Information Density: WorldAtlas – Signal Evidence & AI Readability

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[H2] Featured Articles

Society

[IMG: Vatican City.]

[H3] The 10 Least Populated Countries in the World

Oceans

[IMG: Workers are collecting and removing sea lettuce from Badaguan Beach, China, resulting from algal bloom due to water pollution. Editorial credit: Wang Junqi / Shutterstock.com]

[H3] What Is An Ocean Dead Zone?

Cities

[IMG: Valkenburg aan de Geul is an adorable little town in the southern Dutch province of Limburg, Netherlands. (Credit: Wut_Moppie via Shutterstock)]

[H3] 8 Best Small Towns To Retire In The Netherlands

Geography

[IMG: Iran]

[H3] Which Countries Border Iran?

Animals

[IMG: Red Ruffed Lemur, an endemic species found in the island country of Madagascar.]

[H3] Endemic Species

See More

[IMG: Aerial view of Littleton, New Hampshire. Image Credits: Eli Wilson via Shutterstock]

Cities

[H3] 8 Prettiest Small Towns In New Hampshire

[IMG: Green waters at the crater lake at El Chichón in Chiapas, Mexico.]

Lakes

[H3] The Most Acidic Lakes in North America

[IMG: People walk on the streets of La Paz, Bolivia. Bolivia reports the lowest incomes out of any South American country. Editorial credit: Goran Bogicevic / Shutterstock.com.]

GDP

[H3] The Poorest Countries In South America

[H2] Geography

Rivers

[IMG: Volga River.]

[H3] Major Rivers Of Europe

Bodies of Water

[IMG: Common garter snake.]

[H3] 5 Most Snake-Filled Bodies Of Water In Colorado

Lakes

[IMG: The steamer Daniel J. Morrell after she was launched. By Unknown author, Public Domain, Wikipedia.]

[H3] The Largest Ships Ever Lost on the Great Lakes

Mountains

[IMG: Climbers climb to the top of Mount Everest in Nepal]

[H3] The Most Dangerous Mountains In The World

Geography

[IMG: Syrians celebrate the fall of Assad]

[H3] What Happened To Syria After Assad

See More

[IMG: Wild juvenile cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus)]

Bodies of Water

[H3] 6 Most Snake-Filled Bodies Of Water In Virginia

[IMG: Lake Powell.]

Lakes

[H3] The Largest Man-Made Lakes in the United States

[IMG: Infographic of US Lakes Most Threatened by Invasive Mussels.]

Lakes

[H3] US Lakes Most Threatened by Invasive Mussels

[H3] Popular In Geography

[H3] How Many Countries Are There In Asia?

[H3] What Is The Longest Country Name In The World?

[H3] What Are The Five Regions Of Asia?

[H3] How Many Countries Are In Europe?

[H3] How Many Oceans Are There In The World?

[H3] Latin American Countries

[H3] Countries with Blue and White Flags

[H3] How Many Countries Are There In Africa?

[IMG: map of the largest countries in the world]

[H3] The Largest Countries In The World

[IMG: A map showing the locations of 15 smallest countries in the world]

[H3] The Smallest Countries In The World

[IMG: Political map of the world.]

[H3] How Many Countries Are There In The World?

[IMG: Countries]

[H3] Countries

[H2] Maps

[IMG: map.image_alt]

[H3] United States

[IMG: map.image_alt]

[H3] India

[IMG: map.image_alt]

[H3] China

[IMG: map.image_alt]

[H3] Australia

[IMG: map.image_alt]

[H3] Japan

[IMG: map.image_alt]

[H3] Italy

[IMG: map.image_alt]

[H3] Spain

[IMG: map.image_alt]

[H3] The United Arab Emirates

See More

[H3] Continents & Subcontinents

[H2] North America

[H2] Caribbean

[H2] Central America

[H2] South America

[H2] Europe

[H2] Africa

[H2] Middle East

[H2] Asia

[H2] Oceania

[H2] Arctic

[H2] Antarctica

[H3] World Administrative Divisions

[IMG: Physical Map of Florida. It shows the physical features of Florida, including mountain ranges, rivers, lakes, coastal plains, the swampy Everglades and islands of Florida Keys..]

[H3] Florida

[IMG: Physical Map of Hawaii. It shows the physical features of Hawaii including its islands, mountain ranges and small rivers.]

[H3] Hawaii

[IMG: Physical Map of Alaska. It shows the physical features of Alaska including its mountain ranges, rivers and major lakes.]

[H3] Alaska

[IMG: Physical Map of Michigan. It shows the physical features of Michigan including its mountain ranges, rivers and major lakes.]

[H3] Michigan

[IMG: Physical Map of North Carolina. It shows the physical features of North Carolina including its mountain ranges, major rivers and lakes.]

[H3] North Carolina

[IMG: Physical Map of England. It shows the physical features of England, including mountain ranges, important rivers, and major lakes.]

[H3] England

[IMG: Physical Map of Alberta. It shows the physical features of Alberta, including mountain ranges, important rivers, major lakes, Great Plains and National Parks.]

[H3] Alberta

[IMG: Physical Map of Rhode Island. It shows the physical features of Rhode Island including its mountain ranges, rivers and major islands.]

[H3] Rhode Island

[IMG: Physical Map of Nova Scotia. It shows the physical features of Nova Scotia, including mountain ranges, important rivers, and major lakes.]

[H3] Nova Scotia

[IMG: Physical Map of Tennessee. It shows the physical features of Tennessee including its mountain ranges, major rivers and lakes.]

[H3] Tennessee

[IMG: Physical Map of Delaware. It shows the physical features of Delaware including its mountain ranges, coastal plains, major rivers and lakes.]

[H3] Delaware

[IMG: Physical Map of Scotland. It shows the physical features of Scotland, including mountain ranges, notable rivers and island groups.]

[H3] Scotland

[H2] Flags Of The World

[IMG: Flag of United States]

[H3] United States

[IMG: Flag of India]

[H3] India

[IMG: Flag of China]

[H3] China

[IMG: Flag of Sweden]

[H3] Sweden

[IMG: Flag of Argentina]

[H3] Argentina

[IMG: Flag of Venezuela]

[H3] Venezuela

[IMG: Flag of Spain]

[H3] Spain

[IMG: Flag of Fiji]

[H3] Fiji

[IMG: Flag of Colombia]

[H3] Colombia

[IMG: Flag of Chile]

[H3] Chile

[IMG: Flag of Mexico]

[H3] Mexico

[IMG: Flag of Guatemala]

[H3] Guatemala

[IMG: Flag of Brazil]

[H3] Brazil

[IMG: Flag of El Salvador]

[H3] El Salvador

[IMG: Flag of Norway]

[H3] Norway

[IMG: Flag of Dominican Republic]

[H3] Dominican Republic

[IMG: Flag of Uruguay]

[H3] Uruguay

[IMG: Flag of Peru]

[H3] Peru

See More

[H2] History & Society

Society

[IMG: The Maldives, the least populated country in Asia.]

[H3] The 10 Least Populated Countries In Asia

Sports

[IMG: Statue of Chandragupta Maurya, founder of the Maurya Empire, in New Delhi, India.]

[H3] The Largest Empires In The History Of India

Ancient World

[IMG: Cruelty was a source of entertainment in ancient Rome. Illustration by Jean-Léon Gérôme.]

[H3] The Dark Side Of The Roman Empire

History

[IMG: Sweden has never been invaded by Britain.]

