Countries of South America The Northern Tropics

South America

The Northern Tropics  Human Geography of the Guianas Reflects History as a European Colony  Venezuela Has a Rich, Oil-Based Economy  Columbia Depends on Coffee & Illegal Drugs

The Guianas  The Guianas are Guyana, Suriname & French Guiana  Tropical Wet Climate, Rain Forest & Narrow Coastal Plain  All Colonized  Guyana (English), Suriname (Dutch) & French Guiana (French)

The Guianas (cont.)  History of Slavery (Africans ---- China, India)  ½ of Population is of Asian Descent  Mulattoes: People of Mixed Ancestry  Bauxite: A Mineral Used in Aluminum, Guyana is One of the Largest Producers of Bauxite in the World

Venezuela  21.8 Million People  Per Capita GNP of $2,840  N.W. Corner is Andes Mountains  Andean Highlands, Most of Population & Capital (Caracas)  S.E. is Guiana Highlands  Near Border of Brazil is a Tropical Rain Forest  Tropical Grassland Called Llanos  Oil Rich Nation (4 Large Oil Beds)

Columbia  Named After Columbus  Borders Both Caribbean Sea & Pacific Ocean  37 Million People, 2 nd most Populous Country in South America  3 Distinct Regions  Lowlands, Llanos & Mountains  Bogotá (Capital) Lies on the Andes plateau  Famous For Coffee Production  Illegal Drugs Are a Huge art of Economy as Well  Drug Lords Have a Major Influence on Columbian Gov’t