Facts about the peoples of South America. Interesting facts about the countries of America

South America This is a part of the mainland that contains a lot of interesting and educational things, an original culture, population and natural complex. Thousands of tourists strive to travel here.

Columbus, who discovered part of the territories of South America, was the first to conclude that there was a continent somewhere nearby. He determined this by the salinity of the water, since less salty water indicates the flow of a river into the sea, and a fairly large river, which means the presence of a large continent.

The largest country on the continent is Brazil with its capital Rio de Janeiro. The city will be replaced by the largest carnivals in the world.

The main event of each carnival takes place at the "sambadrome", where schools perform " sambas».

Across the entire territory Brazil the greatest river in the world flows Amazon, which has more than 500 tributaries.

The tallest waterfall in the world, Angel Falls, is located in southeastern Venezuela. The height of the waterfall is 1054 meters. Local Indians call it "Apemey" or maiden's eyebrow, and it is located in one of the most inaccessible places on earth.

A Bolivia most famous the high altitude capital of the world La Paz, located at an altitude of 3250-4100 meters.

The highest ancient city built by Indians in the Andes is called Machu Picchu and is located in Peru.

There are many amazing things hidden in the unique nature of this continent.

So animal capybara was too mysterious, and the inhabitants of the mainland asked the Pope for permission to eat it as fish during Lent. The trick of the capybara is that this animal periodically lives either in water or on land. And the most gigantic anaconda snake is able to easily cope with a caiman.

Here is an interesting video about calibar filmed at the zoo

Here are more interesting facts about South America. Many scientists suggest that the continent's natural conditions contribute to the development of talents and minds, and that eating certain South American foods prolongs life.

A country like Venezuela, was named after such a well-known corner of the world as Venice. Amerigo Vespucci, studying the territory of the country, saw a similar construction principle as in Venice - houses on stilts and on the water. It reminded him of a system of canals and floating houses, hence the name Venezuela.

Interesting video about Venezuela

Many tourists flock to South American countries see memorable natural landscapes, unusual animals, birds, fish and tropical butterflies, and also get to know the life of the local population.

South America is one of the largest continents, crossed by the equator, which stretches across two hemispheres: the Northern and Southern. Civilization on its lands developed in different ways. Therefore, today the amazing original culture of South America and the incredible beauty of the local nature still arouses interest and attracts millions of tourists.

The continent takes its name in honor of the Florentine traveler Amerigo Vespucci. It was he who first suggested that the lands discovered by Christopher Columbus were the New World, since they had nothing to do with India, already discovered by Europeans.

The southern continent of America is connected to the Northern Isthmus of Panama.

Today, on the territory of the largest continent, there are 14 countries, most of which are developing. The largest is Brazil. This amazing country of South America has been the undisputed leader in coffee production for 1.5 centuries and a real queen of magnificent carnivals. The former capital of Brazil, Rio de Janeiro, is home to one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. This is a 40-meter statue of Christ the Redeemer.

The Bolivian city of La Paz is recognized as the highest capital of the continent. It is located in the crater of a volcano that was extinct millions of years ago at an altitude of 3.6 thousand meters. Due to its high-mountainous location, the city has critical UV index values ​​that exceed the permissible levels by 16 or more times, which makes the capital of Bolivia especially dangerous for life.

It is noteworthy that indigenous Indian tribes still live in the highlands of Bolivia and Peru. Almost half of them are representatives of the Quechua people. The direct descendants of the Inca culture preserved the traditions of ancient civilization in their original form.

The coastal countries of the continent became famous for the fact that “foci of longevity” were concentrated on their lands. In these areas, people live much longer, maintaining energy, vitality and mental potential until the end of their days. The average life expectancy is 75 years. This phenomenon is explained by the unique natural conditions of the mainland and the regular consumption of fresh seafood.

Amazing flora and fauna

The continent, washed by two oceans - the Atlantic and the Pacific, as well as the Caribbean Sea, is famous for its incredibly diverse world of flora and fauna. Within the largest country in South America, Brazil, there are over 4 million species of flora and fauna.

Unusual fauna

This is the habitat of record holders in several categories at once.

• The most poisonous frogs.

