Countries and area of South America. Tourist resources of the mainland

What is the area of South America? How many states are there? And is there any sense for European tourists to go to these distant countries? All this in our article!

Geographic location and area of South America

The New World (or America) is located in the western hemisphere and consists of two continents. At the same time, the area of North and South America is approximately comparable. Today these two continents connect only the narrow Panama Isthmus.

What is the area of South America? It is 17.84 million square kilometers. The shoreline of the continent is dismembered slightly, only in its southern part there are several large archipelagoes and bays. The continent stretches from the 12th degree of northern latitude (Cape Gallinas) to latitude 54 degrees south (Cape Frowward) and is washed by two oceans: Quiet from the west and Atlantic from the east.

South America was discovered by Christopher Columbus during his third voyage. The first serious geographical study of the continent was conducted by the German scientist Alexander Humboldt at the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries. Also a great contribution to the study of South America was made by researchers Grigory Langsdorf and Henry Bates.

Political map of the continent

To date, there are 12 independent states in South America, as well as Guiana - the French overseas department. In the southern part of the mainland are also located the Falkland Islands, which are disputed territories between Britain and Argentina.

All countries of South America by area (from the largest to the smallest):

1. Brazil
2. Argentina
3. Peru
4. Colombia
5. Bolivia
6. Venezuela
7. Chile
8. Paraguay
9. Ecuador
10. Guyana
11. Uruguay
12. Suriname

It is curious that practically in all of South America, leftist (socialist) ideology is extremely popular today. In almost all countries of the continent, the leftist parties are more or less in power. Nevertheless, against this background, the market economy is developing successfully.

Tourism and Recreation in South America

The huge area of South America causes a huge variety of tourist and recreational resources on its territory. Every year, tourism is becoming an increasingly important sector of the economies of South American states. Practically in each of these countries there is something to see the tourist: the remains of ancient cities, architectural and historical monuments, beautiful waterfalls and picturesque landscapes. Many are also attracted by a variety of South American cuisine, as well as a rich local culture.

Perhaps the most tourist country in South America can be called Brazil. Thousands of tourists every year travel to the virgin rainforest of the Amazon to try their hand at confronting wildlife. The second place is deservedly the country of Peru with its fortresses, monasteries and ancient Inca cities.

Among the most visited cities of South America are Cusco, Rio de Janeiro, Lima, São Paulo, Cartagena and Buenos Aires.

Peru for tourists

Peru is a country with a fairly poorly developed economy. However, tourism is one of the three key sectors of the national economy. Wonders of nature, the richest culture and numerous historical and cultural monuments - this is what attracts tourists to Peru.

Most often come here Americans, Canadians, British and French. Most of the foreign tourists go to the city of Cuzco to see with their own eyes one of the New Seven Wonders - the Inca city of Machu Picchu. Many tourists in Peru are also attracted by the Gokta waterfall, which is the third tallest in the world (770 meters). The most interesting thing is that it was opened only in 2005.

Interesting for tourists and the city of Cajamarca - a chic model of colonial architecture. It is all built up with two-story houses of the 18th-19th century under tiled roofs.

And many European tourists are genuinely surprised when they learn that the real vodka fountain is not somewhere in Russia, but in Lima, the capital of Peru.

Interesting Brazil

At least 5 million tourists visit this South American country every year. Brazil is ready to offer them a variety of holidays: visiting the rain forests of the Amazon or the Pantanal cavity, the cities of Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo. You can also have a great rest on one of the many beaches of the Atlantic coast. Quite strongly developed in Brazil, domestic tourism.

Brazil - a country of interest and in many ways very unusual. So, for example, all outdoor advertising is banned here. Foreign goods and products in this state are insanely expensive, since there is an import tax of 100% of the total value of the goods.

Foreign tourists are attracted not only to the world famous city of Rio de Janeiro, but also the capital of Brazil - Brasilia. It was designed in just a year, and built - for three.

Finally

The area of South America is almost 18 million km ² . On the territory of the continent are located 12 independent states and one dependent territory (French Guiana). In general, each of these countries can be of interest to a European tourist.