1. Countries of South America

2. Northern Tropics – The Guianas
Includes Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana
Physical Characteristics
Share tropical wet climate, rain forest, and a coastal plain
Human Characteristics
Guyana – Official language is English; Christian, Muslim, Hindu
Suriname – Dutch is spoken; Christian, Muslim, Hindu
French Guiana – Official language is French; Catholic
Economic Activities
All three share similar activities; fishing, farming, mining

3. Northern Tropics - Venezuela
Official language Spanish, people mostly Roman Catholic
Andean Highlands
Stretch across northern Venezuela; Capital city Caracas in this region
Waterfalls and Grasslands
World’s highest waterfall Angel Falls
Llanos (plains) on both sides of Orinoco River
Elevation and Climate
Farmers grow different crops at different elevations.
An Oil-Rich Region
Economy mostly petroleum; top ten oil producer worldwide

4. Northern Tropics - Colombia
Physical Characteristics
Three regions – lowlands, mountains, llanos
Three quarters of people live between Andes in fertile valleys
Single Crop
Most farmland is used to grow coffee
Drug Trade
Huge quantities of marijuana and cocaine are exported illegally
Estimate smuggling of drugs is twice as profitable as coffee
Cooperation and Conflict
Civil war in 1950’s resulted in 200,000 people killed
Struggles to find solutions to challenge of social inequality

5. Andean Countries – Physical Characteristics
Andean Mountains divide Andean nations into three environments.
Coastal Plain
Narrow plain that stretches along the entire Pacific coast from Colombia to southern end of Chile.
Highlands
Plateau regions known as altiplano in Peru and Bolivia and as paramos in Ecuador.
Tropical Forests
Amazon rain forests begin in forested regions called selva.

6. Andean Countries – People and the Environment
Andean Countries contain rich soil, mountains contain a wealth of minerals.
Mountains also restrict some trade to outside countries.
Economic Activities
People have adapted to elevation by engaging in vertical trade.
Physical Effects
Andean Native Americans who have lived at high altitudes for centuries have developed larger hearts and lungs.

7. Andean Countries – Ecuador
Takes its name from the Equator
Population used to be concentrated in mountainous highlands, but now evenly distributed to coastal lowlands
Oil was discovered in 1960s in lowlands which quickly became one of Ecuador’s most important exports.
Government mismanagement and fluctuating oil prices caused decline in Ecuador’s growth in 1990s.

8. Andean Countries - Peru
Peru was the heart of the Inca Empire before it fell to the Spaniards in early 1500s.
Most Peruvians are mestizos who work in factories or on plantations.
Poverty and unemployment are a very big concern.
Visit Peru

9. Andean Countries - Bolivia
Climate varies depending on each region’s altitude.
Contains world’s highest navigable lake, Lake Titicaca
Most of Bolivia’s people are Native American subsistence farmers who live in the highlands.
Struggling about what to do with large natural gas reserves.
One of the poorest nations in South America.

10. Andean Countries - Chile
Name means end of the land
Unlike the other Andean nations, Chile has relatively few Native Americans.
Fertile river basin regions grow wine grapes, fruit, and vegetables.
Chile’s economy has done well but still has about 3 million people living below the poverty line.
Chile and Bolivia

11. Southern Grassland Countries – Physical Characteristics
Great Rivers
Buenos Aires and Montevideo are located on the Rio de la Plata
Andean Region
Highest peaks of the Andes are in western Argentina
Tropical Lowlands
Also known as Gran Chaco, or hunting land
Grasslands
Pampas were home to hundreds of gauchos; now produces grain
Patagonia
South of the temperate grasslands, well suited for raising sheep.

12. Southern Grassland Countries - Paraguay
Almost all Paraguayans live in the highlands of the east.
Half of the people live in urban areas, especially Asuncion
Most Paraguayans are mestizos who speak Spanish
Economy based on agriculture, cotton, grains, and livestock

13. Southern Grassland Countries - Uruguay
Most Uruguayans are of European descent, mainly Italian and Spanish.
Much of Uruguay is rolling grasslands
Primary economic activities are raising livestock, processing meat, and making wool and leather.
Uruguay is one of the few countries in which people are required to vote and fined if they do not.

14. Southern Grassland Countries – Argentina
Most of Argentina’s people are of Spanish and Italian descent
13 million people live in Buenos Aires; Argentina has highest per capita GNP of Latin America countries
Political instability between 1940 and 1983; many dictators