What seas and oceans wash Peru. Physiographic location, oceans and seas washing the shores, exploration of South America

About South America. General information

South America - southern mainland Western Hemisphere between 12.28" N and 53.54" S. w., 34.47" W. and 81.20" W. d. In the North, the continent is washed by the waters of the Caribbean Sea, in the East - by the Atlantic Ocean, in the South - by the Strait of Magellan (the strait separating continental South America and the Tierra del Fuego archipelago) and in the West - by the Pacific Ocean. South America is connected to Central and North America by the narrow Isthmus of Panama.

The area of ​​the mainland is 17.65 million km 2, with islands 18.28 million km 2.

South America includes the Leeward Islands (South Antilles (Dutch: Benedenwindse Eilanden, Spanish: Islas de Sotavento), a group of large parts of volcanic islands that form the southern part of the Lesser Antilles off the coast of Venezuela. The name of the Leeward Islands is explained by the leeward (compared to the Windward) islands) the position of the islands in relation to the northeast trade wind) and Trinidad, the Falklands and the Tierra del Fuego archipelago.

From the 1530s, the native population of South America was enslaved by European colonizers, first from Spain and later from Portugal, who divided it into colonies. During the 19th century, these colonies gained independence.

South America also includes various islands, most of which belong to the countries of the continent. The Caribbean territories belong to North America. The South American countries that border the Caribbean Sea - including Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana - are known as Caribbean South America.

Political divisions of South America

Argentina

Bolivia

Brazil

Venezuela

Guyana

Colombia

Paraguay

Falkland Islands (disputed between Britain and Argentina)

French Guiana (France)

Chile

Ecuador

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands have no permanent population)

In this work we will look at the flat part of South America, namely the countries of Brazil (Amazon Lowland), Venezuela (Orinoco Lowland), Suriname, Uruguay, Paraguay.

Brazil

Geographical position. Brazil is the largest country in Latin America, occupying almost half of the continent. The capital is Brasilia.

In the north it borders with Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, in the south - with Uruguay, in the west - with Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia and Peru, in the northwest - with Colombia. In the north and east it is washed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean.

Territory - 8,514,215.3 km², which is 5.7% of the entire land area of ​​the world. Brazil is the fifth largest country in the world (after Russia, Canada, China and the United States of America).

Relyef. In the north of the country there is the Amazonian Lowland (Amazonia) - a vast valley of one of the largest rivers in the world. In the north, it gradually turns into the hilly plains of the northern part of the Guiana Plateau (height 150-700 m, individual peaks up to 1200 m), surrounded along the state border by steep cliffs (Mount Roraima - 2772 m). Almost the entire remaining territory of the country is occupied by the Brazilian Plateau, which rises to the south and northeast and drops steeply to the narrow edge of the coastal Atlantic lowland. The extreme mountain ranges reach a height of 2890 m (Mount Bandeira).

Together with Russian Federation, USA, Canada, China and Australia, Brazil is one of the countries with the largest mineral reserves. It is known that Brazil has rich, although not yet well explored, mineral deposits. Iron ore reserves in Brazil are estimated at 48 billion tons, of which 18 billion are located in the Carajas mountain range, in the eastern Amazon in the state of Pará. The Karazhas field has been in operation since 1985. The iron ore reserves found to date in Brazil are sufficient to satisfy the demands of the entire world community for this type. natural resources in the next 100 years (taking into account the current level and planned growth rates). In addition to iron ore, reserves of manganese ore (208 billion tons), 2 billion tons of bauxite, 53 million tons of nickel have been found in Brazil, the amount of which can increase to 400 million tons. Also of importance is the recently confirmed presence of a large deposit of uranium ore with a high uranium content (1.3%) in the states of Minas, Gerais and Goias. Brazil has reserves of potassium, phosphates, tungsten (which is used in the smelting of strong grades of steel), cassiterite (tin ore), lead, graphite, chromium, gold, zirconium (a stable, refractory metal of great industrial value) and the rare radioactive mineral thorium.

Brazil is one of the world's largest producers of gemstones such as diamonds, aquamarines, topazes, amethysts, tourmalines and emeralds.

