Ch. 10, L1 Physical Geography I. Andes Countries A. The Andes 1. The Andes is a system of mountain ranges running parallel to the continent’s Pacific coast. a) Longest continuous mountain range in the world. b) High plateaus and high plains. 2. The Andes form a series of parallel mountain ranges called cordilleras. a) They make travel difficult. b) These ranges isolated human settlements from one another.

Ch. 10, L1 Physical Geography 3. In Peru and Bolivia, the two main branches of the Andes border a high plain called the antiplano. 4. The Andes mountain ranges are the result of collisions between tectonic plates. a) The Andes is part of the Ring of Fire. b) Earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. B. Plains and Deserts 1. Most places on the coast, the land rises steeply from the ocean. a) Almost no coastal plain. b) In Peru and northern Chile, the area between the Pacific and the Andes is a coastal desert.

Ch. 10, L1 Physical Geography 2. On the Atlantic side of South America, broad plateaus and valleys, known as the pampas, spread across Uruguay and eastern Argentina. a) Thick, fertile soil. b) Much like North America’s Great Plains. c) Wheat, corn, grazing cattle. 3. Coastal Peru and Chile and most of southern Argentina have deserts. a) Wind patterns, the cold Peru Current, and high elevations are the causes of low precipitation. b) The Atacama Desert in Peru and northern Chile is so arid that in some places no rainfall has been recorded.

Ch. 10, L1 Physical Geography c) The Patagonia Desert in Argentina lies in the rain shadow of the Andes. C. Waterways 1. The Paraná, the Paraguay, and the Uruguay Rivers combine to create the second-largest river system in South America, after the Amazon. a) Drains eastern half of South America. b) Important to Paraguay because it is landlocked. c) Transportation and hydroelectric power. d) Along the Paraná River is the Pantanal, one of the world’s largest wetlands. 2. The Paraná-Paraguay-Uruguay river system flows into the Río de la Plata (river of silver).

Ch. 10, L1 Physical Geography a) Empties into the Atlantic Ocean. b) An estuary is an area where the ocean tide meets a river current. 3. South America has few large lakes. a) The largest lake in the Andes region is Lake Titicaca which lies on the border between Peru and Bolivia. b) World’s highest lake that can be used by small ships. II. Climate Diversity A. The Effect of Altitude 1. The main factor that determines climate in the Andes is altitude, or height above sea level. a) The higher you are the cooler the temperatures.

Ch. 10, L1 Physical Geography b) Conditions can range from warm and humid to freezing. 2. Farming can be a challenge in the rugged Andean region. a) Terracing is necessary to farm potatoes, barley, and wheat. 3. Visitors to the Andes may find the altitude at the higher elevations hard to handle. a) O2 is thin. B. Midlatitude Variety 1. Climates of the Midlatitude countries of South America are quite different from the Andean region. a) temperate, moderate climate. b) Inland areas are drier than the coast.

Ch. 10, L1 Physical Geography 2. Argentina includes a variety of landforms. a) extremely diverse climate. b) Northern is subtropical and the extreme south is tundra. 3. Paraguay is a landlocked country. a) Strong winds sweep the pampas in Paraguay because the country lacks mountains to block the wind. C. Climate Extremes 1. Extremes of climate can be experienced in the Andean countries without changing latitude. a) Altitude changes climate. b) The tierra caliente, or hot land, is the land near sea level. c) The hot and humid conditions don’t change much throughout the year. d) Farmers grow bananas, sugarcane, cacao, rice, and other tropical crops.

Ch. 10, L1 Physical Geography 2. The tierra templada is from 3,000 to 6,000ft above sea level and is pleasantly cool with abundant rainfall. a) Great variety of crops can grow here. 3. The tierra fria, or cold land, is from 6,000 to 10,000ft above sea level. a) Forests and grassy areas. b) Potatoes, barley, wheat. 4. The tierra helada, or frozen land, is from 10,000ft and higher. a) Few people live in this zone. D. El Niño and La Niña 1. Every few years, changes in wind patterns and ocean currents in the Pacific Ocean cause unusual and extreme weather in some places in South America. a) During an El Niño, the climate becomes warmer.

Ch. 10, L1 Physical Geography b) Floods occur especially along the coast of Peru. 2. El Niños form when cold winds from the east are weak. a) Without these winds the central Pacific Ocean grows warmer than usual. b) This changes wind and rain patterns. c) Some areas receive heavier than normal rain and some areas receive less. 3. Scientists have found that El Niños occur about every three years. a) They have also found that in some years the opposite affect takes place which is known as La Niña. III. Natural Resources

Ch. 10, L1 Physical Geography A. Minerals & Metals 1. Besides energy resources, the region has a number of mineral resources. a) Mines are located in the Andes. b) Chile leads the world in the production of copper. c) Tin production is important to the Bolivian economy. d) Bolivia and Peru have deposits of silver, lead, and zinc, and Peru also has gold. B. Wildlife 1. The region’s varied geography and climate support a variety of wildlife, including many species of birds and butterflies. a) Species vary due to altitude.

Ch. 10, L1 Physical Geography 2. A group of mammals called camelids is especially important in this region. a) Related to the camel, they are the llama and the alpaca and are used as pack animals and are used for food, wool, and hides.