The continent is compact and around triangular in shape, staying broad while in the north and tapering to a point—Cape Horn, Chile—in the south.

No other continent—besides Antarctica—penetrates thus far to the south. Even though the northern part of South America extends north from the Equator and four-fifths of its landmass is situated inside the tropics, In addition, it reaches subantarctic latitudes.

The Amazon River, which flows from west to east through the north-central percentage of South America, is the globe's greatest river with regard to discharge volume. By some definitions, the Amazon River can also be the longest river in the world - although the Nile River is generally regarded as the whole world's longest, some studies counsel another supply to the Amazon River, which would truly ensure it is the globe's longest.

As a result of range of topography and pluviometric precipitation circumstances, the area's h2o means differ enormously in several areas. While in the Andes, navigation possibilities are confined, aside from the Magdalena River, Lake Titicaca along with the lakes from the southern locations of Chile and Argentina.

Although many the largest metropolitan spots are within Brazil, Argentina is host to the next largest metropolitan area by populace in South America: the Buenos Aires metropolitan location, using a population in extra of 13 million.

In Brazil, drinking water transportation remains underutilised: An important waterway stretches, from an info economic perspective, are found in the Southeast and South on the place.

Panorama of Cartagena (2008), a major port around the northern Coastline of Colombia and one of many region's most important tourist Locations

South American countries have lots of natural assets. The broad plains inside the east favor agriculture and livestock farming, and hydrocarbon extraction like oil and Brazil organic gasoline.

South America is household to A variety of climate classifications, from equatorial to tundra. From the north in the continent, near Colombia and Venezuela, climatic conditions are usually damp and humid.

In additional arid areas, the prevailing animals are classified as the llama plus the alpaca, largely found in the Andean regions of South America.

South America is located within the Western Hemisphere, With all here the narrow Isthmus of Panama dividing it from its neighbors in the north. It has a population of roughly 439 million individuals, with almost 50 % with the population situated in Brazil, the most important country in South America.

The fluctuation in the cost of commodities in international marketplaces has led Traditionally to significant highs and lows, page booms and busts, during the economies of South American states, usually producing political instability.[fifty eight] This has led for phone calls to diversify production and improve trade in South America by itself.[fifty eight]

Sparsely populated and positioned high into the get more info Andes of Chile, this relatively tiny desert (or plateau) is a cold location, and one of many handful of deserts on this planet that does not acquire any rain.

Paraguay's agriculture is currently creating, getting now the sixth greatest producer of soy on the earth and coming into the list of the twenty major producers of maize and sugarcane.[ninety]