The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to South America.

South America South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere at the northern tip of the continent. It can also be described as the sout ...

is the southern continent of the two

Americas The Americas, which are sometimes collectively called America, are a landmass comprising the totality of North and South America. The Americas make up most of the land in Earth's Western Hemisphere and comprise the New World. Along with th ...

, situated entirely in the

Western Hemisphere The Western Hemisphere is the half of the planet Earth that lies west of the prime meridian (which crosses Greenwich, London, United Kingdom) and east of the antimeridian. The other half is called the Eastern Hemisphere. Politically, the te ...

and mostly (about 3/4) in the Southern Hemisphere. It lies between the

Pacific The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest of Earth's five oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Southern Ocean (or, depending on definition, to Antarctica) in the south, and is bounded by the contine ...

and

Atlantic The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's five oceans, with an area of about . It covers approximately 20% of Earth's surface and about 29% of its water surface area. It is known to separate the " Old World" of Africa, Europe an ...

oceans. The continent is culturally,

ethnically An ethnic group or an ethnicity is a grouping of people who identify with each other on the basis of shared attributes that distinguish them from other groups. Those attributes can include common sets of traditions, ancestry, language, history, ...

and racially diverse, home to

indigenous peoples Indigenous peoples are culturally distinct ethnic groups whose members are directly descended from the earliest known inhabitants of a particular geographic region and, to some extent, maintain the language and culture of those original people ...

and to descendants of settlers from Europe, Africa and Asia. Due to its history of colonialism most South Americans speak

Spanish Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: **Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many Latin American countries **Spanish cuisine Other places * Spanish, Ontario, Can ...

Portuguese Portuguese may refer to: * anything of, from, or related to the country and nation of Portugal ** Portuguese cuisine, traditional foods ** Portuguese language, a Romance language *** Portuguese dialects, variants of the Portuguese language ** Portu ...

, and its societies and states are commonly modeled after Western traditions.

Geography of South America

Geography by political division

Geography of countries

Geography of Argentina The geography of Argentina describes the geographic features of Argentina, a country located in Southern South America. Bordered by the Andes in the west and the South Atlantic Ocean to the east, neighbouring countries are Chile to the west, B ...

* Geography of Bolivia *

Geography of Brazil The country of Brazil occupies roughly half of South America, bordering the Atlantic Ocean. Brazil covers a total area of which includes of land and of water. The highest point in Brazil is Pico da Neblina at . Brazil is bordered by the countr ...

Geography of Chile The geography of Chile is extremely diverse as the country extends from a latitude of 17° South to Cape Horn at 56° and from the ocean on the west to Andes on the east. Chile is situated in southern South America, bordering the South Pacifi ...

Geography of Colombia The Republic of Colombia is situated largely in the northwest of South America, with some territories falling within the boundaries of Central America. It is bordered to the northwest by Panama; to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by ...

Geography of Ecuador Ecuador is a country in western South America, bordering the Pacific Ocean at the Equator, for which the country is named. Ecuador encompasses a wide range of natural formations and climates, from the desert-like southern coast to the snowcappe ...

* Geography of Guyana * Geography of Panama * Geography of Paraguay * Geography of Peru *

Geography of Suriname Suriname is located in the northern part of South America and is part of Caribbean South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between French Guiana and Guyana. It is mostly covered by tropical rainforest, containing a great diversity ...

Geography of Trinidad and Tobago Trinidad and Tobago is an archipelagic republic in the southern Caribbean between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela. They are southeasterly islands of the Lesser Antilles, Monos, Huevos, Gaspar Grande (or G ...

Geography of Uruguay Uruguay is a country in the southeastern region of South America, bordering the Atlantic Ocean, between Argentina and Brazil. It is located in the Southern Hemisphere on the Atlantic seaboard of South America between 53 and 58 west longitude and ...

* Geography of Venezuela

Geography of dependencies and other territories

* Geography of Aruba * Geography of Bonaire * Geography of Curaçao *

Geography of the Falkland Islands The Falkland Islands are located in the South Atlantic Ocean between 51°S and 53°S on a projection of the Patagonian Shelf, part of the South American continental shelf. In ancient geological time this shelf was part of Gondwana, and around 40 ...

* Geography of French Guiana * Geography of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

Geographical features of South America

List of islands of South America The following are lists of the islands of South America by country. Argentina Atlantic Ocean islands *'' Isla Apipé'' *'' Isla Bermejo'' *''Isla de los Estados'' *'' Isla de San Martín'' *'' Isla del Cerrito'' *'' Isla Martín García'' *'' ...

* List of rivers of South America *

List of World Heritage Sites in South America This is a list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in South America. Legend :Site; as per officially inscribed name :Location; at city, regional, or provincial level and geocoordinates :Criteria; as defined by the World Heritage Committee :Area; in h ...

Regions of South America

Directional regions

* Eastern South America: Federative Republic of Brazil * Northern South America (the part of South America located in the Northern Hemisphere) ** North-eastern South America: The Guianas ** North-western South America: Caribbean South America * Southern South America: Southern Cone * Western South America: Andean States

Natural regions

Altiplano The Altiplano (Spanish for "high plain"), Collao (Quechua and Aymara: Qullaw, meaning "place of the Qulla") or Andean Plateau, in west-central South America, is the most extensive high plateau on Earth outside Tibet. The plateau is located at the ...

* Amazon basin * Amazon rainforest ** Brazilian Amazon **

Peruvian Amazon Peruvian Amazonia ( es, Amazonía del Perú) is the area of the Amazon rainforest included within the country of Peru, from east of the Andes to the borders with Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil and Bolivia. This region comprises 60% of the country ...

Andes The Andes, Andes Mountains or Andean Mountains (; ) are the longest continental mountain range in the world, forming a continuous highland along the western edge of South America. The range is long, wide (widest between 18°S – 20°S ...

** Tropical Andes ** Dry Andes ** Wet Andes *

Atacama Desert The Atacama Desert ( es, Desierto de Atacama) is a desert plateau in South America covering a 1,600 km (990 mi) strip of land on the Pacific coast, west of the Andes Mountains. The Atacama Desert is the driest nonpolar desert in th ...

* Brazilian Highlands *

Caribbean South America Caribbean South America is a subregion of South America consisting of the countries that border the Caribbean Sea: Colombia and Venezuela. By extension, The Guianas, while not bordering the Caribbean Sea directly, are commonly reckoned with t ...

Gran Chaco The Gran Chaco or Dry Chaco is a sparsely populated, hot and semiarid lowland natural region of the Río de la Plata basin, divided among eastern Bolivia, western Paraguay, northern Argentina, and a portion of the Brazilian states of Mato ...

* Guianas * Llanos *

Pampas The Pampas (from the qu, pampa, meaning "plain") are fertile South American low grasslands that cover more than and include the Argentine provinces of Buenos Aires, La Pampa, Santa Fe, Entre Ríos, and Córdoba; all of Uruguay; and Brazi ...

Pantanal The Pantanal () is a natural region encompassing the world's largest tropical wetland area, and the world's largest flooded grasslands. It is located mostly within the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso do Sul, but it extends into Mato Grosso and ...

Patagonia Patagonia () refers to a geographical region that encompasses the southern end of South America, governed by Argentina and Chile. The region comprises the southern section of the Andes Mountains with lakes, fjords, temperate rainforests, and g ...

Tierra del Fuego Tierra del Fuego (, ; Spanish for "Land of the Fire", rarely also Fireland in English) is an archipelago off the southernmost tip of the South American mainland, across the Strait of Magellan. The archipelago consists of the main island, Isla ...

* Atlantic Forest *

Caatinga Caatinga (, ) is a type of semi-arid tropical vegetation, and an ecoregion characterized by this vegetation in interior northeastern Brazil. The name "Caatinga" is a Tupi word meaning "white forest" or "white vegetation" (''caa'' = forest, v ...

Cerrado The ''Cerrado'' (, ) is a vast ecoregion of tropical savanna in eastern Brazil, particularly in the states of Goiás, Mato Grosso do Sul, Mato Grosso, Tocantins, Minas Gerais, and the Federal District. The core areas of the Cerrado biome are the ...

* Chiquitano dry forests

Political divisions of South America

Countries of South America

List of South American countries *

Argentina Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentina), is a country in the southern half of South America. Argentina covers an area of , making it the second-largest country in South America after Brazil, th ...

* Bolivia *

Brazil Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At and with over 217 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area ...

Chile Chile, officially the Republic of Chile, is a country in the western part of South America. It is the southernmost country in the world, and the closest to Antarctica, occupying a long and narrow strip of land between the Andes to the east a ...

* Colombia *

Ecuador Ecuador ( ; ; Quechua: ''Ikwayur''; Shuar: ''Ecuador'' or ''Ekuatur''), officially the Republic of Ecuador ( es, República del Ecuador, which literally translates as "Republic of the Equator"; Quechua: ''Ikwadur Ripuwlika''; Shuar: ' ...

* Guyana *

Panama Panama ( , ; es, link=no, Panamá ), officially the Republic of Panama ( es, República de Panamá), is a transcontinental country spanning the southern part of North America and the northern part of South America. It is bordered by Co ...

Paraguay Paraguay (; ), officially the Republic of Paraguay ( es, República del Paraguay, links=no; gn, Tavakuairetã Paraguái, links=si), is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to th ...

Peru , image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg , image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg , other_symbol = Great Seal of the State , other_symbol_type = National seal , national_motto = "Firm and Happy f ...

* Suriname *

Trinidad and Tobago Trinidad and Tobago (, ), officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, is the southernmost island country in the Caribbean. Consisting of the main islands Trinidad and Tobago, and numerous much smaller islands, it is situated south of ...

Uruguay Uruguay (; ), officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay ( es, República Oriental del Uruguay), is a country in South America. It shares borders with Argentina to its west and southwest and Brazil to its north and northeast; while bordering ...

Venezuela Venezuela (; ), officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela ( es, link=no, República Bolivariana de Venezuela), is a country on the northern coast of South America, consisting of a continental landmass and many islands and islets in th ...

Dependencies and other territories

* Aruba * Bonaire * Curaçao *

Falkland Islands The Falkland Islands (; es, Islas Malvinas, link=no ) is an archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean on the Patagonian Shelf. The principal islands are about east of South America's southern Patagonian coast and about from Cape Dubouze ...

French Guiana French Guiana ( or ; french: link=no, Guyane ; gcr, label=French Guianese Creole, Lagwiyann ) is an overseas department/region and single territorial collectivity of France on the northern Atlantic coast of South America in the Guianas. ...

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands ) , anthem = "God Save the King" , song_type = , song = , image_map = South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands in United Kingdom.svg , map_caption = Location of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands in the southern Atlantic Oce ...