Representatives of the poison dart frog family live in tropical forests. Tiny creatures, whose body size does not exceed 30 mm, move perfectly through trees with the help of suction cups and claws. The bright spotted body color warns potential enemies of danger. The babies' main weapon is toxic poison, which is fatal to humans even in small doses.

Two-colored phyllojellyfish are no less dangerous. Representatives of the tree frog family are real giants compared to small spotted dart frogs. The length of individual individuals can reach 120 mm. The poison of these amazing animals of South America is also dangerous to humans. It can cause stomach problems and hallucinations. Knowing this feature, the indigenous people specially extract phyllojellyfish venom in order to once again experience the hallucinogenic effect.

• The smallest monkeys.

The marmoset primates are so small that they were long thought to be the offspring of other animal species. The size of an adult is only 15 cm, and with the tail – 20 cm. The weight of the animal is only 100 grams. These babies prefer to settle in family groups of 5-6 individuals on forest edges, the outskirts of the jungle and river banks. They feed on fruits, tree sap and insects. They move well between trees, easily overcoming any obstacles.

• The biggest butterfly.

Tizania agrippina has become famous throughout the world for its incredible size. The wingspan reaches 31 cm. Externally, the tizania looks like a huge beautiful moth, and in size it can surpass even a large bird. The wings of the fluttering beauty, decorated with a fancy pattern of gray-brown colors, have wavy edges.

The record holder butterfly is very shy. It is nocturnal and feeds exclusively on the fleshy leaves of the cassia bush.

• The most dangerous fish.

Ray-finned predators are among the most dangerous animals in the world. They live in huge flocks, spending most of their time searching for prey. These inhabitants of the underwater kingdom are famous for their extraordinary sense of smell, through which they are able to detect prey hundreds of meters away. Their main weapon is their huge jaws with protruding, razor-sharp plate-like teeth. Piranhas attack suddenly, attack with lightning speed and torment mercilessly. Predators are quite voracious, and therefore they can only be found in rivers abounding in fish. The fish's jaws are so powerful and its teeth are so sharp that they can easily bite through a stick as thick as a large man's finger.

• The largest beetles in the world.

Lumberjack beetles, also known as longhorned beetles, are representatives of the order Coleoptera. They received their second name due to their long segmented whiskers, the length of which can be 3-4 times the length of the body.

On the lands of South America, there are lumberjack titans whose length reaches 20 cm. In this case, only the body without mustache is taken into account. Adult insects have a uniform brown-black color. They live only 3-5 weeks. Moreover, at this stage of physiological development, beetles do not eat anything. They receive all the necessary substances from reserves deposited at the larval stage.

It is also surprising that the lumberjack titans do not have close relatives in nature. Therefore, these unusual insects arouse keen interest not only among scientists, but also among collectors.

Amazing plant world

South America is a place on the planet where natural resources have been preserved almost in their original form since the Mesozoic era. On its lands you can find many strange plants that are not found anywhere else on Earth.

Just look at the beautiful cosmos flowers, whose petals have a rare chocolate hue, or the ghost orchid, which creates the illusion that it is growing out of nowhere.

The trees of the mainland can also boast of extraordinary beauty. Jacaranda with a spreading crown strewn with tens of thousands of lilac flowers creates the stunning effect of a huge cloud descending from the sky. And the tulip tree, which got its name from the unusual shape of flowers collected in inflorescences and fancy lyre-shaped leaves, simply fascinates with its “fiery stars”.

If we talk about unusual plants of the continent, then they include:

• bottle tree

Brachychiton has a trunk up to 15 meters high, which has a girth of over 3 m. The unusual shape in the form of a giant swollen bottle is due to the adaptability of the plant: it stores reserves of delicious drinking water. In the upper part of the brachychiton trunk there are reservoirs created by nature in which sweet, thick juice accumulates.

• Cashew Pirangi

The famous 177-year-old tree is interesting because it literally spreads along the ground. At the same time, the branches in contact with the ground immediately take root, allowing the tree to grow. Today, Piranji cashews have “covered” an area of ​​almost 2 hectares. And it doesn't stop there. An unusual plant, occupying an area equal to two football fields, produces up to 80 thousand fruits annually. It turns out that one tree has created its own forest.

