Amazon Rain Forest How big do you think the Rain Forest is? 1.2 Billion acres ◦1,875,000 Sq miles

Where is it? 60% in Brazil ◦Col., Peru, Ven, Ecu, Bol, Guya., Sur, and Fr. Guiana

Basin formed 50 million years ago Brazilian Highlands and Guiana Highlands wore down ◦Left the Amazon River as a drain  Worlds Largest River Guiana Highlands Brazilian Highlands Andes Mountains BASIN

Where does the name come from? ◦Francisco de Orellana (Spanish conquistador, first European)  ran into a tribe of fierce women warriors  "doing as much fighting as ten Indian men." ◦Orellana recalled the Greek myth of warrior women and named the entire river "Amazonas.”

Canopy- dense mass of leaves at the tops of rain forest trees that provides habitat and shade ◦Most animal life lives in the canopy ◦Tree frogs, salamanders, monkeys, swarms of insects, and about 1,400 species of birds

More types of butterflies than anywhere in the world Worlds largest rodent: capybara There is a lucrative illegal wildlife trade Smugglers look for monkeys, parrots, lizards, and exotic bugs ◦parrot = $10,000 monkey = $50,000

Effects of Cutting down the RF Bad for the whole planet = 1/3 of the world’s oxygen comes from rainforests ◦Photosynthesis- process of plants creating food from CO2, H2O, and Sunlight Holds 1/5 for worlds fresh water

ANDES Mountains

World’s larges continental mountain range Western Coast of S.A Over 4,500 miles long ◦ miles wide Average Height of ft ◦Highest Peak: Aconcagua Seven Countries: Arg, Bol, Chi, Col, Ecu, Per, Ven

Along the Ring of Fire – Zone of Volcanic activity Contains Many active volcanoes

Climate varies ◦Why? South = rainy and cool Central = Dry North= rainy and warm ◦Average temp in Col = 64 deg F

Tobacco and Potatoes originated in Andes Polylepis – High altitude forests and woodlands found in Andes ◦Trees only found around 15,000 ft above sea level

Incas practiced irrigation years ago ◦Terracing is quite common Potatoes and Maize important = staple food source Tobacco, coffee, and cotton leading export crops Coca important for legal local use in “mildly simulating” herbal teas.