South America Physical Geography

Land - Desert Atacama Desert

Driest non-Arctic desert in the world

1 mm of rain per year

Average daily temperature is from 32º-68º F

Similar to the surface of Mars

Land – Andes Mountains Andes Mountains

Run along the Pacific Coast

Longest mountain chain in the world (4,500 miles)

2nd highest mountain ranges in the world (Himalayas are #1)

Soil is extremely rich and fertile, good for farming

Land – Amazon Basin Amazon River

Basin

A large area completely surrounded by higher ground (similar to a valley)

Contains the largest tropical rainforest in the world

Land - Highlands

Brazilian Highlands Largest highland area in

South America

Land - Patagonia

Patagonia Large area of plains

located in southern Argentina

Land

South America has two countries that are landlocked Bolivia and Paraguay

Landlocked Surrounded on all

sides by land with no access to the ocean

How does this affect trade in these countries?

Water - Borders

East – Atlantic Ocean West – Pacific Ocean North – Caribbean Sea

Water - Lakes Lake Titicaca

Highest commercially navigable lake in the world

Water - Rivers Amazon River

2nd largest river in the world

Carries more water than any other river in the world

Contains 20% of all fresh water in the world

Serves as a major trade route inland and creates fertile land

Water - Rivers Negro River

Tributary of the Amazon

Largest black water river in the world

Deep, slow-moving channel that flows through forested swamps and wetlands. The color results from the leaching of tannins from the decaying leaves of adjoining vegetation.

Climate Varies greatly

because of the size of the continent (8 zones) Below 0º in the

Andes and over 80º in the Amazon Basin

Receives over 118” of rain in the Amazon Basin each year

Most of South America has a tropical climate

Vegetation

Most of South America is covered by dense rainforests and grasslands

Natural Resources

Lumber from the rainforests Medicines are

created from the rainforest

Fish

Cattle ranches

Soil is rich for farming Coffee

Wheat, sugar cane, cotton and rice

Population Distribution&

Trade

Valuable Venezuela Location, climate and natural resources affect

where people live and work. Physical Features . . .

Coastline gives them easy access to trade w Mountains, grassy plains & tropical jungles

Climate in Venezuela . . . Hot and humid – just north of the equator Cooler in the Andes Mountains Rainy

Major natural resource . . . Oil

Where do people choose to live?

Along the coast of the Caribbean Sea and nearby mountain valleys

Mostly urban areas – 88%

Many people work in the rich oil industry.

Large middle class – but also large amounts of poverty

Environmental Issues Oil-related pollution – Venezuela

Water pollution along both coasts and Lake Maracaibo

Severe deforestation, oil spills and air pollution

Oil spills have hurt the fishing industry and closed tourist resorts

Oil is main source of income, so people are motivated to keep drilling, producing, and burning oil…and polluting.

I’ll Trade with You! Venezuela . . . .

Oil products are the government’s main source of revenue

Major trading partners are its neighbors USA, Brazil and Colombia USA provides much of Venezuela’s food

imports since agriculture isn’t a strong industry there.

Where do people choose to live?

Most live near the Atlantic coast in urban areas . . .

Amazon Rainforest used to be sparsely populated, BUT . . .

Government built the Trans-Amazon Highway to connect the coast to Peru.

New capital – Brasilia – was established just south of the Amazon Basin

Tourism to the Amazon Rainforest has also increased

Development in the Amazon is controversial . . . . WHY?

Environmental Issues

Destruction of rainforests in Brazil…

Trade in Brazil?

Brazil is the largest country on South America . . . Highest population . . . Healthiest economy

Key location along the Atlantic Ocean . . . Allows shipment of goods around the world Top 2 trading partners . . . USA and

Argentina

Agricultural Products . . . Sugarcane and oranges Coffee – world’s largest producer