Regions by country

* Regions of Argentina * Regions of Bolivia * Regions of Brazil * Regions of Chile *

Regions of Colombia Because of its natural structure, Colombia can be divided into six distinct natural regions. These consist of the Andean Region, covering the three branches of the Andes mountains found in Colombia; the Caribbean Region, covering the area adjac ...

Regions of Ecuador Ecuador ( ; ; Quechua: ''Ikwayur''; Shuar: ''Ecuador'' or ''Ekuatur''), officially the Republic of Ecuador ( es, República del Ecuador, which literally translates as "Republic of the Equator"; Quechua: ''Ikwadur Ripuwlika''; Shuar: ''Ek ...

Regions of Guyana Guyana is divided into 10 Regions: Each Region is administered by a Regional Democratic Council (RDC) which is headed by a Chairman. The Regions are divided into neighbourhood councils, known as Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs). The c ...

* Regions of Paraguay * Regions of Peru * Regions of Suriname * Regions of Trinidad and Tobago * Regions of Uruguay *

Regions of Venezuela The Regions of Venezuela ( es, Regiones de Venezuela) are two groupings of Venezuela's states, capital district, and federal dependencies. Venezuela's natural regions (''Regiones naturales'') are divided by natural geography, and administrative ...

Demography of South America

Demographics of South America * List of South American countries by population * List of South American countries by GDP PPP

Demographics by political division

= Demographics of countries

= *

Demographics of Argentina This is a demography of Argentina including population density, ethnicity, economic status and other aspects of the population. In the , Argentina had a population of 40,117,096 inhabitants, and preliminary results from the counted 47,327,407 ...

Demographics of Bolivia The demographic characteristics of the population of Bolivia are known from censuses, with the first census undertaken in 1826 and the most recent in 2012. The National Institute of Statistics of Bolivia (INE) has performed this task since 1950. ...

Demographics of Brazil Brazil had an official resident population of 214,000,000 in 2022, according to IBGE. Brazil is the seventh most populous country in the world, and the second most populous in the Americas and Western Hemisphere. Brazilians are mainly concentra ...

Demographics of Chile Chile's 2017 census reported a population of 17,574,003 people. Its rate of population growth has been decreasing since 1990, due to a declining birth rate. By 2050 the population is expected to reach approximately 20.2 million people. About ...

Demographics of Colombia This is a demography of the population of Colombia including population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population. It is the second-most populous count ...

* Demographics of Ecuador *

Demographics of Guyana This is a demography of Guyana including population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population. Guyana's population (Guyanese people) is made up of fiv ...

Demographics of Panama This is a demography of the population of Panama including population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population. Population Panama's population was pe ...

* Demographics of Paraguay *

Demographics of Peru This is a demography of the population of Peru including population density, ethnicity, education level, the health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population. Peru is a multiethnic country, w ...

Demographics of Suriname This is a demography of the population of Suriname, including population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations, and other aspects of the population. Most Surinamese people live i ...

Demographics of Trinidad and Tobago This article is about the demography of the population of Trinidad and Tobago including population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population. Popula ...

* Demographics of Uruguay * Demographics of Venezuela

= Demographics of dependencies and other territories

= *

Demographics of Aruba This is a demography of the population of Aruba including population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population. Having poor soil and aridity, Aruba was ...

* Demographics of Bonaire * Demographics of Curaçao * Demographics of the Falkland Islands * Demographics of French Guiana * Demographics of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

Politics of South America

* Conflicts in South America * Political parties in South America

Politics by political division

Politics of countries

Politics of Argentina The politics of Argentina take place in the framework of what the Constitution defines as a federal presidential representative democratic republic, where the President of Argentina is both Head of State and Head of Government. Legislative pow ...

Politics of Bolivia The politics of Bolivia takes place in a tree of a presidential representative democratic republic, whereby the president is head of state, head of government and head of a diverse multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the gover ...

* Politics of Brazil *

Politics of Chile Chile's government is a representative democratic republic, whereby the President of Chile is both head of state and head of government, and of a formal multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the president and by their cabinet. Leg ...

Politics of Colombia The Politics of Colombia take place in a framework of a presidential representative democratic republic, whereby the President of Colombia is both head of state and head of government, and of a multi-party system. Executive power is carried ...

* Politics of Ecuador *

Politics of Guyana The politics of Guyana takes place in a framework of a representative democratic assembly-independent republic, whereby the President of Guyana is the head of government and of a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the Presid ...

* Politics of Panama *

Politics of Paraguay Politics of Paraguay takes place in a framework of a presidential representative democratic republic. The National Constitution mandates a separation of powers in three branches. Executive power is exercised solely by the President. Legislativ ...

Politics of Peru The politics of the Republic of Peru takes place in a framework of a Unitary state, unitary Semi-presidential system, semi-presidential Representative democracy, representative democratic republic, whereby the President of Peru is both head of st ...

Politics of Suriname Politics of Suriname take place in a framework of a representative democratic assembly-independent republic, whereby the president of Suriname is the head of state and head of government, and of a pluriform multi-party system. Executive power is ...

* Politics of Trinidad and Tobago *

Politics of Uruguay The politics of Uruguay abide by a presidential representative democratic republic, under which the President of Uruguay is both the head of state and the head of government, as well as a multiform party system. The president exercises executiv ...

Politics of Venezuela The politics of Venezuela occurs in a framework explained in Government of Venezuela. Venezuela has a dominant-party system, dominated by the United Socialist Party of Venezuela amidst other parties listed in the following section. The governin ...

