South America: Physical Geography Chapter 6

Section 1: Land & Water

Vocabulary Plateau Amazon River Rain Forest Pampas Tributary A large raised area of mostly level land A long river in Northern South America A dense evergreen forest that has abundant rainfall year-round Flat grasslands in South America River or stream that flows into a larger river

Part of a larger region called Latin America Region includes Mexico, Central America & the Caribbean Most is located below the Equator Joined to Central America by Isthmus of Panama Includes 12 independent countries Divided into 3 land regions Andes Mountains Eastern Highlands Central Plains Continent of variety & contrast Mountains, Plains & Beaches Where is South America? Regions of South America

Stretch 5,500 miles along Western Coast Rise to heights of over 20,000 feet Mount Aconcagua is tallest mtn in W. Hemisphere People live & farm in the valleys of the Andes Raise animals for wool & meat Grow crops NW portion is dry desert Living can be dangerous part of a volcanic chain located in the Ring of Fire many volcanoes & earthquakes common Begin at eastern edge of Andes & extend through middle of continent Contains Amazon River basin in Northern part Rain Forest covers 1/3 of the continent holds many species of plants & animals Southern part includes the pampas Fertile soil ideal for growing crops and raising cattle Andes Mountains The Central Plains

Mostly rounded hills & plateaus North & Southeast of the Amazon River Basin Northern part has small population & not very developed Southern section contains farms & cattle ranches S. America’s largest cities found here Ex. Rio de Janeiro in Brazil Largest & longest bodies of water in the world Rivers serve as natural highways Amazon River is 2nd longest in world 4,000 miles long Carries more water than any other river in the world 20% of Earth’s fresh water is the Amazon Waterways are an important natural resource The Eastern Highlands South America’s Waterways

SECTION 2: Climate & Vegetation

Areas that have dry weather get heavy rain Floods & drought happening at same time Influences global weather patterns Spanish for “little boy” El Nino

The Climates of South America Amazon River Basin Pacific Coast of Colombia Atacama Desert Coast of Peru Andes Mountains Hot & Rainy (80 in. each year) Rains 300 Days out of the year Hot & Dry 1 of driest places on Earth Thick clouds and fog cover the area from May to November Parts have below 0 temperatures Glaciers present

Humid, hot, and rainy weather year round Brazil, Venezuela, Bolivia Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay Summers are hot & wet Winters are cool & dry Colder, drier area of Argentina Tropical Wet Climate Tropical Wet & Dry Climate Humid Subtropical Climate Patagonia

What Factors Affect Climate? Elevation Higher the elevation the colder the temperature Location Regions close to the Equator are warmer Wind Patterns Wind moves cold air from North & South towards Equator, moves warm air from Equator towards the poles

Climate, Plants & People Tropical Rain Forest Pampas—grassy plains where cattle are raised in Argentina & Uruguay Andes Mountains—grasslands where herding llamas are a big deal Temperature & Rainfall affect types of crop grown Warm weather & lots of rain Sugar cane, coffee, rice & bananas Northern part of the country Elevation affects vegetation Higher Elevation Cooler temperatures, strong winds and irregular rainfall What might grow here vs. lower down Vegetation Regions Crops & Climates Elevation & Vegetation

Section 3: Resources & Land Use

Vocabulary Things found in nature that people can use to meet their needs Electric power produced by rushing water A country’s economy based largely on one resource or crop To add variety Natural Resources Hydro-electricity One-resource economy diversify

South America’s Resources Fish, petroleum, water, silver, forests Rich in minerals Gold, copper, iron ore, tin Found along coasts of Andes & Eastern Highland regions Minerals are mined for manufacturing Many South American countries have built dams to harness the power of water for energy Plants and fish are natural resources Forests cover ½ of South America Variety of vegetation found in rain forest regions Harvest many kinds of fish for eating and selling Minerals & Energy Sources Plants & Fish

Many parts of South America has rich soil Sugar, corn, wheat, bananas, coffee are all grown here Grasslands are used to raise livestock such as cattle & sheep Alpacas and llamas are raised for their wool Agriculture

Resources & the Economy Not all South American countries have a lot of resources Money plays a factor in developing the resources Having a large amount of 1 resource can lead to problems Depending on the demand of the product depends on how much it will sell for Ex. When copper is in demand the prices or up and vice versa for down Potentially cause the whole economy of a country to suffer Oil is 1 of most valuable resources in South America Fluctuation in oil price has caused economy to suffer Farming is a big industry Prices fluctuate as well Problems of a 1-Resource Economy The World Economy

Weather brings challenges to economy Damage crops, hurt fishing industry Other examples? Dependence on a particular resource can hurt the economy of the country depending on it If something unexpected happens then country is left with few other sources of income Economies became diversified in the 1960’s Factories sprang up to provide jobs Governments of South America continuously looking for ways to protect their nations from hazards of 1-resource economy Weather Effects South America Begins to Diversify