South America: natural zones, regions and population

By relief South America is divided into two large regions: the Mountainous West (the Andes) and the Plain East. In the Mountainous West the Northern, Central and Southern Andes are distinguished. The Plain East has smaller regions such as Llanos–Orinoco, Amazonia, the Guiana and Brazilian plateaus and Patagonia. The Amazon Lowland lies between the Guiana and Brazilian plateaus and is hot and humid: +24…+27 °C all year and 1 500–3 000 mm of rain. The river network is very dense and in the west grows multi-layered evergreen forest: kapok, hevea, cacao, Brazil nut; anacondas, caimans and tree frogs live there. The Brazilian Plateau is built of ancient crystalline rocks and has deposits of iron, diamonds, gold, uranium and manganese. Its rivers are fed by rain and its surface is cut by deep river valleys. Away from the ocean wet forests give way to savannas; in the south grow araucaria forests and yerba mate (Paraguay tea). The name “Brazil” comes from the red-wood tree pau-brasil.