The largest country in South America. What is the largest country in South America by area?

Official name

Argentine Republic.

Geographical position

The state is located in the southeast of South America. The total area is 2,780,092 km2. Argentina owns part of the island Tierra del Fuego and a few small islands, and it also lays claim to part of Antarctica. Argentina is bordered to the north by Bolivia and Paraguay, to the east by Brazil and Uruguay, to the south and west by Chile. In the south and east, Argentina is washed by the Atlantic Ocean.

natural conditions

The relief of Argentina is very diverse. In the west stand out mountain ranges Andes, and in the northern part of the Andes the highlands of Puna de Atacama are located. The highest point in South America is Mount Aconcagua (height 6959 m). To the south is the Patagonian Plateau. The north-east of Argentina is occupied by plains and lowlands: the vast Gran Chaco plain, the fertile Pampas, marshlands.

The climate is different, as Argentina is located in three climatic zones: tropical, subtropical and temperate. In the northeast, the climate is hot and humid ( average temperature January from + 28 ° to + 40 ° С), in the east - warm and humid, in the south - cool, frosts are possible, the temperature drops to - 33 °.

The basis of the country's water resources are rivers: Parana, Paraguay, Rio Salado, Rio Colorado, Rio del Plateau, Rio Negro. On the Patagonian plateau are picturesque lakes: Nahuel Huapi, Buenos Aires, Argentino.

Main minerals of the country: copper, iron ore, oil, zinc, lead, tin

The vegetation of Argentina is diverse due to the country's location in different climatic zones. Palm trees, dalbergia, rosewood grow in the northeast. In Patagonia - eucalyptus, sycamore, acacia. At the foot of the Andes - spruces, pines, cedars.

The fauna is represented by monkeys, jaguars, cougars, ocelots, tapirs, anteaters, foxes, deer, martens, wild cats. Birds include parrots, hummingbirds, and flamingos.

Population

Population 37,500 thousand people. (2001). Average density- 13.3 people per 1 km 2. The population is mainly of European origin - 85%, these are immigrants from Spain and their descendants, the rest of the population - descendants from mixed marriages of Spaniards and Indians (mestizos) - 15%.

The official language is Spanish.

Catholics - 90%, Protestants - 2%, Jews - 2%, other religious movements - 6%.

Political structure

Argentina is a member of the UN, IMF, OAS. The head of state and government is the president. The legislative branch is the National Congress, which consists of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies. Argentina is a federal republic divided into 22 provinces, 1 national territory and 1 federal capital district. The capital of the state is Buenos Aires (12,750 thousand people). Big cities: Cordoba (1250 thousand people), Rosario (1000 thousand people), La Plata (630 thousand people), Mar del Plata (600 thousand people), Salta (420 thousand people), Mendoza (160 thousand people). Political parties: Civic Radical Union, Justicialist Party, Country Solidarity Front, Peronists.

Economy

Argentina is mainly an agricultural country. Thanks to its developed agriculture, Argentina is one of the world's largest exporters of grain and beef. Main crops: wheat, soybeans, sugarcane, sorghum, and fruits. The most developed industries: food, automotive, textile, metallurgy, chemical, petrochemical, printing

Argentina exports meat, meat products, grains, soybeans, vegetable oil, fruits, as well as oil and oil products to other countries. Imports: machinery and equipment, chemicals, minerals, fuels. The main trading partners are the EU countries, Brazil, USA, Japan.

From transport communications there are railways, highways. Seaports: Buenos Aires, La Plata, Banya Blanca. Currency unit- pesos.

In ancient times, Argentina was inhabited by Indian tribes. In 1516 spanish navigator Juan Diaz de Solis lands at the mouth of the Rio della Plateau and claims ownership of the surrounding lands Spanish crown. In 1536 the city of Buenos Aires was founded. The lands were colonized and in 1617 the La Plata region was annexed to the Viceroyalty of Peru. In 1776, the territories, including modern Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, were allocated to the Viceroyalty of La Plata, and in July 1816 the United Provinces of La Plata (modern Argentina) declared independence, and in 1826 were transformed to the Federal Republic of Argentina. In the XX century. Argentina survived a large number of military coups and for a long time was under the rule of a military junta. In 1983, a democratic government returned to power.

