South America is a continent of rainforests, high mountains, deserts and glaciers, stretching from the tropical Caribbean coast to the cold southern tip of Cape Horn.
The man-made wonders of South America include the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu and the Nazca Lines in Peru, the statue of Christ the Redeemer above Rio de Janeiro, the moai statues of Easter Island in Chile, and the Itaipu Dam on the border of Brazil and Paraguay.
Natural wonders of South America range from the Amazon rainforest, Iguazu Falls and the Galápagos Islands to Angel Falls in Venezuela and the Salar de Uyuni salt flat in Bolivia.
Chile and Argentina share some of the continent's wildest landscapes, from the dry Atacama Desert in the north of Chile to the granite peaks of Torres del Paine and the Perito Moreno Glacier in Patagonia.
South America is the southern continent of the Americas, bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the west, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Caribbean Sea along its northern coast.
The Isthmus of Panama joins South America to North America in the northwest. In the far south, the Drake Passage, south of Cape Horn, separates South America from Antarctica.
South America lies mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, although its northern part extends north of the Equator. The whole of South America lies in the Western Hemisphere.
Four-fifths of South America's landmass lies within the tropics, but the continent's southern tip reaches subantarctic latitudes.
No, South America is not a country. South America is a continent made up of many countries, from Colombia and Venezuela in the north to Chile and Argentina in the south.
South America is one of the seven continents. The seven continents are Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe and Oceania.
There are 12 countries in South America, according to the United Nations list of countries by region. All 12 South American countries are United Nations member states.
The 12 countries of South America are Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, and Venezuela.
South America also includes 4 territories that are not independent countries. The 4 territories are French Guiana, the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, and Bouvet Island.
The Falkland Islands and South Georgia are British overseas territories, and Bouvet Island belongs to Norway. The governments of Argentina and the United Kingdom dispute sovereignty over the Falkland Islands, which Argentina calls the Malvinas.
South America covers 17,814,000 km² (6,878,000 sq mi), making it the fourth-largest continent on Earth, after Asia, Africa, and North America. South America covers roughly one-eighth of Earth's land surface.
North America is about 6,416,000 km² (2,477,000 sq mi) larger than South America, at 24,230,000 km² (9,355,000 sq mi).
From north to south, South America measures about 7,560 km (4,700 mi), from Point Gallinas in Colombia to Cape Horn in Chile. From east to west, South America measures about 5,310 km (3,300 mi) at its widest, from Cape Branco in Brazil to Point Pariñas in Peru.
The map below shows the wonders in South America. Click a pin to open a guide.
The Manu National Park is an Amazonian tropical rainforest region with the title of Biosphere Reserve, which is considered the most bio-diverse region in the world. This magical place is home of over 1000 species of birds (15% of all the bird species), 300 species of great trees, 15000 species of flowers, 200 species of […]
The Lord of Sipan is the tomb of an important leader of the pre-Inca civilization Moche, which was found by the Peruvian archeologist Walter Alva in 1987. According to several scientists, this tomb is the most important archeological discovery of America in the last 30 years. The tomb of the Lord of Sipan is the […]
The Amazon River is the largest river of the world and its basin is also the largest drainage basin of the planet; since, it covers an area of 6 475 000 square kilometers (2500 000 square miles) in Peru, Brazil, Ecuador Colombia, Venezuela and Bolivia. The Amazon is so large that its estuary is about […]
Paracas is a marine reservation in the southern Peruvian coast. Paracas is located in the Ica region in the Pisco province, about 261 Kilometers (163 miles) south of Lima. The name Paracas derives from Quechua language (the original language of Peru) and means “raining sand”. The Paracas National Reserve and the nearby Ballestas Islands are […]
The fascinating Lines of Nazca are a series of giant geoglyphs located in the Nazca Desert in the southern coast of Peru in a large plateau between the cities of Nazca and Palpa to 402 kilometers (250 miles) from Lima the capital of the country. This plateau covers an area of around 777 square Kilometers […]
