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People and Places^235

FIND OUT MORE. Exploration 400–401 • Habitats 82–84 • Human Impact 64–65 • Incas 402

WHAT IS HAPPENING TO SOUTH

AMERICA’S RAINFORESTS?

About 30 per cent of all the world’s plant and animal

species live in the Amazon rainforest in Brazil, as well

as many native Indian tribes. Since 1970, vast swathes

of forest have been cut down for timber, or to clear

land for cattle pasture or new roads. Similar problems

are facing the forests of Colombia and Ecuador.

4 PERUVIAN WOMAN

The Quechua Indians keep llamas

and alpacas – close relatives of

the camel – which thrive in the

high Andes of Peru and Bolivia.

Alpacas are kept for their long,

soft wool, and llamas carry loads

and provide wool, milk, and meat.

1 ROCKETS, FRENCH GUIANA

French Guiana, the only

remaining European colony in

South America, is home to the

European Space Agency launch

site. From here, Ariane rockets

carry satellites into space.

1 TOMATO HARVEST, ECUADOR
The hot, humid coastal plain of Ecuador has an ideal climate for
growing tomatoes and other important crops, such as bananas, coffee,
and cocoa, which are produced on an industrial scale for export.

PERU

Capital city: Lima

Area: 1,285,000 sq km

(496,141 sq miles)

Population: 28.8 million

Official languages: Spanish and

Quechua

Major religion: Roman Catholic

Currency: New sol

ECUADOR

Capital city: Quito

Area: 283,560 sq km

(109,483 sq miles)

Population: 13.6 million

Official language: Spanish

Major religion: Roman Catholic

Currency: US dollar

COLOMBIA

Capital city: Bogotá

Area: 1,138,910 sq km

(439,733 sq miles)

Population: 45 million

Official language: Spanish

Major religion: Roman Catholic

Currency: Colombian peso

VENEZUELA

Capital city: Caracas

Area: 912,050 sq km

(352,143 sq miles)

Population: 27.9 million

Official language: Spanish

Major religion: Roman Catholic

Currency: Bolívar

GUYANA

Capital city: Georgetown

Area: 214,970 sq km

(83,000 sq miles)

Population: 769,000

Official language: English

Major religion: Christian

Currency: Guyana dollar

SURINAME

Capital city: Paramaribo

Area: 163,270 sq km

(63,039 sq miles)

Population: 471,000

Official language: Dutch

Major religions: Hindu,

Protestant,

Roman Catholic,

and Muslim

Currency: Suriname dollar

FRENCH GUIANA

Capital city: Cayenne

Area: 90,000 sq km

(34,749 sq miles)

Population: 222,000

Official language: French

Major religion: Roman Catholic

Currency: Euro

NORTHERN SOUTH AMERICA

WHAT ARE THE LOST WORLDS OF VENEZUELA?

More than 100 flat-topped sandstone hills

called tepuis tower up to 1,000 m (3,300 ft) above

Venezuela’s rainforests. They are called “lost worlds”

because their remoteness has meant that unique

animals and plants have evolved there.

HOW DO THE OTAVALO INDIANS MAKE A LIVING?

Ecuador’s Otavalo Indians have adapted to modern

life and are one of wealthiest Indian groups in South

America. They weave colourful ponchos, blankets,

and rugs, which are in great demand in the USA and

Europe. The income this generates enables the Otavalo

to continue their traditional way of life.

4 BOGOTÁ, COLOMBIA

The Colombian capital of Bogotá

lies on a plateau in the eastern

Andes and has a cool, damp

climate. The city is the financial

centre of the country and home

to 7.3 million people.

Llama

carries heavy loads

at high altitudes

Quechua Indian woman

wearing a distinctive hat

with a four-quarters-of-

the-world design

WHAT REMAINS OF THE INCA

CIVILIZATION IN SOUTH AMERICA?

The Spanish destroyed the Inca Empire in the 1530s,

but many buildings and some towns survived, such

as the hilltop city of Machu Picchu. In the Peruvian

Andes, 6–8 million Indians still speak Quechua,

the Inca language.