Southernmost Point Of South America
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When nosotros expect at the map of the Earth, one of the first things that we encounter is that its surface is divided into land and water. The state consists of several continents and millions of islands, and the water is all the oceans and seas. We, humans, live on continents and islands. Practice yous know which piece of land is the longest, well-nigh from pole to pole? This is America, consisting of 2 continents- N and South America. Now, let's make a journeying around South America and reach its extreme points!
Basic geography
Let'due south open the map of the world. South America is the southern half of the Americas, as mentioned higher up, the longest piece of land on our planet. It is prolonged from the Caribbean Body of water to the Strait of Drake. The continent is wide in the n, gradually condign narrow in the south.
S America is connected to Northward America by the Isthmus of Panama. It is well-known for its long and narrow Andes Mountain Chain, and the plain of Amazonia, with the largest equatorial rainforest on the Globe. The continent "points to the south", only its southernmost part suddenly curves eastward. Likewise, it is separated from the mainland by the Strait of Magellan, forming Tierra del Fuego Island.
Mainland and islands
At present, let's define the extreme geographic points of South America and try to reach them. But to do this, we have to define the mainland of the continent only, besides as the whole continent including its shelf and nearby islands.
Equally we tin can come across, unlike its northern neighbor, South America is a much more than "simple" continent. There are no large archipelagos beside information technology, and the few nearby isolated islands are ocean islands, not a part of any continent. The only "difficult" areas are its southernmost region- Tierra del Fuego and the islands around it, and the Bottom Antilles in the Caribbean area Sea, which most "touch" South America, and can be considered a "bridge" with the N.
The continental shelf of Southward America doesn't spread much beyond its mainland. However, it makes another "span" with the shelf of Antarctica. And there are some islands on this "bridge", which can be considered either as a part of South America, or Antarctica.
And so, let'south define South America's extreme geographic points.
The farthermost geographic points of South America
Although the Bottom Antilles "touch" Southward America, permit's consider most of them (and the continental shelf bridge on which they are located) every bit a function of North America. There is only their western grouping, called the Leeward Antilles, which is located firmly on the Southward American shelf. In this case, we can look only at this sub-archipelago, and one of its islands is located beyond the mainland farthermost point, so we have ii northernmost points- a mainland, and an isle point.
On the west, Galapagos is widely considered a part of South America, simply this archipelago is non located on its shelf, so we will not count it. As a upshot, nosotros have simply a westernmost mainland indicate. It is the same on the east- no easternmost islands on the continental shelf. And on the south, we have Tierra del Fuego and its satellite islands, located further south of the southernmost indicate of the continent.
However, if nosotros count the "shelf span" between South America and Antarctica, which forms an arc to the east, then we have other easternmost and southernmost island points. These are two small islands belonging to S Sandwich Archipelago. So, in the south, we will expect at 2 island extreme points, and 1 more farthermost indicate in the due east.
Anyhow, let's first our journey and run into information technology in detail, beginning from the Due north.
Extreme Due north
When we look at the map, we can easily see the northernmost point of mainland S America. This is Punta Gallinas in Republic of colombia. And for the northernmost isle point, as I mentioned to a higher place, I exclude nearly the Lesser Antilles from South America, with exception of the Leeward sub-archipelago. And so let'due south encounter these islands. We can easily identify the northernmost of them. This is Aruba, and its northernmost tip is chosen Westpunt (Boca).
The northernmost mainland point of South America- Punta Gallinas, Colombia
12°27′31″N 71°40′eight″W
If you expect at the map of S America, you lot tin conspicuously run into 2 small peninsulas, surrounding a bay and "looking at each other", shared between Colombia and Venezuela. The western ane is like a "male"- information technology is larger, and it penetrates a chip further into the Caribbean Sea. This is the Guajira Peninsula, and Punta Gallinas is its northernmost betoken.
Although this piece of land is non far from the Equator, information technology looks surprisingly different than the nearby humid tropical rainforest lands, and the tropical paradise of the Caribbean islands. Guajira is a desert place, covered by dry savannas, some bush-league, and dunes. It is a sparsely populated expanse, and its inhabitants are mainly native Wayuu people.
How to reach Punta Gallinas
Guajira Peninsula is safe, but not then touristy-developed place. At that place are organized tours to Punta Gallinas, the nearby dunes and beaches, as well every bit the villages of the native people. Just for a better feel, y'all can do it yourself.