These Mangroves are located in an ecoregion also known as “Gulf Guayaguil-Tumbes Mangroves”, which is in the border between the northern Peru and the southern Ecuador, on the shores of Pacific Ocean. The portion of mangroves that is in Peru is in the Peruvian region of Tumbes near Puerto Pizarro area to 24 Kilometers from […]
The Lake Titicaca is the highest navigable Lake of the world. It is located between Peru and Bolivia at 3812 meters (12 507 feet) above sea level. This lake is the second largest lake of South America after the Maracaibo Lake in Venezuela. Nevertheless, the Maracaibo lake is connected to the Ocean, therefore, many scientists […]
Kuelap is an impressive pre Colombian fortress that is located on the banks of the Utcubamba River in the Peruvian region of Amazonas near (35 Kilometers) Chachapoyas city. This fortress was constructed by the Chachapoyas culture which inhabited this region around 800 AD. Kuelap is one of the few remains of the Chachapoyas culture which […]
The “Baños del Inca” (” Inca’s Bath” or “Inca Baths”) are a set of natural hot springs located to six kilometers of the city of Cajamarca in the north Andean zone of Peru to 2667 meters above sea level. This recreational and historical complex is composed by several gardens and pools. The average temperatures of […]
The Huayllay National Sanctuary also known as “Huayllay Stone Forest” or “Rock Forest of Huayllay” is located in the Bombon Plateau in the Peruvian region of Pasco at the center of the country. This ecological sanctuary has many peculiar and beautiful natural formations of rocks, which are the reason of its denominations. The Huayllay Stone […]
The “Gran Pajaten” is an archeological complex in the northern Amazonian region of Peru in the basin of the Abiseo River. This amazing historic place is located in the border between the region of San Martin and the region of La Libertad. The Gran Pajaten is at 2850 meters above sea level and it is […]
The Colca Canyon is one of the most beautiful natural wonders of Peru. It is the second deepest canyon of the world after the Cotahuasi canyon (which is also in Peru). This canyon was formed by the River Colca and is located in the Andes mountain range in the Peruvian region of Arequipa, which is […]
Chavin de Huantar is the main archeological center of the Chavin Culture, which is considered one of the oldest civilizations of Peru and America. The archeological complex is located in the Peruvian region of Ancash, 462 Kilometers (286 miles) northeast Lima in the Andes at 3150 meters (10335 feet) over sea level, in the basin […]
Chan Chan is the largest city of mud brick built in the pre Colombian America, occupying an area of 7.7 square miles (almost 20 square kilometers). It was the capital of the ancient Chimu Kingdom. Chan Chan is located 2 miles (5 kilometers) west from Trujillo, which is the capital of the Peruvian region of […]
6000 years ago, the human race started to create civilization. Only six cultures in the history have been identified as those that were able to change their way of life to generate conditions necessary for the civilization development (build cities, farming, art, medicine, etc). These cultures constructed their settlements in Mesopotamia, India, Egypt, China, Central […]
Pelourinho is located in Salvador's historic town centre in the Cidade Alta (Upper city), and is located slightly to the east of the centre of town, just off of the Rua de Alfredo Brito. Pelourinho ("Pelo" to the locals) is an old town with many colonial-style churches and buildings painted in pastel colours, also considered […]
The Palacio de Cristal is a cast-iron and glass building. It is located in the city of Petrópolis (Rua Alfredo Pachá, s/n – Centro), State of Rio de Janeiro. The Palacio de Cristal is a place that has a high symmetry, which is why it can be appreciated from any angle or viewpoint. The lighting […]
The Guarda do Embau, Florianopolis is one of the most remarkable Florianopolis tourist attractions, and is considered to be one of the world's most beautiful beaches. It is located in the hills of the State Park Board near Rio do Madre, 60 km south of Florianopolis and 40 km north of the Garopaba. Guarda do […]
Encontro das Aguas ("Meeting of the Waters"), is located a 20km south-east of the city of Manaus. It is a phenomenon that occurs at the confluence of the Rio Negro and the Rio Solimões to form the Amazon, where the waters of both rivers do not mix in an area of more than 6 km. […]
