1. Atlantic South America
Holt People, Places, and Changes
4/15/2017
CHAPTER 11
Atlantic South America
Section 1: Physical Geography
Section 2: Brazil
Section 3: Argentina
Section 4: Uruguay and Paraguay
CHAPTER 11

2. Objectives: Section 1 Physical Geography
What landforms and rivers are found in Atlantic South America?
What are the region’s climates, vegetation, and wildlife like?
What are some of the region’s important resources?

3. Atlantic South America’s Landforms
Section 1 Physical Geography
Atlantic South America’s Landforms
Plains and plateaus—Amazon River basin, Brazilian Highlands, Brazilian plateau, Gran Chaco, Pampas
Mountains—the Andes; Mount Aconcagua rises 22,834 feet

4. Atlantic South America’s Rivers
Section 1 Physical Geography
Atlantic South America’s Rivers
River systems—the Amazon is the world’s largest river system; the Parana River system drains the central region and forms borders with Paraguay, Brazil, and Argentina

5. Climate, Vegetation, and Wildlife of Atlantic South America
Section 1 Physical Geography
Climate, Vegetation, and Wildlife of Atlantic South America
Rain forest—humid tropical; daily rainfall; the world’s greatest variety of plant and animal life; wildlife includes piranhas, jaguars, anacondas, sloths
Plains and plateaus—climates vary from tropical rain forests to drier grasslands and humid subtropical and humid tropical; wildlife includes armadillos, pumas, red wolves, 60 snake species

6. Important Resources Section 1 Physical Geography
The Amazon rain forest—food, wood, rubber, medicine
Gold, silver, copper, iron, oil
Hydroelectric power from rivers
Agriculture; soil exhaustion is a problem in the region

7. Objectives: Section 2 Brazil What is the history of Brazil?
What are important characteristics of Brazil’s people and culture?
What are Brazil’s four major regions like today?

8. Brazil’s History Section 2 Brazil
Brazil’s first inhabitants were hunters, fishermen and small-scale farmers.
Portuguese settlers arrived in 1500 and created sugar plantations; Indians and imported Africans used for slave labor; sugar plantations replaced forests.
Settlers also developed ranching, mining, and coffee industries.

9. Brazil’s History (continued)
Section 2 Brazil
Brazil’s History (continued)
Brazil gained independence from Portugal in 1822; series of dictatorships and elected governments followed.

10. Characteristics of Brazil’s People and Culture
Section 2 Brazil
Characteristics of Brazil’s People and Culture
Portuguese is the official language; other languages also spoken.
70 percent Catholic; Macumba also practiced
Mixture of African, Brazilian and European cultural traditions; Carnival celebrated
Population is of mixed descent; varying immigrant influences are seen in diet, language, and tradition.

11. Brazil’s Four Major Regions
Section 2 Brazil
Brazil’s Four Major Regions
The Amazon—isolated Indian villages; major city is Manaus; development is threatening rain forest and Indian populations
The Northeast—many old colonial cities; Brazil’s poorest region; illiteracy high; poor health care; huge favelas

12. Brazil’s Four Major Regions (continued)
Section 2 Brazil
Brazil’s Four Major Regions (continued)
The Southeast—major coffee producer; rich in natural resources; most populous region; Rio de Janeiro and São Paolo
The Interior—savannas and dry woodlands; Brasília founded here to bring development

13. Objectives: Section 3 Argentina What is the history of Argentina?
What are important characteristics of Argentina’s people and culture?
What is Argentina like today?

14. Argentina’s History Section 3 Argentina
Early 1500s: first Spanish settlement established under encomienda system
Gauchos herded cattle and horses on the Pampas; huge ranches established
Argentina gains independence in 1816; instability and violence persisted, killing off most native Indians
Wars subsided by the late 1870s

15. Argentina’s People and Culture
Section 3 Argentina
Argentina’s People and Culture
Majority of the population is of European descent; 3 percent native Indian descendants
Roman Catholicism is the dominant religion.
Spanish is the official language.
Beef is an important element in diet and agriculture.

16. Argentina Today Section 3 Argentina
Has had democratic government since 1983
Has rich natural resources and a well-educated population
Major city—Buenos Aires—is the second largest city in South America.
Member of Mercosur
Has a large agriculture export industry

17. Objectives: Section 4 Uruguay and Paraguay
What are the people and economy of Uruguay like today?
What are the people and economy of Paraguay like today?

18. Uruguay Section 4 Uruguay and Paraguay
Strong democratic tradition despite occasional military rule
88 percent European descent; 12 percent mestizo, African, or Indian
Roman Catholicism is dominant.
90 percent of the population lives in urban areas.

19. Uruguay (continued) Section 4 Uruguay and Paraguay
Literacy rate is high.
A Mercosur partner; agriculture is an important economic element
Beach resorts support tourism.

20. Paraguay Section 4 Uruguay and Paraguay Elected government since 1989
95 percent mestizo population
Official language is Spanish; most people speak Guarani as well.
Most wealth is controlled by a few families and companies.

21. Paraguay (continued) Section 4 Uruguay and Paraguay
Much of the economy is traditional; agriculture is key element.
Promising future possible; able to sell hydroelectric power to Brazil and Argentina