Geography - Ch. 9 - Caribbean South America

Humid Tropical

Rain forests thrive on this type of climate

What are some major crops of this region?

Rice, coffee, bananas, and sugarcane

Coffee

Rich soil, steep slopes, and tall shade trees help produce this valuable resource for Colombia

Venezuela

This country is located in the middle of the other countries int his region.

United States

This country provides assistance to Colombia's government.

Civil war

This has been destructive to Colombia's economy for over 40 years

Oil

This is a major resource in both Venezuela and Colombia

Rugged geography

This kept people in different regions physically separated from each other, which in turn resulted in separate economies and identities.

New government laws

This makes it more difficult for Guerrillas to operate freely.

Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries

This organization attempts to control world oil production and keep oil prices from falling to low. Venezuela is the only South American member of this organization.

New Granada

This was formed after "Gran Colombia" dissolved. Included Colombia and Panama.

Gran Colombia

This was formed as a result of gaining independence from Spain. Included Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, and Venezuela.

Rice and sugar

Two of Guyana's most important agricultural imports

Cauca and Magdalena

Two rivers in Colombia that flow down the Andes to the Caribbean Sea. They connect settlements along their route between the mountains and coast.

Caracas

Venezuela's capital and economic and cultural center which is surrounded by the slums where people who live in poverty.

Oil

Venezuela's economy and government greatly benefited by the export of this major natural resource

Guiana Highlands

Venezuela's highest elevation that plateaus at the top and has resided erosion.

The joropo

Venezuela's national dance that is a lively foot-stomping couples' dance

Llaneros

Venezuelan cowboys who herd cattle on the many ranches of the Llanos region

African descent

Venezuelans of this descent tend to live along the coast.

referendum

a recall vote

policy

a rule, a course of action

Good soil and moderate climates

these two things help make the Caribbean South America a rich agricultural region

Cauca and Magdalena Rivers

theses rivers drain the Andean region

strike

when a group of workers stops working until their demands are met

Bananas, sugarcane, cotton

Three other valuable export crops for Colombia include

African songs and Indian music

Traditional music in Colombia includes these two

Oil

Colombia's economy depends on this valuable natural resource

Chibcha

Colombia's native Indians who covered their leaders in gold dust. They were also potters, weavers, and metal workers.

Bogota

Columbia's national capital city located in the Andes

Guinanas

Consists of the countries Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana; covered in dense tropical rain forests.

Poverty

Despite the new wealth oil production brought Venezuela, the majority of people still lived in a state of what

Equator

Most of the region is warm year-round because it is located near to this.

Andes

Mountain range along the western side of Colombia. They form a cordillera.

Native Indians

These were the first peoples the Spanish forced to work for them.

French Guiana

A region of France in Northern South America. It depends heavily on imports for its food and energy.

African slaves

About one third of the Guyana's population are descendants of

farming and ranching

Aside from oil, many Venezuelans make a living by doing these two things

Oil

Because some leaders kept the wealth of this resource for themselves, the people of Venezuela did not benefit from this major export.

Colombia

Caribbean South America's most populous country

Mestizo, Spanish, African, Indian

Four ethnic groups in Colombia

India

Half of the Guyana's population are descendants of the immigrants who came to Guyana to work on the country's sugar plantations. They came from

Simon Bolivar

He lead the fight against Spanish rule and helped Venezuela gain their independence from Spain.

Guerrillas

Heavily armed militants who have controlled large areas of Colombia and who want to overthrow the government. Thousands of Colombians have fled the country because of them.

Colombia

Highest point in the region

Poverty, illiteracy, and hunger

In his second term, President Chavez adopted new policies aimed at ending these three things

25

Indians of Venezuela speak this many languages and practice the religion of their ancestors

Amazon Basin

It rains throughout the year here and the dense vegetation barely allows sunlight to shine through to the jungle floor

Tropical savanna

Llanos region has this kind of climate

Hydroelectric Power

Major rivers in this region are used to generate this.

Oil prices dropped

Many Venezuelans suffered in the 1980s as a result of oil prices doing this

Resign

Many protestors went on strike because they wanted President Chavez to do this

Fertile valleys and river basins

Most Colombians live in these two areas because climate is moderate and farming is good.

Spanish

Official language of Colombia

Baseball and soccer

Popular sports in Venezuela

Oil

President Hugo Chavez distributed the wealth of this export equally among all Venezuelans

Spanish

Primary language of Venezuela

Roman Catholicism

Primary religion of Colombia

Roman Catholicism

Primary religion of Venezuela

Georgetown

the capital of Guyana

Economic turmoil and political protests

Since the election of their first president in 1959, Venezuela has dealt with this

Guyana

South American Indian word that means "land of the waters"

Soccer and tejo

Sports of Colombia include

African slaves

These are the second peoples the Spanish forced to work for them after the Indians all died from hard work.

Iron and gold

The Guiana Highlands of Venezuela are rich in these two minerals

Gold and pearls

The Spanish came to Venezuela hoping to find these two treasures.

Expand Spain's new empire

The Spanish conquered the Chibcha, took their land and treasures for this reason

Paramaribo

The capital of Suriname

Native Indians and African slaves

These people were forced by the Spanish to work the land

Indian and European

The majority of Venezuelans are a mix of these two descents.

They were so poor

The people of Venezuela revolted against Spain partly for this reason

Llanos

The plains area located between the highlands and the Andes. Mostly grassland, few trees, floods easily due to low elevation.

Indigo

The plant the Spanish grew after they realized there was little treasure to be found. It is used to make a deep blue dye.

Coca

The plant used to make the dangerous drug known as cocaine. Farmers' land was taken over by Guerrillas to produce this plant.

Suriname

The population of this country includes South Asians, Africans, Chinese, Indonesians, and Creoles.

Roman Catholic Church

There was debate over allowing this to particiapte in the new government and education

Lake Maracaibo

an oil rich body of water in Venezuela

tepuis

an unusual flat-topped formation that rises about 3,000 to 6,000 feet above it's surrounding plains

Colombia's wildlife includes:

birds, piranhas, crocodiles, jaguars, and monkeys

Cartegena

major naval base and commercial port in Colombia

Cordillera

mountain system made up of roughly parallel ranges

What are some valuable natural resources of this region?

oil, iron, coal, and timber

Orinoco River

region's longest river, about 1,600 miles long; drains the plains and highlands to the Atlantic Ocean

Elevation

temperature varies with differences of this