Politics of dependencies and other territories

Politics of Aruba Politics of Aruba, a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic country, whereby the governor in his capacity as the King's representative is the ''de jure'' head o ...

* Politics of Bonaire * Politics of Curaçao *

Politics of the Falkland Islands The politics of the Falkland Islands takes place in a framework of a constitutional monarchy and parliamentary representative democratic dependency as set out by the constitution, whereby the Governor exercises the duties of head of state in the ...

* Politics of French Guiana * Politics of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

Elections by political division

= Elections in countries

= *

Elections in Argentina At the national level, Argentina elects a head of state (the President) and a legislature. The franchise extends to all citizens aged 16 and over, and voting is mandatory (with a few exceptions) for all those who are between 18 and 70 years of ag ...

Elections in Bolivia Elections in Bolivia gives information on elections and election results in Bolivia. Bolivia elects on national level a head of state – the president – and a legislature. The president and the vice-president are elected for a five-yea ...

Elections in Brazil Brazil elects on the national level a head of state—the president—and a legislature. The president is elected to a four-year term by absolute majority vote through a two-round system. The National Congress (''Congresso Nacional'') has two ch ...

* Elections in Chile *

Elections in Colombia Elections in Colombia are regulated and controlled by the National Electoral Council which provides information on elections and election results in for the politics of Colombia. Colombia elects on national level a head of state - the president ...

* Elections in Ecuador *

Elections in Guyana An election is a formal group decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual or multiple individuals to hold public office. Elections have been the usual mechanism by which modern representative democracy has operated ...

* Elections in Panama *

Elections in Paraguay Paraguay elects on the national level a head of state - the president - and a legislature. The president is elected for a five-year term by the people. The National Congress (''Congreso Nacional'') has two chambers. The Chamber of Deputies (''C ...

Elections in Peru In Peru, the people directly elect a head of state (the president) as well as a legislature. The president is elected by the people for a five-year term. The unicameral Congress (''Congreso'') has 130 members, also elected for a five-year term by p ...

Elections in Suriname Suriname elects on the national level a head of state – the president – and a legislature. The president is elected for a five-year term by an electoral college based on the parliament. The National Assembly (''Nationale Assemblée'') has 51 me ...

Elections in Trinidad and Tobago Elections in Trinidad and Tobago gives information on election and election results in Trinidad and Tobago. Trinidad and Tobago (located in the Caribbean) elects on national level a House of Representatives (the Lower House of its legislature). T ...

Elections in Uruguay Uruguay elects on national level a head of state - the president - and a legislature. Uruguay has a stable multi-party system. The two "traditional parties" ( Colorado Party and National Party) were founded in 1836, and were predominant for ove ...

Elections in Venezuela Elections in Venezuela are held at a national level for the President of Venezuela as head of state and head of government, and for a unicameral legislature. The President of Venezuela is elected for a six-year term by direct election plurality ...

= Elections in dependencies and other territories

= *

Elections in Aruba Aruba elects a legislature on the national level. The Estates (''Staten'') have 21 members, elected for a four-year term by Open list Party-list proportional representation. Seats are distributed between parties that have gained at least one full ...

Elections in Bonaire Elections in Bonaire gives information on elections and election results in Bonaire, which was a member of the Netherlands Antilles until its dissolution in 2010. Bonaire is now a public body of the Netherlands. See also * Electoral calendar * E ...

Elections in Curaçao Curaçao elects a legislature called the Estates of Curaçao. It consists of 21 members, elected for a four-year term by proportional representation. The first Estates of Curaçao were the succession of the Island council of Curaçao (a form of de ...

Elections in the Falkland Islands The politics of the Falkland Islands takes place in a framework of a constitutional monarchy and parliamentary representative democratic dependency as set out by the constitution, whereby the Governor exercises the duties of head of state in th ...

* Elections in French Guiana * Elections in South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

Human rights by political division

= Human rights in countries

= *

Human rights in Argentina The history of human rights in Argentina is affected by the Dirty War and its aftermath. The Dirty War, a civic-military dictatorship comprising state-sponsored violence against Argentine citizenry from roughly 1976 to 1983, carried out primaril ...

* Human rights in Bolivia * Human rights in Brazil * Human rights in Chile * Human rights in Colombia *

Human rights in Ecuador Ecuador ( ; ; Quechua: ''Ikwayur''; Shuar: ''Ecuador'' or ''Ekuatur''), officially the Republic of Ecuador ( es, República del Ecuador, which literally translates as "Republic of the Equator"; Quechua: ''Ikwadur Ripuwlika''; Shuar: ''Eku ...

* Human rights in Guyana * Human rights in Panama * Human rights in Paraguay * Human rights in Peru * Human rights in Suriname * Human rights in Trinidad and Tobago * Human rights in Uruguay * Human rights in Venezuela

= Human rights in dependencies and other territories

= * Human rights in Aruba * Human rights in Bonaire * Human rights in Curaçao * Human rights in the Falkland Islands * Human rights in French Guiana * Human rights in South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

Law by political division

= Law of countries

= *

Law of Argentina The Legal system of Argentina is a Civil law legal system. The pillar of the Civil system is the Constitution of Argentina (1853). The Argentine Constitution of 1853 was an attempt to unite the unstable and young country of the United Provinces ...

* Law of Bolivia *

Law of Brazil The law of Brazil is based on statutes and, partly and more recently, a mechanism called ''súmulas vinculantes''. It derives mainly from the civil law systems of European countries, particularly Portugal, the Napoleonic Code and the Germanic la ...

