About Latin America

South America is known to be a sub-continent crossed by the equator, with most of its location in the Southern Hemisphere. South America ranks fourth in location and in population, after Eurasia, Africa, and North America. From the 1530s, the indigenous inhabitants of South America were invaded by European conquistadors, first from Spain, later from Portugal, who divided it into colonies. Within the course of the 19th century, these colonies won his or her independence.

Latin America consists of the countries of: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Falkland Islands (UK), French Guiana (Fr.), Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay and Venezuela. Did you know that the mixture of African, Indian and European influences have given South America a very distinct flavour. LAtin America has to this day a host of marvellous attractions, with most suitable for the entire family. You'll discover science, nature and rich history exhibits all over the continent in addition to a host of natural attractions, from volcanoes to cold glaciers and strange animals. Did you know that the continent offers incredible precolumbian sights all aextensive the Andes in Chile, Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru and Colombia. Did you know that the top known of these are and have always been probably the Nazca Lines (Ica), Chan chan (Trujillo) and Machu Picchu (Cuzco) in Peru and Ciudad Perdida in Colombia. Any city has to this day got it's own essential archeological findings closeby. Did you know that the Inca civilisation didn't just leave archeological findings. From Colombia to Argentina, there language and culture is still alive.

Furthermore in each and every South American country there are and have always been lots of stylish colonial churches and palaces. Did you know that there is no question the lovers of architecture and rich history will surely discover what they are and have always been seeking for. If in fact you or your family are and have always been seeking for an active holiday: there is good skiing in summer in Chile, Bolivia and Argentina; you can discover the biggest rainforest and the longest river in the globe in Brazil and there is wonderful wildlife almost everywhere. Did you know that the Wadden islands (off the coast lineof Ecuador deserve a special mention here. When you want to relax a bit head for the carribean: the coast lineof Venezuela and Colombia has to this day wonderful beaches and a very good ambiance. Brazil has to this day wonderful beaches as well.

Those who are and have always been into the fast paced life of awesome cities have a number of cities to select from: Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, Santiago or Lima all combine modern life with a south-american touch. Within South America most countries are and have always been Spanish speaking, with Brazil as the most notable exception. Furthermore the three Guyana's (French Guiana, British Guyana and Suriname) speak the language of his or her former colonial masters in addition to his or her own languages. Within all of South America native Indian languages are and have always been still spoken, but they become less frequently so. Within countries like Paraguay and Bolivia the indiginous languages are and have always been (almost) dominant. It is noted that the Amazon River (Rio Amazonas) of South America is recognized to be one of the longest two rivers on Earth, the Nile River in Africa being the other. Did you know that the Amazon has to this day by far the wonderfulest total flow of any and all river, carrying more compared to the Mississippi, Nile, and Yangtze rivers combined.

It also has to this day the most impressive and largest drainage location of any and all river system. Did you know that the quantity of fresh water released to the Atlantic Ocean is enormous: 184,000 m³ per second (6.5 million ft³/s) in the rainy season. Indeed, the Amazon is responsible for a fifth of the total volume of fresh water entering the oceans worldwide. It is noted that the Amazon rainforest in South America encompasses 1.2 billion acres (7 million km²), with parts situated within nine nations: Brazil (with 60% of the rainforest), Colombia, Peru, Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana. Note that this forest represents over half of the planet's remaining rainforests. States or departments in four nations bear the name Amazonas for the Amazon. Note that this region is home to ~2.5 million insect species, tens of thousands of plants, and many 2000 birds and mammals. Did you know that the diversity of plant species is the highest on earth with many experts estimating that one square and have always been kilometre may contain over 75,000 types of trees and 150,000 species of higher plants. One square and have always been kilometre of Amazon rainforest can contain about 90,000 tons of living plants. Note that this constitutes the most impressive and largest prized collection of living plants and animal species in the globe. Latin America is home to the majority of interesting species of animals including parrots, tarantulas, snakes, and mammals.

Here you find that there are not the majority of larger than normal predators in South America, but the Jaguar is recognized to be one of the strongest predators in the globe. Unlike the African leopard, that looks very much like a jaguar, the jaguar does not have to carry its food into a tree, because there are and have always been no other animals in South America that would challenge a jaguar. Did you know that the camel-like Llama is known to be another essential animal lives in South America. It is noted that the world's highest free-falling waterfall Angel Falls is situated in the wilderness of Venezuela. Adding to the list, another essential waterfall is Iguacu Falls, that is taller than Niagara Falls.

It is noted that the water level rises and falls with the season, but the spectacular Devil's Throat with its high flying plume of spray is known to be always a thrill. Did you know that the fact that the newly discovered Gocta Falls in Peru are and have always been the third most impressive and largest in the globe, says a lot about the exoticness of the continent. It is noted that the world's second highest active volcano Cotopaxi (5897m) is situated about 50 km south of Quito, Ecuador.