First, you take to get to Riohacha. At that place are buses from the bigger cities in the country traveling to Riohacha. From there, you have to find a shared taxi to Uribia, and so, another 4×iv taxi to Cabo de la Vela, a small town on the seacoast. Then you can ask the hotel where you stay, and they can arrange for y'all a trip to Punta Gallinas- ordinarily for two days-i dark.
Punta Gallinas is a sandy place, a kind of a steep embankment descending into the sea. The sand is full of stone piles probably left past visitors, and at that place is a small lighthouse backside it. Just of course, your Punta Gallinas trip would not exist pointed but to this place. You would enjoy a lot of adventures in the desert, on the stunning beaches and the nearby lagoon.
Now, let'due south head a bit further north- to Aruba.
The northernmost island point of South America- Aruba
12°62′33″North 70°05′48″Westward
Aruba is a small island country (or "sub-country", belonging to the Netherlands). Information technology is a flat isle, with almost the same climate and natural landscapes as the Guajira Peninsula. Oranjestad is the capital of Aruba and is but 14 km away from the northernmost tip of the isle.
And this northernmost tip looks a bit like Punta Gallinas, at to the lowest degree the land around it. Merely the point itself is a fleck more spectacular- there are stone cliffs, where the waves from the Caribbean pause. The most stunning identify is a small bay surrounded by these stone cliffs, some 100 g west of the betoken, where the waves form a kind of waterfalls on the rocks.
How to attain the northernmost betoken of Aruba- Westpunt
First, y'all have to make a trip to Aruba. Information technology is a stunning tropical paradise and such a trip would be a corking experience. Many flights get to Aruba, from nearly of the American countries, also as from some countries in Europe (of grade, including the Netherlands). There are also many cruise lines traveling to the isle.
Once yous arrive in Oranjestad, you take to go to Noord, a small resort boondocks in the northern part of the island. You tin can do it past taxi, by coach "Arubus", or by rental automobile. In fact, yous tin fifty-fifty go on foot, for just an hour and a half walking. Then, again by taxi, you lot tin can go to California Lighthouse, built on the northernmost tip of the island (but withal effectually 600 m far from the coast). And from there, you can walk on Arashi Dunes until the rocks of the coast, enjoying great views all the time.
This is the North. Now, let's cross the continent and reach its westernmost extreme point.
The extreme westward
South America is quite a compact continent. Its western declension is clear, without large gulfs, nearby archipelagos, and other more than complex coastline forms. As I mentioned in a higher place, the merely archipelago which lies west of the continent is Galapagos, merely information technology is non located on the continental shelf. There are no other islands westward of the mainland likewise, so there is only one westernmost point of South America, and information technology is on the mainland. This is Punta Parinas (Balcones) in Peru.
The westernmost point of mainland South America- Punta Parinas (Balcones), Peru
4°40'58″Due south 81°19′43″Due west
Allow's travel to Peru. This is i of the countries with the most contrasts on Earth. From equatorial rainforests to dry deserts and mountain tundra with glaciers, yous can see nigh all kinds of nature.
At present, permit's research Republic of peru'south coastline. Here is Punta Parinas (Balcones)- the westernmost bespeak of South America. How does it wait like? If we open up the satellite map of the area, we can come across the dry desert strip of country along the Pacific Coast. And Punta Parinas (Balcones) is located in its northernmost role. Although it is very close to the Equator, the area is dry.
Punta Parinas (Balcones) is a "double" farthermost point, and if you zoom enough on the map, y'all can see it. There are two points with exactly the same longitude. The northern point is higher and rocky, providing stunning views around, and is a good place to watch the seals on the declension. There is a lighthouse on information technology, called Faro Negritos. And the southern signal is lower, but nonetheless rocky, forming a promontory, with a stone marker on it. Finally, there is a beach between two points, called Balcones Beach.
How to reach Punta Parinas (Balcones)
To reach Punta Parinas, starting time, you accept to arrive in Talara, a modest city on the Pacific Declension, with a small airport. So, you tin travel to Talara from Lima with a bus (once daily, for eighteen hours), or by airplane (for nigh 2 hours). But since Talara is much closer to Republic of ecuador than to the Peruvian capital, it could be faster to reach it from Quito.
