Caribbean South America Geography October 22 and 23, 2015

Caribbean South America Objective: –Students will briefly examine the Caribbean South America Essential Question: –How are landforms created? –How does culture effect a population? –How can conflicts arise because of the diffusion of culture in an area? –Why do cultures sometimes conflict with one another? Objective: –Students will briefly examine the Caribbean South America Essential Question: –How are landforms created? –How does culture effect a population? –How can conflicts arise because of the diffusion of culture in an area? –Why do cultures sometimes conflict with one another?

NotebooksNotebooks

WARM-UP: CNN STUDENT NEWS  Write a ONE SENTENCE summary on TWO news stories from CNN Student News.  After the video you will have 5 minutes to write your 2 summaries.  Summary: “A brief statement or account of the main points of something.  Discussion to follow: What do you think?  Write a ONE SENTENCE summary on TWO news stories from CNN Student News.  After the video you will have 5 minutes to write your 2 summaries.  Summary: “A brief statement or account of the main points of something.  Discussion to follow: What do you think?

Caribbean South American Countries  Caribbean South America makes up of the northern region of the South American Continent.  There are 5 countries in this region:  1. Columbia  2. Venezuela  3. Guyana  4. Suriname  5. French Guiana

Physical Features Rugged landscape & dense forests have separated peoples and cultures in this regon. Andes Mountains in the west. Forms a cordillera – mountain system of parallel ranges. Many active volcanoes & earthquakes shake these mountains.

Physical Features Guiana Highlands in the east. Tepuis – Steep-sided plateaus capped by sandstone layers; resisted erosion. Longest river is the Orinoco River basin. 1,281 miles. Animals: Piranhas, catfish, and crocodiles.

Climate & Vegetation Climate divided into 5 zones: 1. Tierra Caliente – “hot country”; hot and humid lower elevations. 2. Tierra Templada – “temperate country”; Cooler air and mountain forests. 3. Tierra Fria – “cold country”; Forests and grasslands. 4. Paramo – Grasslands & hardy shrubs. 5. Tierra Helada – “Frozen Country”; zone of highest elevation.

Resources: Good soil & moderate climates = rich agriculture. Oil, iron, bauxite. Lowland forests provide timber. Coastal areas yield fish and shrimp. Rivers used to produce hydroelectric power (dams).

Assessment & Reflection Imagine that it is the early 1500’s and that you are a Spanish Explorer. You are journeying through Caribbean South America for the first time. Write one to two (1-2) journal entries that describe the Landforms, Rivers, Climate, Vegetation, and Natural Resources of the region. Journals should be descriptive Feel free to “Invent Vocabulary” to name what you encounter. Example: If you saw a tank, but you didn’t know that it was a tank, what would you call it?

Colombia History: –Chibcha – Indian Developed civilization. –El Dorado – Mythological Golden city of riches. –Conquered by Spain in –Late 1700’s struggling for independence. Originally a huge nation called Gran Columbia, dissolved into Central America. Today: –Caribbean South America’s most populous country. –Few people live in the rain forest regions in south. –Most live in valleys and basins.

Colombia Continued Economy: –Rich soil  coffee. –Bananas. Corn. Rice. Sugarcane. Emeralds. –Cassava – A tropical plant with starchy roots. Important food crop. Culture: –Isolated region. –African traditions influenced songs and dances. –Chibcha – Ring toss. –Roman Catholicism. –Border conflicts with Venezuela. –Many civil wars.

Venezuela History: –Columbus landed here in Spanish colonized in 1500’s. Forced natives to work for indigo, gold, and pearls. –When many natives died, plantations brought in Africans to take their place. –Gained independence in Suffered from civil wars. Today: –Most live along Caribbean Coast / valleys. –85% of pop. In cities & towns. –Capital: Caracas. –Poverty in rural areas is huge.

Venezuela Continued Economy: –Oil production. –Iron ore  steel. –Dams along the Orinoco River produce hydroelectricity. –Small family farms & large commercial farms. –Llaneros – Cowboys. –Slash-and-burn agriculture. Culture: –Pardos – 2/3 Mixture of African, European, and South American Indian ancestry. –Spanish = Official Language. –Baseball & Soccer are very popular.

The Guianas History: –Spain is first to claim Guianas. –Eventually lost region to Britain, France, and the Netherlands. –Established coffee, tobacco, & cotton plantations. –Slavery illegal in 1800’s. Brought in indentured servants (Asia) – people who pay for passage to work for a number of years. Today: 3 countries: Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana. Guyana – British. Suriname – Netherlands / Dutch. French Guiana – France.

The Guianas Economy: –Aluminum. Forestry. Shrimp. Culture: –Pidgin Languages – Simple languages that people who speak different languages can understand each other. –Asian Workers prominent. –Guyana: 1/3 pop. Descended from African slaves.

Activity: