What is the highest peak in South America and where is it located?
Aconcagua in Argentina reaches 6,961 meters above sea level as the highest peak of the Andes mountain range. This geological feature dominates the western geography of the continent.
Questions about South America
Short answers, pulled from the story.
When did human settlement begin in South America according to archaeological evidence?
Human presence dates back at least 15,000 years when groups crossed the Bering Land Bridge from present-day Russia. Archaeological evidence at Monte Verde II in Chile suggests settlement around 14,500 years ago.
Which treaty divided South American lands between Spain and Portugal in 1494?
The Treaty of Tordesillas signed in 1494 divided all lands outside Europe between Spain and Portugal under papal authority. An imaginary line drawn 370 leagues west of Cape Verde Islands allocated most territory to Spain while granting Brazil to Portugal.
Who led the independence movements that secured freedom for Peru and the rest of South America?
Simón Bolívar from Venezuela led a great uprising in the north before marching his army south toward Lima. His forces defeated the Spanish at the Battle of Ayacucho two years after the Guayaquil Conference in Ecuador in 1822.
What caused the massive population reduction during the Paraguayan War fought from 1864 to 1870?
Paraguay suffered near-total destruction resulting in 60% population reduction including 90% of adult males. This conflict represented the longest and bloodiest inter-state war in Latin American history with 40% territorial loss for Paraguay.