Physical Geography of South America

Landforms, Rivers and Lakes South America has nearly every type of physical feature, including mountains, grasslands, plains, and highlands. South America is drained by five major river systems, including the Amazon River, one of the largest rivers in the world. Landforms, Rivers and Lakes

Stretch along western South America for a distance of about 5,500 miles. The world’s second-largest range. People living in the Andes grown crops on terraces cut into the mountain. The Andes region also includes valleys and the altiplano, or “high plateau.” The Andes

The Central Plains extend eastward from the Andes and cover about 3/5 of South America. The llanos, Gran Chaco, Amazon rain forest, and Pampas make up the Central Plains. A tropical rain forest in the Amazon Basin covers about 40% of Brazil. The Gran Chaco is largely uninhabited and is located mostly in Argentina. The Pampas is Argentina’s most populated area. The Guiana Highlands consist of tropical forests and grasslands. The Brazilian Highlands to the south cover about ¼ of South America and consists mostly of hills and plateaus. Plains and Highlands

The Amazon River flows from the Andes to the Atlantic Ocean and is about 4,000 miles long. The other river systems are the Rio de la Plata, the Magdalena-Cauca, the Orinoco, and the Sao Francisco. Rivers and Lakes

Climate and Vegetation The climate of the Andes Mountains changes with elevation. There are four mountain climate zones: Tierra Helada (frozen), Tierra Templada (temperate), Tierra Fria (cold), and Tierra Caliente (hot). The only vegetation would be sparse assortment of mosses, lichens, and dwarf shrubs. Climate and Vegetation

Much of South America lies in the low latitudes, which are tropical. The rain forest climate is hot and wet. The yearly average rainfall is between 50-75 inches. Contains the world’s richest collection of life forms. Plant and animal life is abundant. Tropical Rain Forests

Located in Venezuela and Colombia, the llanos cover an area of about 220,000 square miles. Warm climate with an average rainfall between 45-180 inches. The pampas cover an area of about 295,000 square miles in central Argentina, and they extend into Uruguay. Good for cattle raising and soybeans and wheat. Pampas are home to most of Argentina’s cities. Grasslands

Desert climates occur along much of Peru’s coast as well as in Chile’s Atacama Desert and southern Argentina’s Patagonian desert. Patagonia desert is considered a cold climate with average temperatures of 44 degrees. The Atacama Desert is warmer with average temperatures of 60 degrees. Deserts

Assessment Questions What are the main river systems of South America? Where are the Guiana and Brazilian Highlands located? How are the four main regions of the Central Plains different from one another? Why is a variety of plant life able to grow in the Atacama Desert? *Essential Question: How have Latin America’s geography and resources helped shape its history? Assessment Questions

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