Among aquatic plants, representatives of the water lily family are of greatest interest. These amazing plants of South America have no analogues in the world. The leaves of the world's largest water lilies look like huge 2-meter plates, the edges of which are curved to the top almost at a right angle. The dense structure of the leaves allows the plants to float even when they have to support a weight of 50-60 kg.

Unique places on the continent

The continent's landscapes are varied, ranging from lifeless deserts and picturesque hills to impenetrable forests and majestic mountain ranges.

There are 6 deserts in South America. The salt flat of Uyuni in Bolivia is of greatest interest. This salt marsh on the Altipano plateau is interesting for its unusual landscape, indistinguishable from the fantastic landscapes of other planets. On its territory there is a “cemetery” of steam locomotives that have spent their time.

The Atacama Desert is no less interesting. Its lands have not seen precipitation for 4 centuries, and therefore the humidity in this area is 0%. It is noteworthy that the desert mountains, despite their impressive height of about 7 thousand meters, are devoid of ice caps. Atacama has such sparse vegetation that its landscape more closely resembles the surface of a lifeless planet.

But the Nazca Desert is a real museum of the culture and history of ancient peoples. She became famous for her drawings, earning her the name “the drawing board of ancient civilizations.” The area, which is 50 km long, contains over 30 drawings depicting humans and animals, more than 700 geometric figures and several tens of thousands of lines and stripes.

The Andes are another unique natural wonder in South America. The world's longest mountain range stretches 7.3 km. Its highest point at an altitude of 6.96 km is called Aconcagua, which means “stone guardian” in Quechua. The largest volcanoes on our planet are located in the Andes.

It is in the Andes that one of the most amazing places in South America is located - Machu Picchu. The high mountain city of antiquity was built by Indian tribes. The Lost City of the Incas is located at an altitude of 2.45 km. Today, Machu Picchu is one of the most impressive sights in the world.

The water element of this amazing place on the planet is no less interesting. The largest river in the world in terms of flow and basin area, the Amazon, flows through South America. It has 1.5 thousand tributaries and is the concentration of a significant part of the world's drinking water supplies. The mighty river gives life-giving moisture to tropical forests, which are often called “the lungs of the planet.” Over the entire existence of mankind, people have never managed to conquer the Amazon: so far not a single dam has slowed down its flow.

The second most important “reserve” of fresh water is considered to be the high-altitude Lake Titicaca. More than 300 rivers flow into it, flowing from the glaciers framing the Altiplano high plateau. The reservoir, located at an altitude of 3.8 km above sea level, is recognized as the highest among navigable lakes in the world.

Angel is the name of the world's tallest waterfall. Its height reaches 1000 m. The speed of falling water is so enormous that it simply dissipates, creating the illusion of a seething water jet disappearing into the fog. You can admire its beauty on the lands of the South American country of Venezuela.

Iguazu Falls are no less picturesque. Located on the border of three countries - Paraguay, Argentina and Brazil, the complex of waterfalls will rival the famous Niagara in beauty. It includes 197 cascading streams, separated by small islands. The length of the widest waterfall on the planet is almost 3 km.

Off the coast of the mainland there is another amazing object - the natural Pacific lighthouse of Izalco. The young volcano, reaching a height of almost 2 thousand meters, is considered the most active in the world. Magma pours out of it every 8 minutes, and a column 300 m high rises above the crater. The reliability of this natural lighthouse has been tested by the continuous 200-year operation of the volcano.