* Law of Chile * Law of Colombia * Law of Ecuador *

Law of Guyana The politics of Guyana takes place in a framework of a representative democratic assembly-independent republic, whereby the President of Guyana is the head of government and of a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the Preside ...

* Law of Panama * Law of Paraguay * Law of Peru * Law of Suriname * Law of Trinidad and Tobago *

Law of Uruguay The legal system of Uruguay belongs to the Continental Law tradition. The basis for its public law is the 1967 Constitution, amended in 1989, 1994, 1996, and 2004. According to it, Uruguay is a ''democratic republic''. There is a clear separati ...

* Law of Venezuela

= Law of dependencies and other territories

= * Law of Aruba * Law of Bonaire * Law of Curaçao * Law of the Falkland Islands * Law of French Guiana * Law of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

Law enforcement by political division

= Law enforcement in countries

= *

Law enforcement in Argentina In Argentina the most important law enforcement organization is the Argentine Federal Police with jurisdiction in all Argentine territory. Most routine police work is carried out by provincial/state police forces. In recent years several cities (su ...

Law enforcement in Bolivia Law enforcement in Bolivia is reliant on the 40,000-member ''Cuerpo de Policía Nacional'' (National Police Corps) responsible for internal security and maintaining law and order. Unlike many South American countries, the Bolivian police force a ...

Law enforcement in Brazil In Brazil, the Federal Constitution establishes eight law enforcement institutions - seven titulars and one auxiliar. The titular institutions are: the Federal Police, the Federal Highway Police, the Federal Railroad Police, the Federal Penal P ...

* Law enforcement in Chile * Law enforcement in Colombia * Law enforcement in Ecuador * Law enforcement in Guyana * Law enforcement in Panama * Law enforcement in Paraguay * Law enforcement in Peru * Law enforcement in Suriname *

Law enforcement in Trinidad and Tobago The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service or TTPS is the law enforcement agency of Trinidad and Tobago. It has been in operation for over 200 years. History In 1592 the Spaniards founded the first European settlement, Trinidad's capital town San Jo ...

* Law enforcement in Uruguay * Law enforcement in Venezuela

= Law enforcement in dependencies and other territories

= * Law enforcement in Aruba * Law enforcement in Bonaire * Law enforcement in Curaçao * Law enforcement in the Falkland Islands * Law enforcement in French Guiana * Law enforcement in South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

Governments of South America

* South American Union

History of South America

History of South America, by period

Pre-Columbian era In the history of the Americas, the pre-Columbian era spans from the original settlement of North and South America in the Upper Paleolithic period through European colonization, which began with Christopher Columbus's voyage of 1492. Usually, ...

* Early modern period **

European colonization of the Americas During the Age of Discovery, a large scale European colonization of the Americas took place between about 1492 and 1800. Although the Norse had explored and colonized areas of the North Atlantic, colonizing Greenland and creating a short t ...

*** Portuguese colonization of the Americas **** Colonial Brazil *** Spanish colonization of the Americas ****

Colonial Argentina Colonial Argentina is designated as the period of the History of Argentina when it was an overseas territory of the Spanish Empire. It begins in the Precolumbian age of the indigenous peoples of Argentina, with the arrival of the first Spanish c ...

****

Colonial Bolivia After the fall of Tiwanaku Empire, the many Aymara Lake Titicaca was conquered by the Inca Empire. Prior to the Spanish conquest, the Andean province of Qullasuyu was a part of the Inca empire, while the northern and eastern lowlands were inhab ...

****

Colonial Chile In Chilean historiography, Colonial Chile ( es, link=no, La colonia) is the period from 1600 to 1810, beginning with the Destruction of the Seven Cities and ending with the onset of the Chilean War of Independence. During this time, the Chilea ...

****

Colonial Peru The Viceroyalty of Peru ( es, Virreinato del Perú, links=no) was a Spanish imperial provincial administrative district, created in 1542, that originally contained modern-day Peru and most of the Spanish Empire in South America, governed from ...

****

Colonial Venezuela Spanish expeditions led by Columbus and Alonso de Ojeda reached the coast of present-day Venezuela in 1498 and 1499. The first colonial exploitation was of the pearl oysters of the "Pearl Islands". Spain established its first permanent South Ame ...

History of South America, by region

* History of Andean South America

History of South America, by country

History of Argentina The history of Argentina can be divided into four main parts: the pre-Columbian time or early history (up to the sixteenth century), the colonial period (1536–1809), the period of nation-building (1810–1880), and the history of modern Argenti ...

* History of Bolivia * History of Brazil **

Empire of Brazil The Empire of Brazil was a 19th-century state that broadly comprised the territories which form modern Brazil and (until 1828) Uruguay. Its government was a representative parliamentary constitutional monarchy under the rule of Emperors Dom ...

History of Chile The territory of Chile has been populated since at least 3000 BC. By the 16th century, Spanish conquistadors began to colonize the region of present-day Chile, and the territory was a colony between 1540 and 1818, when it gained independence from ...

History of Colombia The history of Colombia includes the settlements and society by indigenous peoples, most notably, the Muisca Confederation, Quimbaya Civilization, and Tairona Chiefdoms; the Spanish arrived in 1492 and initiated a period of annexation and coloni ...

History of Ecuador The History of Ecuador extends over an 8,000-year period. During this time, a variety of cultures and territories influenced what has become the Republic of Ecuador. The history can be divided into six eras: Pre-Columbian, the Conquest, the Colon ...

History of Guyana The history of Guyana begins about 35,000 years ago with the arrival of humans coming from Eurasia. These migrants became the Carib and Arawak tribes, who met Alonso de Ojeda's first expedition from Spain in 1499 at the Essequibo River. In the en ...

* History of Panama *

History of Paraguay The history of Paraguay begins with the interaction between the early Spanish colonists and the indigenous people. The agricultural Guaraní lived in eastern Paraguay and neighboring countries and the nomadic Guaycuruan tribes lived in west ...

History of Peru The history of Peru spans 10 millennia, extending back through several stages of cultural development along the country's desert coastline and in the Andes mountains. Peru's coast was home to the Norte Chico civilization, the oldest civilization ...

* History of Suriname *

History of Trinidad and Tobago The history of Trinidad and Tobago begins with the settlements of the islands by Indigenous First Peoples. Trinidad was visited by Christopher Columbus on his third voyage in 1498, (he never landed in Tobago), and claimed in the name of Spain. ...

History of Uruguay The history of Uruguay comprises different periods: the pre-Columbian time or early history (up to the 16th century), the Colonial Period (1516–1811), the Period of Nation-Building (1811–1830), and the history of Uruguay as an independent co ...

History of Venezuela The history of Venezuela reflects events in areas of the Americas colonized by Spain starting 1522; amid resistance from indigenous peoples, led by Native caciques, such as Guaicaipuro and Tamanaco. However, in the Andean region of western Vene ...

History of dependencies and other territories

* History of Aruba * History of Bonaire *

History of Curaçao The history of Curaçao starts with settlement by the Arawaks, an Amerindian people coming from the South American mainland. They are believed to have inhabited the island for many hundreds of years before the arrival of Europeans. Pre-colonial ...

History of the Falkland Islands The history of the Falkland Islands ( es, Islas Malvinas) goes back at least five hundred years, with active exploration and colonisation only taking place in the 18th century. Nonetheless, the Falkland Islands have been a matter of controversy ...

History of French Guiana The history of French Guiana dates back to the period prior to European colonization. Prior to the arrival of the first Europeans, there was no written history in the territory. It was originally inhabited by a number of Native American peoples ...

History of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands The history of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands is relatively recent. When European explorers discovered the islands, they were uninhabited, and their hostile climate, mountainous terrain, and remoteness made subsequent settlement ...

History of South America, by subject

Military history of South America The military history of South America can be divided into two major periods - pre- and post-Columbian - divided by the entrance of European forces to the region. The sudden introduction of steel, gunpowder weapons and horses into the Americas woul ...

Spanish American wars of independence The Spanish American wars of independence (25 September 1808 – 29 September 1833; es, Guerras de independencia hispanoamericanas) were numerous wars in Spanish America with the aim of political independence from Spanish rule during the early ...

Latin American wars of independence The Spanish American wars of independence (25 September 1808 – 29 September 1833; es, Guerras de independencia hispanoamericanas) were numerous wars in Spanish America with the aim of political independence from Spanish rule during the early ...

South American dreadnought race A naval arms race among Argentina, Brazil and Chile—the wealthiest and most powerful countries in South America—began in the early twentieth century when the Brazilian government ordered three dreadnoughts, formidable battleships whose ca ...

* Slavery in South America **

Slavery in Brazil Slavery in Brazil began long before the first Portuguese settlement was established in 1516, with members of one tribe enslaving captured members of another. Later, colonists were heavily dependent on indigenous labor during the initial phases ...

Culture of South America

Culture of South America * Coats of arms of South America *

Flags of South America This is a gallery of flags of South American countries and affiliated international organizations. International Flags of South American sovereign states Flags of South American dependencies and other territories Flags of South American ci ...

* Religion in South America **

Islam in South America Latin American Muslims are Muslims from countries in Latin America. A survey conducted by the Pew Research Center in 2010 found that Muslims make up 0.1% of all of Latin America's population. History The history of Muslims in South America is dis ...

** Christianity in South America **

Hinduism in South America Hinduism is a minority religion in South America, which is followed by even less than 1% of the total continent's population. Hinduism is found in several countries, but is strongest in the Indo-Caribbean populations of Guyana and Suriname. ...

World Heritage Sites A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area with legal protection by an international convention administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). World Heritage Sites are designated by UNESCO for ...

Culture in South America, by country

Culture of countries

Culture of Argentina The culture of Argentina is as varied as the country's geography and is composed of a mix of ethnic groups. Modern Argentinian culture has been influenced largely by Italian, Spanish, and other European immigration, while there is still a les ...

Culture of Bolivia Bolivia is a country in South America, bordered by Brazil to the north and east, Paraguay and Argentina to the south, Chile to the west, and Peru to the west. The cultural development of what is now Bolivia is divided into three distinct period ...

* Culture of Brazil *

Culture of Chile The culture of Chile reflects the population and the geographic isolation of the country in relation to the rest of South America. Since colonial times, the Chilean culture has been a mix of Spanish colonial elements with elements of indigenous (m ...

Culture of Colombia Many aspects of Colombian culture can be traced back to the early culture of Spain of the 16th century and its collision with Colombia's native civilizations (see: Muisca, Tayrona). The Spanish brought Catholicism, the feudal encomienda system, ...

* Culture of Ecuador *

Culture of Guyana Guyanese culture reflects the influence of African, Indian, Amerindian, British, Portuguese, Chinese, Creole, and Dutch cultures. Guyana is part of the mainland Caribbean region. Guyanese culture shares a continuum with the cultures of islan ...

