South America is the fourth-largest and the fifth most populous continent in the world. South America has an area of 6,890,000 square miles and comprises a population of 420,458,044 inhabitants, as of 2016. South America has a total of 12 countries and three dependencies. Brazil, the largest country in the continent containing 8,515,799 square kilometers.
In terms of size, South America is almost twice as big as Europe by land area and is marginally larger than Russia. South America has a coastline that measures around 25,427 km. There are four different time zones in South America: UTC -5, UTC -4, UTC -3, and UTC -2. According to the map of South Asia, the Pacific Ocean lies to the west and the Atlantic Ocean to its east. The Caribbean Sea and North America are located to its northwest.
With a history that spans over a thousand years, South America has been culturally influenced by Spanish, Portuguese, Asian, and African cultures. The Political Map of South America depicts the various nations that comprise the continent. The country boundaries, which separate one nation from the other, are clearly marked on the map. The Map of South America also shows the capitals of each country. Important water bodies, lakes, and mountain peaks are also marked on the map.
Countries of South America and their capitals:
S.N. | Country and Territory | Area (Sq. Miles) | Capital |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Brazil | 3,287,611 | Brasília |
2 | Argentina | 1,068,302 | Buenos Aires |
3 | Peru | 496,226 | Lima |
4 | Colombia | 439,735 | Bogotá |
5 | Bolivia | 424,164 | La Paz and Sucre |
6 | Venezuela | 353,841 | Caracas |
7 | Chile | 292,260 | Santiago |
8 | Paraguay | 157,047 | Asunción |
9 | Ecuador | 109,483 | Quito |
10 | Guyana | 83,012 | Georgetown |
11 | Uruguay | 68,039 | Montevideo |
12 | Suriname | 63,039 | Paramaribo |
13 | French Guiana (France) | 35,135 | Cayenne (Préfecture) |
14 | Falkland Islands (UK) | 4,700 | Port Stanley |
15 | South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands (UK) | 1,194 | King Edward Point |