Life in the Central Andes Adapting to a Mountainous Region

List or draw six things you typically do every day. You might include daily routines, such as riding the bus to school. Or you might include activities, like going to soccer practice.

List or draw three details about the physical geography of this location. How might your routines and activities change if you lived here? Why might they change? How do you think the physical geography of this location influences the routines and activities of the people who live here?

Definitions Altitudinal zonation – the division of land into zones based on elevation Snow line – lowest elevation on mountains where snow remains year-round Terracing – creation of flat areas on mountain slopes for the purpose of farming Vertical trade – trading of crops between highland and lowland areas

–Read the section of Chapter 13 that corresponds with your assigned elevation zone. Record the Elevation range. Record at least 2 other physical characteristics of that zone. Record at least 2 human adaptations

GROUPS AND PAGE NUMBERS 13.3 p p p p. 198 Group 1 Group 2 Group 3 Group 4

Life in the Central Andes Part 1 –Read the section of Chapter 13 that corresponds with your assigned elevation zone. Record the Elevation range. Record at least 2 other physical characteristics of that zone.

Life in the Central Andes Part 2 –Find the 3 graphics that show human adaptations in each elevation zone. Write the letter next to the correct elevation Write a brief explanation of how or why it has been adapted to that elevation.

Tierra Helada ,000-15,000 Extreme environment; cold windy climate; often freezes at night; snow falls at the highest elevations; snow line lies at the upper edge of this zone; trees are rare; the most common plant life are low-lying shrubs and hardy grass

Tierra Fria 6,000-12,000 Average temps vary from 55-65; night temperatures dip below freezing at higher elevations; steep, rugged mountains, flat basins and plateaus lie between the mountains; ah igh plateau, the Altiplano, lies between Peru and Bolivia and contains Lake Titicaca; pines and other conifers grow where is enough rain; only shrubs and grasses grow in dry areas

Tierra Templada 3,000-6,000 Climate is temperate; temperature range from 65-75; frost is rare; pleasant weather lasts all year; palms, bamboo, and jungle vines are common at lower elevations; broadleaf evergreen forest is typical at higher elevations

Tierra Caliente 0-3,000 Climate is generally hot and humid; average temps range from 75-80; broadleaf evergreen forests cover the eastern slopes of the Andes; natural vegetation on the western slopes ranges from lush rainforest to tropical grassland; Peru’s coast gets little rainfall and is a desert

What interesting details do you see? Where are glaciers located around the world? Besides the Andes, in what mountain ranges will you find glaciers?

In what mountain range is the Gangotri Glacier located? What happened to the glacier between 1780 and 2001? About how many miles did the glacier retreat in those years?

Most of the world’s mountain glaciers are retreating. According to NASA’s National Snow and Ice Data Center, Glacier National Park in Montana has lost 110 of its glaciers over the past 150 years. In the next 25 years, scientists predict the park will lose the remaining 37. A similar phenomenon is happening in the Canadian Rockies and the mountains of Alaska. Retreating mountain glaciers are not unique to North America. In the past 30 years, Peru’s mountain glaciers have lost nearly 25% of their area. The glacial area in the Ruwenzori Mountains of Uganda has decreased by 75% since the 1990s.