Landforms of the World

Patagonia Plateau Location: Southern most part of South America Description: steppe-like plains, rising in a succession of abrupt terraces about 330 feet at a time. History: Believed that little prehistoric life inhabited the plateau due to glacial terrain Uniqueness: Penguins

Atacama Desert Location: rainless plateau in South America, extending 600 miles between the Andes mountains and the Pacific Ocean. It is located in Northern Chile Description: It is made up of salt basins, sand and lava flows, and is 15 million years old and 100 times more arid than California's Death Valley. History: The Atacama Desert was used for mining rich mineral resources such as copper, nitrate, and silver. Uniqueness: The Atacama Desert is known as the “Driest Place” on the Earth due to the Andes and coastal mountains blocking any chance of rainfall.

Ganges River Location: Flows East in Northern India and dumps into Bangladesh. Description: 1557 miles long, many rivers branch off of the Ganges River History: The Ganges River is considered sacred to the Hindus of India. Uniqueness: Due to the high use of the waters by everybody, the Ganges River has waste management/ pollution problem that would cost $33 million to fix.

Nile River Location: flows northward from Uganda to the Nile Delta in Egypt Description: 2 tributaries to the Nile, The White Nile and the Blue Nile. Flows for 4, 123 miles History: The Nile River is the source for the development of the ancient Egyptian civilization. Uniqueness: Known as the Longest River in the world