Geography of South America Great American Interchange. The Andes, likewise a comparatively young and seismically restless mountain range, runs down the western edge of the continent; the land to the east of the northern Andes is largely tropical rain forest, the vast Amazon River basin. The continent also contains drier regions such as eastern Patagonia and the extremely arid Atacama desert. The South American continent also includes various islands, most of which belong to countries on the continent. The Caribbean territories are grouped with North America. The South American nations that border the Caribbean Sea—including Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana—are also known
Spanish language in South America Mexico, while varieties spoken in Argentina and Venezuela share some phonological innovations with the Spanish spoken on Caribbean islands. In some cases a single South American country—for example Colombia—presents a broad spectrum of conservative and innovative dialects. Spanish language in South America The Spanish language in South America varies within the different countries and regions of the continent. The term "South American Spanish" (Spanish: "español sudamericano" or "español suramericano") is sometimes used as a broad name for the dialects of Spanish spoken on the continent, but such a term is only "geographical" and has little or no "linguistic" relevance. The