interesting facts about South America

1. America's largest waterfall in the world
2. 1. The largest country in South America is Brazil. It is famous for its magnificent carnivals and performances of various sambo schools.
   2. The largest river in the world flows through this continent. The Amazon has more than half a thousand tributaries.
   3. The highest capital on Earth is located in Bolivia. The city of La Paz is located at an altitude of 3-4 kilometers!
   4. Machu Picchu is the highest mountain city of antiquity. It was built by Indian tribes in the Andes Mountains, Peru. Nowadays, Machu Picchu is one of the most impressive sights in the whole world.
   5. Did you know that the South American country of Venezuela was named after the European city of Venice? Florentine traveler Amerigo Vespucci, having studied the principles of construction of Venezuela (a system of canals, houses on stilts, on water), discovered similarities with Venice. This is where the name of the whole country in South America came from.
   6. Off the coast of this continent is the natural lighthouse Itzalko (or Izalko), known to sailors all over the world. In fact, it is a volcano, about 2 kilometers high. Every 8 minutes, magma pours out here and a 300-meter column of smoke rises. The reliability of such a beacon has been tested by the continuous 200-year operation of the volcano.
   7. Indigenous Indian tribes still live in the highlands of Peru and Bolivia.
   8. In the South American country of Paraguay, duels still take place (and are allowed).
   9. Summer bucket hats were invented in Ecuador, and not in Panama, as one might logically think.
3. Venezuela.
   In Venezuela, where the Catatumbo River flows into Lake Maracaibo, cascades of lightning can be observed almost continuously at night. The phenomenon occurs 140,160 times a year, each session lasts up to 10 hours with a frequency of up to 280 lightning strikes per hour and is not accompanied by any sounds. The phenomenon is explained by winds coming from the Andes, which cause thunderstorms, as well as swampy soils, from which methane gas is released, fueling lightning discharges.

   Do you know where there was no rainfall at all for four centuries? The Atacama Desert, located in northern Chile, in South America, is considered the driest desert on Earth: some facts indicate that there was no precipitation here from 1570 to 1971. Now the average precipitation is 1 mm per year, and in some In some places they even occur once a decade. Therefore, the air humidity here is 0%. The local mountains, whose height is about 7,000 meters, do not have an ice cap at all.
   But recently nature presented the Atacama with an amazing surprise. On May 19, 2010, snow fell here, as a result of which several cities were covered with snowdrifts. And while adults were clearing snow debris, Chilean children were making snowmen for the first time.

4. Did you know that the name of the archipelago at the southern tip of South America, Tierra del Fuego, has nothing to do with volcanoes? Indeed, it is logical to assume that this name was born in connection with the great volcanic activity of this region. But in fact there is not a single volcano on this archipelago. Then why? The navigator Magellan is to blame for everything. Once in 1520, he was sailing along the Strait, which would later become the Strait of Magellan, and looked at the lights. According to one version, the aborigines of the islands saw ships sailing close to the shore and warned each other about the danger with signal fires; according to another version, the aborigines burned fires simply because it was dark. In any case, Magellan saw a lot of fires, he decided not to go to this land just in case of fire, and on the map he designated it as Tierra del Fuego (Land of Fires or Bonfires). The fact is that in Portuguese (and Magellan was just Portuguese) fire and bonfire are denoted by one word fuego. Therefore, cartographers subsequently, without fully understanding what Magellan wanted to say, turned this name into Tierra del Fuego, the words are the same, but it sounds more beautiful

The huge continent of South America, open to Europeans in the era of great navigators, is a real treasure trove of ancient cultures, traditions and customs. Despite centuries under the rule of colonialists, many local peoples retained their traditional way of life, and those that were assimilated gave birth to an amazing cocktail of Indian and European cultures.