Attractions

Among the attractions stand out: Ethnographical museum"Juan B. Abrosetti", Museum of Natural Sciences, Museum of La Plata, Colonial Museum in Corrientes, Museum fine arts and International art Gallery in Buenos Aires. There are also many churches in the capital, majestic Cathedral(XVIII-XIX centuries), a monument to Christopher Columbus and a monument to Freedom, beautiful park Palermo.

Brazil

Official name

Federative Republic of Brazil

Geographical position

The state is located in the eastern central parts South America. Exactly this large state continent, occupies almost half of its territory. The total area is 8 511965 km. In the north it borders with Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, in the northwest - with Colombia, in the west - with Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, Argentina, in the south - with Uruguay, in the north and east it is washed by the Atlantic Ocean.

natural conditions

The relief of the country is clearly distinguished: the southern elevated part, occupied by the Brazilian Plateau, which is mountains up to 2,890 m high (Mount Bandeira), depressions, hilly plains, river valleys, and the northern Amazonian plain. The Amazon Basin occupies more than a third of the area of ​​Brazil, contains a fifth of the reserves fresh water in the world. The Guiana Plateau is located in the north of the country. the highest point Brazil - Mount Pico de Neblina (3014 m).

Brazil is located in different climatic zones: constantly humid and hot equatorial climate in western Amazonia, in the east and in the center of the Brazilian plateau - subequatorial, in the eastern part of the plateau - hot and humid tropical, in the south of the country - subtropical. The average temperatures in January are from +23 to +29 "С, in July - from +16 to + 24 ° С, precipitation is 3,000-5,000 mm per year. There is a drought in August-October in subequatorial climate zones.

Main water resources countries: the Amazon River is the most long river in the world, falling into Atlantic Ocean, forms the largest delta in the world; other rivers: Parana, San Francisco, Uruguay, Paraguay.

The natural wealth of the country: iron ore, tin, aluminum, uranium, manganese, oil, coal, natural gas, as well as significant timber reserves.

Change climatic zones in Brazil causes a change natural areas, diversity of flora. The south of the country is covered with evergreen forests, shrubs, central regions- savanna vegetation, the Amazonian lowland is rich in subtropical vegetation. In the forests of the Amazon, "natural Eldorado", there are more than 4,000 species of trees, including laurel, fig tree, palm, guava, begonia, pineapple, mangrove trees.

The fauna of Brazil is also rich and varied. Monkeys, jaguar, puma, fox, porcupine, raccoon, sloth, anteater, rare bush dog are common. The areas of Brazil are rich in snakes, there are anaconda, boa boas, bushmaster (poisonous snake). In the rivers, piranhas and caimans are dangerous. The capybara (the world's largest rodent), long-nosed tapir, and peccaries live in the swamps. The fauna of Brazil is rich in many species of birds.

Population

Brazil ranks fifth in the world in terms of population - 171,800 thousand people. (2001). The average density is 20.1 people. per 1 km 2. Ethnic composition The Brazilian nation is quite complex. Most of population of European origin: Portuguese, Italians, Spaniards, Germans (55%), mestizos (38%) and black Africans (6%) also live.

The official language is Portuguese, but English, German, Spanish, Italian and 120 Indian languages ​​are also widely spoken.

Catholics - 89%, there are also Jews, Protestants, adherents of Indian cults.

