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Southern Cone

geography Maturity 7-9 Next article →

The Southern Cone is a special part of South America. It sits at the very bottom of the continent.

Cono Sur
Cono Sur

Most people use this name to talk about three countries: Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay. Sometimes, the name also includes Paraguay and four states from Brazil. The region is tucked between two massive oceans. The Pacific Ocean sits on the west side. The Atlantic Ocean is on the east side.

Köppen-Geiger Southern Cone Map
Köppen-Geiger Southern Cone Map

This area is known for having a high standard of living. In fact, it has the second highest rating in all of the Americas.

Nature in this region looks very different depending on where you stand. The Andes Mountains run north to south through the land. These huge mountains form a natural border between Chile and Argentina.

Southern cone density
Southern cone density

You might find yourself in the Atacama Desert, which is the driest place on Earth. In other spots, you will see the Pampas. These are wide, grassy plains found in Argentina, Uruguay, and Brazil. You can also find the unique Araucaria tree growing here. This tree is a special kind of conifer from the southern hemisphere.

Southern Cone at night
Southern Cone at night

History has shaped how people live and speak in the Southern Cone. During the 19th and 20th centuries, many people moved here from Europe and the Middle East. This massive wave of immigration changed the culture and the way people look.

Because of this, many people speak Spanish or Portuguese. In Argentina and Uruguay, the Spanish accent sounds a bit like Italian. This is because many Italian settlers lived in cities like Buenos Aires and Montevideo. In Chile, people often skip the letter "s" when they speak. Some groups also still use native languages like Mapudungun or Guarani.

There are many interesting facts about the people and their daily lives. Football is a huge part of the culture for everyone. Argentina has won the FIFA World Cup three times. Uruguay has won it two times as well.

CS aglo
CS aglo

People also love certain foods and drinks. A popular meal is called asado, which is a type of barbecue. Many people also enjoy drinking mate.

Mate-gourds
Mate-gourds

This is a warm, traditional drink shared among friends. Most people in the region follow the Catholic Church. However, some places like Uruguay are very secular, meaning they keep religion and government separate.

If you look at a map, you can see how the Southern Cone connects to the rest of the world. Its location is similar to parts of Europe and North America.

Planisferio Latitud templada comparada
Planisferio Latitud templada comparada

For example, its latitudes match places like Ireland or Poland. The region also has very diverse climates. You can find everything from cold, snowy mountains to warm, subtropical areas. The weather can be windy and humid, especially in the winter. This makes the Southern Cone a place of many different sights and sounds.

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🖼️ Images & Media (10)
File:Cono Sur.svg
Cono Sur.svg
File:Köppen-Geiger Southern Cone Map.png
Köppen-Geiger Southern Cone Map.png
File:Planisferio Latitud templada comparada.png
Planisferio Latitud templada comparada.png
File:Mate-gourds.jpg
Mate-gourds.jpg
File:Southern cone density.png
Southern cone density.png
File:Southern Cone at night.jpg
Southern Cone at night.jpg
File:CS_aglo.png
CS_aglo.png
File:Ethnic map of the Southern Cone.png
Ethnic map of the Southern Cone.png
File:Ethnic map of Argentina and Uruguay.png
Ethnic map of Argentina and Uruguay.png
File:Southern Cone's subnational entities by Human Development Index.png
Southern Cone's subnational entities by...
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