Physical Geography of South America

Physical Geography of South America​

• Identify the major physical features of South America

• Analyze how South America's biodiversity benefits the region and the world

• Identify the importance of ocean currents in South America

• Explain the importance of the Andes Mountains, Galapagos, and Easter Islands

​Objectives/Goals

​Vocabulary

• Altiplano

• Cordillera

• Gauchos

• Navigable

• River Basin

• Tributary

​Essential Question: What are the main physical features of South America?

Open Ended

Where in the World is Comet?

Clue 1: This location is an island archipelago, of the coast of South America.

Clue 2: This location is the home of giant tortoises.

Clue 3: This location is the only place in the Northern Hemisphere that has penguins.

Clue 4: This location was explored by Charles Darwin in 1859.

Clue 5: Darwin's book 'The Origin of Species' was written about the research conducted on this island.

Where is Comet?

Poll

Which of these adventrures would you rather experience in the Andes Mountains?

• Camping in the Atacama Desert

• Rafting the Apurimac River

• Hike to the Antofalla Salt Flats

• Climb Mount Aconcagua

• Pet a Llama on the Altiplano

​Andes Mountains

• Longest Mountain Range in the world - 4,300 miles; Located on the Western Coast of South America

  • Cordillera: long, parallel mountain range consisting of multiple peaks, valleys, and ridges creating a rugged and diverse landscape (Cordillera Oriental and Cordillera Occidental)

• Unique Features in the Andes Mountains

  • Altiplano: high plateau located in the central part of the range; diversity - grassland, wetlands, salt flats

  • Mt. Aconcagua: the highest mountain in the Americas; located in Argentina

  • Antofalla Salt Flats: an area of ground covered with salt and other minerals; occurs when water evaporates in an arid and dry climate; salt can be mined and sold

    • Diverse vegetation and animal life (saltbush and viscacha rat)

  • Apurimac River: runs through deep gorges and canyons that can be double the depth of the Grand Canyon

  • Atacama Desert: one of the driest places on Earth; rich in Nitrate

Biodiversity of the Andes Mountains

• Plants

  • Kishuara

  • Eucalyptus Trees

  • Jacha Quiru

  • Ichu

  • Llareta

  • Fuchsia Shrubs

• Animals

  • Llama

  • Alpaca

  • Mountain Tapir

  • Chinchilla

  • Andean Condor

  • Armadillo

​Natural Resources

• Minerals

  • Copper - 45% of the World's resource; electrical equipment, medicine

  • Silver - 30% of the World's Resource

  • Lead, Zinc, Gold

• Fresh Water

  • Hydro-electric power and agriculture

​History and Culture: Inca Agriculture

• Human-Environment Interaction with the Andes Mountains

  • Terrace Farming: creation of flat sections of steep slopes so that they could be used to plant and grow crops

  • Reduces the risk of crops freezing

  • Increases sun exposure

  • Increases Water absorption

  • Controls Erosion

  • Irrigation System

South American Coastlines

• Many major cities are located along the coastlines of South America

• Population

  • "Populated Rim": nickname due to the number of large cities found on the coast of South America

  • Favorable Climate

  • Transportation (port cities)

  • Fertile Land

• Economic Activity

  • Fisheries (shrimp, anchovies, salmon, trout, etc.)

  • Overfishing is a problem in this region

Ocean Currents

• Ocean Currents distribute heat which regulates weather patterns

• Ocean Currents provide predictable navigation for ships

  • Antarctic Circumpolar Current: influences the southernmost coast of South America

    • The largest ocean current in the world

  • Peru Current: (Humboldt Current) a cold current that circles on the west coast of Peru

  • Brazil Current: flows southward from the equator

Amazon River Basin

• Begins in the Andes Mountains, empties into the Atlantic Ocean

  • Longest River in the World

• Amazon River Basin: an area of land that is drained by a river and all of its tributaries (all the smaller rivers that flow into a larger river)

  • The Amazon Rainforest is located in the Amazon River Basin

• Diversity in the Amazon River Basin

  • Jaguar, Macaw, Piranha, Arapaima, Indigenous People

• Trade, Travel, and Technology

  • Transportation of people and goods

  • Irrigation for crops

  • Hydroelectric Power

  • Medicines

• Threats to the Amazon River Basin

  • Deforestation for logging, mining, agriculture, and ranching

Lake​

• Lake Titicaca

  • Largest freshwater lake in South America

  • The highest Navigable (able to be traveled) lake in the world

  • Home to several islands

  • Islas Flotantes (Floating Islands)

    • Made of reeds and home to Indigenous people (Uros)

• Lake Maracaibo

  • Largest Lake in South America by surface area

  • Brackish water (slightly salty)

  • Petroleum Production wells

  • Catatumbo Lightening

​Lowlands

• The Llanos

  • Tropical Grasslands

  • Wet Season (May to October)

  • Home of the capybara: world's largest rodent

  • Traditional Cattle Ranching communities

  • Gauchos: skilled horsemen known for their expertise in ranching

• The Pampas

  • Hilly grasslands

  • Ideal for agriculture (wheat, corn and soybeans) and cattle ranching

• The Gran Chaco

  • Hot, semi-arid lowland

  • Some of the hottest temperatures on the planet

Highlands

• Mato Grosso Plateau

  • "Thick Brush" Plateau

  • Grassland, Savannas, scattered forests and wetlands

  • Fertile soil

• Brazillian Higlands

  • Rugged terrain and deep valleys

  • Rich in mineral resources

• Patagonia

  • Towering mountains, glaciers and plains

  • Many national parks

​Islands

• Galapagos Islands

  • Located off the coast of Ecuador

  • Lots of Biodiversity

  • Explored by Charles Darwin and influenced the theory of Evolution

• Easter Island

  • Belongs to the country of Chile

  • Home of Moai (large stone heads)

  • Home to the Rapa Nui People

Open Ended

Of all of the locations we explored today, what region of South America would you want to visit and why?

Open Ended

Where in the World is Comet?

Clue 1: This location is located along the Guaitara River, Columbia.

Clue 2: This location's name is spanish for flagstone.

Clue 3: Many Christians from around the world pilgramage to this location.

Clue 4: This location is home to a 'shrine' found by Friar Juan de Santa Gertrudis.

Clue 5: Some Christians believe that an image of the Virgin Mary appeared without human interaction.