Political structure

Brazil is a member of the UN, OAS. The head of state and government is the president. Legislative branch: bicameral parliament - the National Congress, consisting of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies. Brazil is a republic divided into 26 states and 1 capital federal district. The capital is Brasilia (1,700 thousand people). Large cities: Sao Paulo (16,000 thousand people), Rio de Janeiro (6,500 thousand people), El Salvador (2,200 thousand people), Belo Horizonta (2,100 thousand people), Recife (1,400 thousand people). people), Curitiba (1,300 thousand people), Porto Alegre (1,300 thousand people), Belen (1,200 thousand people), Manaus (1,100 thousand people), Fortaleza (1,100 thousand people ). Political parties: Brazilian Social Democracy Party, Brazilian Democratic Movement Party, Labor Party, Liberal Front Party, National Reconstruction Party.

Economy

Brazil is an industrial-agrarian country with a high level of market economy development. The most developed industries are: mechanical engineering (automotive industry, aircraft construction), electronic computers, metallurgical, chemical, woodworking, and textile industries. Coffee, sugarcane, citrus fruits, soybeans, cocoa beans, rice, cassava are grown and processed. Animal husbandry is developed, cattle predominate, pigs, sheep, horses, and poultry are also bred.

Brazil is the third largest exporter of agricultural products in the world. Exports: steel products, transport equipment, iron ore and concentrates, aluminium, iron, tin, coffee, soybeans, orange juice, beef, sugar, tobacco, textiles, leather shoes. Imports: machinery and mechanical appliances, mineral fuels, chemical products, coal, processed iron and steel, fertilizers, wheat, foodstuffs. Trading partners: states Latin America, USA, EU countries, Asian countries.

Brazil is the fifth largest country in the world after Russia, China, Canada and the United States. It occupies almost half of the entire continent of South America.

The Portuguese expedition of Pedro Cabral was the first to set foot on the soil of Brazil. The Portuguese were looking for new routes to India, but found unknown land, which was called the "Land of the Holy Cross". So Portugal had a new colony.

The Portuguese dreamed of piles of gold and precious stones. However, their search was unsuccessful. The most valuable, according to the Portuguese settlers, in the new colony was the paubrasil tree, from which bright red paint was obtained. The country was named after him - Brazil.

Two natural areas Brazil (the forest plains of the Amazon River and its tributaries and the Brazilian Plateau) differ sharply from each other.

The Amazon is so large that it can only be seen in its entirety from space. This is a green boundless expanse of impenetrable wilds. Sometimes, among this green thicket, vast blue spots appear, ribbons that merge together. This is the Amazon itself, powerful, deep river, and its tributaries.

The width of the Amazon in the middle reaches 5 km, and after the confluence of the Xingu tributary - 80 km. It is no longer possible to see the opposite bank of the river. The depth of the Amazon is 135 m. It is as deep as the sea, for example, the Baltic. At the mouth of the Amazon, it is divided into several branches, which from different sides cover the huge island of Marajo.

Ocean tides come into the mouth of the Amazon. In the shallow waters of the delta, huge waves 4-5 m high rise, which move up the river with a terrible roar. It seems that a huge, mighty river has turned back.

During the summer tropical rains in the Amazon, there are floods, especially strong from April to June. Then its banks and valleys are flooded, especially where the Rio Negro, Madeira, Purus flow into the Amazon. Under the water are hundreds of kilometers of land covered with forests. Brazilians call such flooded forests "igapo". There grow special trees that can "breathe" under water; creepers without roots. In these places, the giant water lily Victoria Regia reigns, the leaves of which reach 2 m in diameter.

In another part of the country, on the Brazilian plateau, there is a completely different world. The center of the plateau is the edge of the savannas, overgrown with tall grass, among which there are groups of shrubs and low trees. The Brazilians call these savannahs "campos". Campos has two seasons - dry and rainy. Many plants shed their leaves during the dry season; a thick layer of cork on the trunks saves them from heat and fires. In some plants, small leaves are covered with a waxy coating that retains moisture, and long roots go deep into the soil. During the rainy season, campos turns green and blooms. At this time, there is expanse for huge herds of cattle.