[H3] Which Countries Were Never Invaded By Britain?

Industries

[IMG: Weaving loom for carpets in Iran.]

[H3] The World's Top 10 Wool Producing Countries

See More

[IMG: Iran produces more pistachios than any other nation in the world.]

Industries

[H3] What Are The Major Natural Resources Of Iran?

[IMG: Roman Republic, 50 BCE (Shuaaa2, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons)]

Ancient World

[H3] How Rome Became A Superpower

[IMG: Naqa is a ruined ancient city of the Kushitic Kingdom of Meroe in modern-day Sudan]

Ancient World

[H3] The One-Eyed African Queen Who Defeated the Great Roman Empire

[H2] Science & Nature

Space

[IMG: Mars]

[H3] Will Humans Ever Go To Mars?

Climate

[IMG: Aerial view of Bar Harbor, Maine.]

[H3] The 10 US Cities With the Shortest Summers

Animals

[IMG: Grizzly bear with an open mouth, roaring at a salmon mid-air as it jumps upstream in a rushing waterfall, captured in wild action.]

[H3] Grizzly Bear

Ecosystems

[IMG: Japan has its own unique ecoregions due to the relative isolation of the country from mainland Asia.]

[H3] The Ecological Regions Of Japan

Conservation

[IMG: Ocean pollution is a major global threat to today. Image credit: Roman Mikhailiuk/shutterstock.com]

[H3] The Causes And Effects Of Ocean Pollution

See More

[IMG: Educational program by Mabula Ground Hornbill Project to raise awareness about the conservation of Southern ground hornbills in Africa. Image by: ©NthabisengMonama]

Conservation

[H3] Africa's "Thunderbird" Is At Risk Of Extinction

[IMG: Earth]

Space

[H3] How Fast Is The Earth Moving?

[IMG: Comet 1P/Halley as taken March 8, 1986 by W. Liller, Easter Island, part of the International Halley Watch (IHW) Large Scale Phenomena Network.]

Space

[H3] Halley's Comet

[H2] Places & Travel

Cities

[IMG: Poipu Beach on the South Shore of Kauai, Hawaii, full of tourists on a sunny day, with tall palms in Koloa, Hawaii. Image credit bluestork via Shutterstock.]

[H3] 8 Prettiest Small Towns In Hawaii

Cities

[IMG: Downtown Jackson, Wyoming. Image by f11photo via Shutterstock.]

[H3] 12 Storybook Towns In Wyoming

Cities

[IMG: Leavenworth, Washington. Editorial Photo Credit: Just dance via Shutterstock.]

[H3] 12 Cutest Small Towns In Washington For 2026

Cities

[IMG: Rod Benders Car Club annual June show in Bonners Ferry, Idaho. Image credit David J. Mitchell via Shutterstock]

[H3] 9 Best Small Towns To Retire In Idaho

Cities

[IMG: Telluride Colorado Landscape with Passing Summer Rain Storm]

[H3] 10 Safest Towns In Colorado For Senior Living

See More

[IMG: London Tower Bridge, the UK. Sunset with beautiful clouds]

Cities

[H3] The 15 Most Visited Cities n Europe

[IMG: Mont Saint Michel in Normandy, France.]

Cities

[H3] 8 Whimsical Towns in France

[IMG: The gorgeous skyline of Sydney.]

Cities

[H3] 9 Best Places To Live In Australia

[H2] Countries

[IMG: Afghanistan]

[H3] Afghanistan

Population
33,332,025

GDP
$64.08 Billion

GDP / Capita
$2,000

Capital City
Kabul

ISO alpha-2
AF
ISO alpha-3
AFG

Dialing Code
+93

[IMG: Albania]

[H3] Albania

Population
3,038,594

GDP
$33.90 Billion

GDP / Capita
$11,900

Capital City
Tirana

ISO alpha-2
AL
ISO alpha-3
ALB

Dialing Code
+355

[IMG: Algeria]

[H3] Algeria

Population
40,263,711

GDP
$609.00 Billion

GDP / Capita
$15,000

Capital City
Algiers

ISO alpha-2
DZ
ISO alpha-3
DZA

Dialing Code
+213

[IMG: Andorra]

[H3] Andorra

Population
85,660

GDP
$3.33 Billion

GDP / Capita
$49,900

Capital City
Andorra la Vella

ISO alpha-2
AD
ISO alpha-3
AND

Dialing Code
+376

[IMG: Angola]

[H3] Angola

Population
25,789,024

GDP
$189.00 Billion

GDP / Capita
$6,800

Capital City
Luanda

ISO alpha-2
AO
ISO alpha-3
AGO

Dialing Code
+244

[IMG: Antigua and Barbuda]

[H3] Antigua and Barbuda

Population
93,581

GDP
$2.17 Billion

GDP / Capita
$24,100

Capital City
St. John's

ISO alpha-2
AG
ISO alpha-3
ATG

Dialing Code
+1-268

[IMG: Argentina]

[H3] Argentina

Population
43,886,748

GDP
$879.00 Billion

GDP / Capita
$20,200

Capital City
Buenos Aires

ISO alpha-2
AR
ISO alpha-3
ARG

Dialing Code
+54

[IMG: Armenia]

[H3] Armenia

Population
3,051,250

GDP
$26.30 Billion

GDP / Capita
$8,900

Capital City
Yerevan

ISO alpha-2
AM
ISO alpha-3
ARM

Dialing Code
+374

[IMG: Australia]

[H3] Australia

Population
22,992,654

GDP
$1.19 Trillion

GDP / Capita
$48,800

Capital City
Canberra

ISO alpha-2
AU
ISO alpha-3
AUS

Dialing Code
+61

[IMG: Austria]

[H3] Austria

Population
8,711,770

GDP
$417.00 Billion

GDP / Capita
$47,900

Capital City
Vienna

ISO alpha-2
AT
ISO alpha-3
AUT

Dialing Code
+43

[IMG: Azerbaijan]

[H3] Azerbaijan

Population
9,872,765

GDP
$166.00 Billion

GDP / Capita
$17,700

Capital City
Baku

ISO alpha-2
AZ
ISO alpha-3
AZE

Dialing Code
+994

[IMG: Bahamas]

[H3] Bahamas

Population
327,316

GDP
$9.07 Billion

Capital City
Nassau

ISO alpha-2
BS
ISO alpha-3
BHS

Dialing Code
+1-242

[IMG: Bahrain]

[H3] Bahrain

Population
1,378,904

GDP
$66.37 Billion

GDP / Capita
$50,300

Capital City
Manama

ISO alpha-2
BH
ISO alpha-3
BHR

Dialing Code
+973

[IMG: Bangladesh]

[H3] Bangladesh

Population
156,186,882

GDP
$628.00 Billion

GDP / Capita
$3,900

Capital City
Dhaka

ISO alpha-2
BD
ISO alpha-3
BGD

Dialing Code
+880

[IMG: Barbados]

[H3] Barbados

Population
291,495

GDP
$4.80 Billion

GDP / Capita
$17,200

Capital City
Bridgetown

ISO alpha-2
BB
ISO alpha-3
BRB

Dialing Code
+1-246

[IMG: Belarus]

[H3] Belarus

Population
9,570,376

GDP
$166.00 Billion

GDP / Capita
$17,500

Capital City
Minsk

ISO alpha-2
BY
ISO alpha-3
BLR

Dialing Code
+375

[IMG: Belgium]

