South America has a significant portion of its territory, including the Amazon rainforest, lying in the Southern Hemisphere, but its northern edge crosses the Equator, placing the entire continent in the Western Hemisphere regardless of its north-south position. The continent spans a vast longitudinal range, from the frigid waters of the Arctic Ocean in the north to the tropical climates of Central America.
South America's Hemisphere Position Explained
This positioning places them on the opposite side of the globe from the Eastern Hemisphere, which contains Europe, Asia, and Australia, shaping everything from time zones to international trade routes. Furthermore, this shared longitudinal space facilitated the historical connections between the continents during events like the Columbian Exchange, shaping the biological and cultural landscape of the world.
Defining the Western Hemisphere To answer the question directly, the Western Hemisphere is the half of the Earth that lies west of the Prime Meridian (0° longitude) and east of the 180° meridian. The Equatorial Divide While the terms "Northern" and "Southern" describe the division of the planet relative to the Equator, the question of hemispheres is distinct.
South America's Location in the Southern Hemisphere
A small portion of the northernmost region, specifically the San Andrés and Providencia islands belonging to Colombia, technically falls into the Northern Hemisphere, but the vast majority of the landmass resides in the west. Summary of Geographic Placement Continent Primary Hemisphere (Longitude) Position Relative to Equator North America Western Hemisphere Primarily Northern South America Western Hemisphere Straddles Northern and Southern Geographically, the placement of North and South America within the Western Hemisphere underscores their shared environment and historical trajectory.
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