Review South America Countries and Physical Features

Brazilian Highlands

-very large area of high elevation hills and plateaus that covers nearly half of Brazil

Amazon Rainforest

moist forest that covers most of the Amazon Basin and is nicknamed the "Lungs of the Earth" because its trees produce so much oxygen

Rio de la Plata/Plate River

the estuary formed at the meeting point of the Uruguay River and the Atlantic Ocean

Patagonia

sparsely populated region in southern South America (Argentina & Chile)

Strait of Magellan

a natural sea route separating mainland South America and Tierra del Fuego

Atacama Desert

lies to the west of the Andes Mountains; one of the driest places in the world

Guiana Highlands

a highland area located in the northeast section of South America; Angel Falls (world's highest waterfall) is located here

Amazon River

flows east to the Atlantic Ocean; largest river system in the world; moves the highest volume of water in the world

Atlantic Ocean

-the ocean to the east of South America

Galapagos Islands

an archipelago west of South America in which unique species have adapted to survive

Pacific Ocean

the ocean to the west of South America

Caribbean Sea

the sea to the north of South America

Falkland Islands

an archipelago in the southern Atlantic off the coast of Argentina politically controlled by Great Britain

Cape Horn

the southern most tip of South America that is an important landmark for sailors

Andes Mountains

the world's longest mountain chain, stretching along the west coast of South America.

Colombia

Venezuala

French Guiana

Suriname

Guyana

Ecuador

Peru

Brazil

Paraguay

Uruguay

Bolivia

Argentina

Chile