[H3] Belgium

Population
11,409,077

GDP
$509.00 Billion

GDP / Capita
$44,900

Capital City
Brussels

ISO alpha-2
BE
ISO alpha-3
BEL

Dialing Code
+32

[IMG: Belize]

[H3] Belize

Population
353,858

GDP
$3.09 Billion

GDP / Capita
$8,200

Capital City
Belmopan

ISO alpha-2
BZ
ISO alpha-3
BLZ

Dialing Code
+501

[IMG: Benin]

[H3] Benin

Population
10,741,458

GDP
$24.31 Billion

GDP / Capita
$2,200

Capital City
Porto-Novo

ISO alpha-2
BJ
ISO alpha-3
BEN

Dialing Code
+229

[IMG: Bhutan]

[H3] Bhutan

Population
750,125

GDP
$6.43 Billion

GDP / Capita
$8,100

Capital City
Thimphu

ISO alpha-2
BT
ISO alpha-3
BTN

Dialing Code
+975

[IMG: Bolivia]

[H3] Bolivia

Population
10,969,649

GDP
$78.66 Billion

GDP / Capita
$7,200

Capital City
La Paz

ISO alpha-2
BO
ISO alpha-3
BOL

Dialing Code
+591

[IMG: Bosnia and Herzegovina]

[H3] Bosnia and Herzegovina

Population
3,861,912

GDP
$42.53 Billion

GDP / Capita
$11,000

Capital City
Sarajevo

ISO alpha-2
BA
ISO alpha-3
BIH

Dialing Code
+387

[IMG: Botswana]

[H3] Botswana

Population
2,209,208

GDP
$35.90 Billion

GDP / Capita
$16,900

Capital City
Gaborone

ISO alpha-2
BW
ISO alpha-3
BWA

Dialing Code
+267

[IMG: Brazil]

[H3] Brazil

Population
205,823,665

GDP
$3.08 Trillion

GDP / Capita
$14,800

Capital City
Brasilia

ISO alpha-2
BR
ISO alpha-3
BRA

Dialing Code
+55

[IMG: Brunei]

[H3] Brunei

Population
436,620

GDP
$33.73 Billion

GDP / Capita
$79,700

Capital City
Bandar Seri Begawan

ISO alpha-2
BN
ISO alpha-3
BRN

Dialing Code
+673

[IMG: Bulgaria]

[H3] Bulgaria

Population
7,144,653

GDP
$143.00 Billion

GDP / Capita
$20,100

Capital City
Sofia

ISO alpha-2
BG
ISO alpha-3
BGR

Dialing Code
+359

[IMG: Burkina Faso]

[H3] Burkina Faso

Population
19,512,533

GDP
$32.99 Billion

GDP / Capita
$1,800

Capital City
Ouagadougou

ISO alpha-2
BF
ISO alpha-3
BFA

Dialing Code
+226

[IMG: Burundi]

[H3] Burundi

Population
11,099,298

GDP
$7.89 Billion

GDP / Capita
$800

Capital City
Bujumbura

ISO alpha-2
BI
ISO alpha-3
BDI

Dialing Code
+257

[IMG: Cambodia]

[H3] Cambodia

Population
15,957,223

GDP
$58.94 Billion

GDP / Capita
$3,700

Capital City
Phnom Penh

ISO alpha-2
KH
ISO alpha-3
KHM

Dialing Code
+855

[IMG: Cameroon]

[H3] Cameroon

Population
24,360,803

GDP
$77.24 Billion

GDP / Capita
$3,300

Capital City
Yaounde

ISO alpha-2
CM
ISO alpha-3
CMR

Dialing Code
+237

[IMG: Canada]

[H3] Canada

Population
35,362,905

GDP
$1.67 Trillion

GDP / Capita
$46,200

Capital City
Ottawa

ISO alpha-2
CA
ISO alpha-3
CAN

Dialing Code
+1

[IMG: Cape Verde]

[H3] Cape Verde

Population
553,432

GDP
$3.58 Billion

GDP / Capita
$6,700

Capital City
Praia

ISO alpha-2
CV
ISO alpha-3
CPV

Dialing Code
+238

[IMG: Central African Republic]

[H3] Central African Republic

Population
5,507,257

GDP
$3.21 Billion

GDP / Capita
$700

Capital City
Bangui

ISO alpha-2
CF
ISO alpha-3
CAF

Dialing Code
+236

[IMG: Chad]

[H3] Chad

Population
11,852,462

GDP
$30.59 Billion

GDP / Capita
$2,600

Capital City
N'Djamena

ISO alpha-2
TD
ISO alpha-3
TCD

Dialing Code
+235

[IMG: Chile]

[H3] Chile

Population
17,650,114

GDP
$436.00 Billion

GDP / Capita
$24,000

Capital City
Santiago

ISO alpha-2
CL
ISO alpha-3
CHL

Dialing Code
+56

[IMG: China]

[H3] China

Population
1,373,541,278

GDP
$21.10 Trillion

GDP / Capita
$14,600

Capital City
Beijing

ISO alpha-2
CN
ISO alpha-3
CHN

Dialing Code
+86

[IMG: Colombia]

[H3] Colombia

Population
47,220,856

GDP
$688.00 Billion

GDP / Capita
$14,100

Capital City
Bogota

ISO alpha-2
CO
ISO alpha-3
COL

Dialing Code
+57

[IMG: Comoros]

[H3] Comoros

Population
794,678

GDP
$1.26 Billion

GDP / Capita
$1,500

Capital City
Moroni

ISO alpha-2
KM
ISO alpha-3
COM

Dialing Code
+269

[IMG: Republic of the Congo]

[H3] Republic of the Congo

Population
4,852,412

GDP
$30.27 Billion

Capital City
Brazzaville

ISO alpha-2
CG
ISO alpha-3
COG

Dialing Code
+242

[IMG: Costa Rica]

[H3] Costa Rica

Population
4,872,543

GDP
$79.26 Billion

GDP / Capita
$16,100

Capital City
San Jose

ISO alpha-2
CR
ISO alpha-3
CRI

Dialing Code
+506

[IMG: Ivory Coast]

[H3] Ivory Coast

Population
23,740,424

GDP
$87.12 Billion

GDP / Capita
$3,600

Capital City
Yamoussoukro

ISO alpha-2
CI
ISO alpha-3
CIV

Dialing Code
+225

[IMG: Croatia]

[H3] Croatia

Population
4,313,707

GDP
$94.24 Billion

GDP / Capita
$22,400

Capital City
Zagreb

ISO alpha-2
HR
ISO alpha-3
HRV

Dialing Code
+385

[IMG: Cuba]

[H3] Cuba

Population
11,179,995

GDP
$133.00 Billion

GDP / Capita
$11,900

Capital City
Havana

ISO alpha-2
CU
ISO alpha-3
CUB

Dialing Code
+53

[IMG: Cyprus]

[H3] Cyprus

Population
1,205,575

GDP
$29.26 Billion

GDP / Capita
$34,400

Capital City
Nicosia

ISO alpha-2
CY
ISO alpha-3
CYP

Dialing Code
+357

[IMG: Czech Republic]

[H3] Czech Republic

Population
10,644,842

GDP
$351.00 Billion

GDP / Capita
$33,200

Capital City
Prague

ISO alpha-2
CZ
ISO alpha-3
CZE

Dialing Code
+420

[IMG: Democratic Republic of the Congo]

