(Sample Material) IAS Online Coaching : India & World Geography - "South America"

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Subject: India & World Geography

Topic: South America

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Latitude: 12028'N to 55059'S Longitude : 28051'W to 920W Area: 1,7835,000-sq. km (approximately)

Size and Shape: Fourth largest continent and roughly triangular in shape.

Situation: Situated to the south of North America, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere. It is surrounded by the Caribbean Sea in the north, Atlantic Ocean in the east, Antarctic Ocean in the south and Pacific Ocean in the west.

Extent: North-South : 7640 km East-West : 4990 km

South America as well as Mexico, Central America and West Indies are collectively known as Latin America.

Important Gulfs, Peninsulas and Straits

Name	Information
Gulf of Guayaquil	West of Ecuador in the Pacific Ocean.
Gulf of Penas	Southern Chile in the Pacific Ocean
Gulf of San Jorge	East of Argentina in the Atlantic Ocean.
Gulf of San Matias	North of Valdes Peninsula (Argentina) in the Atlantic Ocean.
Taitao Peninsula	Surrounded by Gulf of Penas and the Pacific Ocean in Southern Chile
Valdes Peninsula (Argentina)	Lowest part of South America surrounded by Gulf of San Matias (North), Gulf of San Jose (West), Gulf of Nuero and the Atlantic Ocean.
Magellan’s Strait	Separates southern end of South America, the Tierra Del Fuego.
Drake Passage	Strait between South America and Antarctica.

Important Lakes and Islands

Name	Location
Lake Maracaibo (12,950 sq. km	North of Venezuela, is one of the major oil producing region. Largest lake of South America.
Lake Titicaca (12,500 feet above sea level)	Situated between Bolivia and Peru. Highest navigable lake in the world.
Lake Popo	Lies in the Altiplano (high Plateau between the Andes mountain chain) in Bolivia.
Galapagos Islands	Home of many unique species of reptiles (turtles), birds and fishes.