Climate. Brazil has a hot climate. The average monthly temperature ranges from 16 to 29 °C; only in the high eastern massifs the average July temperature is from 12 to 14 °C; frosts are possible. But precipitation patterns and climate types are different. In the west of Amazonia there is an equatorial humid climate (precipitation 2000-3000 mm per year, amplitudes of average monthly temperatures 2-3 ° C), in the east of Amazonia and the adjacent gentle slopes of the Guiana and Brazilian plateaus - subequatorial with a dry period of up to 3-4 months (precipitation 1500 -2000 mm, on the coast about 3000 mm per year). In the center of the Brazilian Plateau and the Pantanal there is a subequatorial humid climate (precipitation 1400-2000 mm per year) with large temperature amplitudes (especially extreme ones - up to 45-50 ° C). On the eastern border the climate is tropical trade wind, hot and humid, with a short dry season. In the south of the plateau there is a constantly humid climate, tropical on the Parana plateau and subtropical in the elevated eastern regions to the south of 24° north latitude.

Inland waters. The river network is very dense.

The whole of Amazonia, the south of the Guiana and the northern part of the Brazilian plateau is irrigated by the Amazon River system; the south of the Brazilian plateau is by the systems of the Uruguay and Parana rivers, the west is by a tributary of the Parana - the Paraguay River, the east belongs to the basin of the San Francisco River, the northeastern and eastern borders of the plateau are irrigated by short rivers that flow directly into the Atlantic Ocean ( largest river Parnaiba). Only the Amazon with its western and eastern tributaries is full of water throughout the year and is navigable. All rivers of the Brazilian plateau (except for the rivers of the far north) have sharp fluctuations in water flow with significant floods (usually in summer), have rapids and waterfalls (including Iguazu on the Paraná tributary of the same name), have large reserves of hydroelectric power, but are navigable only in short sections, with the exception of Parnaiba and San Francisco.

Soils and vegetation. In Brazil, forests predominate on red lateritic (ferralite) soils. Brazil ranks first in the world in terms of hardwood reserves. Dense humid equatorial evergreen forests - hylea, or selva, with valuable tree species (over 4000 species) occupy western part Amazon; Podzolic lateritic soils are common under them. In the east there are lowlands. On the low hills that frame the Guiana and Brazilian plateaus, due to the presence of a dry season, deciduous evergreen forests are common. Similar types of soils and vegetation, but with the manifestation of altitudinal zonation, are characteristic of the eastern, windward and high hills and massifs of the Brazilian Plateau; their western slopes are covered mainly with seasonally wet forests. central part The plateau is occupied by savanna (campos) on red laterite soils, in places with bark - canga: the most common are shrub small-tree savannas - campos cerrados; Along the rivers there are gallery forests in which the especially valuable carnauba wax palm grows. In the dry northern east of the plateau there is semi-desert open forest (caatinga) of xerophytic and succulent trees and shrubs, on red-brown and red-brown soils. In the uniformly humid south, evergreen deciduous and mixed forests of coniferous Brazilian Araucaria with evergreen deciduous undergrowth (including “Paraguayan tea” - yerba mate) again appear on red earth soils, which occupy elevated plateaus to the south of 24 ° N. sh.; in the lowlands, on porous sedimentary rocks with reddish-black soils, treeless grassy savannas - kampos limpos - are common.

Animal world. Brazil is believed to have a greater number of both terrestrial vertebrates and invertebrates than any other country in the world. This high diversity of fauna can be explained by the significant size of the country, as well as the large variation in the types of its ecosystems. Numbers regarding faunal diversity vary greatly depending on the source, both because even taxonomists sometimes disagree on the classification of species and because data are scarce and sometimes incomplete or out of date. New species are constantly being discovered, while others, unfortunately, continue to become extinct.

Brazil has the largest number of primate species of any country, about 77 species, and the largest number of freshwater fish species (more than 3,000 species). It ranks second in the number of amphibian species, third in the number of bird species, and fifth in the number of reptile species. Many of the species are threatened, especially those that live in ecosystems that are now largely destroyed, such as the Atlantic Forest.

Population. Brazilians (port. Brasileiros) are one of the largest nations in the world, making up the main population of Brazil.