One time you go far in Talara, yous can take a taxi to Negritos for about 10 mins, the westernmost village in South America. And from Negritos, you tin can accept another taxi (or proceed by the same taxi) for another 5 mins to the southern Punta Parinas (Balcones). Or y'all tin can merely walk well-nigh an hour to the northern Punta Parinas (Balcones). In both cases, don't skip the stunning beach between these two points. Almost probably y'all would be only yourself, the beach, the raging corking waves of the Pacific, and the current of air. And these will exist null in front of you lot, but only an countless sea, to the islands of Polynesia, far beyond the horizon.
Now, let's jump to the east.
The extreme East
But like the W, the Eastward of South America has a compact and articulate coastline. Yes, the eastern coastline is more complex (mainly due to the rima oris of Amazon and Parana rivers), but its easternmost section is unproblematic. The continental shelf spreads not far from the coast, and there are no other islands located farther east on the shelf. There are several isolated islands in the Atlantic Ocean, simply they are ocean islands, non on the continental shelf. So, on the due east, we have simply the extreme mainland point. This is Ponta do Seixas in Brazil.
Nevertheless, equally I mentioned above, the continental "tail" proceeds further east on the south, where it connects with Antarctica. In this area, we can detect pieces of land located beyond Ponta do Seixas, on the Southward Sandwich Islands. But this is a "special case", so let's first ignore them and focus on the easternmost mainland bespeak of South America.
The easternmost point of mainland South America- Ponta do Seixas, Brazil
7°9′19″S 34°47′35″W
When you look at the map of South America, yous can see that the coastline bends very smoothly on the east. At that place are no peninsulas, no promontories. Then, when yous zoom to Ponta do Seixas, you can see that this indicate is just a depression curve of the coast, without any rock cliffs, or other spectacular things that tin be seen on a greatcoat. Instead, there is just a embankment, like every other "normal" beach, where you can spend your 24-hour interval with a coconut juice under the umbrella, sometimes playing with the waves of the ocean, with nothing to show that this place is more special.
If you want to run across something a little more than spectacular, you have to walk to the northern stop of the embankment. There is a low cape with a lighthouse. This is Cabo Branco, officially known as the "easternmost point of South America", all the same, it is still well-nigh 200 g west of the Ponta do Seixas Beach.
How to reach Ponta do Seixas
It'due south easy. Ponta do Seixas is non a wild, remote and difficult to access place, like about of the other extreme points of the continents. Instead, the beach of the easternmost bespeak of Due south America is a skilful place to establish a metropolis and a resort.
So, there is a big city most the point- Joao Pessoa, the capital of Paraiba State. This city is really worth visiting, not but for geographic purposes merely considering there are so many things to run across and do there. You can explore its one-time churches, its green parks, its museums, and bask its handicrafts, for which it is famous.
And Ponta do Seixas is merely a small district of Joao Pessoa, a resort established at the easternmost point of the continent. You can easily go there by public bus, by taxi, or merely on foot forth the coast. You can see the lighthouse of Cabo Branco, then you tin bask the cute embankment south (and east) of it.
Finally, let's get to the southward.
Farthermost South
At present nosotros leave the warm tropical paradise and caput to common cold and harsh places. South America is prolonged far to the due south, "trying to touch on" Antarctica. Advancing in this direction, the mainland starts to tear into pieces. These are the archipelagos of Chile and Patagonia. Hidden among the island is the southernmost mainland signal of South America- Cape Froward. And the islands proceed further s until the last one- Aguila Islet.
Then, let's start with the mainland.
The southernmost mainland bespeak of South America- Cape Froward, Chile
53°53′47″S 71°17′twoscore″West
Patagonia is a compact piece of country until it reaches its southernmost part. And so information technology turns into peninsulas, bays, and islands, with a lot of fjords between them. I of these peninsulas is the Brunswick Peninsula, forming a significant section of the Strait of Magellan's north declension.
Brunswick Peninsula is a desolate identify, covered past common cold forests and tundra. Well-nigh of it is uninhabited, with some natural reserves on its northern and cardinal part. The nearest city is Punta Arenas- a famous spot for expeditions to Antarctica. The climate is harsh, oft windy and rainy, sometimes snowy in winter. Just this remote part of the world too features rich wildlife, of which penguins are the most popular animals.
