There is a very interesting continent on our planet that you can talk about endlessly - this South America.
South America is the fourth largest continent. The area of the continent is 17.8 million km², the population is 387 489 196 (2011) people (4th place among continents). On its territory there are 12 independent states and one overseas department of France - Guiana, by the way, the official monetary unit of this territory is the euro)
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The most big river in the world flows through this continent. The Amazon is about 7,000 km long. competing in length with the Nile and more than half a thousand tributaries. The basin of this river is larger in area than Australia. In addition, from the Amazon you can get to the Orinoco, as there is a natural connection between the two water basins. It is carried out across the Casiquiare River (326 km in length).
Venezuela is home to Maracaibo, the largest and second oldest lake on Earth. It is a pride and an important source of wealth for Venezuela, as there are many oil deposits here. On the south and west shores Tribes cut off from civilization have been living in houses on stilts in Maracaibo since ancient times.
It is in South America that the most high waterfall in the world - Angel, the height of which is 1059 meters. The height of the continuous free fall is 807 meters.
The largest salt marsh in the world, the Uyuni Salt Flats, is a dried-up salt lake in the south of the Altiplano desert plain, Bolivia, at an altitude of about 3650 m above sea level. It has an area of 10,588 km² and is the largest salt marsh in the world. Thanks to large size, flat surface and high albedo in the presence of a thin layer of water, as well as minimal changes in altitude, the Uyuni Salt Flats is an ideal tool for testing and calibrating remote sensing instruments on orbiting satellites. Uyuni's clear skies and dry air allow satellites to be calibrated five times better than using the ocean surface.
Also on the continent is the highest navigable lake in the world - Titicaca. This picturesque lake is located in the Andes mountains between Peru and Bolivia. The height of the lake above sea level is 3812m.
Another world record holder is Mount Cotopaxi, which is the highest active volcano with an altitude of almost 6,000 meters.
On the territory of the state of Chile, there is a desert in which there has been no rain for 400 years, therefore, the Atacama Desert. It is considered the driest place on the planet.
Colca Canyon, in Peru, which has a depth twice as deep as the famous American Grand Canyon, located in the province of Cayoma, 148 km northeast of Arequipa, the Canyon is considered the deepest in the world. With observation deck Cruz Del Kodor offers an unforgettable view of the canyon, at the bottom of which, at a depth of 1200 m, the Kolka River flows, and on the opposite side, Mount Misti rises.
The summit of the Chimborazo volcano is the farthest point on the planet from the center of the Earth. Its height is 6267 m above sea level. If you measure the height of the mountain from the center of the Earth, the Chimborazo volcano will be several kilometers higher than Everest (6384.4 km versus 6381 km from the center of the planet)
Mount Roraima in South America. Located at the junction of Brazil, Venezuela and Guyana. The Roraima summit is a plateau with an area of about 30 km². The height of the mountain is almost 3 km. In the clouds, the mountain looks like a huge ship floating out of the fog. Roraima inspired Arthur Conan Doyle to write The Lost World.
The Licancabur volcano is located almost exactly on the border between Chile and Bolivia. In the crater at the top of the volcano at an altitude of 5916 m. For many centuries that have passed since last eruption, presumably more than 500-1000 years ago, the lake managed to form, which is considered the highest mountain lake on Earth and most of the time, due to the fact that temperatures at this altitude drop to minus 30 degrees Celsius, it is under ice. Near the volcano, on the Bolivian side, at an altitude of 4300 m. Is located salt Lake Green Lagoon, which got its name for the emerald-green color of its waters due to the salts of copper minerals dissolved in it, on the surface of which you can even observe flamingos dancing in a salt crumb and - absolutely enchanting landscapes.
In the Patagonian Mountains in Chile, there is a lake called Lago General Carrera, which is very popular with tourists. Its main feature is Marble caves(in Spanish Las cavernas de marmol). The lake is located in Chile and Argentina, but the caves, located on the limestone peninsula, belong to Chile. The beauty of this Marble Cathedral (the second name of the caves) fascinates everyone on the lookout.
Caño Cristales(Caño Cristales - Crystal River) or the River of Five Colors, as it is called locals, originates in the south mountain range Macarena, in Colombia, and flows eastward until it flows into the Guayabero River. The Caño Cristales lodge contains five colors: yellow, blue, green, black and red. All of them are a product of the vital activity of numerous algae and, depending on the season, the saturation of colors either weakens or intensifies. Cristales flows in the jungle, its length does not even reach 100 kilometers, and its width is 20 meters. There are no fish in the river.
In Venezuela, you can observe an unusual natural phenomenon - "Catatumbo lightning", arising over the confluence of the Catatumbo River into Lake Maracaibo. The phenomenon is expressed in the occurrence of many lightning strikes continuously for a long time, mainly at night and with strong variations depending on the season (the maximums are in May and October). The probability of a lightning strike in this area is the highest in the world: 250 lightning strikes per square kilometer per year. The number of thunderstorm days per year varies from 70 to 200; at the peak of activity, which occurs between 19:00 and 04:00, there are up to 28 lightning strikes per minute. Lightning can be seen from a distance of up to 400 km, which gave rise to the myth of the existence of lightning without accompanying acoustic effects. Due to the good visibility of these lightning from a long distance, they were even used for navigation, which is why the phenomenon is also known as the "Maracaibo Lighthouse". The Catatumbo lightning is believed to be the largest single tropospheric ozone generator on Earth. Winds coming from the Andes cause thunderstorms. Methane, which is rich in the atmosphere of these wetlands, rises to the clouds, fueling the lightning bolts.
It is in South America that the "Pacific Ring of Fire" ends, which is the zone of the largest accumulation of volcanoes and earthquakes in the world. There are about 450 volcanoes along the perimeter of this ring, and earthquakes here can even occur several times a day.
The most powerful and deep waterfalls are located on the border of Brazil and Argentina. This fantastic complex of Iguazu Falls is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List and is considered one of the seven natural wonders of the world.
In Brazil, at a depth of about 4000 meters, scientists have discovered the longest underground river in the world. The river, which originates in the foothills of the Andes, is 6 thousand kilometers long and stretches from west to east to the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, practically under the basin of the Amazon River. This scientific discovery became public in August 2011 after a report made at a meeting of the Brazilian Geophysical Society in Rio de Janeiro. The river is unofficially named Khamza in honor of the discoverer Valiy Khamza. ... The study found that, with the exception of the direction of flow, the Amazon (surface) and Hamza (underground) rivers have significantly different characteristics, the most obvious of which are their width and flow rate. However, the flow rate in the Amazon is five meters per second, and the speed in underground river does not exceed 1 millimeter per second.
Brazil is the largest and most populous country on the continent. Territory - 8 515 770 km², which is 5.7% of the total land area of the world. Brazil is the fifth largest country in the world in terms of area and population. The capital is Brasilia. Famous city Rio de Janeiro,
Chile is the longest (4300 km), narrow (max 200 km, min 80 km) and the southernmost (900 km from Antarctica) country in the world. The narrow Chilean stripe was described by the writer Benjamin Suberkaseu as an exaggerated "geographic madness".
South America is a continent located in the Southern and Western Hemispheres. It is surrounded from the west by the Pacific, and from the east by the Atlantic oceans. This land is rich in stunning natural beauty, it keeps the secrets of ancient civilizations, colorful peoples and tribes lost in the jungle live here. Interesting Facts about South America:
Everyone knows the fact that America was discovered by Columbus in 1492. But it got its name in honor of the navigator from Florence Amerigo Vespucci. It was he who first suggested that the lands found were not India, but the New World.
In 1541 the Spaniard Francisco Orellana discovered the longest and deepest river in the world - the Amazon. The length of the river is almost 7000 km. His expedition sailed along the length of the entire river for the first time.
The area of the Amazon Basin can be compared in size to that of Australia. And this is about 7200 square kilometers.
The highest lake in the world, on which ships can go, is Titicaca. This picturesque lake is located in the Andes mountains between Peru and Bolivia. The height of the lake above sea level is 3812m.
Maracaibo is the biggest and ancient lake on the ground. It is a pride and an important source of wealth for Venezuela, as there are many oil deposits here. On the southern and western shores of Maracaibo, tribes cut off from civilization have lived in houses on stilts since ancient times.
