World Geography TodayChapter 12 South America Preview Section 1: Natural EnvironmentsNatural...

World Geography Today Chapter 12

South AmericaPreview

Section 1: Natural Environments

Section 2: History and Culture

Section 3: South America Today

Chapter Wrap-Up


Read to Discover

• What are the major landforms and rivers of South America?

• What climates, plants, and animals are found in South America?

• What natural resources does the continent have?



Question

What are the different environments and landforms of South America?



Landforms and Rivers

Climates

Biomes Natural Resources

Andes Guiana Highlands, tepuís Brazilian HighlandsAmazon River basin, Llanos,

Gran Chaco, PampasAmazon, Orinoco, Paraná Rivers

Tropical, humid in Amazon basin

Highland climates in AndesTropical wet and dry in many areasMediterranean in central Chile Semiarid and arid in Patagonia,

Atacama

Tropical rain forestDry forestSavannasDeserts

Rubber and timberHydroelectricity productionNuts and plants for medicineGold, silver, copper,

iron ore, bauxite, oil

SouthAmerica



South America has major mountains and plains.

• Mountains—Andes, Guiana Highlands, Brazilian Highlands• Plains—Altiplano, Amazon River basin, Llanos, Gran Chaco,

Pampas, Patagonia

Three large river systems flow into the Atlantic Ocean.

• Amazon—4,000 miles long• Orinoco—Drains the Guiana Highlands and Llanos• Paraná—Drains eastern slopes of Andes and Brazilian

Highlands



South America has a wide variety of climate regions.

• Amazon Basin—World’s largest tropical humid region; many rain forest species

• Andes—Highland climates with varied vegetation; wildlife based on elevation, including llamas, alpacas, vicuñas, and Andean condors

• Tropical Wet and Dry—Various areas; dry forest or savanna

• Chile—Mediterranean climate with marine west coast

• Patagonia—Semiarid and arid; few animals

• Atacama Desert—Northern Chile, southern Peru; driest region



• Fertile soils

• Climates suitable for growing crops

• Water for irrigation and hydroelectric power

• Forest products

• Vast mineral wealth—Gold, silver, copper, iron ore, bauxite (aluminum ore), emeralds

• Energy—Oil deposits in Venezuela and other countries, including tar sands


Natural Resources


Read to Discover

• What were some important events in the early history of South America?

• How did the colonial era and independence affect South America?

• What are some important features of South America’s cultures?



• First inhabitants, hunter-gatherers, arrived more than 12,000 years ago.

• Various early civilizations arose, including the Chibcha of Colombia.

• Incan civilization spanned much of Andean region.

• Spanish conquered the Inca in the 1530s.

• Spain and Portugal divided the continent: Spain in the west, Portugal in the east.

• Colonists brought new plants, animals, and diseases.

• Portuguese brought slave labor to Brazil to work sugar plantations.


Early History


Question

How did the colonial period and independence affect South America?



Colonization

Inca conqueredLands taken by EuropeansEuropean animals and agricultural products

introducedDeath of indigenous people from European diseases

and conquest

Dictatorships supported by wealthy familiesMilitary coups and political instabilityCountries still isolatedBorders still on colonial boundaries

Independence

Causes and Effects in South America’s History



• Great Ethnic Variety—Mixed-race, European, American Indian, African, East Indian, Japanese

• Language—Reflects colonization; Indian languages still spoken

• Religion—Majority Roman Catholic; also Hinduism, Islam, traditional indigenous religions

• Traditional Culture, despite change


Cultural Features


Read to Discover

• What is the economy of South America like today?

• What are South American cities like?

• What issues and challenges face the people of South America?



Economy

• Developing or middle-income countries

• Agriculture, subsistence and commercial farming

• Wide range of industrial products

• Mercosur important free trade group

Cities

• Large parts of each country’s population living in big cities

• Rural-urban migration

• Urban poor living in slums that surround the city

• Crime and lack of services in these areas

Issues

• Poverty

• Amazon rain forests being cleared for farming and ranching

• Soil exhaustion and overgrazing threatening the land

• Border disputes, terrorism, and political corruption



Chapter Wrap-Up Understanding the Main Ideas

1. What are the five climate zones of the Andes, and what vegetation is found in each?

2. What are some products that come from the rain forest?

3. What were some accomplishments of early South American people?

4. How did Spanish and Portuguese settlement spread?

5. What are three factors that create tensions in South America?

World Geography TodayChapter 12 South America Preview Section 1: Natural EnvironmentsNatural...

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