Cape Froward is a high promontory with steep rock cliffs. There is a metal cantankerous on it, marking the southernmost mainland point of the Americas. This is a magnificent spot, revealing great panoramic views to the Strait of Magellan and the islands beyond it.
How to reach Cape Froward
The starting indicate of a trip to Cape Froward is Punta Arenas. It is a small city, concentrated around its heart, full of interesting places to visit. You can reach Punta Arenas past plane, and by autobus, from both Chile and Argentina, including Ushuaia (the southernmost city on the planet). Many cruise lines finish in Punta Arenas also.
Check your transportation from Ushuaia to Punta Arenas!
From Punta Arenas, you lot have to travel on Road 9. This is a dirt road simply in good condition. Anyway, there is no public send on it, and so you have to arrange private transport (your hotel in Punta Arenas can help you with that). It volition have you lot to the end of the route at a parking lot. Then y'all take to start a challenging trek forth the body of water coast and the lighthouse of San Isidro. The whole trek to Cape Froward is around 16 hours in one direction. In other words, you lot have to gear up for a 4-5 days journey.
An easier style is to go there by gunkhole, merely again- but a private trip, which can be arranged in Punta Arenas. No matter which way would you lot cull, it would be a fantastic hazard, with breathtaking scenery all the way. Now, let's go further due south- to the last piece of American country- Aguila Islet.
The northernmost island point of South America- Aguila Islet, Chile
56°32′15″S 68°43′x″W
Probably yous have heard most Cape Horn, known as the "southernmost indicate of S America". But it is not that bespeak. Cape Horn is famous mainly due to its important location every bit the point dividing the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, as well every bit its magnificent and unsafe image. Merely the continental shelf proceeds farther south, and in that location are some spots of it appearing over the surface of the bounding main.
These spots are the small Diego Ramirez Archipelago, located most 100 km southwest of Greatcoat Horn. And the southernmost isle of this archipelago is a tiny rocky islet, called Aguila. It is a cold and harsh identify, exposed to the astringent winds and rains of the Drake Strait, with the size of a modest parking lot. The cold furious waves of the ocean break on its rocks, and at that place is most nil else on it.
How to attain Aguila Islet
The but way to reach this spot is past a passing cruise trip. And information technology would not finish on the islet, but you tin can but accept photos from distant. Some other, more challenging fashion is to go to the only inhabited outpost on Diego Ramirez Archipelago- the meteorological station on Isla Gonsalo (which is possible simply by a particularly arranged trip from Punta Arenas or Ushuaia). And so they could eventually accept y'all to Aguila Islet, simply again, nigh probably without a take chances to step on its rocks.
These are the traditional extreme points of South America. But let's reach the alternative version of the extreme south and east- South Sandwich Archipelago
Culling island extremes of S America- South Sandwich Archipelago
These pieces of land, scattered far in the Atlantic Body of water, but still on the Southward American-Antarctic shelf, are actually farthermost. Non only geographically, but as well physically. They belong to the Sub-Antarctic group of isolated islands, and they are located in the geographical latitude zone where no continent can be constitute. Instead, winds (often strong and furious) blow almost permanently from w to east, with nothing to stop them. At to this the freezing breath of Antarctica, and the humid from the body of water. Equally a result, we take an extremely inhospitable environs, too hostile for permanent inhabitants.
South Sandwich Archipelago consists of xi islands, nigh of them volcanic. There is no permanent population on the islands, but there are almost only scientists who stay there for a longer time. The largest of the islands is Montagu Island, and its easternmost tip is the point that we focused- the culling easternmost isle betoken of Due south America. And on the south- two islands are sitting on the same latitude- Thule, and Cook. Melt Island "wins" the prize for its southernmost tip- just 50 grand across the southernmost end of Thule. So, let's visit them.
The culling easternmost isle point of S America- Montagu Island
58°30′43″South 26°sixteen′7″W
This is a volcanic island, with 90% of its territory covered past ice. The balance modest portion of it is covered by rocks, moss, and tundra. Recently, its volcano Mount Belinda has erupted (no man has been at that place to see information technology), creating a lava river, which has increased the area of the island.
