As in North America, the conquest of South America by Europeans took a heavy toll on its indigenous peoples.
Despite its relatively small population and its wealth of natural resources, much of South America today is burdened by economic, social, and environmental problems, such as foreign debt, government mismanagement, and drug trafficking. But with the majestic Andean mountain chain, the mighty Amazon River, and the most extensive rain forest on Earth, South America has nearly unlimited potential.
