South America Region

South America is located in the Western Hemisphere. The majority of the continent is located in the Southern Hemisphere, except for a small part that is located in the Northern Hemisphere. South America is bordered by two oceans. The Pacific Ocean on the west, and the Atlantic Ocean on the East. South America is also bordered by the Caribbean Sea to the northwest. South America is made up of twelve sovereign states: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, and Venezuela. South America has an area of about 6,890,000 square miles.

The geography of western South America is dominated by the Andes Mountains. The Andes extends form Tierra del Fuego, Chile in the south all the way to northeastern Venezuela. The South American region is made up of wide range of climates including: Arid, highland, humid tropical, and semiarid. The eastern part of the region contains both highland regions and large river basins like the Amazon, Paraná and Orinoco. Most of the continent is located in the tropics. The South American Region also contains the world’s largest rainforest, The Amazon. The Amazon rainforest is located in the Amazon River Basin. It is roughly the size of the contiguous United States, and winds through parts of eight different South American countries. This part of the region also contains the world’s largest and second longest river, the Amazon.

The Amazon rainforest has more species of plants and animals than any other ecosystem in the world. It is estimated that 30% of all the world's species are found in the Amazon. The Amazon rainforests are among the most threatened in the world. Large scale agriculture, clearing land for cattle pastures, and logging are the main causes...

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... is very important for the U.S. to keep a close eye on the region, and I believe there is still a lot that can be gained from cooperation for both regions. South America has one of the richest and most adventurous histories of the South Western hemisphere, and quite possibly the world. All though, things for the region continue to improve as South America finds itself on the world stage hosting the 2014 World Cup, and the Summer Olympics in 2016; deforestation of the rain forest and the drug cartels continue to be a growing problem for the region. It is of the up most importance that the countries of South America work together within its region as well as, with outside countries like the United States and China, to strengthen political and economic ties and conservation efforts. That will be the only way to help ensure a better future for the region and the world.