1. The largest South American country is Brazil. Next comes Argentina. Both of these states are the 6th and 7th in area among all countries in the world, respectively (see).
2. The average altitude of South America above sea level reaches almost 600 meters. 580 to be exact.
3. It is in South America that the wettest populated area on earth is located. This is the Colombian city of Buenaventura, where it rains more than anywhere else.
4. The driest of the hot deserts, the Atacama, is also located on the South American mainland. There hasn't been proper rain here for about 400 years (see).
5. In most countries in South America, the official language is Spanish, but other languages ​​are also common.
6. About half of the total South American population lives in Brazil. They speak the local dialect of Portuguese here.
7. In most large South American cities there are bad areas where even the police usually do not go. In Brazil they are called favelas, in some other countries - vizhs.
8. Ushuaia, the southernmost city on the planet, is located in South America. Standing on its shore and looking south, you realize that there, beyond the horizon, lies only one land - Antarctica (see).
9. Not all former New World colonies are South American. Many people confuse South America with Latin. The first is a geographical definition, and the second is rather ethnographic.
10. The only English-speaking country on the South American continent is Guyana, one of the poorest countries in the world.
11. French is also common here. It is spoken in French Guiana, an overseas possession of France.
12. The vast majority of the population of South America are Catholic Christians.
13. The Incan and Mayan empires once existed here, but they were crushed by the conquistador conquerors.
14. In Argentina and Uruguay, the majority of the population is direct descendants of the Spaniards and Italians, and the locals look like Europeans. And the largest Indian populations are in Bolivia and Peru (see).
15. South America is home to the world's highest capital, La Paz. True, this city is the capital of Bolivia only in fact, and not in name.
16. The South American salt flat of Uyuni, formed on the site of a dry lake, turns into the world's largest mirror during the rainy season.
17. In Paraguay, one of the countries in South America, duels are still allowed.
18. Among all the continents of the Earth, South America is the wettest.
19. The most famous waterfalls in the world are also located in South America. Angel is the tallest of them, and Iguazu is the most powerful (see).
20. Lake Titicaca, located here, is the highest navigable lake in the world.
21. In total, South America is home to 12 independent states plus dependent territories of other countries.
22. In the Republic of Chile, from 10 to 25% of the population, according to various estimates, come from the Spanish Basque Country and their direct descendants.
23. In Chile, about 3% of the population are ethnic Croats, and about half a million people are Germans.
24. The only country in South America where Dutch is spoken is Suriname, a former colony of the Netherlands.
25. In Bolivia and Peru, drinks infused with coca leaves are popular, but they cannot be exported to other countries.
26. It was here, in Argentina and Uruguay, that such a popular dance as tango originated.
27. The most popular sport in all South American countries is football.

The unique culture and nature annually attracts tourists to the countries of South America. The largest country on the mainland is Brazil with the famous Rio de Janeiro, which hosts popular carnivals. What other interesting but little-known facts about South America are useful to the inquisitive researcher?

Geography

South America is washed by the Atlantic Ocean in the east and the Caribbean Sea in the north. The continent is connected to North America by the Isthmus of Panama. The continent's landscapes are varied - deserts, forests, hills and plains.

The Amazon lowland is covered with tropical forest - the largest in the world, and it rains here two hundred days a year. The Amazon River originates in the Andes and irrigates half of the continent. The Amazon is the record holder among rivers for injecting fresh water into the ocean.

The Andes are a mountain system stretching over 7,240 km, the highest peak is Aconcagua at 6,960 meters. The Andes are home to the largest volcanoes on Earth, and in the far south of the mountains there are glaciers.

The geography of the mainland is amazing; there are unique areas here: the Brazilian and Guiana Highlands, the Llanos Plain and many amazing places. The southernmost point of the continent is Cape Horn; sailing past this point is a dangerous sea route. At the southern tip of the mainland lies the Tierra del Fuego archipelago, consisting of several islands. The archipelago was named after the first to circumnavigate the globe.

The Pampas, a plain known for cattle ranching, stretches for 1,600 km. The Pantanal is the largest wetland in the world, famous for its diversity of flora and fauna. Between the ocean and the Andes lies rocky and lifeless Patagonia, famous for its mountain views.

The Atacama Desert is located high in the Andes - it is cold in these places and there is no rain. The desert is covered with solidified lava flows and salt deposits.

The continent of South America is mentioned when talking about all kinds of records.

• The greatest river in the world, the Amazon, which has half a thousand tributaries, passes through the territory of Brazil.
• Angel Falls is the largest in the world, its height is 1,054 km. It is located in Venezuela, in a remote place. Local Indians call the waterfall Maiden's Eyebrow.
• The highest capital of La Paz in Bolivia, located at an altitude of 4 km above sea level.
• In Peru there is the ancient highland city of Machu Picchu.

Countries

South America is diverse, with swampy jungles adjacent to arid deserts. The Andes mountain range constantly supplies the continent with volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. In the south of the continent there is the warm Caribbean Sea, and in the north there are cold storms of the Atlantic. You can talk about the climate of South America for hours; it is so diverse that the countries on the mainland differ radically.

• Brazil is the largest and most populous country on the continent. The capital is Brasilia. The famous city of Rio de Janeiro is constantly full of tourists.

• Argentina is a beautiful country, famous for its large carnival, which takes place annually on January 16th. The capital is Buenos Aires.
• Bolivia is different in that the government is located in the city of La Paz, although the real capital is Sucre.
• Venezuela is located in the north of the continent, in a warm climate. The capital is Caracas. The national park is world famous for its tropical wilderness.