The National Park of the Chapada dos Veadeiros is located around 200 kilometers north of Brasília, in the state of Goiás, on the border of Alto Paraíso Township and Sao Jorge Village. The park occupied an area of 231.000 square mi (65514.73 hectares), but only a small portion of the park, which covers about 23.000 […]
Parque Nacional da Chapada dos Guimarães is a conservation unit in south-central of Brazil, located in Mato Grosso, in the municipality of Chapada dos Guimarães at 40 miles north of Cuiabá, with a total area of 330 square kilometers. This range is surrounded by Brazilian savannas (also known as cerrado) and the Amazon rainforest. It […]
Chapada Diamantina National Park or the Brazilian Grand Canyon is just a small part of the Chapada (highlands); it is located approximately 300 kilometers northwest of the Bahia State, Brazil. The park covers an area larger than the Netherlands, an expanse of 38,000 square kilometers stretching as far south as Minas Gerais. The park contains […]
Fernando de Noronha is located 545 km off the coast of Recife in the Atlantic Ocean; this beautiful and peaceful island is part of a volcanic archipelago of 21 islands which lie 345km off the northeast coast of Brazil, only two of them are inhabited; its area is 18.4 km² and its largest island has […]
Cabo de Santo Agostinho is a municipality of the Brazilian state of Pernambuco. It has an area of 448.49 km². Cabo de Santo Agostinho is part of the Metropolitan Region of Recife (MRR), wich comprehends also the municipal districts of Recife, Olinda, Jaboatão dos Guararapes, Abreu e Lima, Paulista, Igarassu, Itapissuma, Itamaracá, Ipojuca, Camaragibe, São […]
Machu Picchu in Peru and Christ the Redeemer in Brazil are the two South American wonders on the list of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
South American wonders also appear on the following world wonder lists.
The Amazon and Iguazu Falls are two of the New 7 Wonders of Nature, announced in 2011 after a worldwide public vote.
South America is known for the Andes Mountains, the Amazon rainforest, and an unrivaled variety of climates and landscapes, from tropical rainforest to subantarctic glaciers.
The Andes run about 8,900 km (5,500 mi) down the western side of South America. The Andes are second only to the Himalayas in average height.
The Amazon rainforest covers about half of the rainforest left on Earth.
South America is also famous for the Inca city of Machu Picchu, the wildlife of the Galápagos Islands and the Carnaval of Rio de Janeiro.
No, Mexico is not in South America. Mexico is a country of southern North America, south of the United States.
On the United Nations list, Mexico is in the Central America region of North America. The countries of Central America, from Guatemala to Panama, lie between Mexico and South America.
Mexico and South America both belong to Latin America, the wider region of the Americas that shares an Iberian (Spanish and Portuguese) heritage. Nearly all of South America is part of Latin America.
No, Panama is not in South America. Panama is a country of Central America, which is part of North America on the United Nations list.
Panama lies on the Isthmus of Panama, which runs about 640 km (400 mi) from the border of Costa Rica to the border of Colombia.
The Panama Canal crosses the Isthmus of Panama between the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean.
No, the Caribbean islands are not part of South America. The Caribbean islands, also called the West Indies, are usually counted as part of North America, as on the United Nations list.
The West Indies stretch from Trinidad, off the coast of Venezuela, to Florida. Trinidad and Tobago, Aruba, Curaçao and Bonaire sit on the South American continental shelf, the shallow seabed around the South American mainland.
Trinidad and Tobago is still counted as a Caribbean country of North America by the United Nations.
No, French Guiana is not a country. French Guiana is an overseas part of France, known as a territorial collectivity, on the northeastern coast of South America.
Brazil lies to the south and east of French Guiana, and Suriname lies to the west. The capital of French Guiana is Cayenne.
French Guiana uses the euro, because French Guiana is part of France. The President of France is the head of state of French Guiana.
Mount Aconcagua, in Argentina near the border with Chile, is the highest mountain in South America, rising 6,959 m (22,831 ft) above sea level. Aconcagua is also the highest point in the Western Hemisphere.
The Andes, where Aconcagua stands, have many summits above 6,100 m (20,000 ft).
The lowest point in South America lies on the Valdés Peninsula, on the southeastern coast of Argentina, at 40 m (131 ft) below sea level.
