South America was forged by three massive continental breakups

History · Published 21 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: The continent of South America is a land of geographic extremes, from the world's longest mountain range to its largest rainforest. This diversity isn't accidental; it is the result of a violent geological history where the landmass joined and separated from other continents at least three times.

The geological identity of South America is defined by three distinct developmental stages. The first began during the Precambrian period, between 4.6 billion and 541 million years ago. During this era, stable blocks of protocontinental crust known as cratons underwent a complex series of amalgamations and dispersals. The continent's primary structural base is comprised of five ancient cratons: Río de la Plata, Alto Paraguay, Luis Alves, São Francisco, and Amazonia.

The second major stage occurred during the Paleozoic Era, roughly between 541 and 252 million years ago. This period saw these cratons and surrounding materials accrete to form the supercontinent Gondwana (or Gondwanaland), which eventually merged into the even larger supercontinent Pangea. This era of assembly set the stage for the continent's eventual isolation and unique environmental development.

The modern structure of South America emerged during the Mesozoic and Cenozoic eras, beginning about 252 million years ago. The Andean cordillera's striking creation, alongside the South Atlantic Ocean's birth and the Pangea and Gondwana split, defined this concluding phase. The Andes specifically rose during the Cenozoic Era, approximately 66 million years ago, caused by the collision of the Pacific and South American plates.

These tectonic movements created the continent's signature contrasts. The collision of plates formed the Andes, while tectonic forces shaped the Amazon rainforest into the world's largest and most diverse forest. Meanwhile, the continent preserves some of Earth's oldest structures, such as the tepuys, and contains the world's driest desert and most powerful river.

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