Topography-The Physical

Features

And impact on human

development

Plateau

Archipelago

Delta

Cape

Gulf

Tributary

Isthmus

Strait

European Mountains

• Pyrenees divide but do not isolate

• Alps - highest range, central southern Europe

• Apennines, Dinaric, Balkans, Carpathians do not isolate

• Kjolen Mts.• Borders: Caucasus and

Urals• Irregular Coast and

Navigable Rivers lessen isolation

Latin American Mountains

• The Andes• Altiplano• Sierra Madres• Central Mexican Plateau

VERTICAL CLIMATE

• At Sea Level, Tropical Fruits and Crops Grown

• Temperate Vegetables, Coffee at higher zone

• Cold Zone: Potatoes• Vertical Climate allows a

variety of goods and trade among regions.

Middle East-Desert and Plateaus

• TURKEY: THE ANATOLIAN PLATEAU

• THE IRANIAN PLATEAU (dry)

• Saudi “Empty Quarter”• Most Live Near Fertile

Crescent, Nile, or Coast.

Africa:Vast Plateau, Poor Soil

• ATLAS MOUNTAINS• DRAKENSBURG

MOUNTAINS• RUWENZORI Mts.• GREAT RIFT VALLEY• Rivers do not unite

continent

Deserts

• Isolate People = little Cultural diffusion• Few Resources• Buffer Zone• Little to no arable land

ISOLATION

• The Andes isolate Chile from Argentina and slowed their wars

• The Chinese and Indians have developed separate cultures due to their isolation

How do mountains affect people?

• Isolate people – create borders– STOP CULTURAL DIFFUSION!!!!

• Lack arable (Farming) land• Natural Defense (Buffer Zone)• Separate people (Balkans in

Europe)• Colder due to vertical climate

(lower population)