They speak Portuguese (it differs in some ways - Portuguese in Brazil).

Religion - Catholicism.

The Brazilians were formed as a result of the mixing of the newcomer population of the 16th-20th centuries. (mainly Portuguese) with the native Indians (groups of Tupi-Guarani tribes, etc.) and with those exported in the 16-19 centuries. from Africa as slaves (Yoruba, Bantu, Ewe, Ashanti, Hausa, etc.). From the mid-19th century, groups of Italians, Spaniards, Poles and others also moved to Brazil, and in the 20th century. - Japanese, Chinese, who are gradually assimilating. In the culture of modern Brazilians in the north of the country, many elements of Indian culture are preserved, in the northeast - African, in the south - European elements dominate. Anthropologically, Brazilians belong to diverse, largely mixed racial types: mestizo, mulatto, etc. In the north, Negroid elements predominate, in the south - predominantly Caucasoid.

Years Number of us.

The modern government of Brazil traditionally classifies the country's population by skin color/race. The census identifies the following racial groups:

White (See White Brazilians) 49.7% (94 million people)

Within the white Brazilians, there are largely mixed European ethnic groups in Brazil, formed as a result of the mass immigration of Europeans to Brazil in the late 19th and early 19th centuries. XX centuries:

Portuguese - Portuguese in Brazil

Italians - Italians in Brazil

Germans - Germans in Brazil

Spaniards - Germans in Brazil

Poles - Poles in Brazil

Ukrainians - Ukrainians in Brazil, etc.

Blacks 6.7%

Colored (mestizo, mulatto) 42.3%

Asians of primarily Japanese ancestry 0.7%

Indians 0.6%

Age structure of the population:

0-14 years - 26.1%

15-64 years old - 67.9%

over 65 years old - 6%

Lifespan:

Total - 71.69 years

Men - 67.74 years

Women - 75.85 years

Culture. The culture of Brazil began to take shape and continues to take shape to this day as a mixture of the diverse historical traditions of the peoples that make up the Brazilian nation.

Quite a few words in modern language are of Indian origin. The influence of Indian culture is especially noticeable in the Amazon, and traces of African culture are more visible on the coast of Brazil, starting with Rio de Janeiro.

African influence is noticeable in Brazilian popular music, especially rhythmic samba.

Modern Brazilian cuisine is a gastronomic synthesis formed under the influence of European, especially Portuguese, Indian and African culinary traditions.

In architecture, Brazil, also historically influenced by the culture of the colonialists, went through various phases in search of its identity. From Baroque and Rococo, mixed with Indian motifs and tropical themes, today Brazilian sculpture and architecture are recognized throughout the world thanks to the unique individual style and constant innovation of the authors.

Big cities. Brasilia (approx. 2 million people) was built (1957-1960) by order of Brazilian President Juscelino Kubitschek specifically as the capital in the central part of Brazil.

The modern capital of Brazil is located in the central part of the country on the Central Plateau, at an altitude of 1050-1200 m above sea level near the Preto and Deshcoberto rivers. The location was chosen specifically far from the main political centers of the country, Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo - in the central part of Brazil, which was practically empty at that time. This situation was considered more advantageous from a strategic and military point of view.

O. Niemeyer became the main architect of administrative and public buildings. Among Niemeyer's outstanding creations is the Brasilia Cathedral, the main premises of which are located underground, while only its dome made of concrete and stained glass is visible from the street.

The layout of the city is very unusual: from a bird's eye view you can see that the main highways of the city with the adjacent neighborhoods form a semblance of a passenger jet flying to the southeast. Lucio Costa, however, claimed that he designed the city like a giant butterfly.

Moreover, the fuselage of this “airplane” houses most of the institutions of city and federal significance. The central part is reserved for the sectors of hotels, shops, banks, etc. In the “tail of the plane” there are city municipal institutions, and in the area of ​​the “cockpit” there are federal ones: the prosecutor’s office, parliament (National Congress) and other institutions. The wings contain residential areas.

The most visited city in Brazil is Rio de Janeiro (6 million people) (in the January River lane). There is a huge statue of Jesus Christ on Mount Corcovado - the symbol of Rio, a museum of modern art, National Museum Fine Arts, Museum of Indians, History and Art Museums, Museum of the Republic, Museum of Stones, Colonial Architecture Buildings. The world's largest stadium, Maracanã. The city also hosts a carnival every February.

Tijuca National Park, which includes the Corcovado summit, is the largest urban forest in the world. Here you can meet monkeys and exotic birds. In one of the suburbs there is a zoological garden.

Sao Paulo (port. Sao Paulo) (11 million people) is the capital of the state of the same name in Brazil. Located in the South-East of Brazil, in the valley of the Tiete River, 70 km from the Atlantic coast.

Sao Paulo is famous for its nightlife. Guidebooks list the city as having 12,500 restaurants, 15,000 bars and nightclubs, decorated in a variety of styles, where locals and visitors of various nationalities spend their time.

Sao Paulo is great for shopping and cultural activities. The city has the Museum of Painting, the State Art Gallery, the Museum of Impiraña (founded by Emperor Pedro I), and the Museum of Modern Art. Football fans usually do not ignore the Pacaembu stadium, where the famous Pele, the “king of Brazilian football,” often performed.

Another attraction is the Butantan Nature Reserve, where snakes and other reptiles are collected.

Salvador (port. Salvador - Savior) (2 million people) - the capital of the state of Bahia. It was founded in 1549.

The population is 2,892,625 people (as of 2007). It occupies an area of ​​706.799 km².

Salvador, the first capital of Brazil, absorbed the folk forms of Afro-Brazilian culture like a sponge. Her colorful music, dancing and culinary arts are manifested here in the most direct way.

Pelourinho (a group of historical buildings and monuments in the historical center) - one of the most attractive points on the tourist map of Brazil - is included in the UNESCO list of cultural heritage of humanity.

The city is located on two levels. The "lower city" is located at sea level, being the commercial center of Salvador, where saleswomen (mostly elderly women, Bahyan women) in traditional white clothes sell a variety of coconut sweets.

The "Upper City" houses government offices built in colonial style, museums, churches and buildings of modern architecture. Salvador is also one of the historical centers for the development of Capoeira Angola, a traditional Brazilian wrestling dance. The history and cultural heritage of the lyricism and spirituality of capoeira in general and Capoeira Angola in particular are intrinsically linked to this cultural phenomenon.

Belo Horizonte (port. Belo Horizonte) (“beautiful horizon”) (2 million people) is a city and municipality in southeastern Brazil, the capital of the state of Minas Gerais. The name translates from Portuguese as “beautiful horizon”. Belo Horizonte is considered the first Brazilian city built according to plan. It is the fourth largest city in Brazil and one of the country's largest industrial and commercial centers.

Interesting places here are the Abilio Bareto Historical Museum, the Palace of Liberty, the Casino, the Brazilian religious center of Congonhas do Campo, 80 km from the city with the famous “road of the cross” of 78 statues, the Church of Our Lady and the Gold Museum in Sabara (25 km from Belo Horizonte) , city-museum of Sant Joan del Rey, village-museum of Tiradentes.

Manaus (port. Manaus) is the capital of the state of Amazonas.

Population - 2 million people (as of 2007). Port on the Amazon River, accessible to sea vessels. International Airport. Shopping mall. Woodworking, oil refining, textile, food and beverage enterprises. State University, Institute of Geography and History of the Amazon.

Amazonian lowland, Amazonia

The region is extremely little explored by tourists. This is the land of “llanos” (savannas) and selva, endless forests and great rivers, an endless variety of plant and animal life, and most importantly, it is one of the few areas of the planet that has practically not fallen into the field of activity of modern civilization.

Amazonia gets its name naturally because the entire hydrographic system feeds the majestic Amazon River.

The entire Amazon is essentially a plain, crossed from west to east by an innumerable number of all kinds of rivers and streams.

The climate of the Amazon is very humid and hot. The average temperature is +28 degrees, but due to high humidity this temperature is difficult to bear.

The vegetation is lush and impenetrable, varied and rich. In some places the trees are so tall and densely growing that sunlight does not reach the earth's surface. Earth's crust covered with a thick layer of fallen leaves, which, due to the lack of light, does not decompose. It is very easy to get lost in this abyss, even for a resident of the Amazon unfamiliar with the peculiarities of this region. In a word - a real village.

