Countries of South America

1. Countries of South America

2. Northern Tropics – The Guianas • Includes Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana • Physical Characteristics • Share tropical wet climate, rain forest, and a coastal plain • Human Characteristics • Guyana – Official language is English; Christian, Muslim, Hindu • Suriname – Dutch is spoken; Christian, Muslim, Hindu • French Guiana – Official language is French; Catholic • Economic Activities • All three share similar activities; fishing, farming, mining

3. Northern Tropics - Venezuela • Official language Spanish, people mostly Roman Catholic • Andean Highlands • Stretch across northern Venezuela; Capital city Caracas in this region • Waterfalls and Grasslands • World’s highest waterfall Angel Falls • Llanos (plains) on both sides of Orinoco River • Elevation and Climate • Farmers grow different crops at different elevations. • An Oil-Rich Region • Economy mostly petroleum; top ten oil producer worldwide

4. Northern Tropics - Colombia • Physical Characteristics • Three regions – lowlands, mountains, llanos • Three quarters of people live between Andes in fertile valleys • Single Crop • Most farmland is used to grow coffee • Drug Trade • Huge quantities of marijuana and cocaine are exported illegally • Estimate smuggling of drugs is twice as profitable as coffee • Cooperation and Conflict • Civil war in 1950’s resulted in 200,000 people killed • Struggles to find solutions to challenge of social inequality

5. Andean Countries – Physical Characteristics • Andean Mountains divide Andean nations into three environments. • Coastal Plain • Narrow plain that stretches along the entire Pacific coast from Colombia to southern end of Chile. • Highlands • Plateau regions known as altiplano in Peru and Bolivia and as paramos in Ecuador. • Tropical Forests • Amazon rain forests begin in forested regions called selva.

6. Andean Countries – People and the Environment • Andean Countries contain rich soil, mountains contain a wealth of minerals. • Mountains also restrict some trade to outside countries. • Economic Activities • People have adapted to elevation by engaging in vertical trade. • Physical Effects • Andean Native Americans who have lived at high altitudes for centuries have developed larger hearts and lungs.

7. Andean Countries – Ecuador • Takes its name from the Equator • Population used to be concentrated in mountainous highlands, but now evenly distributed to coastal lowlands • Oil was discovered in 1960s in lowlands which quickly became one of Ecuador’s most important exports. • Government mismanagement and fluctuating oil prices caused decline in Ecuador’s growth in 1990s.

8. Andean Countries - Peru • Peru was the heart of the Inca Empire before it fell to the Spaniards in early 1500s. • Most Peruvians are mestizos who work in factories or on plantations. • Poverty and unemployment are a very big concern. • Visit Peru

9. Andean Countries - Bolivia • Climate varies depending on each region’s altitude. • Contains world’s highest navigable lake, Lake Titicaca • Most of Bolivia’s people are Native American subsistence farmers who live in the highlands. • Struggling about what to do with large natural gas reserves. • One of the poorest nations in South America.

10. Andean Countries - Chile • Name means end of the land • Unlike the other Andean nations, Chile has relatively few Native Americans. • Fertile river basin regions grow wine grapes, fruit, and vegetables. • Chile’s economy has done well but still has about 3 million people living below the poverty line. • Chile and Bolivia

11. Southern Grassland Countries – Physical Characteristics • Great Rivers • Buenos Aires and Montevideo are located on the Rio de la Plata • Andean Region • Highest peaks of the Andes are in western Argentina • Tropical Lowlands • Also known as Gran Chaco, or hunting land • Grasslands • Pampas were home to hundreds of gauchos; now produces grain • Patagonia • South of the temperate grasslands, well suited for raising sheep.

12. Southern Grassland Countries - Paraguay • Almost all Paraguayans live in the highlands of the east. • Half of the people live in urban areas, especially Asuncion • Most Paraguayans are mestizos who speak Spanish • Economy based on agriculture, cotton, grains, and livestock

13. Southern Grassland Countries - Uruguay • Most Uruguayans are of European descent, mainly Italian and Spanish. • Much of Uruguay is rolling grasslands • Primary economic activities are raising livestock, processing meat, and making wool and leather. • Uruguay is one of the few countries in which people are required to vote and fined if they do not.

14. Southern Grassland Countries – Argentina • Most of Argentina’s people are of Spanish and Italian descent • 13 million people live in Buenos Aires; Argentina has highest per capita GNP of Latin America countries • Political instability between 1940 and 1983; many dictators