Map of South America.South America South America, fourth largest continent (1991 est. pop. 299,150,000), c.6,880,000 sq mi (17,819,000 sq km), the southern of the two continents of the Western Hemisphere. It is divided politically into 12 independent countries—Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, and Venezuela—and the overseas department of French Guiana. The continent extends c. is the fourth largest continent continent, largest unit of landmasses on the earth. The continents include Eurasia (conventionally regarded as two continents, Europe and Asia), Africa, North America, South America, Australia, and Antarctica. Geographic Distribution of the ContinentsMore than two thirds of the continental regions are in the Northern Hemisphere, rimming the Arctic Ocean. with a land area of almost 7 million square miles. Near the equator is the world's second-longest river, which begins in Peru and flows 4,000 miles to the Atlantic. This river has more water than any other river in the world. The area drained by this river is almost as large as the United States and receives so much rainfall that it has produced the world's largest rain forest. Earth's longest mountain chain forms South America's western "backbone" and extends nearly the length of the continent. South America's highest peak is Argentina's Mt. Aconcagua Aconcagua (äkōnkä`gwä), peak, 22,835 ft (6,960 m) high, Mendoza prov., W Argentina, in the Andes, near the Chilean border. It is the highest peak of the Western Hemisphere. The snowcapped Aconcagua was first scaled in 1897. Uspallata Pass is nearby. See also Ojos del Salado., at 22,834 ft. South America has a population of 350 million. 1. Locate these six South American capitals and name the country for each of them. (A) Quito: __________ (B) Brasilia: __________ (C) Montevideo: __________ (D) Buenos Aires: __________ (E) La Paz La Paz, city, BoliviaLa Paz (lä päs), city (1992 pop. 713,378), W Bolivia, administrative capital (since 1898) and largest city of Bolivia. The legal capital is Sucre Sucre, city (1992 pop. 131,769), S central Bolivia, constitutional capital of Bolivia and capital of Chuquisaca dept. Since 1898, La Paz has been the administrative capital of Bolivia. Sucre was founded in 1538 and called La Plata; the city was also called Chuquisaca and Charcas. It was given its present name in 1839 in honor of the revolutionary leader Antonio José de Sucre.. La Paz, the highest capital in the world, lies at an altitude of c.12,000 ft (3,660 m) and is crowded into a long, narrow valley cut by the La Paz River. and Sucre: __________(F) Caracas: __________ 2. Locate and name the geographical features of South America that match these descriptions. (A) The three oceans or seas that border South America: __________ ____________________ (B) The huge river system that begins in Peru and flows eastward almost 4,000 miles to the Atlantic: __________ (C) The river that begins in the mountains of Venezuela and flows almost 1,300 miles to the Atlantic: __________ (D) The 4,000-mile mountain chain along the western edge of the continent: __________ (E) The continent's southernmost tip of land: __________ (F) The islands at 0[degrees], 92[degrees]W famous for their giant turtles and iguanas: __________ (G) The stormy channel that connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans: __________ 3. Find and identify' the South American countries that fit these descriptions: (A) The continent's two northernmost countries: __________ (B) The two countries that share the southern end of the continent: __________ (C) The three countries at the equator: __________ ____________________ (D) The countries that share a border with Colombia: __________ (E) This country, at 10[degrees]N, 70[degrees]W, has the world's highest waterfall--Angel Falls Angel Falls, waterfall, Sp. Salto Ángel, 3,212 ft (979 m) high, SE Venezuela, in the Guiana Highlands. Springing from Auyán-Tepuí Mesa, it is the highest uninterrupted waterfall in the world., 3,212 ft. high: __________ ____________________ (F) South America's long, narrow "stringbean" country: __________ 4. If you traveled the length of South America from north to south along the 70[degrees]W meridian of longitude meridian of longitude: see longitude., through which countries would you pass? __________ 5. Calculate the distance (to the nearest 100 miles) if you traveled by plane from: (A) Santiago, Chile, to Sao Paulo, Brazil: __________ (B) Caracas, Venezuela, to La Paz, Bolivia: __________ RELATED ARTICLE: Answers Map of South America 1. (A) Ecuador (B) Brazil (C) Uruguay (D) Argentina (E) Bolivia (F) Venezuela 2. (A) Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea (B) Amazon River (C) Orinoco River (D) Andes Mountains (E) Cape Horn (F) Galapagos Islands (G) Strait of Magellan 3. (A) Colombia, Venezuela (B) Chile, Argentina (C) Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil (D) Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, Venezuela (E) Venezuela (F) Chile 4. Venezuela, Colombia, Brazil, Peru, Chile, Argentina 5. (A) 1,700 miles (B) 1,900 or 2,000 miles |
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