South America - Rivers, Amazon, Andes

South America

Table of Contents

Introduction
Geologic history
- The Precambrian
  - The Trans-Amazonian cycle
  - The Brazilian cycle
- The Paleozoic Era
  - Early Paleozoic events
  - The formation of Pangea
- The Mesozoic and Cenozoic eras
  - Events in the Mesozoic
  - The Andean orogeny
    - The Northern Andes
    - The Central Andes
    - The Southern Andes
  - Present geologic setting
The land
- Relief
  - The Andes Mountains
  - The plateaus
  - The lowlands
- Drainage
  - Rivers
  - Lakes
  - Marshes and swamps
- Soils
- Climate
  - Factors influencing climate
  - Climatic regions
    - Tropical climates
    - Temperate climates
    - Arid climates
    - Cold climates
- Plant life
  - Grasslands
    - Savannas
    - Pampas
  - Vegetation zones
    - Tropical and subtropical rainforests
    - Tropical deciduous forests
    - Caatinga
    - South Brazilian forests
    - Xerophytic associations
    - Subantarctic rainforests
    - Mountain vegetation
  - Human influences on vegetation
- Animal life
  - Principal faunal types
    - Fish and bird life
    - Mammals
    - Amphibians and reptiles
    - Arthropods
  - Ecological communities
    - The Amazonian and Guianan forests
    - East-central plateaus and lowlands
    - The Argentinian Pampas
    - The southern Chilean forests
    - The high Andes
    - The arid west coast
  - Human influences on wildlife
The people
- Ethnic origins and migrations
  - Indians
  - Iberians
  - Africans
  - Postindependence overseas immigrants
- Population and ecological distribution
  - The present population
  - Culture areas
    - American Indian heritage regions
    - African heritage regions
    - European heritage regions
  - Linguistic patterns
  - Religious patterns
  - Sociological changes
- Demographic patterns
  - The demographic transition and fertility
  - Effects of rapid population increase
The economy
- Resources
  - Mineral resources
    - Mineral fuels
    - Iron and ferroalloys
    - Nonferrous base metals
    - Precious metals and gemstones
    - Nonmetallic deposits
  - Biological resources
    - Botanical resources
    - Animal resources
- Forestry and fishing
- Agriculture
  - Principal crops
    - Food crops
    - Specialized cash crops
  - Livestock
- Industry
- Power and irrigation
- Trade
  - Internal trade
  - External trade
- Transportation
  - Roads
  - Railways
  - Maritime transport
  - Waterways
  - Air transportation
- Cultural life

References & Edit History Related Topics

Images & Videos

For Students

South America summary

Read Next

What Is the Difference Between South America and Latin America?

Denali (Mount Mckinley), Denali National Park, Alaska.

7 (or 8) Summits: The World’s Highest Mountains by Continent

The National Congress of Brazil in Brasilia City capital of Brazil. Brazilian National Congress designed by Oscar Niemeyer a Brazilian architect specializing in international modern architecture.

11 Iconic Buildings in Brazil

6 Significant Paintings in Brazil

The Cathedral of Saint Paul in Minnesota. The Italian Renaissance church, built in 1915, is styled after St. Peter's in Rome.

To All Nations: 8 Fascinating Jesuit Missionaries

Discover

solar eclipse, sun, moon, astronomy, space

How Do You Tell the Difference Between Total, Annular, Solar, and Lunar Eclipses?

Mona Lisa, oil on wood panel by Leonardo da Vinci, c. 1503-06; in the Louvre, Paris, France. 77 x 53 cm.

Why Is the Mona Lisa So Famous?

United States Electoral College votes by state

How Many Electoral College Votes Does Each U.S. State Have?

Aphrodite. Greek mythology. Sculpture. Aphrodite is the Greek goddess of love and beauty.

12 Greek Gods and Goddesses

9 of the World’s Deadliest Spiders

Solar Eclipse, Eclipse, Solar Flare, Outer Space, Astronomy

What Causes Lunar and Solar Eclipses?

Vietnam War. U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson awards the Distinguished Service Cross to First Lieutenant Marty A. Hammer, during a visit to military personnel, Cam Ranh Bay, South Vietnam, October 26, 1966. President Johnson

Vietnam War Timeline

Drainage is notably affected by the physical dissymmetry of the continent. The major basins lie east of the Andes, and the main rivers flow to the Atlantic Ocean. The four largest drainage systems—the Amazon, Río de la Plata (Paraguay, Paraná, and Uruguay rivers), Orinoco, and São Francisco—cover about two-thirds of the continent. By far the largest system is formed by the Amazon River, which stretches some 4,000 miles (6,400 km) across equatorial South America. The volume of water it carries surpasses that of all other rivers, constituting one-fifth of the total flowing fresh water of the world. About 6,350,000 cubic ...(100 of 23598 words)

Access the full article

Help support true facts by becoming a member.