Life in the Amazon is very difficult due to the natural conditions. The number of colonizers who arrived from other places is very small. The population density in this region is the lowest in the country, with only a few people per 10 km². Until now, despite the fact that it is already the 21st century, there are many places about which we know only approximately.

The development of the Amazon is being carried out gradually, using far from civilized methods. Extremist groups existing in the country have chosen these places, as well as Orinoquia. Here they feel safe. And that’s why they actively conduct their activities here. At the same time, the number of coca crops “supervised” by extremists is quite large. The government is fighting crops by spraying chemicals from the air to destroy them. It is clear that these chemicals also destroy other vegetation and fauna.

The Amazon is rich in oil, gold, iron ore, uranium, and other minerals. However, the lack of communication infrastructure makes their extraction impossible; only some work is being carried out, but in a limited way. And even those are often attacked by extremists.

The Amazon remains a unique and very attractive region for many people around the world. Behind last years The number of tourists wishing to get acquainted with untouched nature is constantly growing. In the main city of the region, Leticia, located on the banks of the Amazon River, decent conditions have been created for receiving tourists, who are mainly foreigners.

Several Natural National Reserves have been established in the Amazon, among which stand out National Park Katios, Amacayacu National Park and Araracuara National Park. In the department of Caqueta, the Serrania Chibiriquete is an amazing and very beautiful cluster of plateaus on mountains with vertical cut-off walls.

There are many Indian tribes living in the Amazon, including the Ingas, Kamsás, Macaguajes, Coreguajes, Huitotos, Sibundoyes, Ticunas, Yaunas, and probably also other as yet unknown tribes, although they are not all numerous. There are a total of 56 known breeding ethnic groups or families. They speak 50 languages ​​from 12 major language groups. Of the known ethnic groups, 41 have populations of less than 1,000; 33 of them are less than 500 people; and 20 groups of less than 200 people. There are also tribal families that have recently emigrated from other places, such as the Piaroa, Saliva and Sikuani, who came from Orinoquia. There are also some nomadic tribes, such as the Maku.

The Amazon River region has global significance due to its unique ecosystem. The glory of the “lungs of the planet” imposes certain responsibilities on those countries in which it is located, especially since significant global reserves fresh water produced by that web of rivers flowing down to the Amazon. Many species of flora and fauna are endemic - existing in the world only in this area.

City: Manus.

The sticky blackish ball of a substance called rubber has been known to Europeans since the time of Columbus. Spanish soldiers even then saw Indian children playing with rubber balls. But it was only after Goodyear invented vulcanization in 1840 that the real hunt for rubber began.

At the end of the 19th century, the emerging era of the automobile demanded tires, the world thirsted for rubber, and only the Amazon provided it. Thousands of adventurers flocked to the hitherto unknown tiny village of Manaus in a passionate desire to get rich quickly. The former owners of the selva - the Indians, bought cheap trinkets, some fabrics, whiskey, and very quickly became dependent on the white newcomers with no hope of ever getting out of debt. But there were not enough workers - the mortality rate among colored slaves was very high. Then the recruiters turned to white beggars in the dry lands and hungry ports of the northeast. Money, alcohol and fabulous promises did their job - hundreds and thousands of hopeful Seringueiros - rubber tappers - began to arrive in Manaus. Most of them were destined to die in the jungle from exhaustion, beriberi disease, caused by a lack of vitamin B1, to die at the hands of an Indian, or to fall into one of the traps of the “green hell”.

Meanwhile, money flowed like a river into Manaus. Millions of fortunes were made. The first one was allowed in here Latin America tram and built an opera with 1,400 seats, ordered from England and delivered in parts to this wild region, all of marble, decorated with frescoes. Now it is the main attraction of Manaus. Its frescoes are made by Italian masters, all the furniture is French, the marble is from Italy, and the cast iron decorations are made in England.

It all ended when, despite the ban, the Englishman Witham secretly exported Hevea seeds to Southeast Asia. The Hevea trees of Colombo and Singapore very soon began to produce four times more rubber than theirs. wild ancestors in the Amazon, and it cost three times less. Rubber prices on the world market fell several times, putting an end to the rubber rush. The ensuing stagnation in the economic development of Manaus turned it into a “dead city.”

The city's second wind opened in 1967, after the announcement of a free trade zone in Manaus. Workshops for assembling watches and electrical appliances, branches of Sao Paulo jewelry firms quickly settled here, a shipyard and a metallurgical plant were built. Now Manaus is industrial and shopping mall vast territory of Western Amazonia, an important sea and river port.

If you don't see the jungle surrounding Manaus on three sides, it could easily be mistaken for a European city. Quiet shady streets, public gardens, dilapidated palaces, bootblacks, on the streets there are many small artisans with simple goods. But a ten-minute walk from the city center, on the banks of the Amazon, are huts covered with palm branches on stilts, in which many Indian families live.

Venezuela

The Bolivamrian Republic of Venezuela (Spanish: Repъblica Bolivariana de Venezuela, “little Venice”) is a state in the north of South America. It is washed by the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean to the north, bordered by Guyana to the east, Brazil to the south and Colombia to the west.

Geography. Most of the territory of Venezuela is characterized by mountainous terrain, represented by the northeastern spurs of the Colombian Andes in the west, the ridges of the Caribbean Andes in the north, and the Guiana Highlands in the southwest. The central and northeastern parts of the country are occupied by the vast flat territory of the Llanos Orinoco, in the northern and central parts it is represented by a stratified plain, dissected by river valleys into elevated table watersheds, and in the southwest, west and east by flat alluvial lowlands. Geologically, the Llanos is a sub-Andean foredeep separating the younger Andean structures from the ancient Guiana Shield of the Precambrian South American Platform. In the west of the country there is the intermountain depression of Maracaibo, occupied by the lagoon lake of the same name, surrounded by the mid-mountain range of the Sierra de Perija and the high-mountain range of the Cordillera de Mérida with the highest point of the country - Bolivar Peak (5007 m).

Main minerals Venezuela's oil reserves rank first in Latin America. As of 2009, proven hydrocarbon reserves were: gas - 4.3 trillion cubic meters. m; oil - 11.2 billion tons (7% of world reserves). The largest oil and gas basins are the Maracaiba and Orinoco basins.

In addition to oil and gas, Venezuela has large deposits of iron ore (2nd place in Latin America), coal, bauxite, as well as nickel, copper, lead-zinc, manganese ores, gold, diamonds, sulfur, asbestos, phosphorites, and talc.

In addition to oil, Venezuela exports coffee, coal, nickel, emeralds, bananas, and flowers.

Climate Most of the plain territory of Venezuela is subequatorial, seasonally wet, with alternating clearly defined rainy (from April to October) and dry, hotter (from November to March) seasons. During the year, Llanos is characterized by average monthly temperatures of 25-29ºC and 800-1200 mm of precipitation, for the low-lying Caribbean coast, respectively, 28ºC and 240-400 mm of precipitation. The upper Orinoco basin and the adjacent slopes of the Guiana Highlands have an equatorial, constantly humid climate with 2500-3000 mm of precipitation per year. In the mountains, average monthly temperatures decrease with altitude from 22°C at an altitude of 800 m to less than 10°C at an altitude of 3000 m. Windward slopes are more humidified (3500 mm) than leeward ones. In the Cordillera de Merida, at an altitude of 4700 m, there is eternal snow (the area of ​​​​mountain glaciers is 2 km², rapidly decreasing).

Dense river network Venezuela has extremely uneven flows throughout the year and violent summer floods. Most of the territory belongs to the Orinoco basin, which flows almost throughout its entire length within Venezuela and receives numerous tributaries. The left tributaries (Apura, Arauca, Capanapara...) have a flat flow with the possibility of navigation. During the rainy season, they overflow widely, flooding large areas. The right tributaries, originating in the Guiana Highlands (Caroni, Caura, Ventuari...), have many rapids and waterfalls, including the world's highest Angel Falls. The hydroelectric potential of these rivers is used at large hydroelectric power stations: Guri (the third largest in the world in terms of power), Macagua and Caruachi. When it flows into the Atlantic Ocean, the Orinoco forms a vast delta. In the south of the country there is such a rare phenomenon as the bifurcation of rivers: the Casiquiare River branches off from the Orinoco in the upper reaches, carrying its waters to the Rio Negro, a tributary of the Amazon. Short rivers flowing from the northern slopes of the Andes flow directly into the Caribbean Sea or Lake Maracaibo.

