Andes Vocabulary

altitudinal zonation

• the division of land into zones based on elevation, which in turn helps determine climate and vegetation

• the creation of flat areas on mountain slopes for the purpose of farming

• the trading of crops between lowland and highland areas

climate zone

• a large area of Earth with a particular pattern of weather

• the layer of air that surrounds Earth

• a bowl-shaped depression, or hollow, in Earth’s surface

solar energy

• energy from the sun that can be converted into heat or electricity

• the highest elevation where trees grow on a mountain

• a type of brick that is made of clay mixed with straw and dried in the sun

atmosphere

• the layer of air that surrounds Earth

• the lowest elevation on mountains where snow remains year-round

• a raised area of land, such as a hill or mountain, with a flat top

broadleaf evergreen forest

• a vegetation zone of mainly tall trees that remain green all year; also refers to the type of vegetation in this zone

• mountain vegetation zone between the tree line and the snow line

• vegetation zone of mainly grasses and scattered trees adapted to a tropical wet and dry climate

tropical grassland

• vegetation zone of mainly grasses and scattered trees adapted to a tropical wet and dry climate

• vegetation zone between the tree line and the snow line

• vegetation zone of mainly tall trees that remain green all year

temperate

• moderate or mild, without extremes of hot or cold

• a body of water that is large and deep enough for big ships

• the lowest elevation on mountains where snow remains year-round

navigable

• a body of water that is large and deep enough for big ships

• trading of crops between lowland and highland areas

• moderate or mild, without extremes of hot or cold

conifer

• a tree with needles and cones, such as a pine tree

• a vegetation zone of mainly tall trees that remain green all year

• found in high mountains; also describes the mountain vegetation zone between the tree line and the snow line

tree line

• the highest elevation where trees grow on a mountain

• the lowest elevation on mountains where snow remains year-round

• the division of land into zones based on elevation, which in turn helps determine climate and vegetation