2. How large is the Amazon River Basin?
What geographic feature stretches nearly the entire width of South America? (From the Andes Mountains to the Atlantic Ocean)
The Amazon River
How large is the Amazon River Basin?
It covers 2,700,000 miles in the north-central part of South America
Where are the Andes Mountains located?
The West coast of South America
They stretch for 5500 miles

3. Describe the following features of South America:
The Andes Mountains: mountain range that stretches about 5,500 miles along the western side of the continent. It has a cool/dry climate with little vegetation
The Amazon River Basin: largest river basin on Earth. Covers 2,700,000 miles. The river runs from the Andes Mountains to the Atlantic Ocean. The climate is warm and wet. There are many species of plants and animals that live here
The Northern Grasslands (Llanos): warm climate. Has high and low elevations. Cattle ranching dominates the Llanos
The Southern Plains (pampas): the climate is mild with low elevation. The rich soil is ideal for growing alfalfa, corn, wheat

4. What makes the Pampas a good place for farming?
It has rich soil and a mild climate
Where do a majority of people live in South America?
Most people live along the coast
According to the map on page 193, what geographic location has the highest density of people?
Coastal regions

5. What is subsistence farming?
According to the map on page 93, what area in South America has the lowest population density?
The middle near the middle of the Amazon River Basin
The Andes Mountains
What is subsistence farming?
Farming just enough food for families to eat/feed themselves

6. What is the climate like in the Andes Mountains?
Very high elevations are known as the frozen land and have little rainfall. From 6,000-12,000 it is cool with some rainfall
Describe the various elevations in South America (height, climate, crops, name of altitude zone)
Tierra Caliente: climate: hot, adequate to extreme rain fall. Elevation: 1-2,500 feet. Main crops: bananas, peppers, sugarcane, cacao
Tierra Templada: climate: warm, adequate rainfall. Elevation: 2,500-6,000 feet. Crops: corn, Beans, wheat, coffee, vegetables
Tierra Fria: Climate: cold, some rainfall. Elevation: 6,000-12,000 ft. Crops: wheat, barley, potatos
Tierra Helada: Climate: cold, little rainfail. Elevation: 12,000-15,000 ft. Crops: no substantial crops

7. What determines how people use the land in South America?
Using the map on page 193, what are the three main resources that are found in Brazil?
Cattle, bananas, fish, copper, gold
Why do people settle in areas with moderate climates and low elevations?
Farming and everyday activities are easier in temperate climates and at lower elevations
What determines how people use the land in South America?
Elevation and climate

8. True or False: the Amazon River is the longest river in the world.
What causes the Amazon River to flood between June and October?
Snow melting and rain in the Andes usually occurs during this time which results in flooding
What activities threaten the Rain Forest?
Growing population threatens the rainforest because of mining, logging, farming, and land development

9. Why is the Atacama Desert so dry?
It is located in a rain shadow
Moist wind currents do not reach the desert
Rain shadow:
Describe what “El Nino” is and what happens during one.
The reversal of currents (wind and ocean)
El Ninos influence climate
The reversal of the currents brings warm air currents and water currents that produce high rainfalls in coastal areas cause flooding, whip out habitats, damage crops, canals, bridges and road
The heavy rains can saturate coastal

10. How do wind and ocean currents influence the climate in South America?
Wind currents and ocean currents influence climate in South America by determining levels of precipitation and in some cases cause dramatic weather events like El Ninos

11. Describe the Brazil Current
YOU MUST BE ABLE TO LOCATE AND LABEL THE OCEAN CURRENTS AROUND SOUTH AMERICA (Brazil Current and Peru Current)
Describe the Brazil Current
Located on the eastern side of the continent
Brings warm waters from the Atlantic ocean
Coasts and inland areas receive warm, humid wind currents and rainfall
The rainfall is beneficial to the crops and vegetation in the Pampas
Describe the Peru Current
Located on the western coast of the continent
Brings cold waters
Carries nutrient rich waters from deep in the Pacific Ocean

12. What threatens rain forest land?
Deforestation and heavy use of fossil fuels
Human activities (farming, mining, etc)
What are greenhouse gases? What creates them?
Gas that traps heat energy
Burning fossil fuels such as coal and oil-causes carbon dioxide which is a greenhouse gas

13. What is the difference between global warming and climate change?
Global warming: the rapid warming of Earth’s surface observed over the last century
Climate Change: the gradual shift in Earth’s climate due to natural causes
How do rain forests help clean the air?
The remove/ absorb greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide
Look at the graph on page 198, what has been the general trend in deforestation since 2004?
Decrease in deforestation
What problems threaten the health of the Amazon Rain Forest?
Deforestation and heavy use of fossil fuel

14. Describe terrace farming
Cutting flat fields in to slopes or mountain sides to make a flat surface to farm on
Look like steps cut into the land
Describe slash and burn farming
A agricultural technique used for clearing land
Slash the wooded areas that are too thick to plant crops, burn the fallen trees to clear the land (ash used as fertilizer), fertilize and plant crops, migrate once soil is no longer productive
What impacts did the Spanish have on the Native Americans in South America?
Diseases brought from Spain killed natives
Spanish enslaved natives to work on plantations, ranches, and mines
Missionaries converted natives

15. What impact has the Spanish had on the culture of South America today?
They brought over the Spanish language, now people in South America speak Spanish. They brought over and converted natives to Catholicism, introducing a new religion-now roughly 80% of people in S.A. practice Catholicism
Describe what the Treaty of Tordesillas did and why it was created.