On the outskirts of the Brazilian Plateau, along the Paraguay River, lies a very special region - the country of the Pantanal swamps. This is a large lowland, surrounded by hills, from which the waters of numerous rivers flow into the Pantanal, especially during heavy summer rains. For many months of the rainy season, this lowland turns into a solid lake-swamp. And in winter, during the dry season, it is an endless chain of lakes, swamps, patches of grass, sandbanks. There are many waterfowl here: storks, herons, cormorants, ibises, etc. Both in the Pantanal and in the Amazon there is a lungfish - scaly, which has both gills and lungs. She feels great in shallow waters, in swamps. In the dry season, when the swamps sometimes dry up, the flake burrows into the silt.

Let's look at the map of South America and see: the largest country in terms of area is Brazil.

Its area is 8,514,877 km.

You know, for me, Brazil is two talents:


1. The same, if not more, the famous Brazilian carnival.



In second place in terms of area - Argentina - 2.7 thousand square kilometers.

And in third place - Peru - 1.3 thousand square kilometers.

The largest in terms of area, and in terms of population, too, the country in South America is Brazil.

E territory is 8 514 877 km.

Brazil occupies 5th line among all countries in terms of area and also in terms of population.

The continent is located in eastern and central South America.

The leader in size on the South American continent is undoubtedly the country Brazil. Fifth place in the world and 8.5 million km. The rest of the countries are noticeably smaller. Accordingly, the population in it is larger than in other South American states, about 160 million people.

If you just look at the map of this continent, you can immediately identify two possible favorites, two countries whose area is even visually much more area other countries. These are Brazil and Argentina. Turning to strict numbers, we see that the area of ​​​​Brazil is 8.5 thousand square kilometers, and the area of ​​Argentina is three times smaller - only 2.7 thousand square kilometers. So Brazil is the largest country in South America.

But in third place is Peru and 1.3 thousand square kilometers.



There are not so many countries in South America, much less than in little Europe, but more than in North America. There is a country where there are many, many wild monkeys, and there are also terribly many Pedrov :-) This country is called Brazil, the Queen of Football and unusually beautiful country. Brazil even ranks 5th in the world in terms of area.

In South America the most big country by area - Brazil. E area - 8,547 square kilometers.

The largest country in South America is Brazil. Its area is 8,515,767 km

The largest country in South America is the country Brazil. In the world ranking of countries by their size, it ranks fifth. The map clearly shows what part of the continent it occupies in comparison with other states.



The largest country by area in South America is Brazil.

Climatic zones

There are 5 climate zones in South America:subequatorial belt(2 times), equatorial belt, Tropical Belt , subtropical belt and the temperate zone.

Hydrography

The most important river systems in South America are Amazon, Orinoco and Parana , whose total basin is 9,583,000 km² (the area of ​​South America is 17,850,568 km²). Most of the lakes in South America are located in Andes , the largest of which and the highest navigable lake in the world is Titicaca , on the border of Bolivia and Peru. The largest lake is maracaibo in Venezuela, it is also one of the oldest on the planet.

South America has the highest waterfall in the world - Angel . On the mainland is located the most powerful waterfall - Iguazu.

South America is the wettest continent Earth.








Minerals

The bowels of South America contain a very diverse complex of minerals. The largest deposits of iron ores are confined to the ancient Precambrian of Venezuela (Orinoco river basin) and Brazil (Minas Gerais state), the richest deposits of porphyry copper ores - to granitoid batholiths Central Andes. Deposits of ores of rare elements are associated with ultramafic alkaline intrusions of Eastern Brazil. On the territory of Bolivia, deposits of ores of tin, antimony, silver, etc., have been found. The forward and intermountain troughs of the Andes contain deposits of oil and gas along their entire length, which are especially rich within Venezuela. There are coal deposits; deposits of coal are known in the Upper Paleozoic, brown - in the Cenozoic. Bauxite deposits are confined to the young weathering crust (especially in Guyana and Suriname).

