1. South America Preview Section 1: Natural Environments
World Geography Today
2/25/2019
South America
Preview
Section 1: Natural Environments
Section 2: History and Culture
Section 3: South America Today
Chapter Wrap-Up
Chapter 12

2. Section 1: Natural Environments
Read to Discover
What are the major landforms and rivers of South America?
What climates, plants, and animals are found in South America?
What natural resources does the continent have?

3. Section 1: Natural Environments
Question
What are the different environments and landforms of South America?

4. Section 1: Natural Environments
Landforms and Rivers
Climates
Tropical, humid in Amazon basin
Highland climates in Andes
Tropical wet and dry in many areas
Mediterranean in central Chile
Semiarid and arid in Patagonia, Atacama
Andes
Guiana Highlands, tepuís
Brazilian Highlands
Amazon River basin, Llanos, Gran Chaco, Pampas
Amazon, Orinoco, Paraná Rivers
South America
Biomes
Natural Resources
Tropical rain forest
Dry forest
Savannas
Deserts
Rubber and timber
Hydroelectricity production
Nuts and plants for medicine
Gold, silver, copper, iron ore, bauxite, oil

5. Section 1: Natural Environments
South America has major mountains and plains.
Mountains—Andes, Guiana Highlands, Brazilian Highlands
Plains—Altiplano, Amazon River basin, Llanos, Gran Chaco, Pampas, Patagonia
Three large river systems flow into the Atlantic Ocean.
Amazon—4,000 miles long
Orinoco—Drains the Guiana Highlands and Llanos
Paraná—Drains eastern slopes of Andes and Brazilian Highlands

6. Section 1: Natural Environments
South America has a wide variety of climate regions.
Amazon Basin—World’s largest tropical humid region; many rain forest species
Andes—Highland climates with varied vegetation; wildlife based on elevation, including llamas, alpacas, vicuñas, and Andean condors
Tropical Wet and Dry—Various areas; dry forest or savanna
Chile—Mediterranean climate with marine west coast
Patagonia—Semiarid and arid; few animals
Atacama Desert—Northern Chile, southern Peru; driest region

7. Section 1: Natural Environments
Natural Resources
Fertile soils
Climates suitable for growing crops
Water for irrigation and hydroelectric power
Forest products
Vast mineral wealth—Gold, silver, copper, iron ore, bauxite (aluminum ore), emeralds
Energy—Oil deposits in Venezuela and other countries, including tar sands

8. Section 2: History and Culture
Read to Discover
What were some important events in the early history of South America?
How did the colonial era and independence affect South America?
What are some important features of South America’s cultures?

9. Section 2: History and Culture
Early History
First inhabitants, hunter-gatherers, arrived more than 12,000 years ago.
Various early civilizations arose, including the Chibcha of Colombia.
Incan civilization spanned much of Andean region.
Spanish conquered the Inca in the 1530s.
Spain and Portugal divided the continent: Spain in the west, Portugal in the east.
Colonists brought new plants, animals, and diseases.
Portuguese brought slave labor to Brazil to work sugar plantations.

10. Section 2: History and Culture
Question
How did the colonial period and independence affect South America?

11. Section 2: History and Culture
Causes and Effects in South America’s History
Inca conquered
Lands taken by Europeans
European animals and agricultural products introduced
Death of indigenous people from European diseases and conquest
Colonization
Dictatorships supported by wealthy families
Military coups and political instability
Countries still isolated
Borders still on colonial boundaries
Independence

12. Section 2: History and Culture
Cultural Features
Great Ethnic Variety—Mixed-race, European, American Indian, African, East Indian, Japanese
Language—Reflects colonization; Indian languages still spoken
Religion—Majority Roman Catholic; also Hinduism, Islam, traditional indigenous religions
Traditional Culture, despite change

13. Section 3: South America Today
Read to Discover
What is the economy of South America like today?
What are South American cities like?
What issues and challenges face the people of South America?

14. Section 3: South America Today
Economy
Cities
Issues
• Developing or middle-income countries
• Agriculture, subsistence and commercial farming
• Wide range of industrial products
• Mercosur important free trade group
• Large parts of each country’s population living in big cities
• Rural-urban migration
• Urban poor living in slums that surround the city
• Crime and lack of services in these areas
• Poverty
• Amazon rain forests being cleared for farming and ranching
• Soil exhaustion and overgrazing threatening the land
• Border disputes, terrorism, and political corruption

15. Chapter Wrap-Up Understanding the Main Ideas
World Geography Today
2/25/2019
Chapter Wrap-Up Understanding the Main Ideas
What are the five climate zones of the Andes, and what vegetation is found in each?
What are some products that come from the rain forest?
What were some accomplishments of early South American people?
How did Spanish and Portuguese settlement spread?
What are three factors that create tensions in South America?
Chapter 12