The Amazon River is the longest river in South America, at least 6,400 km (4,000 mi) long when measured from the headwaters of the Ucayali-Apurímac river system in southern Peru. The Amazon flows east from the Andes to the Atlantic Ocean on the northeastern coast of Brazil.
The Amazon is slightly shorter than the Nile, the longest river in the world. The Amazon's length has been debated since the mid-20th century. Some measurements make the Amazon longer than the Nile.
Yes, the Amazon River and the Amazon rainforest are both in South America. The Amazon basin, the land drained by the Amazon River, covers about 7,000,000 km² (2,700,000 sq mi).
The Amazon basin covers the greater part of Brazil and Peru, large parts of Colombia, Ecuador and Bolivia, and a small area of Venezuela. By far the largest share of the Amazon basin lies in Brazil.
Rainforest covers more than two-thirds of the Amazon basin.
The largest lake in South America is either Lake Maracaibo in Venezuela or Lake Titicaca on the border of Peru and Bolivia, depending on whether you count Lake Maracaibo as a lake.
Lake Maracaibo covers about 13,280 km² (5,130 sq mi). Much of the water in Lake Maracaibo comes in with the tide from the Atlantic Ocean, so Lake Maracaibo is also described as an inlet of the Caribbean Sea.
Lake Titicaca covers about 8,300 km² (3,200 sq mi), high in the Andes. Lake Titicaca is the largest lake in South America if Lake Maracaibo is counted as an inlet.
Angel Falls in Venezuela is the tallest waterfall in South America, dropping 979 m (3,212 ft). Angel Falls is also the tallest waterfall in the world.
The water of Angel Falls pours off Auyán-Tepuí, a flat-topped plateau in the Guiana Highlands of southeastern Venezuela. The falls lie on the Churún River in Canaima National Park, in Bolívar state, Venezuela.
São Paulo, in southeastern Brazil, is the largest city in South America. São Paulo is also the largest city in the Southern Hemisphere.
In 2022, the city of São Paulo had 12,284,940 people, and Greater São Paulo had 19,683,975. Greater Buenos Aires, the metropolitan area around the capital of Argentina, had 17,523,996 people in 2022.
São Paulo is the leading industrial center of Latin America.
South America is named after Amerigo Vespucci, an Italian navigator who was one of the earliest European explorers of the New World. The name America was first used only for South America.
The name America soon spread to the whole landmass of the New World. The lands that broadened out south of the Isthmus of Panama became known as South America. The lands north of the Isthmus of Panama became known as North America.
Spanish and Portuguese are the main languages of South America. Spanish is an official language in 9 of South America's 12 countries.
Portuguese is the official language of Brazil, which is home to nearly half of the people of South America. Other official languages in South America include English in Guyana, Dutch in Suriname, and French in French Guiana.
Indigenous languages are also official in several South American countries. Quechua and Aymara are official in parts of Peru, and Guaraní is official in Paraguay. Spanish and 36 Indigenous languages are the official languages of Bolivia.
Brazil is in South America and covers half of the continent's landmass, stretching from the Amazon basin in the north to the border with Uruguay in the south.
Every South American country except Chile and Ecuador borders Brazil. Brazil's neighbors are Uruguay, Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana.
Brazil faces the Atlantic Ocean along 7,400 km (4,600 mi) of coastline.
Suriname is the smallest country in South America, covering 164,000 km² (63,300 sq mi), according to the United Nations. With about 640,000 people in 2025, Suriname also has the smallest population of any South American country.
Guyana lies west of Suriname, and French Guiana lies east, on South America's northern coast. Formerly called Dutch Guiana, Suriname became independent from the Netherlands on November 25, 1975.
Uruguay, at 174,000 km² (67,200 sq mi), is South America's second-smallest country.
Brazil is the largest country in South America, covering 8,516,000 km² (3,288,000 sq mi), according to the United Nations. Brazil is also the fifth-largest country in the world, after Russia, Canada, China and the United States.
Argentina is the second-largest country in South America, at 2,796,000 km² (1,080,000 sq mi) excluding the Argentine claim in Antarctica. Peru is the third-largest country in South America, at 1,285,000 km² (496,000 sq mi).