A reference map is used to display the geographical location of features. I created this reference map of South America using ArcMap 10.1 and Adobe Illustrator CS6. To enhance the overall appeal of this reference map, bathymetry has been used near the coastline of South America to show the shallower ocean depths near land while the rivers have been tapered to make them look more natural.
All the labeling of geographic features was done manually using Adobe Illustrator. I used a projection appropriate for the continent of South America.