Let’s Travel to South America

WE WILL STUDY ABOUT  The people  The animals  The history

The Inca were a South American Indian people who ruled one of the largest and richest empires in the Americas. The People of the Past

Native Costumes

People of Today  Various groups of Native Americans were the continent's original inhabitants. Today the population is a blend of several distinct groups: Native American, European (mostly Spanish and Portuguese), and African.  Most South Americans speak Spanish or Portuguese. Many Indian languages, such as Quechua and Aymara, are also spoken. In some areas people speak English, French, or Dutch. Most South Americans are Roman Catholic. In some countries people blend Catholicism with traditional elements from African and Indian religions.  In general, children in South America must attend primary school. However, in some remote areas people do not have access to schools. Nearly all South American cities have hospitals, but doctors and advanced medicines are not always available. The greatest health problems are in the rural districts, particularly in the low plains and river valleys of the tropics.

ANIMALS OF *Two of the better-known animals of the Andes (the mountain region of South America) are the llama and the alpaca. *Other mammals include several cats (especially the jaguar and puma), deer, bears, wolves, foxes, and raccoons. Mammals such as monkeys, porcupines, armadillos, anteaters, sloths, and a wide variety of rats, mice, and bats live in the rain forests. *South America has more than a thousand kinds of bird. Hummingbirds, parrots, toucans, woodpeckers, and raptors can be found in different regions of the continent. *There are also numerous types of fish and reptiles, including many lizards and snakes.

manatee toucan llama

Brief History  South America is the world's fourth largest continent. The countries of South America are also part of a larger cultural region known as Latin America, in which most of the people speak Spanish or Portuguese.  Most of the continent is covered by rugged mountains and plateaus, which are high, flat lands. In the north are the Guiana Highlands. The Andes Mountains lie along the western edge of the continent. They are one of the most impressive ranges in the world.  The Amazon River is the most extensive river system in the world. Other major rivers include the Orinoco, Paraguay, Paraná, and Uruguay. Parts of the Andes have many lakes. In addition, vast marshes are found in many low- lying parts of the continent.  Most of South America has a tropical climate. In the tropical rain forests of the north and east, it is hot and rainy year-round. Parts of central South America have generally warm summers and cool winters, with plenty of rain. There are also several desert areas, including the coast of Peru and northwestern Argentina.

The Andes Mountains

Amazon River

Tropical Rain Forest

More Info  For more info, check out these cool websites!  article?articleId=353792&query=south %20america&ct=null article?articleId=353792&query=south %20america&ct=null  vel/continents/south-america/ vel/continents/south-america/