Chapter 61 p 282289 Physical Features The Andes is the longest mountain range in the world Pacific Ocean is on the west Atacama Desert also to the west Tropical rainforests to the ID: 209081
Download Presentation The PPT/PDF document "The Andes and the Pampas" is the property of its rightful owner. Permission is granted to download and print the materials on this web site for personal, non-commercial use only, and to display it on your personal computer provided you do not modify the materials and that you retain all copyright notices contained in the materials. By downloading content from our website, you accept the terms of this agreement.
Slide1
The Andes and the Pampas
Chapter 6.1 p. 282-289Slide2
Physical Features
The Andes is the
longest
mountain range in the world.
Pacific Ocean is on the
west
Atacama Desert also to the
west
.
Tropical rainforests to the
east
.
Grasslands to the southeast.
Formed by 2 tectonic plates (Nazca and South American) colliding when the Nazca Plate
subducted
(tugged under) and the South American Plate buckled up over a period of 80 million years.
The plate tectonics also has caused
volcanic
eruptions and earthquakes in this region
.
The
Altiplano
is a high plateau that flanks the Andes in Peru and Bolivia and it is rich in metals such as silver, zinc, tin, and lead.
The Pampas are fertile
grasslands
.
250,000
square miles
Once covered by 10
ft
tall
grass
Most of
Argentina’s
population live here.
Slide3
Climate
Hotter closer to the
equator
.
Off the west coast of Peru, warming of ocean water is called
El Nino
and causes heavy rain.The Humboldt Current cools the air and prevents rain from falling onto the desert coast of Peru and Chile, where the Atacama Desert is.Slide4
Ecosystems
Climates and ecosystems
vary
in the Andes.
Eastern Ecuador and Peru have high
rainfall
.The Pacific coast is dry.
In each
vertical
climate zone a different ecosystem has developed.Temperature and rainfall determine the kind of vegetation that grows
Slide5
Land Use and Resources
The AndesFarming
is difficult in the Andes because they are too mountainous for large-scale
farming
Farming must happen on
plateaus
and in valleys, but wheat, coffee, corn, vegetables, many fruits, and thousands of kinds of potatoes can be grownNatural resources mined are gold, silver, and copper in the highlands of Peru and Bolivia.Hydroelectric dams
are being built but can change the ecosystem, like in the Bio-Bio River flooding river valleys and forcing
Native Americans
from their homes.The PampasIdeal for cattle ranching and commercial farming for crops like soybeans, corn, and wheat.Slide6
People in the Andes and the Pampas
The population is unevenly distributed, most people live in coastal cities.
Buenos Aires with 12 million people is the
largest city
.
A few large cities in Paraguay, Ecuador, and Bolivia.
Smaller populations live in rural areas, mountain valleys, grasslands, and in the tropical rain forests.Those who live in Argentina and in the Pampas are mostly of Spanish and Italian ancestry; only 3% of people are indigenous and mestizo.
In Chile, Peru, Ecuador, and Bolivia it is a mixture of
mestizos
and Native Americans and are finally winning political power after years of discrimination.Slide7
Geography and History
The Andes
are difficult to cross so societies and nations have been
isolated
from one another.
Advanced civilizations like the
Incas developed in the Andes.In places like Potosi, Spanish mined silver that made them rich.Used mountains in fighting for independence in Chile for surprise attacks.
The Pampas
attract settlers because of fertile land and helped create wealth of
ArgentinaThe gauchos (cowboys) who normally were cattle ranchers formed calvarias to help fight for independence.