HowStuffWorks "Geography of South America"

WHAT'S INSIDE: SOUTH AMERICA

The geography of South America contains Brazil, the largest country in South America and the three major regions of Ecuador. Explore these and other areas of South America.

Argentina
Bolivia
Brazil
Chile
Colombia
Ecuador
Falkland Islands
French Guiana
Guyana
Paraguay
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Argentina
Argentina is the second largest country in South America in size. Only Brazil has more land. The geography of Argentina consists of four major regions: the Andes, the Pampas, the North, and Patagonia.
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Bolivia
Bolivia is a landlocked country located near the middle of South America between Chile and Peru, which separate it from the Pacific Ocean.
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- Geography of Cochabamba
- Geography of Oruro
Brazil
Brazil is the largest and most populous country in South America. Explore the country of Brazil and other major cities like Manaus and Rio di Janiero.
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Chile
Chile divides into northern, central, and southern regions, with the great Andes mountain system common to all three. Chile occupies a long and narrow strip of land located on the Pacific coast.
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- Geography of Valparaiso
- Chile
- Geography of Concepcion
- Geography of Santiago
Colombia
The Andes mountain range occupies most of western Colombia and consists of three distinct mountain ranges, called cordilleras.
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Ecuador
Ecuador divides into three natural regions-- the Costa, Sierra, and Oriente. Explore the high mountains, valleys, and basins of this South American country located on the Equator.
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- Geography of Guayaquil
- Geography of Ecuador
- Geography of Quito
Falkland Islands
The Falkland Islands consist of two main islands and many small islands. The largest islands are the East Falkland and West Falkland.
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- Geography of the Falkland Islands
French Guiana
French Guiana is low-lying and in many places swampy. It fronts on the Atlantic Ocean and is bordered inland by Brazil and Suriname.
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- French Guiana
Guyana
Guyana is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, Suriname, Brazil, and Venezuela. Guyana gradually becomes hilly and rises as low mountains in the south and as higher, flat-topped ranges in the west.
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Explore These Topics:
- Geography of Georgetown
- Geography of Guyana
Paraguay
Paraguay is an inland country in the center of South America and is divided into two distinct regions by the Paraguay River.
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- Geography of Paraguay
- Geography of Asuncion
Peru
The geography of Peru divides into three major regions: the Costa, Sierra, and MontaÃ±a. Explore the desert region, rugged mountains and heavily forested lowlands of Peru.
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Suriname
Suriname lies at the northern edge of the continent, facing the Atlantic Ocean, and is bordered by Guyana, French Guiana, and Brazil.
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- Geography of Suriname
- Geography of Palamaribo
Uruguay
Uruguay is located on the Atlantic coast and is bordered by Brazil and Argentina. The geography is mainly low-lying and flat to gently rolling and consists of grassy plains.
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- Geography of Montevideo
- Geography of Uruguay
Venezuela
Venezuela lies on the north coast of South America along the Caribbean Sea and has four major regions: the Venezuelan Highlands, the Lake Maracaibo Basin, the Orinoco Lowlands, and the Guiana Highlands.
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Physical Features
The physical features of the South America are quite varied and range from islands and mountains to rivers. Learn more about these physical features of South America and more.
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Explore These Categories:
- Islands
- Mountains
- Rivers
- Land Regions
- Other

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