Chapter 9: South America
Transport
Waterways are important for the subregion's economic development because they provide ways to _____ goods and people within and between the countries of South America.
Amazon rainforest
World's largest rainforest
Fishing
__ occurs in major lakes, rivers, and along coastlines.
Brazil
__, the largest country in South America, has been undergoing continuous growth and development since 1970. Taking advantage of its natural resources, ____ has become a powerful country in economic terms.
Ranching
___is widespread in the grasslands of the south.
Brazilian Highlands
•Farther east are the _____ ______, •a vast area spanning several climate and vegetation zones. •Warm climates and open spaces make the ______ _____ good for raising livestock. .
Atacama
Desert area along the pacific coast of chile and Peru this desert has never experienced rainfall
Mato Grosso Plateau
Just south of the Amazon Basin is the _____ ____ _____ , a sparsely populated plateau of forests and grasslands extending across Brazil, Bolivia, and Peru.
Quipu
Knotted cords of various lengths and colors used by the inca to keep financial records
Blending
South America's diverse population is the result of centuries of ______ among hundreds of indigenous groups, Europeans, Africans, and Asians.
Altiplano
Spanish for "high plain" a region in Peru and Bolivia encircled by the Andes
Amazon
Deforestation is occurring at a rapid rate in the ______ rain forest. This has reduced the diversity of plants and animals there. Brazil has the world's largest remaining expanses of tropical rain forest, but almost 20 percent of the _____rain forest has already been destroyed.
Cordillera
Parallel chains or ranges of mountain
Desertification
Rain-fed crops in drylands, such as wheat and corn, can lead to _____. After wheat and corn are harvested, the lands left uncovered between planting seasons become vulnerable to erosion by climatic forces such as wind and rain.
Growth
Rapid urban _____also requires cities to find methods for disposing of human waste and sewage. Many urban regions, particularly those in less developed countries, lack the funding and organization to build extensive networks of piped water, drains, and sewage treatment plants. One example is the Bolivian city of El Alto, which is located along the Pallina River that flows into Lake Titicaca. El Alto has seen rapid growth resulting in increased pollution from human waste and sewage. The polluted Pallina River had once been a source of clean water for the people who lived on its banks, but now the waters that flow into Lake Titicaca are contaminated. Analyzing Primary Sources— Urban Population Boom Threatens Lake Titicaca
Machu Picchu
, Peru's most well-known archaeological site, is a grand display of inca engineering that is remarkably preserved.
Carbon Dioxide
Countries across South America are taking steps to reduce air pollution at the local level by establishing regulations. The results of the regulations can be seen in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in the continent's largest cities. For example, although São Paulo is one of the world's largest cities, it has much lower levels of ____ ____emissions than other large cities. Other large cities in South America also have lower greenhouse gas emissions than might be expected given their high populations.
Río de la Plata
the rivers system flow into a broad estuary where the ocean tide meets a river current. This estuary, the ____ _____ ___ _____, or "River of Silver," flows into the Atlantic Ocean.
Southeastern
•A humid subtropical climate exists in much of ___ South America. •Winters here are short with cool to mild temperatures. •Summers are long, hot, and humid. •Rainfall is generally uniform throughout the year, but it can be heavier during the summer.
North-central
•A tropical wet/dry climate is typical of _____ ____ South America. •These areas have high temperatures and abundant rainfall, but also experience an extended dry season.
Peru
Known for silver
Chile
World's largest exporter of cooper
Coffee
Brazil is the world's largest exporter of _\__.
Grassland
. In many tropical wet/dry areas, ______ flourish. •Some of these ______, such as the llanos of Colombia and Venezuela, are covered with scattered trees and are considered transition zones between _____ and forests.
Escarpment
A steep cliff or slope between a higher and lower land surface
Oxisol
A think, weathered soul of humid tropics that is largely depleted of fertility and nutrients.
Deforestation
Alongside individual prospecting, large-scale mining by use of bulldozers and barges has also increased. Rapid _____ has resulted from rapid migration, makeshift housing, and industrial-scale mining operations.
Toxic
Also, because miners use mercury and other ____compounds to separate gold from ore, high levels of mercury and cyanide pollution in rivers have been reported.
Venezuela's Orinoco River
Known for gold
Farners
At a local level, _____ can implement management strategies to slow the process of soil erosion. Specifically, soil erosion due to the formation of oxisols can be prevented with careful application and management of lime and fertilizers. Cover crops, which are plants that cover topsoil after crops have been harvested, prevent potential soil erosion from wind and water. At large scales, plant cover can contribute to more regular rainfall patterns, reducing the occurrence of drought and further soil erosion.
Oil
Because of South America's substantial natural resources and active tectonic plates that allow for ____extraction, countries continue to search for additional, yet untapped ___reserves.
Zero Deforestation Law in 2004
For example, in response to the high rate of deforestation in Paraguay, the country's government passed the _____ ____ ____ ___ _____ . This law prohibits forested areas from being converted to landscapes for other uses in the eastern region of Paraguay. The law's enforcement has dramatically reduced Paraguay's deforestation rate.
Salinization
For large-scale irrigation on drylands, ______is also a significant issue. Once fields are irrigated, water dries quickly and leaves behind salt. These salts collect and reduce the ability of plant roots to absorb water and grow.
Pampas
Grassy, treeless plains of southern South America
Andean highlands
Heavy tectonic activity in the subregion changes and reshapes the landscape. But despite the threats of natural disasters, people have chosen to settle in the _____ _____ for thousands of years. The climates are cooler, the volcanic soil is good for agriculture, and natural resources are concentrated here.
Agriculture
Large-scale ____also worsens the progression of soil erosion. Monoculture, the growth of a single type of crop on _____ or forested land, depletes the soil of its nutrients. It disrupts the natural cycle of growth and breakdown of plants, animals, and bacteria. Without these natural processes, soil cannot rebuild its nutrients. Vast monoculture soybean crops in Brazil, for example, are quickly depleting soil fertility.
Mountains
Like Central America and Mexico, the most characteristic of South America's many landforms are its ______
Tierra Fria
Many Andean communities are located in the ____ ____. People in the highlands subsist on potato, barley, and quinoa crops that grow well in this colder climate.
Bilingual
South America are often ____. During the colonial period, some European languages blended with indigenous languages to form completely new languages.
Largest
South America is home to some of the l_\____ reserves of forest and agricultural resources in the world.
High
South America's colonial cities in Peru, Bolivia, and Colombia were developed over historical indigenous cities at ____ altitudes to extract valuable mineral resources found in the Andes.
Colombia
South America's current economy, investments flow more freely from one country to another. For example, _____has taken advantage of its more stable economy by promoting free-trade agreements with other countries. _____ implemented the U.S.-______ Free Trade Agreement with the United States in 2012. ______is negotiating free-trade agreements with other Latin American countries, such as Chile and Mexico, as well as with countries outside South America. Additionally, _____has 59 bilateral or regional trade agreements—more than any other country.
Trans-amazionian
The ____ _____Highway was built by Brazil to access the Amazon rain forest for developing timber and mineral resources.
Pampas
The ____ of Argentina and Uruguay—Known for its fertile soil, the pampas are one of the world's breadbaskets, producing wheat and corn.
Isthmus
The ____ of Panama connects North America to South America.
Eastern Highlands
The _____ _____ plunge to the Atlantic Ocean, forming a steep slope called an escarpment. This escarpment presents obstacles for inland development. As a result, most of Brazil's population lives along the coast.
Transoceanic
The _____Highway was designed to link the Amazon River ports with Peru's ports on the Pacific to transport agricultural products to the global markets in Asia and Europe.
Portuguese
The ______ settled on the coast of Brazil.
