Atlantic South America

1. CHAPTER 11 Atlantic South America Section 1: Physical Geography Section 2: Brazil Section 3: Argentina Section 4: Uruguay and Paraguay

2. Section 1Physical Geography Objectives: • 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. Section 1Physical 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. Section 1Physical 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. Section 1Physical 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. Section 1Physical Geography Important Resources • 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. Section 2 Brazil Objectives: • 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. Section 2 Brazil Brazil’s History • 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. Section 2 Brazil Brazil’s History (continued) • Brazil gained independence from Portugal in 1822; series of dictatorships and elected governments followed.

10. Section 2Brazil 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. 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. 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. Section 3Argentina Objectives: • What is the history of Argentina? • What are important characteristics of Argentina’s people and culture? • What is Argentina like today?

14. Section 3Argentina Argentina’s History • 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. Section 3Argentina 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. Section 3Argentina Argentina Today • 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. Section 4Uruguay and Paraguay Objectives: • What are the people and economy of Uruguay like today? • What are the people and economy of Paraguay like today?

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

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