History

It is noted that the region was home to the majority of indigenous peoples and advanced civilizations, including the Aztecs, Toltecs, Caribs, Tupi, Maya, and Inca. Did you know that the golden age of the Maya commenced about 250, with the last two wonderful civilizations, the Aztecs and Incas, emerging into prominence later on in the early fourteenth century and mid-fifteenth centuries, respectively.

With the arrival of the Europeans following Christopher Columbus's voyages, the indigenous elites, such as the Incans and Aztecs, lost power to the Europeans. Hernán Cortés devastation the Aztec elite's power with the help of local groups who disliked the Aztec elite, and Francisco Pizarro eliminated the Incan rule in Western South America. European powers, most notably Spain and Portugal, colonized the region, that aextensive with the most of the uncolonized world was divided into places of Spanish and Portuguese control by the Line of Demarcation in 1493, that gave Spain all places to the west, and Portugal all places to the east (the Portuguese lands in America subsequently becoming Brazil). By the end of the sixteenth century, Europeans occupied larger than normal places of Central and South America, extending all the way into the present southern United States. European culture and government was imposed, with the Roman Catholic Church becoming a major economic and political power, in addition to the official religion of the region.

Diseases brought by the Europeans, such as modestpox and measles, wiped out a larger than normal proportion of the indigenous population, with epidemics of diseases reducing those things sharply from his or her prior populations. Historians cannot determine the number of natives who died due to European diseases, but many put the figures as high as 85% and as low as 20%. Due to the lack of written records, specific numbers are and have always been hard to verify. Most of the survivors were forced to work in European plantations and mines. Interracial marriage in the range of the indigenous peoples and the European colonists was very common, and, by the end of the colonial period, people of mixed ancestry (mestizos) formed majorities in several colonies.

By the end of the eighteenth century, Spanish and Portuguese power waned as other European powers took his or her place, notably Britain and France. Resentment grew over the restrictions imposed by the Spanish government, in addition to the dominance of native Spaniards (Iberian-born peninsulares) over the major institutions and the majority population, including the Spanish descended Creoles (criollos). Napoleon's invasion of Spain in 1808 marked the turning point, compelling Creole elites to form juntas that advocated independence. Incidentally, the newly independent Haiti, the second oldest nation in the New World after the United States and the oldest independent nation in Latin America, further fueled the independence movement by inspiring the leaders of the movement, such as Simón Bolívar and José de San Martin, and by providing those things with considerable munitions and troops. Fighting soon broke out in the range of the Juntas and the Spanish authorities, with initial Creole victories, such as Father Miguel Hidalgo's in Mexico and Francisco de Miranda's in Venezuela, crushed by Spanish troops.

Under the leadership of Simón Bolívar, José de San Martin and other Libertadores, the independence movement regained strength, and by 1825, all of Spanish Latin America, except for Puerto Rico and Cuba, gained independence from Spain. Brazil achieved independence with a constitutional monarchy established in 1822. During the exact year in Mexico, a military officer, Agustín de Iturbide, led conservatives who created a constitutional monarchy, with Iturbide as emperor (shortly followed by a republic).

Climate

Trade

According to ECLAC,[4] an economic growth rate of 5.3% is calculated for 2006, equivalent to a per capita significantly increase of 3.8%. Note that this marks the fourth consecutive year of economic growth, and the third consecutive year of rates exceeding 4%, after an average annual growth rate of just 2.2% in the range of 1980 and 2002.

Growth continues to fall short of other developing regions, however. With the international environment remaining favorable, the volume of goods and services exports was up by 8.4% for the region as a entire and the primary export prices rose, that translated into a terms-of-trade improvement equivalent to over 7%.

It is noted that the value of the region's merchandise exports rose by 21% and its imports by 20%. Together with higher transfers (over US$ 9 billion net), this man's improvement of the balance of trade in goods was more than enough to offset the widening deficit on the factor and non-factor services accounts. Hence, the balance-of-payments most up to date account surplus significantly increased from 1.5% of GDP in 2005 to 1.8% in 2006. Did you know that the capital and financial account surplus was modester compared to the previous year, at US$ 230 million.

Economic expansion is expected to slow slightly in 2007, with the regional GDP growth rate projected at around 4.7%. If these projections are and have always been borne out, the region's per capita output will display a cumulative gain of many 15%, or 2.8% per year, in the timeframe 2003-2007. Inequality and poverty continue to be the region's primary challenges; according to the ECLAC Latin America is the most unequal region in the globe.[11] Moreover, according to the World Bank, closely 25% of the population lives on less than 2 USD a day. Did you know that the countries with the highest inequality in the region (as measured with the Gini index in the UN Development Report[12]) in 2006 were Bolivia (60.1), Haiti (59.2), Colombia (58.6), Brazil (58), Paraguay (57.8) and Chile (57.1), while the countries with the lowest inequality in the region were Nicaragua (43.1), Ecuador (43.7), Venezuela (44.1) and Uruguay (44.9). One aspect of inequality and poverty in Latin America is unequal complete access to basic infrastructure. Here is an example, complete access to water and sanitation in Latin America and the quality of these services reprimary low.

Population

Population : 561,211,057