South America is the southern part of the Americas, situated entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with about a quarter in the Northern Hemisphere. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east by the Atlantic Ocean. North America and the Caribbean Sea lie to the northwest.
South America was named in 1507 by cartographers Martin Waldseemüller and Matthias Ringmann after Amerigo Vespucci, who was the first European to suggest that the Americas were not the East Indies, but a New World unknown to Europeans.
South America has an area of 17,780,000 square kilometers (6,890,000 sq mi), or almost 3.5% of the Earth's surface. As of 2005, its population was estimated at more than 371,090,000. South America ranks fourth in area (after Asia, Africa, and North America) and fifth in population (after Asia, Africa, Europe, and North America).
The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to South America:
[edit] Geography of South America
[edit] Countries of South America
- Main article: List of South American countries
Argentina • 
Bolivia • 
Brazil • 
Chile • 
Colombia • 
Ecuador • 
Falkland Islands • 
French Guiana • 
Guyana • 
Paraguay • 
Peru • 
Suriname • 
Uruguay • 
Venezuela
[edit] Regions of South America
[edit] Main divisions
[edit] Geographical regions
[edit] Geographic features of South America
[edit] Demography of South America
- Main article: Demographics of South America
[edit] History of South America
[edit] Culture of South America
- Main article: Culture of South America
[edit] The Arts in South America
[edit] Sports in South America
[edit] Economy and infrastructure of South America
[edit] Education in South America
[edit] Governments of South America
[edit] Politics of South America
[edit] South America lists
- Main article: List of South America-related topics
[edit] See also
[edit] References
[edit] External links
Wikimedia Atlas of South America
- News
- Sports
South America also has Rugby, Auto Racing, Golf, and Kayaking.
- Music
- Tourism
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Demographics and
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Argentina • 
Bolivia • 
Brazil • 
Chile • 
Colombia • 
Ecuador • 
Falkland Islands • 
French Guiana • 
Guyana • 
Paraguay • 
Peru • 
Suriname • 
Uruguay • 
Venezuela.svg)
