Article
Article
South America
Article By:
Salazar, Deborah A. Department of Geography, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma.
Last reviewed:December 2019
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1036/1097-8542.638200
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- South America, published June 2014:Download PDF
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The southernmost of the New World or Western Hemisphere continents, with three-fourths of it lying within the tropics. South America is approximately 4500 mi (7200 km) long and at its greatest width 3000 mi (4800 km). Its area is estimated to be about 7,000,000 mi2 (18,000,000 km2). South America has many unique physical features, such as the Earth's longest north-south mountain range (the Andes), highest waterfall (Angel Falls), highest navigable freshwater lake (Lake Titicaca) and largest expanse of tropical rainforest (Amazonia). The western side of the continent has a deep subduction trench offshore, whereas the eastern continental shelf is more gently sloping and relatively shallow (Fig. 1). See also: Continent
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