Temperate South America is abiogeographic region of the Earth's seas, comprising the temperate and subtropical waters of South America, including both thePacific andAtlantic coasts of the continent and adjacent islands. It also includes the remoteGough Island andTristan da Cunha in the South Atlantic Ocean. It is amarine realm, one of the great biogeographic divisions of the world's ocean basins.[1]
On the Atlantic coast, Temperate South America transitions to theTropical Atlantic marine realm nearRio de Janeiro in Brazil. On the Pacific coast, it extends toPunta Aguja in northernPeru, where it transitions to theTropical Eastern Pacific realm. To the south lies theSouthern Ocean.[1]
The Atlantic coast is influenced by theBrazil Current, which carries warm tropical waters south along the coast. On the Pacific coast, the coldHumboldt Current carries cold Antarctic waters north towards the tropics.
The Temperate South America realm is divided into five marine provinces. The three larger provinces are composed of smaller ecoregions.[1]