Geographic / Cultural Region

From the snow-capped peaks of the Andes to the vast steaming Amazon, from the driest desert on the planet to wetlands the size of France, South America defies easy characterization. This landmass—the world's fourth-largest continent—stretches from the Caribbean shores of Colombia to the windswept channels of Tierra del Fuego, encompassing every climatic zone. Home to nearly 440 million people, South America is a crucible where Indigenous civilizations, European colonization, the African diaspora, and waves of global migration have forged societies as diverse as the landscapes they inhabit.

The Americas, often called "America" broadly, include all lands of the Western Hemisphere from Canadian Arctic to Amazon rainforests and Patagonian plains. This vast region features diverse climates, landscapes, peoples, languages, and traditions, defined by geographic diversity, complex histories, and cultural identities. Over millennia, Indigenous civilizations like Mesoamerica and the Andes rose, followed by European colonization and African migration. These legacies create a rich tapestry of societies still influential today.

The Central American Isthmus is a narrow strip of land connecting North and South America that fundamentally altered Earth's biological and climatic systems when it formed 3 million years ago. Despite occupying less than 1% of the world's land area, this remarkable region harbors 7% of the planet's biodiversity and serves as a critical corridor for global commerce via the Panama Canal. Today, Central America exemplifies both the opportunities and challenges of sustainable development, leading innovative conservation efforts while facing unprecedented threats from climate change and environmental degradation.

Latin America, often described as a rainbow of diversity, is a mesmerizing region that stretches from the southern border of the United States to the southernmost tip of South America. This expansive territory encompasses an astonishing array of countries, cultures, and ecosystems, including the enchanting islands of the Caribbean Archipelago, the captivating landscapes of the Central American Isthmus, the multifaceted expanse of Mexico, and the diverse wonders of the South American Continent.