South America is rich in waterfalls. And not the simplest, but the most. Angel is the highest (1054 m) waterfall in the world. It is found in the tropics of Venezuela.
The most powerful and deep waterfalls are located on the border of Brazil and Argentina. This fantastic complex of Iguazu Falls is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List and is considered one of the seven natural wonders of the world.
An interesting fact about South America is that this continent is considered the wettest on Earth.
Brazil is the largest country in South America. She is famous for her annual enchanting carnival.
One of the most popular attractions in South America is considered to be the unique ancient city among the clouds, or the lost city of the Incas, Machu Picchu. It is located in Peru at an altitude of 2450m above sea level. To preserve the ancient city, the Peruvian government is forced to limit the number of tourist visits to 2,500 per day.
Statue of Christ on Mount Corcovado in Rio de Janeiro- it business card Brazil. Its height is 38m, and its arms span is 28m. From the height of the foot of the Statue of Christ, a breathtaking view of Rio de Janeiro and its surroundings opens up.
South America is a continent with many different climatic zones, home to representatives of twelve states. Each has a vibrant culture and customs, and boasts natural beauty. The nature of South America is rich and varied, which attracts many tourists to the continent, along with the unusual architecture of Argentina, the heritage of the Incas in Chile and Peru, and the famous dancing. What interesting things can you learn about this region?
Natural lighthouse
Start listing interesting facts about worthwhile with unique natural phenomena... For example, it is here that the most famous natural lighthouse is located. Even now, when navigating the sea and the ocean is completely different, sailors around the world are familiar with the view of the Itzalko volcano. It is located on the coast and rises two thousand meters. Itzalko became so famous because of volcanic activity... Every eight minutes, a hum from the ground is heard throughout the entire area, after which clouds of smoke rise above the crater at the top. They grow three hundred meters to the sky, while hot lava pours out of the volcano. The eruption process has remained unchanged for two hundred years. Its impressive size and such an unusual feature make the South American volcano Itzalko a reliable landmark in any weather and different time days. In addition, it is a place that attracts tourists.
The driest desert in the world
Inland waters South America includes the basin of one of the most famous rivers in the world - the Amazon. Still there is on the continent, for the most part covered with rainforest, and arid areas. The record holder is this dry place on the planet. When mentioning interesting facts about South America, don't forget the Atacama. In the desert in northern Chile, there has been no rainfall for four centuries. Scientists have accurately recorded the interval from 1570 to 1971. In recent decades, precipitation has occurred here, but their amount does not exceed a millimeter. Air humidity in the desert is zero. That is why the local mountains, despite the impressive height of seven thousand meters, are completely devoid of a glacier at the top. However, there are also unique situations. In May 2010, it suddenly began to snow, snowdrifts covered all nearby cities. City infrastructure stopped working because of and children saw snow for the first time in their lives.
Death celebration
Those who are fascinated by interesting facts about South America and its culture should know about the mysterious Day of the Dead - Dia de los Muertos. It is an annual celebration of the dead. It is known that the locals celebrated the Day of the Dead three thousand years ago, which makes it not only interesting, but also the most ancient of the celebrations familiar to mankind. The origin is associated with the culture of the Aztecs, who revered the goddess Miktlansihuatl, the patroness of the underworld. In those ancient times, the celebration took several weeks and took place in the summer, during a special period, the exact scope of which is unknown. Conquistadors from Spain shifted the date to November, so that the celebration was associated with, but these are completely different holidays, and they are not related to each other. On the first day of November, it is customary to remember children, and on the second day - adults. Due to a completely different attitude towards death (it is believed that the dead are happy and go to a world where they are better off than they were during their lifetime), the holiday is not at all tragic in nature. On the contrary, these days there are carnivals with bright traditional make-up that transforms the celebrants into walking skeletons.