16. Why is South America a continent of mixed cultural origins?
They have the culture from the indigenous population, Europeans colonized them bringing their own traditions and culture, and Africans were brought over in the slave trade bringing their own customs
What are some of the cultural traditions that the Aymara, Quechua, and Guarani people have maintained?
speaking their native languages, the Aymara herd llamas and alpacas and grow crops, weaving baskets in the traditional form the Quechua practice a blend of Catholicism and native religious beliefs. The Munduruku farm, hunt and fish in the rain forest like their ancestors

17. Why can most South Americans read and write?
Why have many distinct indigenous languages been able to survive in South America?
There was a large # of different speaking groups and the topography kept some groups isolated from the Spanish and Portuguese colonization
Why can most South Americans read and write?
every country in South America provides public education

18. What factors have contributed to South America’s language diversity?
Spanish and Portuguese colonization; importation of enslaved Africans; European immigration; geographic isolation of indigenous groups
What effects have rain forests and mountains had on the people of South America?
they have helped languages survive by isolating various indigenous tribes when Spanish colonization took place
What religion is practiced by 80% of South Americans today? Why?
Catholicism because the Spanish brought it over with them when the colonized South America and converted many natives

19. What are the two most widely spoken languages in South America today
What are the two most widely spoken languages in South America today? Why?
Spanish and Portuguese- they are the most widely spoken because Spain and Portugal colonized them
What is similar about the end of Peron’s leadership in Argentina and the end of Allende’s in Chile?
Peron: was elected president but was overthrown by military leaders who didn’t like his leadership. Allende: overthrown by the military

20. How does the Pampas contribute to the economy of Argentina?
it provides fertile soil for agriculture and the dry pampas is good for cattle ranching
What are the two basic characteristics of a Mediterranean climate?
hot, dry summers and mild rainy winters
Why has Chile benefited from having both strong agricultural and mining economies?
having both mining and agriculture provides them with a diverse economy. Diverse economies tend to be stronger and more competitive because they depend on multiple industries.

21. What government policy led to the rapid growth of mining in Peru?
How is agriculture life different in the dry zone of the Pampas from the wet zone?
In the wet zone of the Pampas farmers plant crops such as soybeans, wheat, corn, flax, and alfalfa. The land is located in a humid zone that receives more then 40 inches of rain a year. The dry zone focuses more on herding/raising sheep and cattle because it is dry and difficult to grow crops
What government policy led to the rapid growth of mining in Peru?
in the early 1990s, the government allowed private ownership of the mines. The shift to private parties owning the mines allowed for investment in needed improvements and upgrades, leading to rapid growth of the mining industry

22. What was the chief problem with Juan Peron’s presidency in Argentina?
when he was elected president he raised wages for workers and established social and economic programs. These reforms were expensive and corruption weakened his administration (expensive reforms and corruption

23. Where are the Pampas located?
it stretches through Argentina from the Atlantic Ocean to the foothills of the mountains. It covers 295,000 square miles in the northern half of Argentina and covers ¼ the land
What determines a countries latitude?
how far away it is from the equator (both north and south)

24. What is a major industry in Brazil?
Exports of minerals and metals make up how much of Peru’s total export revenue?
2/3 or 67%
What is a major industry in Brazil?
Forestry, agriculture, ranching and fishing
Why are biofuels, such as ethanol, considered to be a renewable source of energy?
because it comes from an agricultural product, it is renewable/it can be regrown
What product helped Brazil become an important producer of ethanol?
sugarcane

25. In Argentina, what is a major economic advantage of growing soy beans?
What is the reason more than 500 languages are spoken in South America?
large # of indigenous groups on the continent and the topography which kept indigenous groups isolated and separate from the European languages
In Argentina, what is a major economic advantage of growing soy beans?
they can be used for both food and industrial products. They grow quickly and they do not require a lot of fertilizer to be added to the soil. It doesn’t cost a lot of money to grow/produce them and you can sell them at a high price

26. How is deforestation dangerous to the climate
How is deforestation dangerous to the climate? Cutting down trees/clearing the rainforest means there are fewer trees to absorb/clean the air of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide