1. 20
   12
2. 22
   Eight

The South American continent is made up of 12 countries. Even with this small number, the large continent holds more than 422 million people.

1. Venezuela
   Bolivia
2. Uruguay
   Argentina

Due to the relatively large size of most of its countries, South America doesn't have very many landlocked states. In fact, it only has two, Bolivia and Paraguay.

1. Amazon
   Parana
2. Orinoco
   Uruguay

The Amazon River is the longest river in South America. Almost twice the size of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers, it runs for more than 4,300 miles.

1. Sierra Nevada
   Serra do Mar
2. Sierras de Cordoba
   Andes

The Andes are not only the longest mountain range in South America, but it is also the longest in the world. Along the western coast of South America, the Andes are more than 4,300 miles long.

1. Suriname
   Chile
2. French Guiana
   Venezuela

While most South American countries have a history of Spanish settlers, the French settled in what is now French Guiana. Although located ON the continent, it is not considered part of South America and is considered a part of France.

1. Venezuela
   Bolivia
2. Brazil
   Paraguay

Although most of the countries in South America speak Spanish, there are four that do not. It's the largest country on the continent, and the natives of Brazil speak Portuguese. The countries of Guyana and Suriname speak English and Dutch, respectively.

1. Colombia
   Brazil
2. Ecuador
   Paraguay

While many countries are named after an important historical figure, not Ecuador! The Spanish word for equator, Ecuador got it's name since it is crossed by the equator.

1. Lake Maracaibo
   Lagoa dos Patos
2. Lake Eyre
   Lake Titicaca

While probably one of the more well-known lakes of South America, Lake Titicaca is the 4th largest. Around 3,200 miles in area, it is located between the borders of Peru and Bolivia.

1. Argentina
   Venezuela
2. Brazil
   Peru

Christ the Redeemer is one of the great wonders of the world. Found in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the statue stands over 100 feet tall.

1. Niagara Falls
   Tugela Falls
2. Gocta Cataracts
   Angel Falls

Angels Falls, located in Venezuela, is the largest waterfall in the world. It stands at over 3,200 feet.

1. Guyana
   Uruguay
2. Brazil
   Peru

The continent of South America shares borders with both the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean. Since Peru is on the western side of the continent, it shares no border with the Atlantic Ocean.

1. Colombia
   Bolivia
2. Venezuela
   Chile

Brazil is the largest country in South America. Taking up almost half of the area of the continent alone, Brazil shares a border with nine of the 11 other countries. It doesn't share a border with Ecuador or Chile.

1. Cordoba
   Rosario
2. Buenos Aires
   Mara del Plata

Buenos Aires is the capital of Argentina. The city has a population of more than 13 million people.

1. Argentina
   Brazil
2. Chile
   Paraguay

Chile is the most southernmost point in South America. Although it is debated whether its southernmost point is Cabo Froward or Cape Horn, it is definitely a location in the Chilean country.

1. Tropic of Cancer
2. Tropic of Capricorn

The Tropic of Cancer runs through Mexico and a few islands in the Caribbean. The Tropic of Capricorn runs through South America, passing through Chile, Argentina, Paraguay, and Brazil.

1. Spanish
   English
2. Portuguese
   French

While many might think Spanish is the most spoken language in South America, they'd be wrong! Although Spanish comes in at a close second, Portuguese is the most spoken language. The high population of Brazil pushes the language to #1.

1. Colombia
   Bolivia
2. Guyana
   Uruguay

Bolivia is considered to have two capital cities. Sucre is its constitutional capital, while La Paz is considered its administrative capital.

1. Georgetown
   Paramaribo
2. Cayenne
   Port-of-Spain

Georgetown is the largest city and capital of Guyana. The city has just under 120,000 inhabitants.

1. Bering Strait
   Strait of Gibralter
2. Strait of Malacca
   Strait of Magellan

The Strait of Magellan is a narrow strip of water that separates the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. It was named for the Portuguese explorer, Ferdinand Magellan.

1. Brasilia
   Rio de Janeiro
2. Sao Paulo
   Salvador

Although Sao Paulo is the largest city with more than 12 million residents, and Rio de Janeiro might be the biggest tourist city, the capital of Brazil is Brasilia.

1. Indian Ocean
   Pacific Ocean
2. Atlantic Ocean
   Caribbean Sea

South America is not bordered by the Indian Ocean. The continent is bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the west, Atlantic Ocean to the east, and Caribbean Sea to the north.

1. North to South
   East to West
2. West to East
   South to North

Thousands of years ago, the Amazon River once flowed into the Pacific Ocean, but that is no longer the case. The river currently flows from west to east.

1. Carthage
   Machu Picchu
2. Antioch
   Hedeby

Machu Picchu was the ancient civilization of the Incas. Located in Peru, it has become a huge tourist attraction over the years.

1. Bering Strait
   Bay of Pigs
2. Central America
   Hispaniola

While normally called Central America, this strip of land is very much part of North America. Just below Mexico, it connects to the South American continent. It is made up of countries like Belize, Honduras, and Panama.

1. Costa Rica
   Honduras
2. Panama
   Nicaragua

Panama shares a border with the South American continent. It borders Colombia.

1. Maracaibo
   Barquisimeto
2. Valencia
   Caracas

Caracas is the capital city of Venezuela. Also it's largest city, it has over close to 2 million people.

1. Trinidad and Tobago
   Aruba
2. Curacao
   Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic is not an island that is just off the coast of South America. The islands of Aruba, Curacao, and Trinidad and Tobago are just off the coast of the South American continent, all under 500 miles in distance from a South American city.

1. Lima
   Santiago
2. Rio de Janerio
   Sao Paulo

Sao Paulo is the largest city on the South American continent with just over 12 million people. It is also found in the largest country on the continent, Brazil, which has more than 207 million people.

1. Sahara
   Gobi
2. Antarctica
   Atacama

While Antarctica is the driest desert in the world, it is cold. The driest hot desert in the world is Atacama Desert. Located west of the Andes mountain range, it is mostly located on the Chilean coast.

1. Brazil
   Argentina
2. Ecuador
   Peru

The Galapagos Islands are a part of the Republic of Ecuador. It is known for its abundance of volcanoes and unique wildlife.

1. Brazil
   Argentina
2. Colombia
   Venezuela

Argentina houses both the highest and lowest points on the continent. Peninsula Valdes is the lowest point which comes in at -151 ft. below sea level. Aconagua, the highest point of the Andes mountains, stands at over 22,800 feet.

1. Quito
   Lima
2. Sucre
   Asuncion

Lima is the largest city and capital city of Peru. The city also has more than 9 million inhabitants.

1. Uruguay
   Guyana
2. Suriname
   Ecuador

The smallest country in South America is Suriname, which is just over 160,000 square km.

1. Africa
   Asia
2. Europe
   North America

South America is the fourth-largest continent, making it larger than both Europe and Australia. It is fourth, just after Asia, Africa, and North America.

1. Atlantic Ocean
   Pacific Ocean
2. Caribbean Sea
   Gulf of Mexico

For many years, the starting point of the Amazon River has been hard to pinpoint. However, the river definitely flows into the Atlantic Ocean.