Its easternmost tip is located on the isle'southward southeast part. It this area, the slopes of Mount Belinda only descend into the ocean with steep rocky cliffs, covered almost permanently by water ice and snow. The easternmost tip is most inaccessible, unless in the rare calm days, eventually just by professional extreme adventurers.
The alternative southernmost island point of South America- Cook Isle
59°29′20″S 27°8′40″W
Cook Island has the same nature every bit Montague Island, simply but its highest peak Mount Harmer is non an agile volcano. Same as the other islands, information technology is about entirely covered by ice. Again, the terrain is rugged, steep, and highly inhospitable. It is completely uninhabited, with exception of some scientists coming temporarily in that location for work.
Its southernmost bespeak is a rocky promontory, located on the island's southeast office. Same as in Montague, it is just a part of the steep mountain slopes of Mount Harmer. Once more, it is virtually inaccessible, and the waters effectually the island are often covered by water ice.
How to attain Montague and Cook islands
The merely possible style is by cruise. Recently, the number of cruises passing by these islands and stopping at that place is increasing. But of form, they just stop most the islands (at a safe distance), and so y'all tin can just find and take photos of the islands and their farthermost points from afar. You can't step on the ground (at least not on the farthermost points). Fifty-fifty if y'all join a scientist's mission, you can but arrive at the few access points. Of course, the chance and the feeling to be so far at the end of the world are actually worth it.
Now, permit'south get out the edges of Due south America and make a journey to its interior- to the continent'south Pole of Inaccessibility, the farthest indicate from every seacoast.
The Pole of Inaccessibility of South America- Nova Marilandia, Mato Grosso, Brazil
14°05′34″S 56°85′x″Due west
This is the middle of Due south America. Information technology is located in the southwest part of Brazil, in Mato Grosso State. Although the proper noun "inaccessibility" proposes a difficult to access identify "in the center of nowhere", this signal is not and so difficult to achieve. It is located in a greenish expanse, on the large Mato Grosso plains, covered by agronomical fields and some forests and bush-league.
So, the surface area around the South American Pole of Inaccessibility is an inhabited place, with small towns and villages effectually. The nearest city is Arenapolis, simply there is a nearer settlement- the village of Nova Marilandia. Well-paved roads are connecting the villages and cities in the area, merely the Pole of Inaccessibility is aside from the roads.
How to reach the Pole of Inaccessibility of South America
The all-time mode to reach the Pole of Inaccessibility is first to fly to Cuiaba, the uppercase of Mato Grosso State. From there, you tin can accept a bus to Rosario Oeste, so another local coach or taxi to Arenapolis, or directly to Nova Marilandia.
One time you reach Nova Marilandia, you can accept another local taxi to the nearest curve of the road, in the north direction. Stop the taxi and make a trek due west through the agricultural fields, on local dirt roads. You will reach a low forest and bush area, and you have to penetrate deeper into it. Watch your GPS, considering in that location are no paths, no geographical markers, or other sign pointing to the Pole. Then y'all can detect information technology but in the middle of the woods.
The Turner Twins expedition
Actually, maybe you can see something. In 2017 The Turner Twins- twins known for their geographical expeditions reached the Pole of Inaccessibility and put there a small blueish lath as a marker. If it still remains there, you can find the spot easier, just if not, you still have to sentry only your GPS.
This is South America- a continent full of contrasts. Most of its extreme points are in the tropics and are like shooting fish in a barrel-to-reach tourist destinations. But those in the s are very unlike, harsh, and challenging. And if you lot want to cross the continent from north to south, and from west to eastward, you lot can savour fantastic landscapes of all kinds, highly-seasoned for discovery by those who are thirsty for exploring expeditions.
Check some books virtually Due south America:
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Howdy, nosotros are Krasen and Ying Ying. Krasen is from Bulgaria, and Ying Ying is from People's republic of china. We are passionate about geography and history, and we believe that the best mode to experience it is by exploring the Earth in reality, non in a school, and not most.
And then, we created this blog Journey Beyond the Horizon, where we share geographical knowledge, travel guides and tips how to experience it when you explore our planet, and a lot of inspiration.
And we wish you a happy journey, not only virtually, just nearly of all- in reality.
Enjoy!
Southernmost Point Of South America,
Source: https://journeybeyondhorizon.com/south-america-extreme-points/
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