South America

I stretch from the warm, sunny waters in the north to the chilly, icy lands in the south. A long, rocky spine of mountains, called the Andes, runs all the way down my back, touching the clouds. A giant, winding river, the Amazon, weaves through my heart like a giant green ribbon, full of chattering monkeys and colorful birds. My lands can be steamy and wet in my huge rainforests, where rain whispers to the leaves all day long. In other places, I am dry and quiet, with deserts where the stars shine so brightly at night you feel like you could reach out and touch them. I am a land of many wonders and amazing adventures. I am South America.

A very, very long time ago, even before your great-great-great grandparents were born, the first people walked upon my lands around 14,500 BCE. They learned to live with my mountains and my forests. Over many years, great groups of people, called civilizations, grew. One of the most famous was the Inca Empire, which became strong and powerful in the 1400s. They were incredible builders. High up in my mountains, they built amazing cities in the clouds, like the famous Machu Picchu. To grow their food, they cleverly carved steps into the sides of the mountains, which looked like a giant green staircase reaching for the sun.

One day, in the late 1400s, something new appeared on my oceans. Tall ships with big white sails arrived from a faraway place called Europe. People from countries like Spain and Portugal came to my shores. They brought with them new languages, new beliefs, and new ways of doing things. This brought big changes to the people who already called me home. After many years, in the early 1800s, the people living here decided they wanted to be in charge of their own lands. Brave leaders like Simón Bolívar helped them fight for their freedom. Because of their courage, many new and wonderful countries were born.

Today, I am a continent of celebration. I am home to many different countries, each with its own special sparkle. My air is filled with exciting music, like the lively beat of samba in Brazil and the graceful dance of the tango in Argentina. My heart beats with the excitement of soccer games, where everyone cheers for their favorite team. People come from all over the world to explore my green rainforests and see my ancient cities. I am a continent full of life, color, and adventure, and I am always ready to share my amazing stories with you.