When you hear the word America, you might think of the United States of America. But geographically the US is just a part of America that is a group of not one but two American regions, Central America and South America. In terms of continent, America is divided into two parts: North America and South America but geographically we classify them as South America and Central America. South America is a continent, while Central America is formed with the addition of a few more countries to North America.
North America, Canada, the United States and Mexico and the Caribbean Islands together form what is known as Central America. It should be noted that South America and Central America are located on two different continents.
History
South America and Central America have similar histories with a past of Spanish colonisation and the rise of Christopher Columbus leading to the discovery of the Caribbean islands. The end of Spanish rule in 1821 marked the rise of America led by the United States. The United States was ‘United’ in a true sense until 1841 when all the Central American colonies fell apart and evolved as independent nations.
On the other hand, South America was a colony of the Spanish for over 300 years who grew rich on the region’s resources. The spark of freedom grew stronger in 1821 with Brazil getting independence from Portugal.
Geography
Central America is nothing but a 1,140-mile strip connecting Mexico to South America. It is guarded by the Caribbean Sea on the east and the Pacific Ocean on the west. The coastal area is known for its tropical rainforests. It is a mountainous region having several active volcanoes.
South America, on the other hand, is the fourth largest continent in the world. It is a diverse land with mountains, plains, rainforests and river basins. The world’s largest river – Amazon, and the world’s driest place – the Atacama Desert, both are in South America. The Atlantic ocean is on the east of the continent, the Pacific on the West and the Caribbean Sea in the north.
South America comprises 12 different countries. Most of the countries here are Spanish speaking apart from Brazil where the majority of the population speaks Portuguese. English is the second most popular language. The continent also includes French Guiana which is not a country but rather an overseas department of France with a Creole vibe and miles of Atlantic coastline.
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Most Popular Destinations
Central America
Tikal in Guatemala; the Hummingbird Highway in Belize; Panama City; and Monteverde and Santa Elena in Costa Rica are some of the destinations worth visiting in Central America.
South America
One key benefit of visiting South America is that it is cheaper in comparison to the North. Also, it is more beautiful in terms of natural beauty and has plenty of spots for adventure lovers. The Galapagos Islands; Rio de Janeiro Cusco and Machu Picchu in Peru; Buenos Aires in Argentina; and Cartagena and Bogota in Colombia are some of the must-visit places in the continent.
Countries in Central America
- Belize
- Costa Rica
- El Salvador
- Guatemala
- Honduras
- Nicaragua
- Panama
Countries in South America
- Argentina
- Bolivia
- Brazil
- Chile
- Colombia
- Ecuador
- Guyana
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Suriname
- Uruguay
- Venezuela
