Transcript South America - cloudfront.net

South America
Physical Geography
• What are some of the major physical features
of South America?
Landforms
•South America’s diverse landscape is marked in
the west by the high peaks of the Andes and in the
east by broad plateaus and valleys.
•The cordillera established natural barriers that
resulted in the development of isolated groups.
•Narrow, coastal lowlands rim the Atlantic and
Pacific coasts.
•Inland grasslands like the llanos and the pampas
provide fertile soil and plains for cattle to graze.
Landforms
Water Systems
•The Amazon flows 4,000 miles through the heart
of South America and is its longest river.
•Hundreds of smaller rivers join the Amazon to
form the Amazon Basin.
•The Paraná, Paraguay, and Uruguay Rivers drain
the rainy eastern half of South America.
•Lake Maracaibo and Lake Titicaca (largest lake in
SA, and highest navigable body of water) are South
America’s largest lakes.
Water Systems
Climate, Biomes, and Resources
•Diverse climates make South America a region of
contrasts.
•El Niño affects the climate in South America by
creating unusually warm ocean currents, and can
have negative effects on coastal weather, fishing,
and agriculture.
•The Amazon rain forest shelters more species of
plants and animals than anywhere else on Earth.
•The physical geography dictates each country’s
access to natural resources.
El Nino
Human Geography
• What cultures have had an impact on South
America and it’s culture?
History and Government
•The Inca Empire’s wealth and highly developed
infrastructure attracted Spanish conquistadors.
•Portuguese, British, French, and Dutch settlers
also established colonies, which drastically reduced
indigenous populations.
•In the 1800s, independence movements led by
Simón Bolívar and José de San Martín emerged.
•Dictatorships dominated the postcolonial period.
•Today, democratically elected governments
struggle with economic and social justice issues.
Colonial South America
Population Patterns
•The once-high population growth has moderated.
•Most people live in cities in the coastal regions
where there is a favorable climate, fertile land, and
access to transportation.
•Highly populated urban areas make finding jobs
and affordable housing difficult for migrants.
•South America is experiencing brain drain to
North America and Europe, which is the loss of
many highly educated and skilled workers.
South America Population Density
Society and Culture Today
•South America is a blend of native, European,
Asian, and African languages and traditions.
•The majority of people are Roman Catholic, though
less common religions include Protestantism,
Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, Shinto, Islam, and
Eastern Orthodox Christianity.
•The quality of education and health care varies
greatly from country to country and from urban to
rural areas.
•Indigenous crafts, art, and architecture reflect the
history of the native cultures.
Economic Activities
•Oil resources, agriculture, and mining of the
abundant natural resources all contribute to South
America’s economic development.
•Manufacturing is growing rapidly, but physical
geography influences commercial activity.
•Many countries in the region are still considered
developing countries.
•Increased cooperation between countries through
trade partnerships and infrastructure is improving
economic growth.
People and Their Environment
• How is deforestation affecting Brazil?
Managing Resources
•While the use of natural resources has advanced
economic growth and increased stability, it has also
damaged the environment and the biodiversity of
South America.
•Deforestation has destroyed almost 20 percent of
the Amazon rain forest, threatening nearly half of
all animal and plant species on Earth.
•Monoculture and soil erosion contribute to
decreased soil fertility and desertification, which
reduces the area of nutrient-rich soils and grasses
needed to grow crops or to feed livestock.
Human Impact
•Urban growth and industrialization have created
environmental pollution.
•A lack of funding and organization often results in
a city’s lack of adequate plumbing infrastructure
necessary to deliver clean water and remove
sewage.
•Illegal mining activity has grown as the value of
precious metals and raw materials has increased,
exacerbating the pollution problem.
Addressing the Issues
•Reducing the human impact on the environment is
critical to protecting biodiversity and preserving the
livelihood of the population.
•Implementation of anti-deforestation laws and
farming management practices are among the
efforts underway to reduce drought and soil
erosion.
•South America’s countries are working together to
address the problems related to urbanization, to
reduce greenhouse gas emissions, to develop
public transport systems, and to regulate the
exportation of natural resources.