Interesting Facts About South America for Kids

Did you know that South America’s ethnic and cultural outlook developed because of the interaction that the natives of South America had with immigrants and European conquerors? Due to the long history of colonialism, most South Americans speak either Portuguese or Spanish, and the states and societies reflect Western traditions. We have put together some interesting South America facts for preschoolers to intrigue you and get you interested in the continent.

Top Facts About South America for Children

Have you ever wondered who discovered South America? The answer is Christopher Columbus. The fourth-largest continent in the world is South America. This continent stretches from right above the equator and to the Antarctic. South America is connected to North America by land. The great Amazon River, which you must have heard of, runs through this continent and is surrounded by the world’s largest rainforest. South America is considered beautiful and unique because of its features, such as vast deserts and mountains. Deserts such as the Atacama Desert, which is also the world’s driest desert, and mountains such as the Andes, the longest mountain range globally, are located in this continent. Also, there are many glaciers in the south of South America.

South America is divided into twelve countries, and the largest amongst these twelve countries is Brazil. Another very interesting fact about South America is that the potato originated in South America along with pineapple, chocolates, and peanuts. The world’s largest rodent and the Andean condor bird with the largest wingspan are in South America. We have collated a lot more such interesting facts about this beautiful continent. Keep reading.

Following are some of the general facts about South America that are very interesting for children:

1. History of South America 

There is evidence that human life existed in South America almost by 10,000 BC. Peru is where the earliest South American civilizations have been recorded. The colonization of South America started in the late 15th century. The continent was colonized by foreign conquistadores, mainly from Portugal and Spain, along with the British, Dutch, and French.

2. Countries in South America 

One of the interesting facts about South America for kindergarten is that this continent has twelve countries in South America and three dependencies. The population of the entire continent is close to 433 million people.

3. Largest country in South America 

Brazil is South America’s largest country. The most interesting part about Brazil is that this country covers more than half of the continent’s total landmass. Do you know that the USA is just a little bigger than Brazil?

4. Largest city in South America 

Sao Paolo in Brazil is the largest city in South America. The city has close to 22 million individuals based on a recent survey. It is considered one of the largest cities on Earth.

5. Largest island in South America 

The largest island in this continent is Tierra del Fuego, which means land of fire in Spanish. The island is located on the southern tip of Chile and Argentina. The most popular sport in this continent is football, which is no wonder considering how Argentina, along with Brazil, is one of the biggest national football teams in the world.

6. Longest river in South America 

The Amazon River that flows for 400 miles is the longest in South America. It is the second-longest river on Earth after the River Nile. The Amazon River has more water when compared to all the other 10 largest rivers on Earth!

7. Highest mountain in South America 

Aconcagua is South America’s highest mountain and is located in Argentina. This mountain is 22,837 feet long and 6,961 meters high and is present in the Andes Mountains. The Aconcagua Mountain is the second-highest of the 7 summits after Mountain Everest, located in Asia.

8. Driest place in South America 

The rain forests of South America are considered among the wettest places globally. However, the Atacama Desert, located in Chile, is the driest place on Earth. 

9. The two landlocked countries in South America 

South America comprises two landlocked countries, Bolivia and Paraguay, present in the inner part of South America. These two landlocked countries have no access to the Pacific Ocean or the Atlantic Ocean.

10. Natives in South America 

The biggest tribe of indigenous people known as the Incas were in South America when Europeans came. The Empire of the Incas prevailed from around 1438 up until 1533. These indigenous cultures still exist in South America, though they are threatened with extinction. Do note that the Caribs and Arawaks are still present in Venezuela and also in the city of Guarani, which is in Brazil.

11. Languages spoken in South America 

The main language spoken in South America is Spanish. However, in the city of Brazil, most people speak in Surinam, previously a Dutch colony and also in Portuguese. The official language in South America, however, is still Dutch. Most people also speak English, which is considered the second language. Quechua is a language spoken by the Inca tribe and is considered one of the most common indigenous languages.

12. Famous places in South America 

The most famous places in South America are:

• Iguazu Falls in Brazil / Argentina
• Macchu Picchu in Peru
• Rio de Janeiro and its Carnival in Brazil
• Angel Falls in Venezuela
• Patagonia in Chile / Argentina
• Pantanal in Brazil / Paraguay
• Amazon in Ecuador
• Torres del Paine National Park in Chile

13. Biggest Cities in South America 

Sao Paulo is the most populous city in South America. Close to half of the individuals in South America live in Brazil. The other big cities in South America are:

• Bogota in Colombia
• Rio de Janeiro in Brazil
• Lima in Peru
• Buenos Aires in Argentina
• Santiago in Chile

14. Highest waterfall 

Angel Falls is the highest waterfalls on Earth, located in Venezuela in South America.

15. Largest river basin 

The Amazon River Basin is the largest river basin on Earth, occupying the whole eastern and central area of South America. They lie to the east of the Andes Mountain and extend from the Brazilian Plateau in the south to the Guyana Plateau in the north.

16. Longest mountain range 

The Andes Mountains are the Earth’s longest mountain range located in the Western part of South America. These mountain ranges spread across the north up to the south of South America and run through seven South American countries, namely Colombia, Peru, Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, Argentina, and Chile.

17. Driest place in South America 

The Atacama Desert is, in fact, the driest place in South America that covers a 1,600 km land strip on the Pacific coast that is located in the west of the Andes Mountains.

18. Main natural resources in South America 

The main natural resources available in South America are minerals such as iron ore (steel), copper, and agricultural products such as coffee, corn, cocoa, soybean, and wheat.

19. The world’s second-largest swimming pool 

In Chile, San Alfonso del Mar swimming pool is the size of twenty Olympic swimming pools, and it measures 80,000 square meters or 860,000 square feet. This swimming pool is the second-largest swimming pool on Earth and the biggest in South America. This swimming pool is located on the edge of the Pacific Ocean and contains 250 million liters, 66 million US gallons of seawater. The maximum depth of this pool is 3.5 meters or 11.5 feet.

20. The Galápagos Islands in South America 

When Charles Darwin came to the Galápagos Islands in 1835 as a twenty-six-year-old, he observed resemblances between local plant and animal species and those found on the mainland. He also noticed differences between the island in this region. He later defined the theory of evolution and wrote the book “The Origin of Species.”

21. Animals in South America 

South America is home to various animals, such as piranhas, tapirs, anaconda, and various other animals. South America also comprises endangered animals, such as the giant otter, jaguar, and the Amazonian manatee.

22. The landscape of South America 

Highlands and mountains mainly dominate South America’s landscape. Examples are the Andes, river basins such as the Orinoco and Amazon, and coastal plains where the Atacama Desert is present.

23. Countries in South America that are located in the Northern Hemisphere 

The following countries are located in the western hemisphere of South America:

• Guyana
• Venezuela
• French Guiana
• Suriname
• and (the northern regions of) Ecuador, Venezuela, Colombia, and Brazil

South America is one of the best places to be and live, and this country has been an important player through all the crucial stages of humankind’s history. This article will help you learn more about South America as a continent.

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