South American Geography: An Overview Presented by Patrick Vernon Information from the North Carolina Geographic Alliance’s Summer Workshops on Curriculum Revision North Carolina Geographic Alliance PowerPoint Presentations 2007

Physical Regions of South America I. Eastern Highlands II. Central Lowlands III. Andes Quick facts Nazca plate slams into the Andes (the South America plate) Things are pretty much flat outside the Andes region

I. The Eastern Highlands Softer, subtle mountains, much like the Appalachains Sub-regions 1) Guyana Highlands, remote region 2) Brazilian Highlands, arid in the north, rainy south, cultural heritage of Brazil esarpment near Rio Guyana Highlands Brazilian Highlands

II. Central Lowlands 1) Amazon basin found in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru 2) Llanos southcentral Venezuela and northeastern Colombia 3) Maricabo Basin 4) Gran Chaco flat region in western Paraguay and north central Argentina 5) Pampas richest agricultural region, similar to North Carolina climate 6) Patagonia Plateau windy, cold 7) Falkland Islands (Las Islas Malvina) Amazon basin Llanos Maricabo Basin Gran Chaco Pampas Patagonia Plateau Falkland Islands

III. Andes Big, new, dramatic mountains Aconcaqua - highest place in western hemisphere Subregions 1) Altiplano flat area between 2 large areas, southwest Peru & western Bolivia The most crowded part of the range. 2) Atcama Desert The winds coming from the east hit the tall mountains and won’t cross over Atcama Aconcaqua Altiplano

Cultural regions of the continent Northern Tier A lot of African influence Andean Countries “Western Countries,” Indian influence Southern Cone Wealthiest area, think of Chile as an upside-down, but affordable California Brazil Largest country on the continent, 5th largest country in the world, Largest city on the continent located there.

The Triangle of Influence Latin America was created in There was no “Latin” before that time The old world collided with the “new world”

Spain’s influence  Islam was in the country from 711 to Granada had been the last Islamic stronghold on the continent. After its fall, Spanish Christians now moved on to new territory  The Muslim Moors did leave some things behind 1) Crops like oranges, rice, bananas, cotton 2) Irrigation systems 3) Racial mixing 4) Double standards for gender 5) The notion that the strongest man rules  These ideas were then carried into the soon to be conquered Americas The Spanards were on a quest for the 3 Gs: God, Gold, and Glory

African influence  More African slaves were sent to Brazil alone than all of the British colonies in North America.  Today’s culture of Brazil evolved from a mixture of African tribal culture

Native influence  They incorporated people as opposed to killing them.  Theirs was the largest and most important empire in South America --- Stretched 3,000 miles from Colombia to Northern Chile  They were masters of the indirect rule. 1/3 of the food in the conquered regions went to them.  A vast road system existed.  Mita “your turn” was a policy of mandatory community service Quick facts: Cuzco was the capital. Twantansuja was what the Icans called their empire In the Potosi silver mines the mineral was in such abundance it could be scraped off the sides of the mountain.

South America by the Numbers Angel Falls drops 3,212 ft, almost three Empire State Buildings The largest city is Sao Paulo, Brazil 90% of South Americans live within 150 miles of the coast The continent’s land area 6,900,000 sq mi --- 4th largest, 4th smallest Aconcagua in the Andes is 22,831 ft high.

South America by the Numbers The Amazon-Ucayali River is 4,000 miles long 1/5 of the world’s fresh water is in the Amazon. 6% of the land is arable; 25 % is grazeable. 90% of the population is Roman Catholic. 1/2 of all Latin America’s people live in Brazil (This includes Central America and the Caribbean) Paraguay and Bolivia are the 2 land-locked countries.

Now you should continue your discovery of our continental neighbors to the south… Llet’s llearn llots! This presentation was provided by the North Carolina Geographic Alliance. February 2005 © vernon educational foundation