zones in South America:subequatorial belt(2 times), equatorial belt, Tropical Belt , subtropical belt and the temperate zone.

Hydrography

The most important river systems in South America are Amazon, Orinoco and Parana , whose total basin is 9,583,000 km² (the area of ​​South America is 17,850,568 km²). Most of the lakes in South America are located in Andes , the largest of which and the highest navigable lake in the world is Titicaca , on the border of Bolivia and Peru. The largest lake is maracaibo in Venezuela, it is also one of the oldest on the planet.

South America has the highest waterfall in the world - Angel . The most powerful waterfall is located on the mainland - Iguazu.

South America is the wettest continent Earth.








Minerals

The bowels of South America contain a very diverse complex of minerals. The largest deposits of iron ores are confined to the ancient Precambrian of Venezuela (the Orinoco river basin) and Brazil (the state of Minas Gerais), the richest deposits of porphyry copper ores are confined to the granitoid batholiths of the Central Andes. Deposits of ores of rare elements are associated with ultramafic alkaline intrusions of Eastern Brazil. On the territory of Bolivia, deposits of ores of tin, antimony, silver, etc., have been found. The forward and intermountain troughs of the Andes contain deposits of oil and gas along their entire length, which are especially rich within Venezuela. There are coal deposits; deposits of coal are known in the Upper Paleozoic, brown - in the Cenozoic. Bauxite deposits are confined to the young weathering crust (especially in Guyana and Suriname).

Animal and Plant World

The natural world of South America is one of the richest on the planet. In the Amazon basin, you can find at least 44,000 different plant species, 2,500 river fish and 1,500 bird species. The jungle is home to huge spiders that feed on birds, and mammals such as armadillos and sloths. The rivers of South America are home to sea cows, freshwater dolphins, giant catfish and electric eels. Thousands of species of forest insects have not yet been studied.
Alnacas and vicuñas from the camelid family are found in the Andes. The steppes of Pamna are inhabited by a large running nandu bird, or the American ostrich. In colder areas on the southern fringes of the continent, penguins and seals are common. On the Galapagos Islands, lying in the Pacific Ocean west of the coast of Ecuador, there are such rare representatives of the animal world as the famous giant tortoises.
Fertile soils nourish the rich flora of the continent. South America is the birthplace of prickly araucaria, rubber, potatoes and many domestic plants (for example, monstera).
The nature of South America is under threat of destruction. As people cut down forests, many species of forest animals and priceless plants that have not adapted to new living conditions disappear without a trace..

South America is the fourth largest continent connected to North America by the Isthmus of Panama. Due to its relatively small size, most countries of the continent have access to ocean waters. The seas and oceans surrounding South America include the Pacific Ocean in the west, the Atlantic Ocean in the east, and the Caribbean Sea in the north.

Pacific Ocean

The Pacific Ocean is the largest and oldest on the globe, its area is 178 million square meters. km. It occupies such an impressive territory that all the continents put together could easily fit on it.

The boundless Pacific Ocean owes its name to the great navigator Feranan Magellan, who was lucky to travel in calm and calm weather. However, this does not mean at all that the Pacific Ocean is distinguished by a meek disposition - in it, like other oceans, strong storms and storms are not uncommon.

Despite the fact that the first studies of the Pacific coast of South America were undertaken several centuries ago, this issue was taken seriously only in the 19th century, and continues to be dealt with to this day.

The weather off the coast of South America is most often calm, stable, with a slight breeze. Periodically, it gives way to strong warm showers.

Rice. 1. Pacific Ocean

The Pacific Ocean plays a big role in the economy of South American countries. Most of them have been engaged in catching commercial fish, catching crabs, mollusks, and edible species of algae for many years.

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Atlantic Ocean

If you look at the map, you can see that the eastern coast of South America is washed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. In terms of area, it is almost half the size of the Pacific Ocean and occupies 92 million square meters. km. Its distinctive feature is that it unites the polar zones of the planet.

The Mid-Atlantic Ridge runs along the very center of the ocean. Its highest peaks are visible on the surface of the water: various islands of volcanic nature, among which the most famous is Iceland.

Off the coast of South America is the deepest point of the Atlantic Ocean - the famous Puerto Rico depression, whose depth reaches 8742 m.

Rice. 2 Puerto Rico Trench

In the place where the waters of the Atlantic and the Amazon River merge, the water is characterized by low salinity and turbidity. For this reason, corals do not grow in this area of ​​the ocean, but there are a lot of other representatives of oceanic flora and fauna.

It is noteworthy that at the time of the great geographical discoveries, the Atlantic Ocean was the most important waterway to the shores of South America.

caribbean sea

The Caribbean Sea is of great value for the socio-economic development of many countries in South America. Its area is 2 million square meters. km, and on its seabed are rich oil deposits.

