South America
Mountains
- Andes Mountains: The Andes is the longest continental mountain range in the world, stretching about 7,000 kilometers along the western coast of South America. Notable peaks include Aconcagua, which is the highest mountain outside Asia at 6,959 meters.
Rivers
- Amazon River: The Amazon River is the largest river by discharge volume of water in the world and the second longest river in the world. It runs about 6,400 kilometers from the Andes in Peru through Brazil to the Atlantic Ocean.
Lakes
- Lake Titicaca: Located in the Andes on the border of Peru and Bolivia, Lake Titicaca is the highest navigable lake in the world, sitting at 3,812 meters above sea level. It is also the largest lake in South America by volume of water and surface area.
Deserts
- Atacama Desert: Situated in northern Chile, the Atacama Desert is one of the driest places on Earth. It spans about 1,000 kilometers along the coast of the Pacific Ocean and is known for its unique landscape and extreme aridity.
Plateaus
- Altiplano: The Altiplano, or the Andean Plateau, is the most extensive area of high plateau on Earth outside of Tibet. It is located in west-central South America, mainly in Bolivia, Peru, and Chile, and is characterized by high elevation and flat terrain.
North America
Mountains
- Rocky Mountains: The Rockies are a major mountain range in western North America, extending from the northernmost part of British Columbia in Canada to New Mexico in the United States. Mount Elbert in Colorado is the highest peak at 4,401 meters.
Rivers
- Mississippi River: One of the longest rivers in the world, the Mississippi River runs approximately 3,730 kilometers from its source at Lake Itasca in Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico. It is a major waterway in the United States.
Lakes
- Great Lakes: The Great Lakes, located on the border between the United States and Canada, comprise five interconnected freshwater lakes—Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario. Lake Superior is the largest by surface area and volume.
Deserts
- Mojave Desert: Located in the southwestern United States, the Mojave Desert spans parts of California, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona. It is known for the Death Valley, which contains the lowest, hottest, and driest point in North America.
Plateaus
- Colorado Plateau: The Colorado Plateau is a vast, high elevation region centered on the Four Corners region of the southwestern United States. It is characterized by deep canyons, such as the Grand Canyon, and unique rock formations.
These examples illustrate the diverse and dramatic physical features found across the two continents, each contributing to the unique geography and natural beauty of South and North America.