Culture of Panama Panamanian culture is a hybrid of African, Native Panamanian, and European culture - specifically Spanish. For example, the ''tamborito'' is a Spanish dance that was blended with Native American rhythms and dance moves. Dance is a symbol of the ...

* Culture of Paraguay * Culture of Peru *

Culture of Suriname Surinamese culture has strong Asian, African and European influences. The population is mainly composed of the contribution of people from the Netherlands, India, Africa, China and Indonesia, as well as indigenous peoples who lived in the area, ...

* Culture of Trinidad and Tobago * Culture of Uruguay *

Culture of Venezuela The cultures of Venezuela are diverse and complex, influenced by the many different people who have made Venezuela their home. Venezuela has distinctive and original art, literature and music. People Venezuela's cultural heritage includes the or ...

Culture of dependencies and other territories

Culture of Aruba The culture of Aruba, one of the many islands that make up the Caribbean, is an amalgamate of the various cultures that have occupied and lived on the island, including indigenous peoples of South America, descendants of African slaves, and Spa ...

* Culture of Bonaire * Culture of Curaçao * Culture of the Falkland Islands * Culture of French Guiana * Culture of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

Architecture of South America

* Architecture of Argentina *

Architecture of Colombia Colombia's architectural heritage includes Spanish colonial architecture including Catholic churches. Its modern architecture represents various International Style architecture. In the postmodern architecture era a wave of innovate and striking b ...

* Architecture of Peru

The Arts in South America

Cuisine of South America

Cuisine of South America * Cuisine of Argentina * Cuisine of Bolivia *

Cuisine of Brazil Brazilian cuisine is the set of cooking practices and traditions of Brazil, and is characterized by European, Amerindian, African, and Asian ( Lebanese, Chinese and, most recently, Japanese) influences. It varies greatly by region, reflecting ...

* Cuisine of Chile * Cuisine of Colombia * Cuisine of Ecuador * Cuisine of Guyana * Cuisine of Panama * Cuisine of Paraguay *

Cuisine of Peru Peruvian cuisine reflects local practices and ingredients including influences mainly from the indigenous population, including the Inca, and cuisines brought by immigrants from Europe (Spanish cuisine, Italian cuisine); Asia ( Japanese cuisin ...

* Cuisine of Suriname *

Cuisine of Trinidad and Tobago Trinidad and Tobago has a unique history and its food is influenced by Indian-South Asian, West African, Creole, European, American, Chinese, Amerindian, and Latin American culinary styles. Trinidad and Tobagonian food is dominated by a wi ...

* Cuisine of Uruguay * Cuisine of Venezuela

Languages of South America

Languages of South America The languages of South America can be divided into three broad groups: * the languages of the (in most cases, former) colonial powers; * many indigenous languages, some of which are co-official alongside the colonial languages; * and various ...

Languages of South America, by country

* Languages of Argentina *

Languages of Bolivia The languages of Bolivia include Spanish; several dozen indigenous languages, most prominently Aymara, Quechua, Chiquitano, and Guaraní; Bolivian Sign Language (closely related to American Sign Language); and languages of immigrants such as ...

Languages of Brazil Portuguese is the official and national language of Brazil being widely spoken by most of the population. Brazil is the most populous Portuguese-speaking country in the world, being the only country colonized by the Portuguese in the Americas. ...

* Languages of Chile *

Languages of Colombia More than 99.5% of Colombians speak the Spanish language; also 65 Amerindian languages, 2 Creole languages, the Portuguese language and the Romani language are spoken in the country. English has official status in the San Andrés, Providencia a ...

Languages of Ecuador Spanish is the official and most commonly spoken language in Ecuador. Northern Quechua and other pre-colonial American languages are spoken by 2,300,000 (Adelaar 1991). Ethnologue lists 24 languages of Ecuador: * Achuar–Shiwiar * Awa–C ...

Languages of Guyana English is the official language of Guyana, which is the only South American country with English as the official language. Guyanese Creole (an English-based creole with African, Indian, and Amerindian syntax) is widely spoken in Guyana. Gu ...

* Languages of Panama * Languages of Paraguay * Languages of Peru *

Languages of Suriname Suriname (; srn, Sranankondre or ), officially the Republic of Suriname ( nl, Republiek Suriname , srn, Ripolik fu Sranan), is a country on the northeastern Atlantic coast of South America. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north ...

* Languages of Trinidad and Tobago * Languages of Uruguay * Languages of Venezuela

Languages of dependencies and other territories

Languages of Aruba The official languages of the Caribbean island-state of Aruba are Papiamento and Dutch, but most Arubans speak a minimum of four languages, including English and Spanish. Schools require students to learn English, Spanish and to a lesser extent ...

* Languages of Bonaire * Languages of Curaçao * Languages of the Falkland Islands *

Languages of French Guiana Population According to INSEE the population of French Guiana was 268,700 as of January 1, 2017. The population is very young: 44% are below the age of 20, while only 1.7% are 75 years or older. The age distribution is a reflection of the high f ...

* Languages of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

Media of South America

* Media of Argentina * Media of Bolivia * Media of Colombia * Media of Paraguay * Media of Peru * Media of Venezuela

Prostistution in South America

Prostitution in South America * Prostitution in Argentina * Prostitution in Bolivia *

Prostitution in Brazil Prostitution in Brazil is legal, in terms of exchanging sex for money, as there are no laws forbidding adults from being professional sex workers, but it is illegal to operate a brothel or to employ sex workers in any other way. ...