The Caribbean coast is also of interest as one of the most luxurious resort areas in the world. Washing the shores of Colombia, Venezuela, Costa Rica, Panama, Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua and many other countries, the Caribbean Sea is a popular destination for lovers of sea cruises. Local beaches are very picturesque and attract tourists from all over the world.

The underwater world is incredibly rich and diverse. There are many beautiful coral reefs, among which bright tropical fish and amazing marine animals scurry about. The coastal zone of the Caribbean Sea is very popular among divers.

Countries of South America: features of the continent

The countries of South America attract many tourists with their originality and special flavor. From childhood, anyone knows about the wilds of the Amazon, colorful carnivals, incendiary dances, exotics. Of course, civilization has significantly changed the map of South America, and there are practically no unexplored places on it. But the legendary attitude to the exotics of this distant land remains, and people are eager to visit there. Those wishing to visit these countries should at least know a little about them. Wikipedia about South America provides such a necessary minimum set of information.

Continent information

The geographical position of South America can be imagined: the mainland is located with its main part in the southern hemisphere of the globe, and only a small part of its territory is in the northern hemisphere. The location of the continent on the planet is fixed by the following extreme points of South America and their coordinates: north - Cape Gallinas (12°27'N, 71°39'W);

continental south - Cape Froward (53°54'S, 71°18'W); insular south - Diego Ramirez (56°30'S, 68°43'W); west - Cape Parinas (4°40'S, 81°20'W); east - Cape Cabo Branco (7°10'S, 34°47'W). South America has a territory of 17.9 million square meters. km, and the total population is about 387.5 million people.

The history of the development of the continent is divided into 3 characteristic periods:

• Autochthonous civilizations: the stage of formation, flourishing and complete collapse of local civilizations (Indian ethnic groups, including the Incas).
• Colonization (XVI-XVIII centuries): almost the entire continent had the status of Spanish and Portuguese colonies. The period of the birth of statehood.
• independent stage. It is characterized by extremely unstable political and economic development, but the final formation of state borders.

Geological and climatic features

If you look at the extreme points of South America, you can see that the continent stretched for a long distance from north to south, which causes a variety of geological forms and climatic zones. In general terms, the geological structure can be assessed as the existence of a mountainous western part and a flat east. The average height of the mainland of South America is about 580 m above sea level, but mountain ranges with fairly high peaks predominate in the west. Almost along the entire western coast of the ocean stretched a mountain range - the Andes.

In the northern part is the elevated Guiana, and in the eastern part - the Brazilian plateau. Between these two hills, a large area is occupied by the Amazonian lowland, formed by the river of the same name. The mountain system belongs to young geological formations and is distinguished by volcanic activity, as well as fairly frequent earthquakes.

A significant territory in the southwest of the continent was captured by the lifeless Atacama Desert. In addition to the Amazon, the lowland plains form 2 more large rivers - the Orinoco (Orinoco lowland) and the Parana (La Platskaya lowland).

The natural zones of South America change as they move away from the equator - from a very hot equatorial belt in the north of the continent to a cold polar zone in the extreme south (in areas approaching Antarctica). The main climatic zones are the equatorial zone, subequatorial zone (on both sides of the equator), tropical, subtropical and temperate zones.

The tropical and subequatorial zones cover most of South America, causing a characteristic alternation of very wet and extremely dry periods. The Amazonian lowland is dominated by an equatorial climate with constant humid heat, and closer to the south of the continent, a subtropical and then a temperate climate first appear. In flat areas, i.e. on a large area of ​​the northern part of the continent, the air warms up to 21-27°C all year round, but in the south temperatures of 11-12°C can be observed even in summer.

Given the geographical location, the winter period in South America is June-August, and the summer season is December-February. Seasonality is clearly manifested only with distance from the tropics. In winter, in the south of the mainland, the temperature often drops to frost. The high humidity of South America should be highlighted - it is considered the wettest continent. At the same time, the Atacama Desert is one of the places where any precipitation is very rare.

Natural features of the continent

A variety of climatic zones leads to a variety of natural manifestations. A kind of calling card is the Amazonian jungle, which occupies a vast territory. In many places of impenetrable forests, no human foot has yet set foot. Given the area it occupies, this jungle is called the "lungs of the planet".

The forest of the Amazon and other plains of the equatorial and tropical zones amazes with an abundance of flora species. The vegetation is so dense that it is almost impossible to pass. Everything grows upward, towards the sun - as a result, the height of the vegetation exceeds 100 m, and longline life takes place at different heights. Vegetation can be distributed on 11-12 levels. The most characteristic plant of the jungle is the ceiba. There are a large number of different types of palms, a melon tree and many other varieties of flora.

The most famous animals of South America live in the Amazon region. Here you can see the rarest representative of the fauna - the sloth. The selva becomes a haven for the smallest bird in the world - a hummingbird, a large number of amphibians (including a poisonous frog). Huge anacondas strike, the champion among rodents - calibaru, tapirs, freshwater dolphins, jaguars. Only here there is a wild cat - an ocelot. Crocodiles live in huge numbers in the Amazon itself and its tributaries. The predator has become legendary - piranha fish.