Tar lake
On which is located not far from the coast of Venezuela, there is an unusual reservoir. It is distinguished by its black color and unique composition. The internal waters of South America, and indeed the liquid in the usual sense, have nothing to do with it. Rather, it resembles a natural asphalt lake. Waves are forty percent bitumen, thirty percent clay, and only another thirty percent salt water. It is the largest natural asphalt reservoir on Earth. The locals gave it the name Degtya Lake. The depth of the unusual reservoir is eighty-two meters, and the area is forty-five hectares. Its exact parameters are still unknown to scientists, although they do not stop working on its study. The surface is covered with a dense asphalt crust, so strong that it can be walked on. But it’s better not to do this: from the depths every now and then burst bubbles tearing the tar film. Over the years, the lake becomes larger and larger, absorbing the buildings standing on the banks.
Panama's invention
There are many misconceptions associated with this continent. For example, the discovery of South America is not an achievement of Columbus at all, but Magellan's. The name shared with the northern continent leads to errors. Misconceptions due to the name are associated with Panama. This hat was indeed invented in South America. But it didn't happen in Panama at all. It was invented in Ecuador and is still being produced there. At the beginning of the twentieth century, the hat became famous and must-have for every fashionista. The name is associated with the country through which it was exported to the north and to Europe. To create a panama, you need a special fiber of a rare palm tree, which is then woven by hand.
Unusual names
Interesting facts about South America are hidden in the names of the local states. For example, the country is Venezuela. It owes its name to Vespucci. He carried out not only the discovery of South America, but also found houses of local residents on the coast of the continent, which reminded the navigator of his native city- Venice. In honor of her, he nicknamed the region he opened. For the first time such a name was used on maps as early as the sixteenth century. One more interesting name- Ecuador. The study and description of South America was actively carried out by the conquistadors, therefore the names are often Spanish in character. So is Ecuador: in translation, the word means "equator" and is directly related to geographic location the state.
South America is a large continent washed by the Pacific and Atlantic oceans... There is the longest mountain range - the Andes, which stretch for seven thousand kilometers, the longest and deepest river in the world - the Amazon. In the South American jungle - the selva, the largest snake, the anaconda, lives; in the rivers there are the most dangerous freshwater fish - piranhas. The population speaks mainly Spanish, although there is a large country - Brazil, where the official language is Portuguese, there are also small overseas territories European states, which speak English, French, Dutch. The most famous attraction is the fully preserved Inca city - Machu Picchu. Here are some interesting facts about South America.
Story
South America was discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1492. Europeans came here in search of India, where they hoped to buy spices. Later it turned out that this is not India, but a separate continent, but this land was called West Indies for a long time, and the local population is still called Indians.
On the territory of Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador (partly - Chile, Argentina and Colombia) there was the Inca state of Peru (the local name of the state of Tahuantinsuyu). This state had a population of about one million people, the army numbered several tens of thousands of people, but was captured in 1532 by the Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro, whose detachment consisted of 168 people. The remnants of Inca statehood lasted until 1572, when the Spaniards conquered the city of Vilcambamba and executed the last independent Inca ruler, Tupac Amaru. There is evidence of the Inca city of Paititi, which was independent from the Spaniards, but it has not yet been found.
Bolivian city of Potosi in XVI - XVII centuries was the world's largest industrial center with a population of 160 thousand people. Silver was mined here, for 200 years this metal was mined for 820 million pesos, and this coin was heavy and weighed 28 grams. Silver, tin and copper continue to be mined today, the population is the same as it was several centuries ago, 160 thousand people.
Here is Machu Picchu - the ruins of an Inca city, which has been completely preserved to this day. Despite the inaccessible terrain, transport routes were laid here, including railroad, Machu Picchu is visited by millions of tourists every year. There is also a similar well-preserved Inca city - Choquequerao.
Geography
The largest country is Brazil. Portuguese is spoken here, while Spanish is spoken in most other countries.
The Amazon is not only the river with the largest basin (the area occupied by the river and its tributaries), but also the longest river. Until recently, the Nile was considered the longest river, but scientists found the origins of the Amazon and it turned out to be longer than the African record holder. The rainforest that grows on the shores of the Amazon and its tributary is called the jungle. It is a very rainy place, sometimes it rains for two thirds of the year. Due to this, the Amazon is very deep, it brings the most a large number of fresh water among the rivers of the world.
