The main advantage of this continent, its nature.
The South American continent is rich in unique natural sites. Choose 10 of the most famous geographic features in South America — not an easy task, as the outstanding landscapes there is much more. Many of them, preserving their centuries of savagery, are under the protection of UNESCO. And still try to highlight the most popular and world famous of South American geographic features.
The Andes (Cordillera De Los Andes)
South America is the only continent, which from North to South shared the same mountain range, rich in volcanoes and largest glaciers. Her name is Andes. Stretching more than 7.3 thousand kilometers, it gives rise to most of the rivers of the continent. Continuing in North America, the Andes pass in the US in the range called the Cordillera. Be amazed by the beauty of the peaks of the Andes. Their highest point — 6960-metre peak, Aconcagua (Argentina), although in this mountain chain there are dozens of peaks over 6000 meters.
Patagonia
This area, known to us by the novels of Jules Verne, stretches for 1600 km between the Andes and the Atlantic ocean on the southern tip of the continent South of Rio Negro. Rough rocks, alternating with the majestic deep canyons and arid, but no less attractive plateau, glittering under the sun glaciers leave no one indifferent.
The Guiana highlands
The real Conan dylewski “the lost world” with its amazing exotic plants and unique fauna. The plateau stretches almost 1600 km between the South of Venezuela and North of Brazil. “Highlight” of this tropical region — cascade of the most beautiful rivers and waterfalls. The highest point is the peak of Roraima (2810 m).
The Lowlands Of The Amazon
The main feature of the Amazon — the world’s largest rain forest covering the Amazon basin. It is situated between the Andes in the West and the Atlantic on the East, Guiana highlands in the North and the Brazilian highlands in the South. Has a huge number of tributaries, most full-flowing river in the world and the extreme humidity.
The Llanos
This picturesque fertile plain to the North of the continent with an area of more than 580 thousand km2, almost equally divided Colombia and Venezuela. The fertility it provides abundant river Orinoco and its numerous tributaries. For Llanos characterized by extensive, gently inclined flat areas, cut by rivers lined with gallery forests.
The pampas
Among all the geographic features of South America the pampas (the area is about 762 km2) is famous primarily for its agriculture, mainly ranching opportunities. There are many large ranches, which breed elite cattle (the world-famous Argentine beef). But the crop here in honor. This is facilitated by fertile reddish-black soil, the basis for the formation of which have volcanic rock. There is also a large wild steppe and grassland, which, however, often lacks moisture. And the farther away from the Atlantic ocean and closer to the Andes, the pampas and even go on arid semi-desert.
Tierra del Fuego and Cape horn
It is the southernmost archipelago of South America, and so it has severe cold climate and frequent strong storms. The reason is the proximity of Antarctica. The archipelago called Tierra del Fuego in 1520, the legendary Ferdinand Magellan who, passing by, took the distant fires of the Indians beyond the lights of volcanoes. Well, the southernmost point of South America is thundering Cape horn, part of the archipelago. Travel past him at the Drake passage and today a lot of the most daring and desperate.
The Pantanal
This is the name of the world’s largest swamp, which is located in the South-West of Brazil, and partly also in Paraguay and Bolivia. Its dimensions are staggering: about 195 km2 area in the basin of the river Paraguay! Despite its not very attractive status the Pantanal with its unique flora and fauna is a real boon for scientists and tourists.
Plateau Region
In fact, it is one of the most known deserts in South America. Stretching high in the Chilean Andes 1000 km long and 160 km wide, is one of the rare deserts of our planet, where there is never rain. If you add the extremely harsh mountain climate, there is a way totally unsuitable for human life areas. Meanwhile, there are active numerous mines, which the local people mined the copper, nitrate, iodine, table salt. For particularly adventurous tourists, who will have to overcome the hard way, there are a few “highlights”: a small picturesque lake and beautiful salt deposits in the mountains.
The largest waterfalls on the continent
Here draw attention to two waterfalls: the highest in the world angel falls (altitude 1054 m) and one of the most beautiful on the planet, iguaçu falls. Water angel, named after who discovered it in 1933 of the pilot James angel, absolutely frustrated with the steep slopes of the plateau Auyan-Tepui. Outstanding features of the waterfall were appreciated in 1994, when he, along with the national Park Canaima, which is a wonder of the world, was included in the UNESCO world heritage.