After the Amazonian selva, the turn comes to the savannahs. Only here you can find a quebracho tree with very hard wood. Small forests of savannahs give way to the steppe. Savannah fauna is also able to amaze with its inhabitants. Armadillos are a special pride of South Americans. Anteaters, rhea (ostriches), puma, kinkajou, spectacled bear are found in the savannas. Lamas and deer graze in the steppe regions. Mountain llama and alpaca can be found in mountainous areas.

natural attractions

The natural attractions of South America can safely be counted as entire areas that amaze with their originality and pristine nature. Unique in all respects is the southern tip of the mainland - the island of Tierra del Fuego, blown by Antarctic winds and storms. The entire mountain range (Andes) with its frozen and active volcanoes and pointed peaks can also be called unique. The highest peak, Aconcagua Peak (6960 m), is very beautiful.

The river system of the continent is represented by large rivers. It is in South America - the highest waterfall - Angel, as well as the most powerful waterfall - Iguazu. South American lakes are very beautiful - Titicaca, Maracaibo, Patus.

statehood on the continent

As the continent was liberated from the colonialists, states were formed. By the 21st century, the list of South American countries with independence includes 12 states. This list also includes 3 territories administered by other countries.

The list of countries looks like this:

• Brazil. The largest state - with an area of ​​​​more than 8.5 million square meters. km and with a population of 192 million people. The capital is Brasilia and the largest city is Rio de Janeiro. The official language is Portuguese. The most spectacular and attracting tourist event is the carnival. It is here that the main beauty of the Amazon, Iguazu Falls, beautiful Atlantic beaches are located.
• Argentina. The second country in terms of size and population (area - more than 2.7 million square kilometers, population - about 40.7 million people). The official language is Spanish. The capital is Buenos Aires. The main tourist attractions are the Museum of the End of the World in Ushuaia (in the very south of the continent), silver mines, Patagonia with Indian exoticism, a reserve with waterfalls.
• Bolivia. A state in the central part of the mainland without access to the ocean. The area is almost 1.1 million square meters. km, and the population is 8.9 million people. The official capital is Sucre, but in fact its role is played by La Paz. Main attractions: Lake Titicaca, the eastern slopes of the Andes, Indian national events.
• Venezuela. Northern part of the continent with access to the Caribbean Sea. The area is a little over 0.9 million square meters. km, population - 26.4 million people. The capital is Caracas. Here is the Angel Falls, Avila National Park, the longest cable car.
• Guyana. It is located in the northeast and is washed by the ocean. Area - 0.2 million square meters. km, population - 770 thousand people. The capital is Georgetown. Almost all of it is covered with jungle, which attracts eco-tourists. Attractions: waterfalls, national parks, savannah.
• Colombia. A country in the northwest, with an area of ​​1.1 million square meters. km and a population of 45 million people. The capital is Bogota. It has a visa-free regime with Russia. It is famous for its historical museums, beaches, national parks.
• Paraguay. It occupies almost the center of South America, but has no access to the ocean. Territory - 0.4 million square meters. km, population - 6.4 million people. The capital is Asuncion. Well preserved monuments of the Jesuit period.
• Peru. It is located in the west of the mainland, on the Pacific coast. The area is a little less than 1.3 million square meters. km, and the population is 28 million people. The capital is Lima. Here are the main monuments of the Inca state - Machu Picchu, the mystical lines of Nazca, more than 150 museums.
• Suriname. The northeastern part of the continent, with a territory of about 160 thousand square meters. km and a population of 440 thousand people. The capital is Paramaribo. Routes to the waterfalls of Atabru, Kau, Uonotobo, the Galibi reserve, and Indian settlements are open for tourists.
• Uruguay. Country in the southeastern part of the mainland with its capital in Montevideo. Area - 176 thousand square meters. km, population - 3.5 million people. It is famous for its colorful carnival. Tourists are attracted by beautiful beaches and architectural sights.
• Chile. The state stretched along the Pacific coast and is limited by the high ridge of the Andes. Area - 757 thousand square meters. km, population - 16.5 million people. The capital is Santiago. The country has developed balneological rehabilitation, ski centers. There are beautiful beaches and national parks.
• Ecuador. A country in the northeastern part with a territory of just over 280 thousand square meters. km and a population of almost 14 million people, with the capital Quito. The most attractive places are the Galapagos Islands, the national park, lakes, Ingapirku monuments, museums.

In addition to independent states, in South America there are territories controlled by other states: Guiana (overseas territory of France); the South Sandwich Islands and South Georgia (under British administration), as well as the Falkland or Malvinas Islands, over which there is a long dispute between the UK and Argentina.

The countries of South America are considered quite attractive for tourists from around the world. Here you can enjoy the pristine nature, historical monuments, relax on the beautiful beaches.