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South America is a continent crossed by the equator, with
most of its area in the Southern Hemisphere. South America is situated
between the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean. It became attached to
North America only recently, geologically speaking, with the formation
of the Isthmus of Panama. The Andes, likewise a comparatively young and
seismically restless mountain range, run down the western edge of the
continent; the land to the east of the Andes is largely tropical rain
forest, the vast Amazon River basin.
South America ranks fourth in area, after
Asia, Africa and North America. It ranks fifth in population, after Asia,
Africa, Europe, and North America. It is thought to have been first inhabited
by humans crossing the Bering Land Bridge, now the Bering strait, though
there are also suggestions of migration from the southern Pacific Ocean.
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From the 1530s, the indigenous inhabitants
of South America were subjugated by European invaders, first from Spain,
later from Portugal, who divided it into colonies. In the course of the
19th century, these colonies won their independence.
The region of South America also includes
various islands, most of which belong to countries on the continent. The
Caribbean territories are grouped with North America. The South American
nations that border the Caribbean Sea – including Colombia, Venezuela,
Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana – are also known as Caribbean
South America.
The largest country in South America by far,
in both area and population, is Brazil. Regions in South America include
the Andean States, the Guyana Highlands, the Southern Cone, and Eastern
South America. |