Venezuela has the highest Angel Falls. Its height is more than one kilometer. Despite the fact that the waterfall is large and beautiful, few tourists come to it, since it is located in a rugged jungle.
The Bolivian city of La Paz, the capital of Bolivia is the highest capital in the world (the government of the country is located here, the real capital is Sucre, where the Bolivian Supreme Court is located), the lowest part has a height of about three kilometers, the highest regions are at an altitude of four kilometers above sea level. In this city, visitors may well get sick with altitude sickness, while the locals are quite accustomed to such thin air and feel good in their hometown.
There is Isalco volcano in El Salvador, it is considered the most active volcano the world. In the last 200 years, an eruption has occurred here every few minutes, magma is poured out of the vent and a three-hundred-meter column of smoke rises into the sky. Mariners use the volcano as a lighthouse - this landmark can be seen from many kilometers away.
Chile has the driest desert in the world, the Atacama. Europeans have been observing it since their arrival on the continent, and for 400 years of observations there was no precipitation here. Humidity is zero here, so the mountains, which reach a height of seven kilometers, do not have glaciers. But in 2010, precipitation occurred here, and it was not rain but snow that fell.
Colombia has the Caño Cristales River, which has red, green and yellow algae. Although the water is ordinary, the current seems to be multi-colored.
The Andes are mountains that run from south to north along almost all of South America, stretch for more than 7 thousand kilometers, this is the longest mountain range in the world. The most high peak- Aconcagua has a height of almost seven kilometers - 6960 meters.
In the capital of Suriname Paramario, there is not a single high-rise building, thus the colonial architectural complex, which many tourists come to see.
Flora
A rubber tree grows here, its juice was used to make rubber products, including automobile tires, before the invention of artificial rubber. Quinine, a medicine for malaria, was made from the bark of the cinchona tree. Chocolate is made from cocoa beans. Many plants common to Europeans come from America - potatoes, corn, sunflowers, tomatoes.
On the territory of Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil, there is a large flat steppe with a length of 1600 kilometers - the Pampas. This steppe is considered the world's largest pasture.
The Pantanal is the largest swamp in the world, it is located mainly in Brazil, but part of it is located in Bolivia and Paraguay. Since these places are inaccessible for humans (during summer rains, a depression of 140 thousand square kilometers is 80% flooded with water), many species of plants and animals have been preserved here - about 3,500 species of plants grow, 400 species of fish, 650 species of birds, 100 species mammals, and 80 species of reptiles. There are many dangerous animals - about 20 million caimans, you can meet a giant python.
The territory of Guyana is 90% occupied by the jungle. It is the only English-speaking country in South America.
Fauna
The world's largest butterfly, the Tizania Agrippina, lives in the tropical forests, with a wingspan of up to 30 centimeters.
The largest species of vultures, the condor, live in the Andes. It is the largest bird in the world. The wingspan is up to three meters, according to this parameter, it is inferior to the largest species of albatrosses (up to 3.5 meters), but in weight they significantly exceed them (up to 15 kilograms for vultures, the weight of wandering albatrosses is up to 10 kilograms).
Pudu deer grow up to 40 centimeters and weigh up to 10 kilograms.
The largest rodents live here - capybaras, they are up to one and a half meters long, weighing up to 65 kilograms.
In tropical forests, anacondas live - large snakes that reach a length of up to 5 meters. There is evidence of the existence of longer anacondas, but they have not been scientifically confirmed.
In the upper reaches of the Amazon, the smallest monkeys live - dwarf marmosets. These funny animals are up to 15 centimeters in size (without the tail, which is about 20 centimeters long).
South America is home to many record-breaking animals:
- the largest beetles (woodcutter beetles);
- the most poisonous frogs (spotted poison dart frog, red-backed poisonous frog, two-colored phyllomedusa);
- the smallest monkeys (marmosets);
- the largest butterflies (agrippina butterfly);
- the most dangerous freshwater fish (piranhas).
The first place in the Top 10 attractions of South America is rightfully taken by the foggy city of Machu Picchu, fanned by legends and myths, or Old Mountain in the language of the Quechua Indians. Mysterious ruins, which everyone dreams of seeing, whose heart in his youth sank from breathtaking stories about mysterious civilizations of the past.