Separatism
The _______ that characterized South American countries in the past is giving way to new trade partnerships and cooperation on infrastructure that are mutually beneficial.
Monoculture
The cultivation or growth of a single crop over a wide area for consecutive number of years.
Atlantic forest
The loss of biodiversity is also occurring in Brazil's lesser known ____ ____, one of Earth's richest and most threatened habitats. The _____ _____ now covers less than 10 percent of its original area.
Roads
The major road systems in South America include the Pan-American Highway that stretches through Chile as it links many cities north to south, and the Trans-Andean Highway that links cities in Chile and Argentina east and west. The Trans-Amazonian Highway was built by Brazil to access the Amazon rain forest for developing timber and mineral resources. The Transoceanic Highway was designed to link the Amazon River ports with Peru's ports on the Pacific to transport agricultural products to the global markets in Asia and Europe. Argentina and Brazil have well-developed rail systems, which are important modes of transportation along with the inland waterways. All South American capital cities and major cities have domestic and international airports.
Roman Catholic
The majority of South Americans are ____ ____.
Livestock
The movement of herds of ____ also destroys plant roots that bind the soil. When rain comes, water often washes away unprotected topsoil. This process of desertification in rangelands is a serious issue in places with a strong ______industry: Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, and Paraguay.
Peru, Brazil, and Colombia
The temperate climate of the tierra templada is found in areas of ____, ____, ____ ______ .
Helada
The tierra ____ and the puna, the highest vertical climate zones located above the tree line, are zones of permanent snow and ice on the peaks of the Andes.
Illegal mining
_____ ____ has further damaged the natural land and water features of South America. Since 2007, the price of gold has doubled in value. For gold-producing countries such as Peru, the sixth-largest producer in the world, this has presented a potential for immense wealth and economic development. Yet the rise in the value of gold has also encouraged illegal mining activity, especially in countries with an impoverished majority population and ineffective regulatory procedures in government. In Peru, for example, tens of thousands of people have set up camp in the Amazon rain forest in search of vast gold reserves.
Indigenous
_____ arts survive in many different forms. The massive buildings of the ancient Inca at Cuzco and Machu Picchu reveal a mastery of stone and engineering that are still studied today for their ingenuity. Traditional arts and crafts dating from before the arrival of the Europeans—such as weaving, ceramics, and metal working—have been passed from generation to generation.
Manufacturing
_____ is growing rapidly, but the region's geography varies greatly. Most ____\ is concentrated in urban areas, especially the primate cities. Because the largest cities lie mainly along the coasts where transportation is the best, the vast interior of South America has few ___\\ plants.
Soil erosion
______ ____ in South America has diminished the ability of soils to produce food and vegetation. Intensive farming, construction, logging, fires, and overgrazing all increase the rate of _____ \____. Certain soil types in South America—such as the volcanic soils and oxisols found in the humid tropical lowlands—are especially vulnerable to erosion. The oxisols, sometimes known as laterites, can degrade into a baked clay-like form when too much of the natural vegetation cover is removed. The removal of topsoil occurs as a result of intensive agriculture, especially on landscapes that have been cultivated for long periods of time.
Desertification
______ also occurs in rangelands, which support a large population of grazing animals such as cattle and sheep. Grazing livestock consume plants almost to ground level. This weakens plants' ability to grow.
Forestry
_______ prevails in the Amazon Basin.
Pantanal
one of the world's largest tropical wetlands.
Dance
Music also has ancient ties. Panpipes are one of the most common pre-Columbian musical instruments from the Andean region. Musical traditions later mixed Native American, African, and European influences to create unique styles. The Brazilian samba, Chilean cumbia, and the Argentine tango complement the Cuban salsa and Dominican merengue to exemplify the diversity of music developed from a mixture of cultural and geographical roots.
