Click each South American country on the map. Can you place all 12?
South America is a continent of extremes. The Amazon rainforest — the largest on Earth — stretches across nine countries, pumping moisture into the atmosphere and harbouring millions of species that scientists are still cataloguing. The Andes, the world's longest continental mountain range, run like a spine down the entire western edge, separating lush Pacific coastlines from the interior plains of Argentina and Brazil.
Twelve sovereign nations share this landmass, ranging from Brazil — the fifth-largest country on the planet — to Suriname, a small, densely forested nation where Dutch is the official language. European colonisation left a mosaic of cultures: Spanish is spoken in most countries, Portuguese dominates Brazil, and indigenous languages like Quechua and Guaraní remain very much alive. The continent also gave the world tango, samba, magical realism, and some of the finest footballers ever to play the game.
Knowing where each country sits unlocks a deeper understanding of trade routes, climate zones, political alliances, and the cultural threads that bind the continent together. From the glaciers of Patagonia to the beaches of Colombia, South America rewards anyone who takes the time to look at the map.