• Guyana with its capital Georgetown. Guyana's territory is 90% occupied by jungle.
• Guiana is a French territory. The administrative center is Cayenne.
• Colombia - the capital of Bogota, is named after the discoverer of the continent. Indian and European culture are harmoniously intertwined here; the country has many museums that store historical rarities.

• Paraguay, with its capital Asuncion, is landlocked. There are many architectural monuments in the capital.
• Peru - the capital of Lima, a beautiful city on the coast, exciting the minds of fans of the culture of the ancient Incas.
• Suriname is a tropical country; the capital Paramaribo does not have a single high-rise building. The city has retained its originality, which is why it is interesting for tourists.

• Uruguay, with its capital Montevideo, is famous for its carnivals and preserved colonial architecture.
• Chile is located on a long, narrow strip along the ocean and in the Andes. The capital is Santiago, famous for its coups d'etat and balneotherapy.
• Ecuador, with its capital Quito, is located on the equator and is replete with ancient monuments, museums dating back to colonialism and enchanting mountain landscapes.

Flora

Plants of South America have evolved since the Mesozoic era. This development was never disrupted by glaciations or other destructive climate changes. The continent's flora was isolated for a long time from other areas of the earth's land. This explains the antiquity of the flora of this continent and its species diversity. The industry of the countries of the continent is not developed, which has a positive impact on the preservation of nature.

The population density of the mainland is small, and some areas are not inhabited at all; the flora is in a pristine state. The vegetation of South America is rightfully spoken of as a bottomless source of food, feed, and medicinal resources. The most cultivated plant on the continent is potatoes.

Rubber, cinchona and chocolate trees are also grown. The tropical forests of the mainland have no competitors on Earth in terms of the richness of species and the size of the occupied territories. The tropics have up to twelve tiers, and the height of some trees reaches 100 meters.

Fauna

South America has a rich wildlife. Even experienced travelers have something to marvel at on this continent. There are 600 species of mammals, 900 amphibians and 1,700 birds found on this continent.

Giant butterflies and ants live in tropical evergreen forests, parrots predominate among birds, and hummingbirds fly. Condors, the largest flying birds, are preserved in two places on the continent. Among the animals there are many endemics, such as the Titicaca whistler - a lake frog. The wingless great grebe nests on the floating islands of Lake Titicaca.

Capybara or capybara

Only on this continent live Pudu deer, no taller than 40 cm, weighing up to 10 kg. The mystery of another animal, the capybara, led believers to turn to the Pope for clarification. Parishioners asked whether it was possible to eat capybara during fasting - it was not clear whether it was a fish or an animal. The capybara lives in water and on land, which confused believers.

Anaconda - the largest snake on Earth

The largest snake is the anaconda, it easily copes with the caiman. You can talk about the animals and plants of this continent for hours. Based on real stories of travelers in South America, many amazing adventure novels have been written for children and adults.

History of development

South America was discovered by a navigator who went in search of India, inspired by the fact that the Earth was round. The search for the sailors continued for a month, and three ships sailed to the new shores. In 1498, Columbus arrived in South America, convinced that it was India. The rediscovery of South America occurred in the 16th century, when the navigator arrived on the mainland and found out that Columbus was mistaken in considering these lands to be India.

After the discovery of the mainland, colonization began; conquerors called conquistadors set off to new lands in search of wealth. The newly discovered lands were subjected to plunder and devastation, and the indigenous peoples were enslaved and exterminated.

Simultaneously with the conquest, the study of the lands took place; the German scientist A. Humboldt organized an expedition to study nature and the indigenous population. The scientist’s research lasted twenty years and was so detailed that the release of the book was compared to the rediscovery of America.

Research within the continent was stimulated by rumors of the mythical country of Eldorado. Spanish and Portuguese expeditions in the 16th-18th centuries made conquests in search of treasures, exploring the mountain range, plateaus and numerous tributaries of the Amazon. These areas were studied by conquerors, scientists, and Jesuit missionaries.

Russian scientists also studied the exotic continent. Professor of botany Vavilov studied in detail cultivated plants native to South America in 1933.