Isolated
Because the cordilleras (the Andes mountains) have established natural barriers between surrounding areas, many indigenous communities developed as _______groups. As a result, some mountain villages exhibit centuries-old social customs.
Varies
Education ____ greatly throughout South America. Many countries support public education through high school, and literacy rates have risen steadily. Public universities provide higher education at little or no cost to students in many countries. Many children leave school before completion, however, to help support the family by selling goods in markets or engaging in household or farming duties.
Independenc
In the 1800s, ___movements arose in South America. These were inspired by the French and American Revolutions, as well as by the struggles for ___ in Mexico and the Caribbean. By the mid-1800s, led by revolutionaries such as Simón Bolívar of Venezuela and José de San Martín of Argentina, most South American countries had won _______.
Nuclear
In urban upper and middle classes, the family unit is likely to consist of a ____ household—father, mother, and dependent children—rather than an extended family.
Brazil's
Most of ____population lives along the coast because of escarpment obstacles for inland development.
1/5
Natural resources include timber, gold, silver, copper, iron ore, and tin. South America contains about ____-___of the world's iron ore, which is used for steel making and machine building. Many countries are heavily dependent on exporting their natural resources. Energy resources include petroleum and natural gas. Venezuela, Ecuador, and Argentina are leading exporters.
Northern
the British, French, and Dutch later settled in parts of _____ South America.
Trans andean
the ___ ___ Highway that links cities in Chile and Argentina east and west.
Amazon Rainforest
•It is located primarily in Brazil but also extends into Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana. •The _____ _____ shelters more species of plants and animals per square mile than anywhere else on Earth. •It covers one-third of South America and is the world's wettest tropical plain. •Heavy rains drench the densely forested lowlands.
Acrid
•Much of the inland parts of Peru, Bolivia, and Chile experience an ____climate. •In these areas, cold air and high elevations result in very little precipitation.
Southeastern
•Shifting winds and the rain shadow effect of the Andes produce aridity in the _____ part of Argentina. •The low vegetation here is adapted to the low moisture conditions.
Coco
, the ____plant thrives in the northwestern parts of South America. ____ use is popular among Bolivia and Peru's working class for its effects as a legal stimulant and appetite suppressant. Yet ____derivative can also be used to make the illegal drug cocaine. Peru, Bolivia, and Colombia have nonetheless legalized ____farming. They did so because, sold in its legal form, it is a large source of profit for these countries.
Uneven developement
Condition in which some places do not benefit as much as others from social and economic advancement.
Llanos
Fertile grasslands found in inland areas of Colombia and Venezuela
Venezuela
Holds most of oil in region.
Brain drain
In highly populated urban areas such as São Paulo, Buenos Aires, and Bogotá, finding employment and suitable living conditions is difficult for migrants arriving in the city. Rural-to-urban migrants seek higher wages, better living conditions, and sometimes an escape from the violence of drug cartels or criminal groups. Countries across the region are experiencing ____ ____to North America and Europe as people search for a better life.
Grasslands
Narrow coastal lowlands hem the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of South America. South America's inland _______.
Llanos
The ___of Colombia and Venezuela provide grazing for cattle. Ranchers on large estates employ cowhands, called llaneros or gauchos, to drive herds across the rolling plains.
Brain Drain
The loss of highly educated and skilled workers to other countries.
Lakes
Though Latin America has few large lakes, some of its largest lakes are located in South America. Lake Maracaibo (mah•rah•KY•boh) in Venezuela and Lake Titicaca (tee•tee•KAH•kah), which run through Bolivia and Peru, are South America's largest lakes. Lake Titicaca is also the world's highest large lake.
80%
Today about ___percent of the subregion's population lives in urban areas.