[H3] Democratic Republic of the Congo

Population
81,331,050

GDP
$65.04 Billion

Capital City
Kinshasa

ISO alpha-2
CD
ISO alpha-3
COD

Dialing Code
+243

[IMG: Denmark]

[H3] Denmark

Population
5,593,785

GDP
$265.00 Billion

GDP / Capita
$46,600

Capital City
Copenhagen

ISO alpha-2
DK
ISO alpha-3
DNK

Dialing Code
+45

[IMG: Djibouti]

[H3] Djibouti

Population
846,687

GDP
$3.35 Billion

GDP / Capita
$3,400

Capital City
Djibouti

ISO alpha-2
DJ
ISO alpha-3
DJI

Dialing Code
+253

[IMG: Dominica]

[H3] Dominica

Population
73,757

GDP
$812.00 Million

GDP / Capita
$11,400

Capital City
Roseau

ISO alpha-2
DM
ISO alpha-3
DMA

Dialing Code
+1-767

[IMG: Dominican Republic]

[H3] Dominican Republic

Population
10,606,865

GDP
$162.00 Billion

GDP / Capita
$15,900

Capital City
Santo Domingo

ISO alpha-2
DO
ISO alpha-3
DOM

Dialing Code
+1-809 and

[IMG: Ecuador]

[H3] Ecuador

Population
16,080,778

GDP
$182.00 Billion

GDP / Capita
$11,000

Capital City
Quito

ISO alpha-2
EC
ISO alpha-3
ECU

Dialing Code
+593

[IMG: Egypt]

[H3] Egypt

Population
94,666,993

GDP
$1.11 Trillion

GDP / Capita
$12,100

Capital City
Cairo

ISO alpha-2
EG
ISO alpha-3
EGY

Dialing Code
+20

[IMG: El Salvador]

[H3] El Salvador

Population
6,156,670

GDP
$54.79 Billion

GDP / Capita
$8,900

Capital City
San Salvador

ISO alpha-2
SV
ISO alpha-3
SLV

Dialing Code
+503

[IMG: Equatorial Guinea]

[H3] Equatorial Guinea

Population
759,451

GDP
$31.77 Billion

GDP / Capita
$38,700

Capital City
Malabo

ISO alpha-2
GQ
ISO alpha-3
GNQ

Dialing Code
+240

[IMG: Eritrea]

[H3] Eritrea

Population
5,869,869

GDP
$9.17 Billion

GDP / Capita
$1,300

Capital City
Asmara

ISO alpha-2
ER
ISO alpha-3
ERI

Dialing Code
+291

[IMG: Estonia]

[H3] Estonia

Population
1,258,545

GDP
$38.93 Billion

GDP / Capita
$29,500

Capital City
Tallinn

ISO alpha-2
EE
ISO alpha-3
EST

Dialing Code
+372

[IMG: Eswatini]

[H3] Eswatini

Population
1,451,428

GDP
$10.94 Billion

GDP / Capita
$9,800

Capital City
Mbabane

ISO alpha-2
SZ
ISO alpha-3
SWZ

Dialing Code
+268

[IMG: Ethiopia]

[H3] Ethiopia

Population
102,374,044

GDP
$175.00 Billion

GDP / Capita
$1,900

Capital City
Addis Ababa

ISO alpha-2
ET
ISO alpha-3
ETH

Dialing Code
+251

[IMG: Fiji]

[H3] Fiji

Population
915,303

GDP
$8.37 Billion

GDP / Capita
$9,400

Capital City
Suva

ISO alpha-2
FJ
ISO alpha-3
FJI

Dialing Code
+679

[IMG: Finland]

[H3] Finland

Population
5,498,211

GDP
$226.00 Billion

GDP / Capita
$40,600

Capital City
Helsinki

ISO alpha-2
FI
ISO alpha-3
FIN

Dialing Code
+358

[IMG: France]

[H3] France

Population
66,836,154

GDP
$2.70 Trillion

GDP / Capita
$42,400

Capital City
Paris

ISO alpha-2
FR
ISO alpha-3
FRA

Dialing Code
+33

[IMG: Gabon]

[H3] Gabon

Population
1,738,541

GDP
$35.98 Billion

GDP / Capita
$19,300

Capital City
Libreville

ISO alpha-2
GA
ISO alpha-3
GAB

Dialing Code
+241

[IMG: Gambia]

[H3] Gambia

Population
2,009,648

GDP
$3.39 Billion

Capital City
Banjul

ISO alpha-2
GM
ISO alpha-3
GMB

Dialing Code
+220

[IMG: Georgia]

[H3] Georgia

Population
4,928,052

GDP
$37.27 Billion

GDP / Capita
$10,100

Capital City
Tbilisi

ISO alpha-2
GE
ISO alpha-3
GEO

Dialing Code
+995

[IMG: Germany]

[H3] Germany

Population
80,722,792

GDP
$3.98 Trillion

GDP / Capita
$48,200

Capital City
Berlin

ISO alpha-2
DE
ISO alpha-3
DEU

Dialing Code
+49

[IMG: Ghana]

[H3] Ghana

Population
26,908,262

GDP
$121.00 Billion

GDP / Capita
$4,400

Capital City
Accra

ISO alpha-2
GH
ISO alpha-3
GHA

Dialing Code
+233

[IMG: Greece]

[H3] Greece

Population
10,773,253

GDP
$291.00 Billion

GDP / Capita
$26,800

Capital City
Athens

ISO alpha-2
GR
ISO alpha-3
GRC

Dialing Code
+30

[IMG: Grenada]

[H3] Grenada

Population
111,219

GDP
$1.51 Billion

GDP / Capita
$14,100

Capital City
St. George's

ISO alpha-2
GD
ISO alpha-3
GRD

Dialing Code
+1-473

[IMG: Guatemala]

[H3] Guatemala

Population
15,189,958

GDP
$132.00 Billion

GDP / Capita
$7,900

Capital City
Guatemala City

ISO alpha-2
GT
ISO alpha-3
GTM

Dialing Code
+502

[IMG: Guinea]

[H3] Guinea

Population
12,093,349

GDP
$16.08 Billion

GDP / Capita
$1,300

Capital City
Conakry

ISO alpha-2
GN
ISO alpha-3
GIN

Dialing Code
+224

[IMG: Guinea-Bissau]

[H3] Guinea-Bissau

Population
1,759,159

GDP
$2.85 Billion

GDP / Capita
$1,600

Capital City
Bissau

ISO alpha-2
GW
ISO alpha-3
GNB

Dialing Code
+245

[IMG: Guyana]

[H3] Guyana

Population
735,909

GDP
$6.05

Home

Continents

North America

[IMG: Map of North America]

[H2] North America History

Anthropologists believe that North America's initial inhabitants arrived around 40,000 years ago by traversing the
Bering Strait. Some experts feel that by using primitive boats, early man also migrated down the Pacific coast to South America; that debate continues.

There is scientific evidence connecting indigenous Americans to Asian peoples, specifically from the eastern
Siberian populations. Indigenous peoples of the Americas have been linked to North Asian populations by linguistic dialects and blood types.

After the last glacial period ended some 12,500 years back, a wide variety of prehistoric cultures developed across the continent, north to south. The development of stone tools was one of the factors instrumental in that successful expansion.

[IMG: early hunter]

Long before the
Europeans arrived, small groups developed throughout the Americas. Across the Great Plains hunter-gatherers existed on wild plants and animals, but they were eventually replaced by more sophisticated bands that farmed the land, raised some animals and improved their hunting skills.

