Everything Under the Sun

by Kayla Allen
South America is the world's 4th largest continent, includes 12 countries and is divided into 3 major territories. It contains the massive Amazon River and surrounding basin – the largest tropical rain forest in the world, the Andes Mountains stretch the entire length of the continent and some of the most diverse and spectacular landforms on the planet. Because of its diverse landscape South America's climate varies greatly.
South America contains the world's highest waterfall, Angel Falls, the largest river (by volume), the Amazon River, the longest mountain range, the Andes, the driest desert, Atacama, the largest rainforest, the Amazon Rainforest, the highest capital city, La Paz, Bolivia, and the world's southernmost town, Puerto Toro, Chile.
The fact that South America resides in the southern hemisphere does mean that their seasons are the opposite of those in North America but what winter or summer look like for the various countries in South America is a another ballgame. In many South American countries, altitude rather than distance from the equator determine temperature. For instance it has been said that in the Andes all seasons are represented in one day.
Even a small country like Bolivia can be broken into 5 separate climate regions; the Andes and Altiplano (high plains), the Yungas and Chapare (hot and humid), the temperate valleys, the Chaco (hot and dry) and the tropical lowlands of the upper Amazon basin.
The same can be said for Chile. Temperatures are moderate along the coast throughout the year and more extreme inland, especially in the central basin. The average temperatures for the hottest (February) and coldest (July) months are 72F and 60F.
Central Chile has a Mediterranean type of climate, with cool and rainy winters but without a completely dry season. The climate of the southern region is cool and rainy the year round and characterized by abundant clouds.
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Because of its topographic and climatic diversity, South America has a lot to offer equally diverse travelers; with tropical getaways, skiing paradises, and miles of rainforest for the ecotourist in all of us. Pretty much everything under the sun, below the equator, above the tree line and approaching the antarctic circle.