1. South America
Physical Geography

2. Land - Desert Atacama Desert Driest non-Arctic desert in the world
1 mm of rain per year
Average daily temperature is from 32º-68º F
Similar to the surface of Mars

3. Land – Andes Mountains Andes Mountains Run along the Pacific Coast
Longest mountain chain in the world (4,500 miles)
2nd highest mountain ranges in the world (Himalayas are #1)
Soil is extremely rich and fertile, good for farming

4. Land – Amazon Basin Amazon River Basin
A large area completely surrounded by higher ground (similar to a valley)
Contains the largest tropical rainforest in the world

5. Land - Highlands Brazilian Highlands Largest highland area in
South America

6. Land - Patagonia Patagonia
Large area of plains located in southern Argentina

7. Land South America has two countries that are landlocked
Bolivia and Paraguay
Landlocked
Surrounded on all sides by land with no access to the ocean
How does this affect trade in these countries?

8. Water - Borders East – Atlantic Ocean West – Pacific Ocean
North – Caribbean Sea

9. Water - Lakes Lake Titicaca
Highest commercially navigable lake in the world

10. Water - Rivers Amazon River 2nd largest river in the world
Carries more water than any other river in the world
Contains 20% of all fresh water in the world
Serves as a major trade route inland and creates fertile land

11. Water - Rivers Negro River Tributary of the Amazon
Largest black water river in the world
Deep, slow-moving channel that flows through forested swamps and wetlands. The color results from the leaching of tannins from the decaying leaves of adjoining vegetation.

12. Climate Varies greatly because of the size of the continent (8 zones)
Most of South America has a tropical climate
Varies greatly because of the size of the continent (8 zones)
Below 0º in the Andes and over 80º in the Amazon Basin
Receives over 118” of rain in the Amazon Basin each year

14. Vegetation
Most of South America is covered by dense rainforests and grasslands

15. Natural Resources Lumber from the rainforests
Medicines are created from the rainforest
Fish
Cattle ranches
Soil is rich for farming
Coffee
Wheat, sugar cane, cotton and rice

16. Population Distribution & Trade

17. Valuable Venezuela
Location, climate and natural resources affect where people live and work.
Physical Features . . .
Coastline gives them easy access to trade w
Mountains, grassy plains & tropical jungles
Climate in Venezuela . . .
Hot and humid – just north of the equator
Cooler in the Andes Mountains
Rainy
Major natural resource Oil

18. Where do people choose to live?
Along the coast of the Caribbean Sea and nearby mountain valleys
Mostly urban areas – 88%
Many people work in the rich oil industry.
Large middle class – but also large amounts of poverty

19. Environmental Issues Oil-related pollution – Venezuela
Water pollution along both coasts and Lake Maracaibo
Severe deforestation, oil spills and air pollution
Oil spills have hurt the fishing industry and closed tourist resorts
Oil is main source of income, so people are motivated to keep drilling, producing, and burning oil…and polluting.

20. I’ll Trade with You! Venezuela . . . .
Oil products are the government’s main source of revenue
Major trading partners are its neighbors
USA, Brazil and Colombia
USA provides much of Venezuela’s food imports since agriculture isn’t a strong industry there.

21. Where do people choose to live?
Most live near the Atlantic coast in urban areas . . .
Amazon Rainforest used to be sparsely populated, BUT . . .
Government built the Trans-Amazon Highway to connect the coast to Peru.
New capital – Brasilia – was established just south of the Amazon Basin
Tourism to the Amazon Rainforest has also increased
Development in the Amazon is controversial WHY?

22. Environmental Issues
Destruction of rainforests in Brazil…

23. Trade in Brazil?
Brazil is the largest country on South America Highest population Healthiest economy
Key location along the Atlantic Ocean . . .
Allows shipment of goods around the world
Top 2 trading partners USA and Argentina
Agricultural Products . . .
Sugarcane and oranges
Coffee – world’s largest producer