Animal and Plant World

The natural world of South America is one of the richest on the planet. At least 44,000 can be found in the Amazon Basin different types plants, 2,500 species of river fish and 1,500 species of birds. The jungle is home to huge spiders that feed on birds, and mammals such as armadillos and sloths. The rivers of South America are home to sea cows, freshwater dolphins, giant catfish and electric eels. Thousands of species of forest insects have not yet been studied.
Alnacas and vicuñas from the camelid family are found in the Andes. The steppes of Pamna are inhabited by a large running nandu bird, or the American ostrich. In colder areas on the southern fringes of the continent, penguins and seals are common. On Galapagos Islands, lying in the Pacific Ocean west of the coast of Ecuador, there are such rare representatives of the animal world as the famous giant tortoises.
Fertile soils nourish the rich vegetable world continent. South America is the birthplace of prickly araucaria, rubber, potatoes and many domestic plants (for example, monstera).
The nature of South America is under threat of destruction. As people cut down forests, many species of forest animals and priceless plants that have not adapted to new living conditions disappear without a trace..

More than 7 thousand km long and about 5 thousand wide, it has total area 17,800 square kilometers. The map of South America clearly shows us that it did not fit entirely in this continent, part of it is located in the North. The population of the mainland is more than 385 million people. The cities of South America are delightful, they stun with the fusion of completely different, seemingly incompatible cultures: ancient and modern, European and Indian, and skyscrapers.

Characteristics

South America - huge, to the end unknown world, extremely bright and extremely interesting. Imagination is struck primarily by the diversity of landscapes. The Andes (the ridge of South America and the longest mountain range in the world at 9000 km) have not yet calmed down: earthquakes and volcanic eruptions often occur here. The famous impenetrable swampy jungle in its selva spread its tributaries - the lungs of our planet. And next to one of the driest places on Earth - chilean deserts, Argentinean and Uruguayan steppes - hot, waterless, dusty. And nearby huge lakes, highest waterfalls and vast islands full of rocks. In the north - the almost hot Caribbean Sea, in the south - Tierra del Fuego and the cold storms of the Atlantic, the proximity of Antarctica with its penguins and icebergs. South America is so diverse that anyone can be interested, everyone will discover this continent.

Brazil

It is the largest state in terms of area and population. The capital is Brasilia. The most vibrant city is Rio de Janeiro, full of tourists, carnivals and first-class beaches.

Argentina

It's also a big country. The capital is Buenos Aires, the city of the famous carnival (January 16), and for many inhabitants of the planet - the most beautiful in the world.

Bolivia

The government of this "middle" state prefers the city of La Paz, but Sucre is listed as the capital. La Paz is very beautiful.

Venezuela

This is the place where South America ends, its north, warm climes. The capital of the country is Caracas, located on the coast caribbean, and on its outskirts begins the National Park with delightfully virgin tropical nature.

Guyana

Northeast coast, capital - Georgetown. Country of wet jungle - up to 90% of the territory is occupied by them.

Guiana

Although this is South America, but here the French overseas region is not allowed without a visa. administrative center is the city of Cayenne.

Colombia

Northwest, capital - Bogota. The country is named after Columbus. There are many museums showing the richest historical and cultural heritage, as well as an extremely interesting fusion of two cultures - European and Indian.

Paraguay

The capital is Asuncion, a beautiful and original city, with many architectural monuments.

Peru

Andes west coast, the state is still not unraveled by the Incas. Capital - Lima, amazing beautiful city on the high shore of the ocean.

Suriname

Tropical country in the northeast of the mainland. Paramaribo is its capital, a city without skyscrapers, original, retaining style.

Uruguay

This is the southeast of the continent. The capital - Montevideo - was glorified by the carnival, known no less than the Argentinean. Colonial architecture is not offended by eclecticism.

Chile

Long strip along the coast Pacific Ocean, exciting and As the poet said: "There is no country more beautiful than Chile." The capital is Santiago, a city famous for putschs, balneological tourism And great views to the mountainous area.

Ecuador

An equatorial country in the northwest where the most important monuments are concentrated ancient culture, museums of the colonial and pre-colonial eras.