Interesting facts about South America. Famous places in South America The largest waterfalls on the continent

The South American continent is rich in unique natural monuments. Selecting the 10 most famous geographical sites in South America is not an easy task, since there are many more outstanding landscape complexes there. Many of them, preserving their centuries-old pristine nature, are under the protection of UNESCO.
And yet, let’s try to highlight the most popular and world-famous South American geographical objects.

Andes (Andean Cordillera)

South America is the only continent that is penetrated from north to south by a single mountain range, rich in volcanoes and largest glaciers. Her name is Andes. Stretching over more than 7.3 thousand km, it gives rise to most of the continent's rivers. Continuing in North America, the Andes pass into the United States in a ridge called the Cordillera. The peaks of the Andes amaze with their beauty. Their highest point is the 6960-meter peak of Aconcagua (Argentina), although in this mountain range there are dozens of peaks over 6000 meters.

Patagonia

This region, known to us from the novels of Jules Verne, stretches 1,600 km between the Andes and the Atlantic Ocean at the southern tip of the continent, south of the Rio Negro River. Harsh rocks interspersed with majestic deep gorges, arid but no less attractive plateaus, glaciers sparkling in the sun do not leave anyone indifferent.

Guiana Highlands

A real Conan Doyle “lost world” with its amazing exotic plants and unique fauna. The plateau stretches for almost 1600 km between the south of Venezuela and the north of Brazil. The highlight of this tropical area is a cascade of beautiful rivers and waterfalls. The highest point is Roraima Peak (2810 m).

Amazon lowland

The main feature of the Amazon is the world's largest tropical forest, covering the Amazon River basin. It is located between the Andes in the west and the Atlantic in the east, the Guiana Highlands in the north and the Brazilian Plateau in the south. It is distinguished by a huge number of tributaries of the deepest river in the world and extreme humidity.

Llanos

This picturesque fertile plain in the north of the continent, with an area of more than 580 thousand km², is divided almost in half by Colombia and Venezuela. Its fertility is ensured by the high-water Orinoco River and its numerous tributaries. The Llanos are characterized by vast, gently sloping flat areas, cut by river beds, along which gallery forests grow.

Pampas

Among all the geographical objects of South America, the pampa (an area of almost 762 thousand km²) is famous primarily for its agricultural, mainly pastoral, capabilities. There are many large ranches where elite cattle are bred (world-famous Argentine beef). But crop production is also honored here. This is facilitated by fertile reddish-black soils, the basis for the formation of which were volcanic rocks. There are also large wild steppes and pastures, which, however, often lack moisture. And the further from the Atlantic Ocean and closer to the Andes, the pampa completely turns into arid semi-deserts.

Tierra del Fuego and Cape Horn

It is the southernmost archipelago of South America and as such has a harsh, cold climate and frequent severe storms. The reason is the proximity of Antarctica. The archipelago was named Tierra del Fuego in 1520 by the legendary Ferdinand Magellan, who, sailing by, mistook the distant fires of the Indians for the lights of active volcanoes. Well, the southernmost point of South America is the thundering Cape Horn, which is part of the archipelago. Traveling past it along the Drake Passage is still the lot of the bravest and most desperate.

Pantanal

This is the name given to the world's largest swamp, which is located in the southwest of Brazil, as well as partially in Paraguay and Bolivia. Its size is staggering: about 195 thousand km² of area in the Paraguay River basin! Despite its not very attractive status, the Pantanal with its unique flora and fauna is a real find for scientists and tourists.

Atacama Plateau

In fact, it is one of the most famous deserts in South America. Stretching high in the Chilean Andes, 1000 km long and 160 km wide, it is one of the rare deserts on our planet where there is never any rainfall. If we add here the extremely harsh mountain climate, we get the image of a territory that is completely inconvenient for human life. Meanwhile, numerous mines are actively working here, where local residents extract copper, saltpeter, iodine, and table salt. For particularly adventurous tourists who will have to overcome a difficult path, there are still several “highlights”: small picturesque lakes and beautiful salt deposits in the mountains.