At about the time of Christ, the brown-skinned
Arawak People migrated from Venezuela to the Lesser Antilles. Small groups settled on many islands in the southeastern Caribbean, eventually reaching the Greater Antilles, creating their largest settlements on the islands of Cuba, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, and Jamaica

In the far-southern reaches of the continent important cultural advances were made by the Maya civilization. They developed written language, as well as far-reaching advances in art, architecture, astronomical systems and mathematics. From the years 250 to 900, they were at the pinnacle of their power.

In
North America, sophisticated pre-Columbian cultures continued to develop. Across regions of what is now the United States, social organization were building mound complexes, with some supporting sizable communities year-round.

Native American societies continued to spread; the Inuit and the Aleut lived in domed-shaped dwellings in the
Arctic regions while large groups inhabited the Subarctic parts of Alaska and western Canada. From the Northeast to the Southeast, and from the Plains to the Southwest, the expansion continued unabated.

As large groups gained additional knowledge, they began to farm some familiar crops now used around the world, such as tomatoes and squash. Perhaps most importantly they developed farming techniques for one of the planet's major foods, maize (corn).

[IMG: vikings]

The Vikings were seafaring north Germanic people who raided, traded, explored, and settled in wide areas of
Europe, Asia, and the North Atlantic islands from the late 8th to the mid-11th centuries. Using sturdy wooden longships they traveled as far west as Iceland, Greenland, and Newfoundland. Leif Erikson is believed to have reached the Island of Newfoundland, Canada - circa 1000 AD

In the 13th century, central Mexico was the center of the Aztec civilization. The Mayan culture was fading and the Aztec Empire now stretched across most of Mesoamerica, from
Mexico to Belize, Guatemala,El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and northern Costa Rica.

In 1492, after proposing a voyage of discovery to the then mostly-imagined New World, Christopher Columbus left
Spain on an epic journey, financed by Isabella I and Ferdinand II, Queen and King of Spain. Within a few months he reached land in the Bahamas, and North America would change forever.

After Columbus made his initial voyage to this New World, word of its potential riches spread across
Europe and explorers and settlers by the thousands would eventually step ashore along the Atlantic Ocean coastline of North America.

John Cabot explored the east coast of what would become
Canada in 1497. Giovanni da Verrazzano explored the East Coast of North America from Florida to eastern Canada in 1524, and Jacques Cartier made a series of voyages on behalf of the French crown in 1534 and penetrated the St. Lawrence River.

In 1500, the Spanish made their move to colonize parts of the New World. The city of Nueva Cádiz was founded on the Venezuela island of
Cubaqua. In 1510 they established Santa María la Antigua del Darien near the border of Colombia and Panama: these were the first European settlements in the Americas.

The first mainland Spanish explorations were a series of inland expeditions that led to the conquest of
Mexico and the Yucatan Peninsula. In 1513, Vasco Nunez de Balboa crossed the Isthmus of Panama to find gold, but instead led the first European expedition to the Pacific Ocean and the west coast of the New World.

[IMG: balboa]

Balboa then claimed the
Pacific Ocean and all the lands adjoining it for the Spanish Crown. Hernan Cortes and his conquistadors came ashore at present day Veracruz, Mexico on April 22, 1519, and it marked the beginning of 300 years of dominate Spanish influence over most of Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean.

In 1539, Hernando de Soto landed at
Tampa Bay in what is now the US State of Florida. With 600 soldiers in tow, his goal was to find gold for the Spanish Crown. At that same time natives on the continent lived without fear as they were ignorant of the outside world. Soon their innocence disappeared, as Europeans began to stake their claims, frequently in brutal ways.

As a result of European exploration the Native American population declined substantially, primarily due to the introduction of European diseases to which the Native Americans lacked immunity, as well as from violent conflicts where they were no match for European fire power.

Not to be outdone,
Britain and France (as well as Spain) were beginning to establish extensive territories in the northern reaches of the continent. Even lesser-powers like the Netherlands and Sweden laid claim to smaller parts.

The first French settlements were established at Port Royal (1604) and
Quebec City (1608) in what is now Nova Scotia and Quebec, Canada. In 1607, the first successful English settlement was built at Jamestown, Virgina, followed by the Plymouth, Massachusetts colony in 1620.

Near the end of the 17th century the colonialism of North America was at full speed, and inevitable disagreements and greed were the genesis for a series of regional wars, and some of the European territories changed hands multiple times. In fact, the Caribbean island of
Tobago changed hands 33 times.

[IMG: 1776 flag]

In the middle of the 18th century, independence movements were on the front-burner across the continent. An American Revolution was brewing within the English colonies,
Spain's hold on Mexico was weakening and slave revolts were common in the Caribbean.

By the end of the century, a handful of independence movements came to fruition across the North America continent. The
13 original British Colonies declared independence in 1776, and after the American Revolutionary War ended in 1783, they became the United States of America. Canada was formed from the unification of northern territories once controlled by Britain and France.

The new country of America's 1803
Louisiana Purchase from France almost doubled its size overnight. This massive transfer of land included all of present-day Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa; most of Colorado, South Dakota, Montana and Wyoming, as well as significant parts of North Dakota, Minnesota, Texas and Louisiana.

New Spain, a territory that stretched from the southwestern modern-day U.S. through
Central America declared independence in 1810, becoming the First Mexican Empire. Guatemala, then part of that Mexican Empire, became the first independent state in Central America.

[IMG: war of 1812]

For many reasons, including the possibility of America's interest in annexing
Canada, the War of 1812 began when the United States declared war on the British. The 32-month military conflict (fought on many fronts) resulted in no territorial change between the British Empire and the USA, but a resolution of many issues which remained from the American War of Independence.

With space too limited here to detail, we highlight a series of important land agreements and compromises that occurred in North America through the end of the 19th century. They include: The Republic of Texas formed as an independent sovereign nation in 1836; the Rebellions of 1837 in Lower and Upper Canada; the creation of the Mexican Empire, with the support of Napoleon III of France in 1864, and the creation of the Dominion of Canada in 1867.

Arguably, the two most devastating events on the North America continent were the American Civil War (from 1861 to 1865), a conflict that led to the end of slavery in the United States, but it brought destruction to most of the South, and a tremendous loss of life. It was followed by the United States government fighting numerous Indian Wars against the Native Americans for land acquisition; tens of thousands died as a result.

Following the Civil War, America's intervention into
Latin America and elsewhere expanded. The 1867 Alaska Purchase was the acquisition of what is now the US State of Alaska from the Russian Empire. During the Spanish–American War of 1898, the US seized several colonies from Spain including Cuba and Puerto Rico.

[IMG: panama canal]

In 1914, the
Panama Canal opened. the 48-mile (77.1 km) ship canal in Panama connecting the Atlantic Ocean (via the Caribbean Sea) to the Pacific Ocean enabled ships to avoid the lengthy Cape Horn route around the southernmost tip of South America.

At the end of World War I (fought from 1914 to 1918 in Europe) the early 20th century brought an age of great prosperity to the United States, and to a lesser degree Canada. But the Stock Market Crash of 1929 was the most devastating stock market crash in the history of the United States, and that crash affected all Western industrialized countries and did not end in the United States until the onset of American mobilization for World War II in 1941.

In Mexico, from 1936 to 1949, there was a popular uprising against the anti-Catholic government. In the Caribbean, many islands witnessed the beginnings of decolonization, while on the island of Cuba, the Cuban Revolution introduced the Soviet Union (now Russia) into Latin America.

World War II was a global conflict that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's nations—including all of the great powers, including Canada and the US. The destruction of Europe wrought by the war vaulted all North American countries to more important roles in world affairs, and the United States emerged as a "superpower."

Mexico also experienced an era of huge economic growth after World War II, a heavy industrialization process and a growth of its middle class, a period known in Mexican history as the "El Milagro Mexicano" (Mexican miracle). In 1960,
Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua banded together to find a common economic bond.

In 1962,
Guatemala, and Trinidad and Tobago became politically independent. This event ushered in a period of formal decolonization of the English-speaking Caribbean. Since 1962, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago were joined by Antigua, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, St. Lucia and St. Vincent.

The early Cold War era saw the United States as the most powerful nation in a Western coalition of which
Mexico and Canada were also a part. At home, the United States witnessed violent change especially in the area of race relations. In Canada this was mirrored by the Quiet Revolution and the emergence of Quebec nationalism.

During this time the United States became involved in the
Vietnam War. That war would later prove to be highly divisive in American society, and American troops were withdrawn. Canada during this era was dominated by the leadership of Pierre Elliot Trudeau. Eventually in 1982 at the end of his tenure, Canada had a new constitution.

[IMG: nafta]

Major changes continued into the 21st century:
Mexico experienced a strong economic recession in the 1980s, the Canada-United States Free Trade Agreement was reached in January 1989, and on January 1, 1994, Canada, Mexico and the United States of America signed the North American Free Trade Agreement, creating the world's largest free trade area.

Those major economic events were followed by the 9/11 attacks on the United States, and the subsequent war in
Afghanistan - participated in by Canada and the US. In 2006, the violent drug war spread from Central America to Canada, and that human tragedy reached a deadly peak in Mexico in the last few years. In 2008, a financial crisis that began the United States eventually triggered a worldwide recession, an economic slowdown that has now wained some.

Surviving powerful earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, contentious immigration issues and isolated terrorism attacks, the
twenty-three countries and the dozens of possessions and territories within North America have found ways to (for the most part) co-exist in peace, and to economically benefit by working together. Today the diverse and massive continent of North America present a bright potential future for all of its people, and for that matter, much of the modern world.

[H2] North America Geography Notes

Two of North America's most interesting geographical features are the Great Plains and the Mississippi River System; both impressive in so many ways.

Great Plains:
The Great Plains of North America slope east from the Rockies and extend to the edge of the Canadian Shield and the western edges of the Appalachians. The land is generally smooth with large treeless areas and shallow river valleys. Minor hills and mountains are found in the Ozark Plateau of Missouri, and in the Boston Mountains and Ouachita Mountains of northwestern Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma. Sandhills and buttes cover parts of the north central U.S. in Nebraska.

Mississippi River System: It is the major river of North America and the United States at (2,339 miles) (3,765 km) in length. It flows from northwestern Minnesota south to the Gulf of Mexico, just below the city of New Orleans. It is a significant transportation artery and when combined with its major tributaries (the Missouri and Ohio rivers) it becomes the third largest river system in th

Home

Continents

Caribbean

[IMG: Map of Caribbean]

[H2] Caribbean Description

The Caribbean, long referred to as the
West Indies, includes more than 7,000 islands; of those, 13 are independent island countries (shown in red on the map), and some are dependencies or overseas territories of other nations.

In addition, that large number includes islets (
very small rocky islands); cay's (small, low islands composed largely of coral or sand) and a few inhabited reefs: See Belize.

In geographical terms the Caribbean area includes the Caribbean Sea and all of the islands located to the southeast of the Gulf of Mexico, east of Central America and Mexico, and to the north of South America. Some of its counted cay's, islands, islets and inhabited reefs front the handful of countries that border the region.

The
Bahamas and Turks and Caicos are not considered a part of the Caribbean, however, we show them here because of their cultural, geographical and political associations with the Greater Antilles and other Caribbean Islands.

At the beginning of the 15th century the population of the Caribbean was estimated to be nearly 900,000 indigenous people immediately before European contact.

[IMG: columbus]

Then in 1492, Christopher Columbus, the Italian explorer began his exploration of the Caribbean, becoming the first
European to venture into the area.

After reportedly landing in the eastern Bahamas, Columbus named these islands the
Indies, because he thought he had finally reached Asia (and the East Indies).

Numerous explorers followed in his path, then tens of thousands of settlers arrived from the Americas, China, European countries and India. Included in that mix were religious outcasts and a small army of pirates.

Across the Caribbean, slaves from
Africa were imported in great numbers to work the sugar and tobacco plantations.

By then the indigenous populations of the islands were in severe decline as exposure to disease and brutal genocide wiped out much of their number.

Great military powers continually fought for control of the islands, and finally, a blended mix of African and
European cultures and languages transformed this large group of islands and its peoples into one of the premier tourist destinations on the planet.

Long called the
West Indies, the overall area is now commonly referred to as the Caribbean, a name that became popular after World War II.

Over the last few decades legions of travelers have journeyed to the Caribbean to enjoy the amenities. They frequently arrive in cruise ships that sail in and out, from ports in Florida and Puerto Rico.

[IMG: dive in]

Overall the Caribbean is a magical place of palm trees, white sand beaches, turquoise waters and sunshine, all blessed with a climate that consistently offers a much-needed break for those stuck in the cold weather doldrums of the north.

If you haven't been, you should, and if you've been here more than once, you will come again, as these islands, these beach-ringed, jungle-covered rocks are home to thousands of historical surprises and activities galore.

So come wiggle you toes in the sand, and eat and sleep under the stars in the Caribbean.
You won't be disappointed.

[H2] Latest by WorldAtlas

[IMG: Green waters at the crater lake at El Chichón in Chiapas, Mexico.]

[H3] The Most Acidic Lakes in North America

[IMG: People walk on the streets of La Paz, Bolivia. Bolivia reports the lowest incomes out of any South American country. Editorial credit: Goran Bogicevic / Shutterstock.com.]

[H3] The Poorest Countries In South America

[IMG: Vatican City.]

[H3] The 10 Least Populated Countries in the World

[IMG: Workers are collecting and removing sea lettuce from Badaguan Beach, China, resulting from algal bloom due to water pollution. Editorial credit: Wang Junqi / Shutterstock.com]

[H3] What Is An Ocean Dead Zone?

[IMG: Valkenburg aan de Geul is an adorable little town in the southern Dutch province of Limburg, Netherlands. (Credit: Wut_Moppie via Shutterstock)]

[H3] 8 Best Small Towns To Retire In The Netherlands

[IMG: Iran]

[H3] Which Countries Border Iran?

[IMG: London Tower Bridge, the UK. Sunset with beautiful clouds]

[H3] The 15 Most Visited Cities n Europe

[IMG: Red Ruffed Lemur, an endemic species found in the island country of Madagascar.]

[H3] Endemic Species

[IMG: Mont Saint Michel in Normandy, France.]

[H3] 8 Whimsical Towns in France

[IMG: Educational program by Mabula Ground Hornbill Project to raise awareness about the conservation of Southern ground hornbills in Africa. Image by: ©NthabisengMonama]

[H3] Africa's "Thunderbird" Is At Risk Of Extinction

[IMG: Iran produces more pistachios than any other nation in the world.]

[H3] What Are The Major Natural Resources Of Iran?

[IMG: Earth]

[H3] How Fast Is The Earth Moving?

Home

Continents

Central America

[IMG: Map of Central America]

[H2] Central America Description

Central America, a part of North America, is a tropical isthmus that connects North America to South America. It includes (7) countries and many small offshore islands.

Overall, the land is fertile and rugged, and dominated through its heart by a string of volcanic mountain ranges that are punctuated by a few active and dangerous volcanos.

Positioned in the planet's northern and western hemispheres the Central America isthmus is bordered in the northwest by the country of Mexico, and in the southeast by the country of Colombia. In addition, it's bordered by the Caribbean Sea, Pacific Ocean, and numerous bays, gulfs and inlets.

[H2] Latest by WorldAtlas

[IMG: Green waters at the crater lake at El Chichón in Chiapas, Mexico.]

[H3] The Most Acidic Lakes in North America

[IMG: People walk on the streets of La Paz, Bolivia. Bolivia reports the lowest incomes out of any South American country. Editorial credit: Goran Bogicevic / Shutterstock.com.]

[H3] The Poorest Countries In South America

[IMG: Vatican City.]

[H3] The 10 Least Populated Countries in the World

[IMG: Workers are collecting and removing sea lettuce from Badaguan Beach, China, resulting from algal bloom due to water pollution. Editorial credit: Wang Junqi / Shutterstock.com]

[H3] What Is An Ocean Dead Zone?

[IMG: Valkenburg aan de Geul is an adorable little town in the southern Dutch province of Limburg, Netherlands. (Credit: Wut_Moppie via Shutterstock)]

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[IMG: Iran]

[H3] Which Countries Border Iran?

[IMG: London Tower Bridge, the UK. Sunset with beautiful clouds]

[H3] The 15 Most Visited Cities n Europe

[IMG: Red Ruffed Lemur, an endemic species found in the island country of Madagascar.]

[H3] Endemic Species

[IMG: Mont Saint Michel in Normandy, France.]

[H3] 8 Whimsical Towns in France

[IMG: Educational program by Mabula Ground Hornbill Project to raise awareness about the conservation of Southern ground hornbills in Africa. Image by: ©NthabisengMonama]

[H3] Africa's "Thunderbird" Is At Risk Of Extinction

[IMG: Iran produces more pistachios than any other nation in the world.]

[H3] What Are The Major Natural Resources Of Iran?

[IMG: Earth]

[H3] How Fast Is The Earth Moving?

Home

Continents

South America

[IMG: Map of South America]

[H2] South America Maps

[IMG: Map of South America Labeled]

[H3] South America Map Labeled

[IMG: Physical Map of South America]

[H3] Physical Map

[IMG: Outline Map of South America]

[H3] Outline Map

[IMG: Political Map of South America]

[H3] Political Map

[IMG: Map of Capital Cities of South America]

[H3] Capital Cities Map

[IMG: Map of Bodies of Water of South America]

[H3] Bodies of Water Map

[IMG: South America Time zones Map]

[H3] Time zones Map

[H2] Where is South America ?

South America is found in the western hemisphere. Most of the continent is in the southern hemisphere, although some parts of the northern part of the continent fall in the northern hemisphere. The section in the northern hemisphere includes Venezuela, Guyana, French Guiana, Suriname, parts of Brazil, parts of Ecuador, and nearly all of Colombia. The Isthmus of Panama separates North American and South America, where the Darién Mountains are considered to be the dividing line between the two continents. Sometimes, the dividing line is considered to be the Panama Canal. By some classifications, South America is seen as a subcontinent of the Americas.
By land area, South America is the world's fourth largest continent after Asia, Africa, and North America. South America is almost twice as big as Europe by land area, and is marginally larger than Russia. South America has coastline that measures around 25,427 km. There are four diffferent time zones in South America: UTC -5, UTC -4, UTC -3, and UTC -2.
South America has a population of more than 420,458,044 with a population density of 21 people per km2.
With 208.2 million people, the most populated country in South America is Brazil, followed by Colombia with 49.6 million people and Argentina with 43.5 million people. São Paulo, Brazil and Lima, Peru are the biggest cities in South America by population, boasting 12.0 million and 8.8 million people respectively. Other major cities include Bogotá, Colombia (7.8 million), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (6.5 million), and Santiago, Chile (5.5 million).

[H2] South America's Information

Area
17,840,000 km2

Population
420,458,044

Population Density
21 people/km2

GDP PPP
$6.30 Trillion

GDP Per Capita
$8,520

Countries
12

Dependencies
3

Time Zones
4

Largest Cities

Buenos Aires (13,076,300)

Sao Paulo (10,021,295)

Lima (7,737,002)

Bogota (7,674,366)

Rio de Janeiro (6,023,699)

Santiago (4,837,295)

Caracas (3,000,000)

Salvador (2,711,840)

Fortaleza (2,400,000)

Cali (2,392,877)

[H2] Countries
Brazil is the largest country in South America, containing 8,515,799 square kilometres. Brazil has a coastline of 7,491 squared kilometers. Brazil borders nearly every country in South America, excluding only Ecuador and Chile. The land area of Brazil represents 47.3% of South America's total land area. Suriname is the smallest country in South America. The country covers a total of 163,820 square kilometres. South America has a total of 12 countries and three dependencies:

Country
Capital City
Population

Argentina

Buenos Aires
42,192,494

Bolivia

Sucre
10,290,003

Brazil

Brasilia
205,716,890

Chile

Santiago
17,067,369

Colombia

Bogota
45,239,079

Ecuador

Quito
15,223,680

Guyana

Georgetown
741,908

Peru

Lima
29,549,517

Paraguay

Asuncion
6,541,591

Suriname

Paramaribo
560,157

Uruguay

Montevideo
3,316,328

Venezuela

Caracas
28,047,938

[H3] Dependencies

Falkland Islands

French Guiana

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

Think you know your South American countries? Take our quiz!
A number of trade agreements exist within South America. Mercosur is an international agreement that exists to promote free trade between certain countries on the continent. Its full members are Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Its associate members are Bolivia, Chile, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador and Suriname. Mercosur was founded by the Treaty of Asunción in 1991, and later was amended by the Treaty of Ouro Preto in 1994.Other organizations include the Union of South America Nations, which consists of 12 countries and has its headquarters in Quito, Ecuador. The Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America is an organization which seeks the social, political, and economic integration of countries in both Latin America and the Caribbean. Certain South American countries are also members of the Pacific Alliance, the Organization of American States, the Andean Community, and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States.

