Map of South America – Countries, Cities & Location Guide
Map of South America – Countries, Cities & Location Guide
This page provides a clear map of South America showing countries, borders, coastlines, and major geographic features. It is designed for education, general reference, and travel planning.
South America is located mostly in the Southern Hemisphere and includes 12 sovereign countries such as Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru and Colombia. It is known for the Andes Mountains, Amazon Rainforest and major cities such as São Paulo, Buenos Aires and Lima.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
This map highlights South America’s position, including major countries, coastlines, and broad geographic regions.
Where Is South America Located on the Map?
South America is located mostly in the Southern Hemisphere and entirely in the Western Hemisphere. It stretches from the Caribbean region in the north to the far south near Antarctic waters, and it is connected to North America through Central America.
- North: Caribbean Sea and North America via the Panama region
- East: Atlantic Ocean
- West: Pacific Ocean
- South: Southern Ocean / Antarctic waters
Countries of South America
South America has 12 sovereign countries. Below is a quick reference list.
- Argentina — Capital: Buenos Aires
- Bolivia — Capitals: Sucre (constitutional), La Paz (seat of government)
- Brazil — Capital: Brasília
- Chile — Capital: Santiago
- Colombia — Capital: Bogotá
- Ecuador — Capital: Quito
- Guyana — Capital: Georgetown
- Paraguay — Capital: Asunción
- Peru — Capital: Lima
- Suriname — Capital: Paramaribo
- Uruguay — Capital: Montevideo
- Venezuela — Capital: Caracas
Note: French Guiana is located in South America but is an overseas department of France rather than an independent country.
Major Regions of South America
These are common regional groupings used in geography and general reference.
- Andean Region: Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and western Argentina
- Amazon Basin: Brazil and parts of Peru, Colombia, Bolivia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana
- Southern Cone: Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, and often Paraguay
- Northern Coast: Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana
Major Geographic Features
- Andes Mountains — longest continental mountain range along the west
- Amazon River — one of the world’s largest river systems
- Amazon Rainforest — largest tropical rainforest
- Atacama Desert — extremely arid desert in northern Chile
- Pampas — fertile plains in Argentina and Uruguay
- Patagonia — sparsely populated southern region of Argentina and Chile
🎸 Exploring the World?
After exploring maps, discover beginner-friendly guitars, ukuleles and keyboards.
Browse CollectionMajor Cities in South America
- São Paulo — Brazil
- Rio de Janeiro — Brazil
- Buenos Aires — Argentina
- Santiago — Chile
- Lima — Peru
- Bogotá — Colombia
External Map Resources
Related Maps & Location Guides
South America Map FAQs
-
Where is South America located?
South America is located mostly in the Southern Hemisphere between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. -
How many countries are in South America?
South America has 12 sovereign countries. -
What is the largest country in South America?
Brazil is the largest country in South America by land area.
Disclaimer: This map is provided for general reference only. It is not intended for navigation, surveying, legal boundary determination, or emergency use. Borders, place names, and geographic representations may vary by source and change over time. Map data is provided by OpenStreetMap contributors under applicable licence terms. No warranty is made regarding accuracy or completeness.