The largest waterfalls on the continent

Here two waterfalls attract attention: the highest in the world, Angel (height - 1054 m) and one of the most beautiful on the planet, Iguazu. The waters of Angel, named after the pilot James Angel who discovered it in 1933, fall from the completely vertical slopes of the Auyan Tepui plateau. The outstanding characteristics of the waterfall were highly appreciated in 1994, when it, together with the Canaima National Park, where this wonder of the world is located, was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The USA is one of the leading and largest countries in the world. The country's population exceeds 300 million people. And, of course, outstanding personalities have lived and continue to live in this huge country. People who are famous not only in their state, but throughout the world, which allows the American people to feel proud of their compatriots. So who are they - the most famous people in America?

Politicians

The list of famous people in America can definitely include the names of such politicians as:

George Washington. The first president of America to fight for independence, the founder of the United States of America.
Thomas Jefferson. Co-author of the Declaration of Independence. He made a huge contribution to the founding of the country. Bought the state of Louisiana from France.
Martin Luther King. A bright personality who became famous throughout the world thanks to his persistent struggle for the rights of the black population.
He was very loved by his people for his liberalism, for caring about ordinary people. He made a great contribution to the development of American astronautics. The day he was killed brought great sorrow to people.
Benjamin Franklin. Politician, journalist, scientist. He is famous throughout the world due to the fact that his face adorns the hundred dollar bill.
Abraham Lincoln. Acquired the status of a national hero for the liberation of slaves. Likewise, John Kennedy was killed by a pistol shot.
George Bush Jr. A very contradictory personality. He took the presidency through a major scandal involving rigging the results. Accused of drug addiction. Started a war in the territories of Afghanistan and Iraq.
Barack Obama. The world's first black president.

Athletes

Among famous people in America there are many personalities associated with sports. This:

Michael Jordan. He played as a shooting guard in the NBA. Still considered the best basketball player.
Outstanding tennis player. Won many victories in tournaments.
An arm wrestler who held the champion title for 23 years.
Kelly Slater. The most famous and richest surfer. Became world champion at age 20.
Jim Brown. became the highest paid in American football.
Michael Phelps. Swimmer and most decorated Olympian.
Mike Tyson. American boxing champion. He bit off his opponent's ear in battle.
Muhammad Ali. The most boxer.

Writers, scientists and other celebrities

The list of famous people in America includes writers and other public figures:

Ernest Hemingway. Nobel laureate, writer and journalist. Thanks to his writing style, the literature of the last century has changed significantly.
Stephen King. "The King of Horror" - that's what he was nicknamed for his works. Many of his books have been filmed.
Edgar Allan Poe. He wrote truly exciting detective stories. And he became the founder of the science fiction genre.
Mark Twain. Humanist writer and journalist. He wrote in various genres, creating amazing stories.
Stanley Kubrick. Cinematographer. He made films based on real events, and each of them was great.
Thomas Edison. Thanks to it, the quality of operation of many communication devices has improved. He even came up with the first word on the phone, “hello.”
John Rockefeller. The richest man on the planet. Owner of Standard Oil Company.
Bill Gates. Entrepreneur, one of the richest people in the world.
Steve Jobs. Pioneer of the technology era, creator of the famous Apple brand.
Henry Ford. Engineer and inventor. He produced world-famous Ford cars.
Neil Armstrong. The first man to set foot on the moon.
Jack London. One of the most published writers outside the United States.
John Browning. Weapons inventor.
Sidney Sheldon. Author of detective novels and screenwriter. Many of his works were turned into films.

Singers and musicians

It is impossible not to mention talented musicians and singers among the famous people of America:

Michael Jackson. Legendary singer, dancer, king of pop.
Elvis Presley. King of Rock and Roll.
Frank Sinatra. "Honey" voice of America.
Louis Armstrong. Jazz performer, played the trumpet, led an ensemble, popularized jazz throughout the world.
Chuck Berry. One of the founders of rock and roll.
Britney Spears. American princess of pop music.
Jennifer Lopez. Singer and dancer, actress and businesswoman.
Madonna. American music legend.
Tina Turner. Singer and dancer with a breathtaking voice.
Kurt Kobel. Guitarist and singer from the band Nirvana.
Ella Fitzgerald. Jazz vocalist.
Eminem. American rapper.
Cher. Armenian-American, singer and actress.
Christina Aguilera. Songwriter, singer and dancer.