Herding
_______llamas and alpacas occurs in the high Andean regions.
Patagonia
•In southern Argentina, hills and flatlands form the plateau of _______. •The presence of the Andes to the west produces a rain shadow that causes _______ to be dry, barren, and windy. •The _____ region also extends across the Andes to southern Chile. •_______ boasts dramatic valleys, glaciers, and fjords. •The rugged Andes and ________'s landscape are a result of its location along the Ring of Fire
Energy
•South American countries are among the world's leading producers of ____resources. •_____resources have supported major growth in economies such as that of Venezuela, which holds most of the subregion's oil reserves
El Niño
•The ___ ____phenomenon also affects climate in South America. •__ _____ creates unusually warm ocean conditions on the west coast that extend as far north as Ecuador and as far south as Chile. •As in Central America and the Caribbean, __ ___ can have negative effects on coastal weather, fishing, and agriculture.
Inca
•The ____ later established a highly developed civilization in the Andes area. •At its height, the ____ Empire stretched from present-day Ecuador to central Chile •The ____ were skilled engineers. •They built temples and fortresses and laid out a network of roads that crossed mountain passes and penetrated forests. •____farmers cut terraces into the slopes of the Andes and built irrigation systems. •Machu Picchu, Peru's most well-known archaeological site, is a grand display of_____engineering that is remarkably preserved. •With no ___ written language, knowledge was passed on to each generation through storytelling. •The ___used quipus (KEE•poos) to account for financial and historical records. •Silver and gold were important resources in the ____culture
Spanish
•The precious metals and the wealth of farmers of the Inca Empire attracted ______conquistadors to Peru. •After defeating the Inca army and its rulers, they looted the empire's capital and network of cities. •The Inca connected their vast empire with a network of roads that extended throughout the empire. This allowed the ______conquerors to move quickly through the region. •_______conquistadors expanded into Colombia, Argentina, and Chile.
Eastern
•Tropical wet (rain forest) and tropical wet/dry (savanna) are the predominant climates of _____South America, which is home to the Amazon rain forest
Lake Titicaca
•World's largest lake •runs through Bolivia and Peru
Amazon river
As the Western Hemisphere's longest river •the world's second longest, •the _____ River flows about 4,000 miles (6,400 km) through the heart of South America. •It begins in the headwaters of the Peruvian Andes, flows across the lowlands of the Amazon Basin in the interior of Brazil, and drains into the Atlantic Ocean. •Hundreds of smaller rivers join the _____as it flows from the Andes to the Atlantic Ocean. Together these rivers form the Amazon Basin. The basin drains an area of more than 2 million square miles (5.2 million sq. km).
Soybeans
Brazil and Paraguay also cultivate today's fastest-growing crop in the global economy: _____. Paraguay is the sixth-largest producer of ______in the world.
Amazon Basin
Hundreds of smaller rivers join the Amazom as it flows from the Andes to the Atlantic Ocean. Together these rivers form the ____ _____. The basin drains an area of more than 2 million square miles (5.2 million sq. km).
Modern democracy
Dictatorships have given way to democratically elected governments across South America. Today, however, these countries are struggling with many issues. These include political corruption and violence, wide gaps between the rich and poor, unemployment, and protecting the rights of indigenous groups
compadre
Loyalty and responsibility toward the extended family, however, remain very strong. The ___relationship, in which parents and godparents share in the upbringing of a child, is valued in parts of Latin America. However, changes brought about by urban society have diminished its overall importance.
ACB
Several countries in the region have combined their abundance of natural resources with current changes in government and improved economic conditions. Argentina is not only rich in natural resources, but also has a highly literate population and a diversified economic base that have helped to fuel a strong expansion in its economy. Brazil, the largest country in South America, has been undergoing continuous growth and development since 1970. Taking advantage of its natural resources, Brazil has become a powerful country in economic terms. Chile has established free-trade agreements with the United States, Turkey, Australia, and other countries to enhance its economic activities.