Machu Picchu consists of two sectors - urban and agricultural. In the city, you can see the main attractions of this place: the Temple of the Three Windows, the Stone of the Sun and the House of nobles made of polished granite. This city is a living symbol ancient history Peru.
Machu Picchu - city15th century,located on a ridge at an altitude of 2,430 metersabove sea levelv province of Urubamba, 80 kilometers northwest of another South American landmark, the city Cuzco.
2. Galapagos Islands (Ecuador)
Each of us knows Charles Darwin and his Theory of Evolution, it was the Galapagos Islands that prompted Charles Darwin to think about the Theory of Evolution.
Although the islands of the Galapagos archipelago are located 1000 kilometers from the continental Ecuador, they are a real attraction in South America. The archipelago consists of 127 islands, islets and rocks, of which 19 are large.97% of the total surface of the Galapagos is declared a national park, and only the remaining 3% of the territory can be inhabited by people, and only these 3% of the territory is open to tourists.About 30,000 people live on the islands and about 170,000 tourists visit the islands every year.
It is home to amazing animals such as giant turtles, sea iguanas and Darwin's finches.
3. Amazon rainforest
This landmark of South America is located in several countries, but mainly in Brazil. The Amazon forests make up more than half of the planet's remaining rainforests and are considered the true lungs of the planet, and also include the largest and most biodiverse ecosystem in the world. More than 16,000 species of animals live on the territory of the forests.
4. Angel Falls (Venezuela)
Angel Falls, the tallest and most impressive waterfall in the world, will be put first by many tourists Niagara Falls, but believe me, the water falling from a height of almost a kilometer leaves an indelible impression, the sound that penetrates to the bone.
Unfortunately, this truly majestic waterfall is located in impenetrable jungle in not the most welcoming country in the world, it can only be reached by river or by air.
5. Atacama Desert (Chile)
The Atacama Desert, the oldest desert on Earth, is also the driest place in the world, especially in the vicinity of the abandoned city of Yungai. The average rainfall is about 15 mm per year, and in some places there has never been moisture. Such unique characteristics have developed due to two factors, high location and occurrence between two mountain ranges, which complicates the flow of water masses.
6. Rio de Janeiro (Brazil)
On the 6th place in our Top 10 attractions of South America, there is the most famous and famous city South America, namely the magnificent Rio de Janeiro or simply Rio. If you want to feel the spirit of this continent, feel its atmosphere, Rio will give you such an opportunity, thanks to the enchanting carnivals and the cosmopolitan Copacabana beach.
7. Colca Canyon (Peru)
Colca Canyon is one of the deepest canyons in the world, more than 3000 meters deep and twice as deep as the most famous canyon in the world, the Grand Canyon in the United States.
8. Los National ParkGlaciares (Argentina)
Biggest national park in Argentina, occupies an honorable 8th place in the Top 10 attractions in South America. This amazingly beautiful place amazes with its majesty, here you understand the insignificance of man and the power of nature.
Los Glaciares is home to the largest ice cap in the world and feeds 47 large glaciers.The most famous of these is the Perito Moreno glacier,unique among glaciers as it moves forward while others retreat.The park is also home to Lake Argentino, the largest in the country.
9. Pantanal (Brazil)
On the territory of Brazil, there are the largest wetlands - the Pantanal, or simply, swamps, but these swamps are home to one of the richest ecosystems in the world. Among the rarest animals inhabiting the wetlands of the Pantanal are the marsh deer, the giant river otter, the crested hermit eagle, the giant anteater and the Paraguayan caiman. The Pantanal is home to one of the largest carnivores on earth, the jaguar.
10. Quito (Ecuador)
The 10th place in our Top 10 attractions of South America is the capital of Ecuador, Quito, it is truly unique among all the capitals of the world.This is the tallest capital in the world was founded by the Spaniards in the distant1534, but the city is unique not for its location above sea level, but for the perfectly preserved colorful old colonial city of Quito. It is in it that you can feel the spirit of the colonialists of South America.
Located in the north mountainous areas Ecuador, the city is surrounded by volcanoes that can be seen on a clear day.Quito is the only capital in the world threatened by active volcanoes.
