Chapter 1: Introduction to South America

  • Location & boundaries
  • Area, population, languages
  • Historical background (colonization by Spain/Portugal, indigenous civilizations like Inca)
  • Current political setup

Chapter 2: Political Geography

  • List of 12 countries + capitals + territories (French Guiana, Falklands)
  • Population distribution, ethnic composition
  • Major political blocs (MERCOSUR, UNASUR, BRICS – Brazil)
  • Map work: boundaries, capitals

Chapter 3: Physical Geography – Mountains & Plateaus

  • Andes Mountains: formation, divisions (Northern, Central, Southern Andes)
  • Altiplano Plateau, Guiana Highlands, Brazilian Highlands, Patagonian Plateau
  • Important peaks: Aconcagua, Chimborazo, Cotopaxi, Ojos del Salado
  • Effect of Andes on South America (climate, rivers, agriculture, mining, hazards)

Chapter 4: Rivers & Lakes

  • Amazon: origin, course, tributaries, discharge, importance
  • Orinoco, Paraná–Paraguay–Uruguay system (La Plata Basin)
  • SĂŁo Francisco River (Brazil)
  • Lakes: Titicaca, Maracaibo, PoopĂł
  • River basins & economic significance (hydroelectricity, agriculture, transport)

Chapter 5: Grasslands

  • Pampas (Argentina–Uruguay): wheat, beef, mechanized farming
  • Llanos (Venezuela–Colombia): grazing, Orinoco basin
  • Campos (Brazil–Paraguay): soybeans, sugarcane, cattle
  • Grasslands and economy → “Granary of the World”

Chapter 6: Deserts

  • Atacama Desert (driest place on Earth, copper, astronomy observatories)
  • Patagonian Desert (cold desert, sheep grazing)
  • Sechura Desert (Peru, Humboldt Current influence)
  • Climate–desert relationship

Chapter 7: Forests & Wetlands

  • Amazon Rainforest (largest tropical forest, biodiversity, deforestation issues)
  • Atlantic Forest (Brazil – endangered biodiversity hotspot)
  • Valdivian Temperate Rainforest (Chile–Argentina)
  • Pantanal Wetlands (largest tropical wetland)
  • Ramsar sites & environmental concerns

Chapter 8: Islands & Coastal Features

  • Galápagos Islands (Darwin, evolution)
  • Easter Island (Moai statues)
  • Falkland Islands (UK–Argentina conflict)
  • South Georgia & Sandwich Islands
  • Coastal plains & fjords (Chile)

Chapter 9: Climate & Ocean Currents

  • Equatorial, Tropical, Temperate zones
  • Altitudinal zonation in Andes (tierra caliente, tierra templada, tierra fria)
  • Ocean currents: Humboldt (cold), Brazil (warm), Falkland (cold)
  • El Niño & La Niña (global impact, UPSC relevance)

Chapter 10: Natural Resources & Economy

  • Agriculture: soybeans, coffee, sugarcane, beef, wheat
  • Minerals: copper (Chile), oil (Venezuela), lithium (Bolivia–Argentina–Chile triangle)
  • Hydropower: Itaipu Dam
  • Tourism: Machu Picchu, Iguazu Falls, Rio de Janeiro

Chapter 11: Environmental Issues

  • Amazon deforestation
  • Desertification in Pampas, Llanos
  • Water disputes (La Plata Basin)
  • Climate change & glaciers in Andes
  • Case studies: Amazon wildfires, Pantanal floods

Chapter 12: South America in Global Context

  • Geopolitics: BRICS (Brazil), OPEC (Venezuela), trade with China/India
  • Role in global climate debates (Amazon as carbon sink)
  • Antarctic connection (Chile & Argentina claims)
  • South–South cooperation

Chapter 13: UPSC Examination Pointers

  • Map-based prelims questions (Andes, Atacama, Pampas, Falklands, Amazon).
  • Mains essay-style Qs:
    • “The Andes are the backbone of South America – discuss.”
    • “Amazon rainforest destruction is a global concern.”
    • “Grasslands are the breadbaskets of the world – explain with South America’s example.”
  • Revision tables, mnemonics, practice MCQs.