Overview of South America

AMAZON BASIN
The Amazon Basin drains over 2700 000sq miles and covers over one third of the land mass of South America . It has over 1000 tributaries of which seven run for over 1000 miles. The total rainfall for the basin is about 100 inches per year; As a result, the waters from the Amazon supply half of South America 's irrigation waters. The Amazon dispenses the largest volume of water in the ocean in the entire world. 

ANDES
This magnificent mountain range extends from panama to the tip of South America , covering of 4500 miles or 7200km in length, and appears as through hewn out by a panger and dusted with a sprinkling of icing sugar. Many of the peaks of the Andes reach over 20 000ft, with the highest being Aconcagua in Argentina , one of the seven summits, measuring 22 384ft or 6960m. 

ATACAMA DESERT
Covering a total of 625 miles in length, the Atacama Desert is a dry, cold strength of land, home to many borax lakes, saline deposits and lava flows. It is sparsely populated and received a minimal amount of rain each year. The Nazca area, has not received any rain for the lat 10 years. 

LLANOS
The Llanos is a large fertile plain spanning east and central Colombia and southern Venezuela . It is drained by the Orinoco river and covers about 225 000 sq miles, or 582 000 sq km. 

PAMPAS
Extending across the south part of Central Argentina , lie the pampas, home to many famous cattle ranges. The area extends for about  1,000 miles  or 1,600 km. 

PATAGONIA
Spanning the area form the southern Tierra del Fuego to the Rio Negro River , Patagonia stretch across 1000miles.  It is known for its magical beauty, and striking yet ragged and barren scenery.