ch 7 & 8 - south america, part i
TRANSCRIPT
Brazil’s Rainforest
• The Amazon Rainforest is the
largest rainforest in the world
• Brazilians call it a selva
• Its size is slightly smaller than the
U.S.
Brazil’s Rainforest
• The Amazon River is the world’s second-
longest river
• It is located in the Amazon Basin. In this
area rainfall can reach up to 120 inches in a
year!
• Measures 4,080 miles in length
• The distance from New York City to LA is
2,825 miles
• Current is so powerful, it carries soil 60 miles
out into the sea
Brazil’s Rainforest
• Approximately 3,000 species of
fish can be found in the Amazon
River
• Pirarucu are the largest freshwater
fish in the world -- measures up to
15 ft. and weighs up to 275 lbs.
Brazil’s Highlands
• The Brazilian Highlands cover
about half of the country.
• They drop sharply to the Atlantic
Ocean, this drop is known as the
Great Escarpment.
Brazil’s Economy
• Main products:
–Coffee: largest producer in the
world
–Rainforest products such as
rubber and timber, however
deforestation is becoming a huge
concern
Brazil’s Rainforest
In addition, the rain forest is very important in regulating the earth’s climate.
Below are a few facts:
Fact: Covering less than 2 percent of the Earth's total surface area, the world's rainforests are home to 50 percent of the Earth's plants and animals.
Brazil’s Rainforest cont. Fact: Rainforests are found on every continent across
the Earth, except Antarctica.
Fact: Rainforests act as the world's thermostat by
regulating temperatures and weather patterns.
Fact: One-fifth of the world’s fresh water is found in
the Amazon Basin.
Fact: A typical four square mile patch of rainforest
contains as many as 1,500 flowering plants, 750 species
of trees, 400 species of birds and 150 species of
butterflies.
Brazil’s Rainforest cont. Fact: Less than one percent of the tropical rainforest
species have been analyzed for their medicinal value.
Fact: Originally, 6 million square miles of tropical rainforest existed worldwide. But as a result of deforestation, only 2.6 million square miles remain.
Fact: Every second, a slice of rainforest the size of a football field is mowed down. That's 86,400 football fields of rainforest per day, or over 31 million football fields of rainforest each year.
What does deforestation mean?
CNN Explains (2:32)
Deforestation Time-lapse
Brazil’s Culture
• Official language is Portuguese
• Majority of people live in large cities, which
are surrounded by favelas
Rocinha-biggest favela in Brazil
Brazil’s Culture• Huge statue called Christ the Redeemer
overlooks Rio de Janeiro
– Visit Christ the Redeemer (2:19)
Brazil’s Culture
• Many Brazilians enjoy futbol
– Brazilian Soccer Team Tricks (Can cut at
1:27)
• Every village has a soccer field, and all
large cities have stadiums
Brazil’s Culture
• Carnival is the festival that is
celebrated just before the beginning of
Lent
– It is held in Rio de Janeiro
– Includes music, parades, and costumes
– Similar to Mardi Gras in the U.S.
Venezuela’s Land
• The Andean Highlands begin in
Venezuela
• Angel Falls -- the world’s highest
waterfall. Drops into Devil’s Canyon
Venezuela
• Venezuela has more oil than any other
country in North or South America. Much
of the oil is exported to the United States
• Hugo Chavez, the president of Venezuela,
died in March 2013.
Guianas: Land & Economy
• All have highlands in the interior covered with thick rainforests and low coastal plains near the ocean
• Climate is hot and tropical
• Sugarcane grows in Guyana and French Guiana
• Rice and bananas grow in Suriname
• Many people mine gold and bauxite
Guyana• Settled first by the Dutch, later
taken over by Great Britain
• Won independence in 1966, but depends on aid from other countries
• 2/3 of population are from India, and about 1/3 of African ancestry
• Language: English
• Predominant religions: Christianity and Hinduism
• Georgetown, the capital, is the major city
Suriname
• Settled first by the English, then the Dutch
• 1975: Won independence from the Netherlands, but still depends on aid
• Language: Dutch
• Religion: 1/2 Christianity, 1/2 Islam & Hinduism
• Paramaribo is capital and main port Mosque in
Suriname
French Guiana
• French Guiana is a colony of France
• The country is headed by a French official called a prefect
• They speak French
• It has no official capital, however Cayenne is one of the major cities.
• Religion = Roman Catholic
• Culture is mix of French and Caribbean– Carnival, Caribbean music and dance
– Euros for money and sidewalk cafés like Paris
Ecuador
• Ecuador is the Spanish word for
Equator.
• The Galapagos Islands are just off the
coast and located on the Equator.
• Many plant and animal species exist
here and nowhere else in the world.
Landscape
• Andes Mountains run along the entire
western coast.
• To the east of the mountains are the
foothills.
• The Amazon Rainforest covers the rest
of the country.
History
• The Incas once lived
high up in the
mountains during
the 1400s and 1500s.
• Empire covered
more than 2500
miles.
History
• Built the ancient city of Machu
Picchu nearly 8,000 ft up in the
mountains
• Ruins of the city were not
discovered until 1911 by Hiram
Bingham
Mystery of Machu
Picchu (2:47)
Machu Picchu
Nazca Lines