What geographic features dominate South America?

South America is characterized by a wide variety of geographic features, but some of the most dominant ones include:

1. The Andes Mountains: Extending along the western edge of the continent, the Andes are the longest mountain range in the world and have a significant impact on climate and biodiversity in South America.

2. The Amazon Basin: Occupying a large portion of northern South America, the Amazon is the world's largest river basin and home to the Amazon rainforest, which is the largest tropical rainforest on Earth.

3. The Atacama Desert: Located on the Pacific coast of northern Chile, the Atacama Desert is considered the driest desert in the world, with some areas that have never recorded rainfall.

4. The Pampa: A fertile grassland region in the southern cone of South America, primarily in Argentina, which is known for its agriculture and cattle ranching.

5. Patagonia: A sparsely populated region at the southern end of South America, shared by Argentina and Chile, featuring arid steppes, grasslands, and deserts, as well as the southern section of the Andes mountains.

6. The Pantanal: The world's largest tropical wetland area, located mostly in western Brazil but also extending into Bolivia and Paraguay, known for its rich biodiversity.

7. The Gran Chaco: A hot, semi-arid lowland region in central South America, mainly in northern Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia, and a small part in Brazil, known for its quebracho trees.

8. The Andean Plateau, or Altiplano: A broad, high plateau that runs parallel to the Andes, featuring many high-altitude lakes and salt flats, including the famous Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia.