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| Cono Sur | |
|---|---|
| Name | Cono Sur |
| Settlement type | Informal region |
| Subdivision type | Countries |
| Subdivision name | Argentina, Chile, Uruguay |
Cono Sur Cono Sur is the southern cone region of South America encompassing parts of Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay, and sometimes southern Brazil and Paraguay. It is characterized by temperate climates, the Andes to the west, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and major river systems such as the Río de la Plata and the Paraná River. The region plays a central role in continental trade, cultural exchange, and historical processes linked to colonial empires, independence movements, and 20th‑century geopolitics.
The region commonly includes the Patagonia steppe and Andean zones in Argentina, the Central Valley (Chile) and Patagonian Region (Chile), and the plains of Uruguay; definitions sometimes extend to Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil and southern Paraguay. Major physiographic features include the Andes Mountains, the Pampas, the Patagonian Desert, the Strait of Magellan, and coastal zones along the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. Important hydrological basins are the La Plata Basin, incorporating the Paraná River, the Uruguay River, and the Río de la Plata estuary, while glacial systems feed fjords and lakes like Lago Argentino and General Carrera Lake. Urban agglomerations such as Buenos Aires, Santiago, Montevideo, La Plata, Rosario, Mendoza, Valparaíso, Mar del Plata, Bahía Blanca, Concepción, Punta del Este, Córdoba and Neuquén anchor the region’s transport networks including ports like Puerto Madryn, Valparaíso and Montevideo Port.
Prehistoric occupancy involved groups linked to the Tehuelche, Mapuche, Guaraní, Chaná and Yamana cultures prior to European arrival. Colonial encounters saw claims by the Spanish Empire and episodic visits by the Portuguese Empire, followed by contested zones near the Treaty of Tordesillas. Independence movements featured leaders such as José de San Martín, Bernardino Rivadavia, José Gervasio Artigas, Dom Pedro I of Brazil and conflicts like the Cisplatine War and the War of the Triple Alliance. 19th and 20th century state formation included episodes such as the Conquest of the Desert, the War of the Pacific, industrialization centered in Buenos Aires and Santiago, and political transformations involving parties like the Radical Civic Union, the Justicialist Party, the National Party and the Christian Democratic Party. Cold War dynamics touched the region through events involving Augusto Pinochet, Juan Perón, Hugo Chávez indirectly, and international frameworks like the Organization of American States and the United Nations missions.
Populations reflect mixtures of European arrivals—primarily Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and German immigrants—indigenous peoples such as the Mapuche and Guaraní, and later waves linked to Lebanese and Japanese diasporas. Major languages include Spanish and Portuguese in border areas, with substantial presence of indigenous languages like Mapudungun, Guaraní, and revitalization efforts for Yamana and Quechua. Urban demographics are dominated by metropolitan areas such as Buenos Aires Metropolitan Area, Greater Santiago, and Greater Montevideo with migration flows from the European Union and intra‑Latin American sources; minority communities maintain cultural institutions tied to Jewish, Armenian and Korean heritage.
The Cono Sur is a major exporter of agricultural commodities: soybeans from the Pampas, wheat and corn in Argentina, viticulture in Mendoza and Central Valley (Chile), and livestock in Uruguay. Key industries include agro‑industry, mining in regions like Atacama and Neuquén (hydrocarbons, lithium), fisheries off Patagonia, and services led by finance in Buenos Aires and Santiago. Integration into markets is mediated by entities such as Mercosur, bilateral agreements with the European Union, and trade through ports linked to global supply chains including commodities traded on exchanges like the Chicago Board of Trade and shipping routes to Panama Canal. Infrastructure projects include rail links like the historic Roca Railway and proposed energy corridors crossing the Andes including hydroelectric interconnections involving Itaipú-adjacent frameworks.
Cultural expressions feature the tango of Buenos Aires, the folk music traditions of cueca in Chile and candombe in Uruguay, and literary figures such as Jorge Luis Borges, Pablo Neruda, Julio Cortázar, Eduardo Galeano, Isabel Allende, Gabriel García Márquez (regional influence) and Horacio Quiroga. Visual arts and cinema have produced movements associated with figures like Fernando Solanas, Lucrecia Martel, Patricio Guzmán and institutions such as the Teatro Colón. Culinary traditions include asado, empanada, mate, Chilean vino and Uruguayan barbecue, while festivals such as Uruguayan Carnival and national celebrations like Argentine Independence Day remain prominent. Educational and cultural institutions include University of Buenos Aires, Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, University of the Republic (Uruguay), museums like the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, and libraries such as the National Library of Chile.
Politics in the region have ranged from populist administrations such as Juan Perón and Néstor Kirchner to military regimes like Jorge Rafael Videla and Augusto Pinochet, and democratic transitions exemplified by leaders like Michelle Bachelet and Tabaré Vázquez. Regional cooperation mechanisms include Mercosur, the UNASUR, the CELAC, and bilateral accords between Argentina and Chile on border management, as well as energy pacts and dispute settlements addressed at institutions like the International Court of Justice and arbitration under the World Trade Organization. Civil society actors include trade unions such as the CGT, human rights organizations like Madres de Plaza de Mayo, and networks of nongovernmental organizations active in transitional justice.
The region contains diverse ecoregions from Valdivian temperate rain forests to Patagonian steppe and Pampas grasslands, hosting species such as the guanaco, Andean condor, puma, Magellanic penguin, and marine mammals like the southern right whale. Conservation areas include Iguazú National Park (adjacent influence), Los Glaciares National Park, Torres del Paine National Park, and a network of marine protected zones addressing threats from overfishing, deforestation in parts of the Pampa and Andean slopes, and climate change impacts on glaciers and sea levels. Research institutions such as the Instituto Antártico Chileno and CONICET coordinate scientific efforts alongside international programs under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and regional biodiversity initiatives.
Category:Regions of South America