Media persons

Who, if not a media person, can be the most famous?

Charlie Chaplin. Comedian and silent film star.
Marilyn Monroe. Sex symbol of the 20th century.
Oprah Winfrey. America's most famous TV presenter.
Walt Disney. Animator, creator of the studio and the entire Disney era.
Steven Spielberg. The most successful film director of American cinema.
Bruce Lee. Actor and director. Introduced martial arts into cinema.

And also: Brad Pitt, Mel Gibson, Johnny Depp, Jack Nicholson, Angelina Jolly and many, many others.

Of course, all famous people in America speak English. However, through translation, the whole world can read or hear their voice.

First place in the Top 10 attractions of South America is rightfully occupied by the foggy city of Machu Picchu, or Old Mountain in the language of the Quechua Indians, covered in legends and myths. Mysterious ruins that everyone dreams of seeing, whose heart in their youth skipped a beat from breathtaking stories about the mysterious civilizations of the past.

Machu Picchu consists of two sectors - urban and agricultural. In the city you can see the main attractions of this place: the Temple of the Three Windows, the Stone of the Sun and the House of Nobles made of polished granite. This city is a living symbol of the ancient history of Peru.

Machu Picchu - city15th century,located on a mountain ridge at an altitude of 2,430 metersabove sea levelV Urubamba province, 80 kilometers northwest of another South American landmark, the city Cusco.

2. Galapagos Islands (Ecuador)

Each of us knows Charles Darwin and his Theory of Evolution; it was the Galapagos Islands that prompted Charles Darwin to think about the Theory of Evolution.

Although the islands of the Galapagos archipelago are located 1000 kilometers from mainland Ecuador, they are a real attraction of South America. The archipelago consists of 127 islands, islets and rocks, of which 19 are large.97% of the total surface of the Galapagos is declared a national park and only the remaining 3% of the territory can be inhabited by humans and only these 3 percent of the territory is open to tourists.About 30,000 people live on the islands and about 170 thousand tourists visit the islands every year.

It is home to amazing animals such as giant tortoises, marine iguanas and Darwin's finches.

3. Amazon Rainforest

This landmark of South America is located in several countries, but mainly in Brazil. The Amazon Forest makes up more than half of the planet's remaining tropical forests and is considered the true lungs of the planet, also containing the largest and most biodiverse ecosystem in the world. More than 16,000 species of animals live in the forests.

4. Angel Falls (Venezuela)

Angel Falls is the tallest and most impressive waterfall in the world. Many tourists will put Niagara Falls first, but believe me, the water falling from a height of almost a kilometer leaves an indelible impression, the sound of which chills to the bones.

Unfortunately, this truly majestic waterfall is located in the impenetrable jungle in not the most welcoming country in the world; it can only be reached by river or by air.

5. Atacama Desert (Chile)

The Atacama Desert is the oldest desert on Earth, and it is also the driest place in the world, which is especially noticeable in the vicinity of the abandoned city of Yungay. The average rainfall is about 15 mm per year, and some places have never had any moisture. Such unique characteristics are due to two factors: its high location and location between two mountain ranges, which impedes the flow of water masses.

6. Rio de Janeiro (Brazil)

In 6th place in our Top 10 attractions of South America is the most famous and famous city in South America, namely the magnificent Rio de Janeiro or simply Rio. If you want to feel the spirit of this continent, feel its atmosphere, Rio will give you this opportunity, thanks to its enchanting carnivals and cosmopolitan Copacabana beach.

7. Colca Canyon (Peru)

Colca Canyon is one of the deepest canyons in the world, its depth is more than 3000 meters and it is twice as deep as the most famous canyon in the world, the Grand Canyon in the USA.

8. Los National ParkGlaciares (Argentina)

The largest national park in Argentina, it occupies an honorable 8th place in the Top 10 attractions in South America. This amazingly beautiful place amazes with its majesty; here you understand the insignificance of man and the power of nature.

Los Glaciares is home to the largest ice cap in the world, feeding 47 large glaciers.The most famous of them is the Perito Moreno glacier,unique among glaciers because it advances while others retreat.The park is also home to Lake Argentino, the largest in the country.