Forests occupy 56% of the territory of Venezuela, decreasing by 2.2 thousand km² per year. Hylea is common in the south and southwest of the country. The slopes of the Andes and the Guiana Highlands up to an altitude of 800-1200 m are covered mainly with deciduous evergreen forests with cashew and ceiba; On the windward slopes in the belt of mountain moist evergreen forests grow cinchona, cedrel, wax palms, ferns and epiphytes. Above the forest line (from 2200 m), the Caribbean Andes are covered with dense meadows with sparse shrubs; in the highlands of the Cordillera de Merida, páramos communities with cereal cover, cushion-shaped and rosette plants are common. Endemic low-growing shrubs grow on the plateaus and ridges of the Guiana Highlands. On the plains of the Llanos Orinoco, vast tracts of savannas have formed with cereal vegetation on the plains, flooded during the rainy season, and gallery forests along the valleys large rivers. In the drier northern part of the plains, xeromorphic trees and shrubs are scattered among the sparse grass cover, cacti are found in places, and along the rivers there are thickets of Mauritius palms. On the Caribbean coast, thorny bush communities with numerous cacti, acacias, curatella, and divi-divi are typical. The Orinoco Delta and the southwestern part of the Maracaibo depression are covered with periodically flooded evergreen forests and swamps, the coasts are bordered by mangroves.

Rich animal world represented by broad-nosed monkeys, armadillos, anteaters, capybaras, peccaries, opossums, deer, otters, pumas, jaguars. Typical birds are toucans, parrots, guajaros, harpy eagle, herons, storks, and ibis. There are numerous snakes (including anacondas), lizards, crocodiles, turtles, and electric eels.

Population. The population of Venezuela is 26.4 million (estimated as of July 2008).

Annual growth - 1.5%;

Mortality - 5.1 per 1000;

Emigration from the country - 0.84 per 1000;

Average life expectancy is 70 years for men, 77 years for women;

Ethno-racial composition - mestizos 58%, whites 20%, mulattoes 14%, blacks 4%, Sambo 3%, Indians 1%.

Literacy - 93% (2001 census).

The Venezuelan nation was formed as a result of the mixing of various ethnic and racial groups: Spanish and Basque settlers, Indians and blacks. The arrival of hundreds of thousands of European immigrants (mainly from Spain, Italy and Portugal) in the post-war decade undoubtedly led to some shifts in the proportions of the various racial elements in the composition of the Venezuelan population.

Venezuelans are a “young” nation. More than half of the country's residents are under 19 years of age. There are slightly more men in the country than women (almost 51%).

Cities:

Caracas - (2.8 million people)

The city is located in a zone of increased seismic activity. The most powerful earthquakes occurred in Caracas in 1812 and 1900, when the city was almost completely destroyed.

The official language is Spanish.

Most of the cultural and architectural attractions of Caracas are concentrated in the old part of the city, which is called El Centro. There are also many around Caracas interesting places. First of all, this is the famous Avila National Park, located along the spurs of the ridge of the same name just north of the city. The uninhabited emerald slopes of Avila rise above the city, like a huge green wave frozen in motion. And just 15 km to the north, behind the ridge, stretches the luxurious Caribbean coast - the center of beaches and resort areas.

Merida.

The picturesque and bustling student city of Merida was founded in 1558 by the Spaniard Juan Rodriguez Suarez, who named it Santiago de Los Caballeros de Merida. It is now a university city (about 40,000 students), widely known for the proverbial politeness of its people and its parks (there are 28 city parks, more than any other city in Venezuela).

And the hallmark of Merida is the longest and highest cable car on the planet - Teleferico de Merida (1958). It stretches from the city center (altitude 1639 m above sea level) to the top of the second highest peak in Venezuela - Espejo (4765 m), forming a thread of three cables with a length of 12.6 km. Also worthy of attention are the good theme parks Los Aleros and Venezuela de Antiers, and the small historical city of Trujillo.