* Prostitution in Chile * Prostitution in Colombia * Prostitution in Ecuador * Prostitution in Guyana * Prostitution in Paraguay *

Prostitution in Peru Prostitution in Peru is legal and regulated. UNAIDS estimate there to be 67,000 prostitutes in the country. Adult prostitution Prostitution between adults is legal for women and men over 18 years of age if they register with municipal authorities a ...

* Prostitution in Suriname * Prostitution in Trinidad and Tobago *

Prostitution in Uruguay Prostitution in Uruguay was legislated in 2002 through the sex work law (17.515). Before that, prostitution was unlegislated but it was not illegal, since the constitution allows any activity that is not forbidden by law. Prostitution is currently ...

* Prostitution in Venezuela

Racism in South America

Racism in South America *

Racism in Argentina In Argentina, there are and have been cases of discrimination based on ethnic characteristics or national origin. In turn, racial discrimination tends to be closely related to discriminatory behavior for socio-economic and political reasons. In an ...

* Racism in Brazil

Religion in South America

Religion in South America * Religion in Argentina *

Religion in Bolivia Christianity is the largest religion in Bolivia, with Roman Catholicism being the largest denomination. While a vast majority of Bolivians are Catholic Christians, a much smaller portion of the population participates actively. In the decades f ...

Religion in Brazil Christianity is the predominant religion in Brazil, with Catholicism being its largest denomination. In 1891, when the first Brazilian Republican Constitution was set forth, Brazil ceased to have an official religion and has remained secular ...

Religion in Chile Religion in Chile is predominantly Christian and is diverse under secular principles, due to the freedom of religion established under the Constitution. The sum of two main branches adherents of Christianity (Catholics and Protestants) decr ...

Religion in Colombia Religion in Colombia is dominated by various branches of Christianity and is an expression of the different cultural heritages in the Colombian culture including the Spanish colonization, the Native Amerindian and the Afro-Colombian, among o ...

* Religion in Ecuador *

Religion in Guyana Religion is an important aspect of identity and society in Guyana. In 2012 the population was 63% Christian, 25% Hindu, 7% Muslim. Religions are reflected by East Indian, African, Chinese, and European ancestry, as well as a significant indige ...

* Religion in Panama *

Religion in Paraguay The religious identities of the people of Paraguay, have since national independence been oriented towards Christianity, and specifically the Catholic Church. In the most recent census (2002) Paraguayans of all ages 10 and older had their religi ...

* Religion in Peru *

Religion in Suriname Religion in Suriname is characterized by a range of religious beliefs and practices due to its ethnic diversity. The government is vocally supportive of religious diversity and tolerance, and these attitudes are present in general society as ...

Religion in Trinidad and Tobago Religion in Trinidad and Tobago, which is a multi-religious country, is classifiable as follows: The largest religious group is Christianity with 63.2 percent of the population. This includes Protestant Christians (with Anglicans, Presbyte ...

Religion in Uruguay Religion is usually defined as a social-cultural system of designated behaviors and practices, morals, beliefs, worldviews, texts, sanctified places, prophecies, ethics, or organizations, that generally relates humanity to supernatural, ...

* Religion in Venezuela

Sport in South America

Sport in South America, by country

* Sport in Argentina * Sport in Bolivia *

Sport in Brazil Sports in Brazil are those that are widely practiced and popular in the country, as well as others which originated there or have some cultural significance. Brazilians are heavily involved in sports. Football is the most popular sport in Brazil. ...

* Sport in Chile *

Sport in Colombia Sports in Colombia includes professional sports leagues, as well as amateur leagues for numerous sports. Football, cycling, and roller skating are the most popular sports in Colombia. The Government of Colombia sponsors numerous individuals and ...

* Sport in Ecuador * Sport in Guyana * Sport in Panama * Sport in Paraguay * Sport in Peru * Sport in Suriname *

Sport in Trinidad and Tobago Trinidad and Tobago (, ), officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, is the southernmost island country in the Caribbean. Consisting of the main islands Trinidad and Tobago, and numerous much smaller islands, it is situated south of ...

* Sport in Uruguay *

Sport in Venezuela The major sports in Venezuela are baseball, basketball and football. Baseball in Venezuela originates with the early 20th century cultural influence of the United States oil companies. The Venezuelan Professional Baseball League was established i ...

Sport in dependencies and other territories

* Sport in Aruba * Sport in Bonaire * Sport in Curaçao * Sport in the Falkland Islands * Sport in French Guiana * Sport in South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

Economy and infrastructure of South America

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Education in South America

South America lists

* List of newspapers in South America *

List of radio stations in South America This is a list of radio stations in the Americas. Argentina * FM La Boca - 90.1 FM Buenos Aires * FM Federal - 99.5 FM Buenos Aires * Radio Nacional de Argentina - 870 AM Buenos Aires ** R. Nacional Clasica ** R. Nacional Folclorica ** R. Nacion ...

* List of television stations in South America

External links

;News
Infolatam. Information and analysis of Latin America

The Council on Hemispheric Affairs
An independent source of Latin American news and opinion ;Sports
CONMEBOL -- Confederación Sudamericana de Fútbol (The South American Football Confederation)
South America also has Rugby, Auto Racing, Golf, and Kayaking. ;Music

* Diana Mercado from Barranquilla, Colombia Objetivo Fama 5 ;Tourism ;Articles
"The failure of Latin America"
an article by David Gallagher in th
TLS
February 29, 2008 {{DEFAULTSORT:South America