Mineral
South America also has an abundance of ______ resources. For example, the foothills along Venezuela's Orinoco River contain large amounts of gold, and Peru is known for silver. Mines in Colombia have been producing the world's finest emeralds for more than 1,000 years. South America's non-precious minerals also have significant economic value. Chile is the world's largest exporter of copper. Peru and Chile together hold almost one-fourth of the world's known copper reserves.
Diverse
South America is home to an ethnically _______population. Today many indigenous cultural groups inhabit the subregion, especially in rural or less populated areas. Most indigenous groups—of which there are more than 350—live in the Andes region of Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia.
Urban
South America is the world's fourth-largest continent. The continent's 12 countries are home to nearly 400 million people. Like much of the rest of the developing world, population growth is steady, and so is the migration of people into large, ___areas.
Fria
South America's colonial cities in Peru, Bolivia, and Colombia were developed over historical indigenous cities at high altitudes to extract valuable mineral resources found in the Andes. Consequently, several South American capitals are located in the tierra ____ zone.
Agricultural
South America's contribution to ____ global trade includes grains, soybeans, coffee, cocoa, citrus, cattle, sugarcane, tobacco, and cotton.
Climate
The Andes are distinct not only because of their dramatic height, but also because they have such cold climates despite their proximity to the otherwise tropical equatorial zone. The range in elevation has produced a wide variety of _____ and ecological zones.
2nd
The Andes encircle the altiplano, which means "high plain." The altiplano is an area that includes southeastern Peru and western Bolivia. It is the _____ largest mountain plateau in the world.
Vertical
The _____ climate zones found in the highland areas of Central America and Mexico also exist in the highlands of South America.
Subregion
The _____ of South America spans 4,700 miles (7,564 km) from north to south, passing through the Equator near its widest point of 3,300 miles (5,311 km).
Dry coastal
The cold, oceanic Peru Current creates ___ _____ deserts along the Pacific coast of Chile and Peru. These desert areas are called the Atacama. It is so arid that in some places no rainfall has ever been recorded. A dense fog known as camanchaca is the only appreciable source of precipitation.
Vegetation
The dense, nearly impenetrable _____ of South America's tropical rain forests represents a tremendous resource and supports many communities.
Landscapes
The diverse ____ of South America are very different from what we know in the United States. They have led to the people in South America developing very different lifestyles that are adapted to their physical environment.
Slavery
The effects of epidemics caused by diseases introduced by the Europeans and the hardships of intensive labor on colonial plantations drastically reduced indigenous populations. To meet the resulting labor shortage, European colonists imported enslaved Africans.
Pan-american
____ _____Highway that stretches through Chile as it links many cities north to south, and
Agriculture
____ remains highly important in South America. More than 20 percent of the subregion's workforce is employed in the primary sector that includes farming, ranching, and fishing. As in other subregions of Latin America (Mexico and Central America and the Caribbean), the legacy of the hacienda system still exists in South America. Larger commercial and smaller subsistence _____exist side by side.
Argentina
_____ is not only rich in natural resources, but also has a highly literate population and a diversified economic base that have helped to fuel a strong expansion in its economy.
Diverse
______ climates make South America a region of astonishing contrasts. Steamy rain forests, arid deserts, grassy plains, and sandy beaches can all be found in the subregion.
Carnival
______ is celebrated in the week before the Roman Catholic observance of Lent, a 40-day period of fasting and prayer before Easter. People from around the world come to Rio de Janeiro to participate in _____ celebrations
Chile
____has established free-trade agreements with the United States, Turkey, Australia, and other countries to enhance its economic activities
Andes
•The ______ are the world's longest mountain chain. •Some peaks in the ______rise more than 20,000 feet (6,096 m) above sea level. •The _____ consist of cordilleras • Although known by different names, they are an extension of the Rocky Mountains that run from Canada south through the western United States and into Mexico and Central America.
Amozon basin
•The high peaks of the western Andes, eastern South America is defined by broad plateaus and valleys. •The _______ ______, located along the eastern base of the Andes, is the lowlands area drained by the Amazon River.