Maracaibo is a city in northwestern Venezuela.

The largest oil refining center and oil loading port in Venezuela. Production of building materials, textiles and food products.

Maracaibo is the largest lake in South America, its area is 13,210 km², it is also one of the oldest lakes on Earth (according to some estimates, the second oldest). Almost a quarter of Venezuela's population lives on the shores of the lake.

The Lake Maracaibo basin contains large oil reserves, as a result of which the lake serves as a source of wealth for Venezuela. A specially dug deep channel in the lake allows ocean-going ships to enter there.

Orinoco Lowland

The Orinomco is a river in South America, flowing mainly through Venezuela and emptying into the Atlantic Ocean. Length 2736 kilometers (2410 km).

The Orinoco originates from Mount Delgado Chalbaud in the Parima region, on the border with Brazil. From there it turns in a wide arc, from the South-West to the West, then to the North, and finally to the North-East, emptying into the Gulf of Paria of the Atlantic Ocean.

In the lower reaches, the Orinoco branches into hundreds of branches, forming a delta with an area of ​​41,000 km². During floods, the river’s width reaches 22 kilometers and its depth is 100 meters. Navigable. The dredging allows ocean-going ships to go as far as Ciudad Bolivar, 435 km upstream from the Atlantic Ocean. Water flow 33000 m³/sec

South America is the fourth largest continent, connected to North America by the Isthmus of Panama. Due to its relatively small size, most countries of the continent have access to ocean waters. The seas and oceans surrounding South America include the Pacific Ocean in the west, the Atlantic Ocean in the east and the Caribbean Sea in the north.

Pacific Ocean

The Pacific Ocean is the largest and oldest on globe, its area is 178 million square meters. km. It occupies such an impressive territory that it could easily accommodate all the continents combined.

The endless Pacific Ocean owes its name to the great navigator Feranan Magellan, who was lucky to travel in calm and calm weather. However, this does not mean at all that the Pacific Ocean is distinguished by a gentle disposition - it, like other oceans, is often subject to strong storms and storms.

Despite the fact that the first studies of the Pacific coast of South America were undertaken several centuries ago, this issue was seriously addressed only in the 19th century, and continues to be pursued to this day.

The weather off the coast of South America is most often calm, stable, with little wind. Periodically it gives way to strong warm showers.

Rice. 1. Pacific Ocean

The Pacific Ocean plays a large role in the economy of South American countries. Most of them have been fishing for commercial fish, obtaining crabs, shellfish, and edible types of algae for many years.

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Atlantic Ocean

If you look at the map, you can see that the eastern coast of South America is washed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. In area it is almost half the size of the Pacific Ocean and occupies 92 million square meters. km. His distinctive feature in that it unites the polar zones of the planet.

The Mid-Atlantic Mountain Range runs through the very center of the ocean. Its highest peaks are visible on the surface of the water: various islands of volcanic nature, among which the most famous is Iceland.

Off the coast of South America is the deepest point of the Atlantic Ocean - the famous Puerto Rico Trench, whose depth reaches 8742 m.

Rice. 2. Puerto Rico Trench

In the place where the waters of the Atlantic and the Amazon River meet, the water is characterized by low salinity and turbidity. For this reason, corals do not grow in this part of the ocean, but there are a lot of other representatives of oceanic flora and fauna here.

It is noteworthy that during the great geographical discoveries The Atlantic Ocean was the most important waterway to the shores of South America.

Caribbean Sea

The Caribbean Sea is of great value for the socio-economic development of many countries in South America. Its area is 2 million square meters. km, and its seabed contains rich oil deposits.

The Caribbean coast is also of interest as one of the most luxurious resort areas in the world. Washing the shores of Colombia, Venezuela, Costa Rica, Panama, Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua and many other countries, the Caribbean Sea is a popular destination for lovers of sea cruises. The local beaches are very picturesque and attract tourists from all over the world.

The underwater world is incredibly rich and diverse. There are many beautiful coral reefs here, among which colorful tropical fish and amazing marine animals scurry about. The coastal area of ​​the Caribbean Sea is very popular among divers.