LYCOS RETRIEVER 
South America: South American
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An early obstacle to industrial growth in South America was the scarcity of coal. The continent has therefore relied on its petroleum reserves, most notably in Venezuela and ... in Argentina, Colombia, Chile, Peru, and Ecuador, as a source of fuel. South Americans also have gradually developed their natural-gas reserves; hydroelectric plants produce most of the continent's electricity. Iron-ore deposits are plentiful in the Guiana and Brazilian highlands, and copper is abundant in the central Andes mountain region of Chile and Peru. Other important mineral resources include tin in Bolivia, manganese and gold in Brazil, and bauxite in Guyana and Suriname.
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South America's major mineral resources are gold, silver, copper, iron ore, tin, and oil. The many resources of South America have brought high income to its countries especially in times of war or of rapid economic growth by industrialized countries elsewhere. However, the concentration in producing one major export commodity often has hindered the development of diversified economies. The inevitable fluctuation in the price of commodities in the international markets has led historically to major highs and lows in the economies of South American states, often ... causing extreme political instability. This is leading to efforts to diversify their production to drive them away from staying as economies dedicated to one major export.
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South America comprises the major southern portion of the landmass generally referred to as the New World, the Western Hemisphere, the Americas, or simply America (which is sometimes considered a single continent and South America a subcontinent). It is south and east of the Colombia-Panama border according to most authorities or, according to a few, the Panama Canal which transects the Isthmus of Panama. Geologically, almost all of mainland South America sits on the South American Plate. Geopolitically and geographically, all of Panama – including the segment east of the Panama Canal in the isthmus – is generally considered a part of North America alone and among the countries of Central America.
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Much of the rest of the South American continent consists of two great crystalline shields that represent the western portion of what was once Gondwanaland. The north-eastern portion of the continent constitutes the Guayana Shield, whereas much of Brazil south of Amazonia is underlain by the Brazilian Shield. These two major shields were formerly interconnected across what is today the Lower Amazon. They consist of a Precambrian igneous basement overlain by ancient mucheroded Precambrian sediments. The Guayana region has been the most heavily eroded, with basement elevations mostly below 500 m interrupted by massive flattopped table mountains, the fabled "tepuis", typically rising to 2000 m or 2500 m. The peak of the highest of these, Cerro Neblina or Pico da Neblina on the Venezuela/Brazil border, reaches an altitude of 3015 m and is the highest point in South America outside the Andes. The tepuis and similar formations are highest and most extensive in southern Venezuela, becoming smaller and more isolated to the west and east where La Macarena near the base of the Andes in Colombia and the Inini-Camopi Range in French Guiana respectively represent their ultimate vestiges.
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In South America, democratic political systems are taking root and the privatization of public projects and trade liberalization are being advanced. Movements toward regional cooperation and economic integration are ... prominent due to similarities in history, culture, language, and social backgrounds. However, the region contains both countries with relatively high economic standards (medium-developed countries) and those with low economic standards (impoverished countries). At the same time, even medium-developed countries have localized poverty issues and the poverty group is expanding in spite of steady economic growth. These issues contribute to political and economic instability, social disorder involving drugs and public security, and environmental issues. From the perspective of human security, solving these problems is a priority for each South American government and is a task that requires international assistance.
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A "summer" ski vacation in South America is a rite of passage for many skiers and snowboarders. While the U.S. and Canada are melting under the summer heat, The Andes Mountains of Chile and Argentina are blanketed in winter snows. A South American ski vacation is a perfect way to beat the heat and feed your skiing and riding needs.
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