Which South American country extends farthest east?

Brazil is the South American country that extends farthest east.

Its enormous Atlantic-facing coastline reaches farther east than the territory of any other sovereign country in South America. On the mainland, the easternmost point is Ponta do Seixas in Paraíba, near the city of João Pessoa. The point is also commonly described as the easternmost point of the Americas.

There is a geographic wrinkle: if Brazil’s offshore islands are included, Ilha do Sul in the Martim Vaz archipelago lies even farther east than Ponta do Seixas. Either way, the country-level answer remains Brazil. The island distinction explains why different maps and reference works may list different easternmost coordinates.

Ponta do Seixas is often confused with nearby Cabo Branco, a famous cape and lighthouse area. They are close together but are separate geographic locations. Brazil’s great east-west span also contributes to its several time zones and to the striking fact that parts of northeastern Brazil lie closer to Africa than to the country’s western border.