2. Venezuela Know the following:
What is the largest lake in South America
What hilly area is located in east Venezuela
What is the most important river in Venezuela
Why is this river so important to the region
Venezuela has what kind of climate
The discovery of what made Venezuela the wealthiest country in South America
90% of the people of Venezuela work in what kind of industry
In south America there are four countries that border the Caribbean Sea. (Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana). Venezuela being the biggest of the four and Suriname being the smallest. Venezuela boast having the largest lake in South America (Lake Maracaibo). To the east of this lake you will find the Andean Highlands where most of Venezuela's people live. In the South of this country you will find very little people. The most important river in Venezuela is the Orinoco river which supplies hydroelectric power to most of this region. As we already know because of the location of Venezuela they will enjoy a tropical climate year round. This is very important to the people of this region for many reasons but the most important is it makes it possible to grow crops year round. Though crops are a large part of the economy it not what keeps this region a float. The discovery of petroleum in the 1920’s as made Venezuela the wealthiest countries in South America. Though other minerals are mined in this region petroleum is the major mineral extracted from the area. Though Venezuela started as a farming country now 90% of the population work in service industry or manufacturing.

3. Venezuela Know the following: Where did Venezuela gets its name
What group of Europeans colonized this region first
What type of government does Venezuela have
What language is predominantly spoken in Venezuela
Unlike Brazil the Spanish were the first to colonize Venezuela. These explorers gave the land its name because it reminded them of Venice Italy. This region has experience many different types of government but as of today it has a stable democracy. Venezuela has seen every type of government from dictatorship to self government. In 1821 Venezuela gained their independence from Spanish rule. The make up of Venezuela is a mix of European, African, and Native American. The predominant language of this region is Spanish and the major religion is Roman Catholic.

4. The Guianas Know the following:
What four groups make up the people of Guyana
What group of Europeans colonized Suriname
French Guiana is considered to be part of what country
What two cultures make up the population of French Guiana
The Guianas refers to a group of islands (Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana). Guyana is located to the north of the equator and has a tropical rainforest climate. The British were the first to settle this land in which they forced the natives into slavery. Guyana won its independence in 1966 from the British. Most of the people live in or near the capital Georgetown. Suriname is the smallest of the country in land size in South America. The Dutch were the first to colonize the land in which just as everyone else they made slaves of the locals. In 1975 they won their independence from the Dutch and they have been free ever since. The economy depends on agriculture to support the country with rice being their largest crop. To the east of Suriname is French Guiana which is part of France. The French were the first to colonize the land in which they made it a sugar factory exporting thousands of pounds of sugar impart to slave labor. Today due to past slave labor the populaton is mostly made up of mixed African and Europeans.

5. Uruguay Know the following:
What are Uruguay’s major economic activities
What is a buffer state
Why is Uruguay considered a welfare state
What is the primary language of Uruguay
Uruguay located just below the Tropic of Capricorn has a sub-tropical climate. Most of this region is made up of grasslands, fertile soil and climate that is good for farming and rising livestock. Uruguay’s major economic activity is rising sheep and cattle. The people of Uruguay export wool, beef and hides. Uruguay was first colonized by the Spanish but they won their independence in 1811 and has been self governed every since. Uruguay has been a buffer state between Brazil and Argentina for many years now. They maintain good relations with both countries. Uruguay is such a neutral country that it spends more on education that it does on defense which makes it a welfare state. The people of Uruguay consider themselves more European than Latin American there for they live more so of a European lifestyle. Only a small number of people in this region are ancestors of native Americans or African decent. They have held on to the Spanish language over the years and have made it the official language of Uruguay.

6. Paraguay Know the following: What is meant by landlocked
What divides Paraguay into east and west regions
What are the two major economic activities in Paraguay
What is the predominant religion of the land
Paraguay is located near the center of South America and is landlocked. This region is divided into two areas known as the east and west. the Paraguay river is the boundary that separates these two areas most of the citizens of Paraguay live in the eastern part of the country. To the west only about 5% of the people live here. The two most important economic activities are farming and forestry. The Spanish were the first to colonize this region and we see this with evidence of a Spanish speaking people and Roman Catholic being the predominant religion of the country.