[H2] Geography of South America
The topography of South America has been described to resemble a bowl - it has large mountains around its periphery and an interior that is relatively flat. The continent is mostly made up of lowlands, highlands, and the Andes mountain range, which is the longest mountain range in the world.
[H2] Landforms
Andes Mountains
The Andean Mountains, or Andes, stretch for nearly 7,000 km across the continent, from the top to the bottom. The mountain range passes through Venezuela, Ecuador, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Colombia, Chile, and Argentina. The tallest peak in the Andes is Aconcagua in Argentina, which measures 6,960.8 meters. It is the tallest mountain found outside of Asia.
Amazon Basin
The Amazon River, which flows from west to east across the north-central portion of South America, is the world's largest river in terms of discharge volume. By some definitions, the Amazon River is also the longest river in the world - while the Nile River is generally considered to be the world's longest, some studies suggest an alternative source for the Amazon River, which would actually make it the world's longest. The Amazon Basin (Amazonia) is covered by the largest tropical rain forest in the world, and running through its heart is the Amazon River and its more than 1,000 tributaries, seven of them more than 1,000 miles in length. Measurable rain falls on an average of 200 days a year here, and total rainfall often approaches 100 inches per year.
Atacama Desert
Sparsely populated and positioned high into the Andes of Chile, this somewhat small desert (or plateau) is a cold place, and one of the few deserts on Earth that doesn't receive any rain. It's approximately 100 miles wide and 625 miles long. The landscape is totally barren and covered with small borax lakes, lava flow remnants and saline deposits.
Brazilian Highlands
The Brazilian Highlights cover about 1,930,511 square miles in eastern, central, and southern Brazil. The highlands have an average elevation of 1,000 metres above sea level. Due to extensive geographical coverage, the highlands are subdivided into the Atlantic, Southern and Central plateaus each with different climatic conditions as well as flora and fauna.
[H2] Largest Islands
Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego
Chile's Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego is the largest island in South America. It covers 18,530 square miles and has a population of over 100,000 people.
Marajó
The second largest of all South American islands is the island of Marajó, which is found in Brazil. Marajó covers 15,500 square miles.
Bananal Island
Bananal Island, also in Brazil, is the third largest island in South America, covering 7,398.59 square miles.

[IMG: Bodies of Water of South America Map]

[H2] Climate
South America is home to a range of climate classifications, from equatorial to tundra. In the north of the continent, near Colombia and Venezuela, weather conditions are generally wet and humid. The same thing goes for areas close to the Equator, including the Amazon Rainforest. Trade winds regulate temperatures in the northeast of the continent, meaning that the climates in Suriname, French Guiana, and Guyana are considerably cooler than their neighbors to the west.In areas of north Argentina and Paraguay, which fall near the Tropic of Capricorn, rainfall is sparse and temperatures tend to be warm. The west coast of the continent, particularly in Chile, tends to be dry and hot in the summer, with snowfall on the mountains in the winter. In the extreme south of Argentina, there is a sub arctic climate. As a general rule, the further south you travel, the cooler the temperatures are (although temperatures can be quite low in the mountainous regions of the continent as well).
[H2] Flora and Fauna
South America is extremely biodiverse, with numerous unique species of flora and fauna. Some of the most well-known animals that are unique to South America include the world's largest rodent, the capybara, the world's largest flying bird, the Andean condor, and one of the world's largest butterflies, the blur morpho. Five South American countries - namely Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela - are recognized as "megadiverse". A megadiverse country is a country who is home to the majority of the world's extant species, and has a significant number of endemic species.There are a number of active territory disputes in South America. Some of these include Guayana Esequiba, which has Guyanese administration but is claimed by Venezuela. The Falkland Islands are currently administered as an Overseas British Territory, but is also claimed by Argentina.The Gulf of Venezuela is currently claimed by both Colombia and Venezuela. The gulf is an important link between both the Caribbean Sea and Lake Maracaibo, the latter of which contains a large amount of crude oil in its basin.

[H2] Demographics
Following a period of urbanization that began in the 1930s, South America today is one of the world's most urbanized continents. It is estimated that around 80% of South America's population lives in urban areas (the world average is around 50%). The most urbanized countries in South America are Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, and Peru.
[H2] Languages
South America is a multilingual continent. By total population, the most popular languages are Portuguese and Spanish. Portuguese is mostly spoken in Brazil, which is the most populated country on the continent. Spanish is spoken by the second-highest number of people in South America, and is the majority language in Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, Chile, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Venezuela, and Bolivia. French is spoken in the overseas department of France, French Guiana. Dutch is spoken in Suriname. Guyana is the only country in South America with English as the official language.
A significant number of indigenous languages are also spoken in South America. The most commonly spoken indigenous language is Quechua, followed by Guarani and Aymara. In countries towards the northern part of the continent, such as Peru, Ecuador and even Bolivia, Quechua languages are more common. In Argentina and Bolivia, and especially in Paraguay, Guarani languages are most often spoken. Other indigenous languages include Aymara, spoken in Bolivia and Peru, and Wayuu, spoken in northern Colombia and northwest Venezuela. Mapudungun is the name of a language spoken in Chile and Argentina.

[H2] Religion
South America is predominantly a continent of Christians. However, nearly half of the continent's population proclaims itself to be non-practicing. The countries claiming the most Christians are Paraguay (96%), Ecuador (93%), Bolivia (93%), and Venezuela (91%). The countries claiming the highest non-religious adherents are Uruguay (51%), Chile (30%), and Colombia (22%). Other minority religions in South American include Judaism, Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism, Baha'i, and Shinto. Every country in South America recognizes the separation of church and state.

[H2] South America Flags

[IMG: The Brazilian flag.]

[H3] What Do the Colors and Symbols of the Flag of Brazil Mean?

[IMG: The national flag of Argentina.]

[H3] Flag of Argentina

[IMG: The official flag of Colombia.]

[H3] What Do the Colors and Symbols of the Flag of Colombia Mean?

[IMG: The official flag of Peru.]

[H3] What Do the Colors and Symbols of the Flag of Peru Mean?

[IMG: The flag of Venezuela.]

[H3] What Do the Colors and Symbols of the Flag of Venezuela Mean?

[IMG: The flag of Chile.]

[H3] What Do the Colors and Symbols of the Flag of Chile Mean?

[IMG: The flag of Ecuador.]

[H3] What Do the Colors and Symbols of the Flag of Ecuador Mean?

[IMG: The flag of Bolivia.]

[H3] What Do the Colors and Symbols of the Flag of Bolivia Mean?

[IMG: The flag of Paraguay currently in use today.]

[H3] What Do the Colors and Symbols of the Flag of Paraguay Mean?

[IMG: The official flag of Guyana.]

[H3] What Do the Colors and Symbols of the Flag of Guyana Mean?

[IMG: The current flag of Uruguay.]

[H3] What Do the Colors and Symbols of the Flag of Uruguay Mean?

[IMG: The flag of Suriname.]

[H3] What Do the Colors and Symbols of the Flag of Suriname Mean?

[H2] History of South America
There are some anthropological signs that point back to humans inhabiting South America since at least the year 9000 BCE. Throughout South America's early history of human inhabitants, it was widely an agrarian society, meaning that its residents survived off of the land, using staples such as fish and beans for food. Animals like llamas and alpacas were also domesticated around this time.From this agrarian society, early civilizations were born. Out of the settlements that we are today aware of, the earliest ones were in what is modern day Peru. Some of these early cultures included the Chavín, the Norte Chico, the Moche, the Nazca and the Paracas. In later decades, societies such as that of the Incha civilization and the Mapuche, which actually refers to a diverse group of indigenous residents who lived in what is today known as Argentina and Chile.It was the approval of the Treaty of Tordesillas in 1494 that led European explorers to South America. The Treaty of Tordesillas was signed with the intention of allocating land in South America to both Spain and Portugal. With this treaty, all of the land west of the Cape Verde Islands was to go to Spain. However, due to the lack of precision of the era's geography tools, this distinction was not easily enforceable, nor was it always followed. This is why the area that we know now today as Brazil was colonized by the Portuguese.Unfortunately, European settlers brought with them diseases like typhus, influenza and smallpox. The native inhabitants of South America did not have the proper immunities to fight these diseases, and many populations perished as a result. As a way to fill the gap in the (forced) workforce in places like mines, factories, and plantations, enslaved people from Africa were brought over by colonies pred