9. Pantanal (Brazil)

Brazil contains the largest wetlands - the Pantanal, or simply put, swamps, but these swamps are home to one of the richest ecosystems in the world. Among the rarest animals that inhabit the wetlands of the Pantanal are the marsh deer, the giant river otter, the crested hermit eagle, the giant anteater and the Paraguayan caiman. The Pantanal is home to one of the largest predators on earth, the jaguar.

10. Quito (Ecuador)

In 10th place in our Top 10 attractions of South America is the capital of Ecuador, Quito; it is truly unique among all the capitals of the world.This is the highest capital in the world and was founded by the Spaniards in the distant1534, but the city is unique not because of its location above sea level, but because of the well-preserved, colorful old colonial city of Quito. It is here that you can feel the spirit of the colonialists of South America.

Located in the northern highlands of Ecuador, the city is surrounded by volcanoes that can be seen on a clear day.Quito is the only capital in the world that is threatened by active volcanoes.

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Today we will move from Europe to Latin America - we haven’t looked there for a long time and talk about people who influenced the course of history.

We can say that in the history of Latin America, outstanding personalities are found on almost every corner: dictators and politicians, revolutionaries and rebels, artists and poets. How to choose the most important ones? In my opinion, the achievements of an outstanding person should play a huge role not only in the Latin world, but throughout the world (in my opinion this is logical). Here are my top ten, presented in chronological order (by date of life, naturally):

1. Bartolomé de Las Casas (1484-1566)

Although he was not born in Latin America, his heart belonged to this land. This Dominican friar fought for the freedom and rights of the indigenous population of Latin America at the very beginning of conquest and colonization, standing in the way of those who wanted to exploit and humiliate the natives of this continent. If not for him, the terrible consequences of colonization would have been immeasurably greater.

2. Simon Bolivar (1783-1830)

“The George Washington of South America” paved the difficult path for millions of South Americans to freedom. His charm, coupled with his military acumen, made him the most prominent of the leaders of the Latin American Independence movement. The liberation of the "modern nations" of Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia is his doing.

3.Diego Rivera (1886-1957)

Diego Rivera was not the only Mexican muralist, but he was certainly the most famous. Together with Alfaro Siqueiros and José Orozco, he brought art from museums to city streets.

Chilean broadcaster (1974-1990), Pinochet was a key figure in Operation Condor (a campaign to persecute and destroy political opposition in Chile, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, Bolivia and Brazil with support from the US government in 1970-1980: Intelligence Services these states, acting in a coordinated manner, organized abductions, torture and executions without trial).

5. Fidel Castro (1926 -)

The fiery revolutionary had a strong influence on world politics for fifty years. A thorn in the side of American leaders since the Eisenhower administration, he has been a beacon of resistance for anti-imperialists.

6. Roberto Gomez Bolañes (nicknamed Chespirito) (1929 -)

Not every Latino you meet will answer the question “Who is Bolañes?”, but everyone will know Chespirito, portrayed by Gomez for decades. Gomez has been working in television for 40 years, and meanwhile manages to act in films, write books and compose music.

7. Gabriel Garcia Marquez (1927 -)

He did not invent magical realism, but he became its foremost master. Winner of the 1982 Nobel Prize in Literature, he is Latin America's most celebrated author.

8. Edson Arantes do Nascimento or Pele (1940 -)

Brazil's favorite son and perhaps the best football player of all time. Brazilians' admiration for their idol was one of the reasons for the decrease in racism in his country.
9. Pablo Escobar (1949-1993)

The legendary Colombian drug lord was at one time recognized as almost the richest man in the world (according to Forbes - 7th place). At the height of his power, he was the most powerful man in Colombia and his drug empire stretched its tentacles throughout the world. It is worth noting that he owed his rise in part to the poor population of Colombia, who viewed him as their Robin Hood.

10. Rogiberta Menchu (1959-)

A representative of the indigenous population of Guatemala from the Quiche people of the Mayan group. Human rights activist, fighter for the rights of the indigenous population of Guatemala, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1992 and the Prince of Asturias Award in 1998. UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador. Author of the autobiographical works “I, Rigoberta Menchú” (1983) and “Crossing Borders.”