Transcript Southern Grassland Countries

Southern
Grassland
Countries
South America
Southern Grassland Countries
• Uruguay
• Paraguay
• Argentina
Physical Characteristics
Regions of Southern South America
– Great Rivers
– Andean Region
– Tropical Lowlands
– Grasslands
– Patagonia
Question 1: What does the word “Rio de la
Plata” mean?
Answer: “River of Silver”
Great Rivers
Vocabulary
Vocabulary Question: A broad river mouth
formed where a flooded river valley
meets the sea is called _________.
Answer: Estuary
The four rivers in the Plata estuary system
form national boundaries:
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–
–
–
The Uruguay
The Pilcomayo
The Paraguay
The Parana
Question: What are the capitals of
Uruguay and Argentina?
Answer: Buenos Aires and Montevido
Andean Region
• The highest peaks of the Andes are in
western Argentina.
– Mount Aconcagua
Vocabulary: Piedmont is the foothill region
of a mountain.
Tropical Lowlands
Question: What is the interior lowland
region of savanna and dense shrubs in
parts of Paraguay, Argentina, and Bolivia
also known as the “hunting land” ?
Answer: Gran Chaco
Grasslands
• Vocabulary: Pampas meaning plain in
the native language of Quechua are the
fertile grasslands of South America.
– One of the best known features of
Argentina and Paraguay.
– The breadbasket of Argentina with the
production of 80% of grain.
Vocabulary: Gauchos are the cowboys
who herd cattle.
• 70% percent of the meat produce in the
pampas
Question: What are pamperos?
Answer: Violent winter thunderstorms
Patagonia
• A windswept plateau that lies south of
the pampas.
• Area is suitable for raising sheep.
• Natural resources are oil and bauxite
Paraguay
• Majority of the population lives in the
highlands of the eastern part of the
country.
• The capital city is Asuncion.
• Most Paraguayans are mestizos, who
speak Guarani.
• Economic activities
•
•
•
•
Agriculture
Cotton
Grains
Livestock
Question: What dam on the Parana rivers
is one of the largest hydroelectric projects
in the World?
Answer: Itaipu
Political Rule
• Paraguay was ruled by a military
dictator, General Alfredo Stroessner for
35 years.
• Replace by General Andres Rodriquez
in 1993
• In 2000, the first democratic elections
were held
Uruguay
• Rolling grassland
• Primary economic activities are raising
livestock, processing meat and making
products such as wool and leather.
• Most Uruguayans are of European
descent-Italian and Spanish.
Question: Uruguay takes it name from an
Indian word meaning “ ______________”.
Answer: “river of the painted bird”
Political Rule
• In 1973, the military took power for 12
years.
• In 1985, free elections were held.
• Citizens are required to vote or will
be fine if they did not.
Argentina
• The nearly 37 million population is
mostly from European descent – Italian
and Spanish.
• 88% of the population live in cities.
• Latin America wealthiest nation in terms
of per capita GNP
Urbanization
• Buenos Aires is the lively capital city of
Argentina.
• Factories produce goods for export.
• Heavy air pollution.
Political History
• From the mid 1940s to1983, Argentina
was ruled by a series of military
dictators.
• Best known was Juan Domingo Peron.
• In 1982, Argentina lost a war with Great
Britain over control of the Falkland
Islands.