Chapter 16 Exploring South America

Section 1 Brazil: Resources of the rain forest

Geography Rain forest Canopy - dense mass of leaves forming the top of the forest Brazil is almost as large as the United States Most people live along the coast

People Natives that still live in the rain forest Most Brazilians are a mix of native American, African, and European heritages. Agriculture - played big part of economy from the beginning Factories - play big part of economy Iron, steel, cars, electrical equipment Since 1960’s over 30 million people have left the farms and moved to cities to work in factories and other industries.

Brazilian Cities Rio de Janeiro - City of Diversity Hotels, tourist shops Old downtown area “favelas” poor, no electricity or running water Most live in well built houses with water and electricity

New Capital Brasilia - the capital of Brazil Closer to the rain forest Built on a savanna called the Cerrado Gov’t thought moving the capital would bring more people to the interior of the country and away from the coastal regions The gov’t wanted to start developing industry’s related to the rain forest

Rain Forest Very important to the world Produces over 1/3 of the world’s oxygen Photosynthesis - a process by which green plants and trees produce their own food using water, carbon dioxide, and sunlight, as a result oxygen is released. The rain forest also holds 1/5 of the world’s fresh water

Protecting the rain forest Brazil's gov’t monitors the rain forest and the resources. Dangers Cutting down too may trees Photosynthesis, earth heating up Smugglers Animals are trapped and sold for profit Development Causes pollution, mining for gold

Land Most of Brazil’s land is owned by a few people who may chose not to farm the land 1/3 of Brazil’s farm and ranch land is unused Gov’t is starting to give free land to poor people who want to farm and try to make a living This process is slow but life for some people is improving

Section 2 Peru: Life in the Altiplano

Geography - 3 Regions Sierra - the mountain region –Altiplano - a high plateau region in the Andes, around Lake Titicaca in southern Peru Coastal Plain - dry region, warmed by the sun, cooled by sea breezes –Many large cities dot this region Montana - large stretches of forests on the lower slopes of mountains in the Northeast –Weather is warm and humid all year round

People and Cities Cities –Many cities contain old and new –Most have electricity and telephones –New architecture right beside old architecture Mix of Native American cultures and Spanish culture.

Rural Villages Life in the villages is very different that life in the city –No electricity or telephone or running water Many things are changing for the Quechua and the Aymara. Many natives are leaving the rural villages for jobs in the cities. Read about the “straw people” on p. 419

Section 3 Chile: A growing economy based on agriculture

Life in Chile Based on agriculture Country is protected from many diseases from insects and animals because of the natural barrier (Andes Mountains) Very strict about new seeds and plants that come into the country

Geography On average Chile is only 100 miles wide, but very mountainous Very long, 2650 miles long  Mountains the entire length Atacama desert in the north  One of the driest regions in the world Central Valley  Near the coast, rolling hills, high grasses and dense forests  Region where most of the people live

People and cities Early Spanish settlers married Native Americans  Today 95% of the population is Mestizo Lifestyles vary with the region  From sheepherders to miners, to business people Santiago  Diverse - old Spanish style buildings next to skyscrapers  Pollution problem, smog

Industry Pollution problems - Andes on three sides of Santiago (Mexico City) More than 80% of the population live in cities - to work in industry Early on depended completely on copper mining Gov’t putting new regulations into place to help ease pollution in the cities

Agriculture A drop in the copper prices in the 1980’s prompted Chile to start selling more crops Farming - very few plant pests, better quality of fruit and vegetables Ship out wheat, potatoes, sugar beets, corn, grapes, melons, apples, peaches apricots, cherries. (variety)

Agriculture The U.S., Japan, and Europe are very good markets for Chilean exports  Especially October thru May  Winter in Northern Hemisphere, Summer in Southern Hemisphere Despite the Andes mountains Chilean farmers still have to control some insects with pesticides.

Section 4 Venezuela: Oil powers the economy

$$ Oil Money $$ Caracas - very wealthy city where majority of people live. Caracas - very wealthy city where majority of people live. Government makes much of its money by selling oil. Government makes much of its money by selling oil. Oil was discovered here about 75 years ago Oil was discovered here about 75 years ago Except the Persian gulf, Venezuela has some of the biggest oil reserves in the world Except the Persian gulf, Venezuela has some of the biggest oil reserves in the world

$$ Oil Money $$ During the 1970’s there was an oil boom During the 1970’s there was an oil boom A period of increased prosperity during which more of a product is produced and sold A period of increased prosperity during which more of a product is produced and sold Standard of living went up for many people Standard of living went up for many people Gov’t starting spending more money as well Gov’t starting spending more money as well During the 1980’s oil prices dropped During the 1980’s oil prices dropped Many people lost their jobs and the gov’t lost a lot of money Many people lost their jobs and the gov’t lost a lot of money

Culture During the oil boom Venezuela changed from the traditional culture based on agriculture to more of a modern urban country During the oil boom Venezuela changed from the traditional culture based on agriculture to more of a modern urban country 80% of the population lives in the cities 80% of the population lives in the cities

After the oil boom Privatization - a policy by a gov’t to sell its industries to individuals or private companies. Privatization - a policy by a gov’t to sell its industries to individuals or private companies. Gov’t did this so that people would have jobs and could make money Gov’t did this so that people would have jobs and could make money Gov’t also pushed other industries to take pressure off of dependency of oil production Gov’t also pushed other industries to take pressure off of dependency of oil production Steel, gold, cocoa, coffee, fruit Steel, gold, cocoa, coffee, fruit