South America is located to the west of Africa. This geographical fact is a result of the Earth’s rotation and the positioning of the continents on the globe. To provide a more interesting and detailed response, let’s explore a quote from Christopher Columbus, who discovered the Americas and was fascinated by the relationship between the continents:
“In truth, the land of Africa is farther west than any part of Europe, and thus Africa lies to the west of the Indies.” – Christopher Columbus
Interesting facts about the positioning of South America and Africa:
Continents Drift: The current positions of South America and Africa are a product of continental drift, a theory that explains the movement of Earth’s tectonic plates over millions of years.
Atlantic Ocean: The vast Atlantic Ocean separates South America from Africa, stretching around 4,000 miles (6,400 kilometers) at its widest point.
Transatlantic Slave Trade: The close proximity of South America and Africa played a crucial role in the Transatlantic Slave Trade during the 15th to 19th centuries. The geographical proximity facilitated the transportation of enslaved Africans to South American countries.
To illustrate the westward positioning of South America in relation to Africa, here’s a simple table showcasing their respective longitudes:
Continent
Longitude
South America
Between 20°W and 85°W
Africa
Between 20°W and 60°E
In conclusion, South America is located west of Africa. This positioning has influenced historical events and cultural connections between the two continents throughout history. As Christopher Columbus aptly described, Africa lies to the west of the Indies, which includes South America.
Video answer to “Is South America east or west of Africa?”
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Is South America in the east or west?
South America is a continent situated in the western hemisphere and, mostly, the southern hemisphere, bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east by the Atlantic Ocean; North America and the Caribbean Sea lie to the northwest.
Is America west of Africa?
In reply to that: The four parts of the world or the four corners of the world refers to Africa (the "south"), the Americas (the "west"), Asia (the "east"), and Europe (the "north").
Was South America a part of Africa?
In reply to that: From about 300-200 million years ago (late Paleozoic Era until the very late Triassic), the continent we now know as North America was contiguous with Africa, South America, and Europe. They all existed as a single continent called Pangea.
Where does South America lies from Africa?
The answer is: Answer and Explanation: The ocean that lies between South America and Africa is called the Atlantic Ocean. Specifically, it is mostly the southern portion of the Atlantic Ocean that is found between these continents (commonly referred to as the South Atlantic Ocean, which is south of the…
Is South America a continent of extremes?
Response will be: South America is a continent of extremes. It is home to the world’s largest river (the Amazon) as well as the world’s driest place (the Atacama Desert). South America is a continent of extremes. It is home to the world’s largest river (the Amazon) as well as the world’s driest place (the Atacama Desert).
What Subregion is South America?
Answer to this: It can also be described as the southern subregion of a single continent called America . South America is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east by the Atlantic Ocean; North America and the Caribbean Sea lie to the northwest.
Which Ocean borders South America?
Answer to this: South America is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean in the east, the Pacific Ocean in the west, the Southern Ocean in the south, and North America in the north. Europe is the world’s third most populated continent, and the sixth largest continent by land area.
What is the difference between West Africa and southern Africa?
West Africa contains large portions of the Sahara Desert and the Adamawa Mountains. Central Africa is the large mass at the center of Africa which either does not fall squarely into any other region or only partially does so. Southern Africa consists of the portion generally south of -10° latitude and the great rainforests of Congo.
Is South America a hemisphere or a continent?
Answer will be: South America, fourth largest of the world’s continents. It is the southern portion of the landmass generally referred to as the New World, the Western Hemisphere, or simply the Americas. The continent is compact and roughly triangular in shape, being broad in the north and tapering to a point— Cape Horn, Chile—in the south.
Is South America a peaceful continent?
Relative to Europe, Asia and Africa, post-1900 South America has been a peaceful continent with few wars. [k] South America occupies the southern portion of the Americas.
What Subregion is South America?
As an answer to this: It can also be described as the southern subregion of a single continent called America . South America is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east by the Atlantic Ocean; North America and the Caribbean Sea lie to the northwest.
Which Ocean borders South America?
The response is: South America is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean in the east, the Pacific Ocean in the west, the Southern Ocean in the south, and North America in the north. Europe is the world’s third most populated continent, and the sixth largest continent by land area.
