Atlantic South America Section 1 – Physical Geography The Big Idea: The physical geography of Atlantic South America includes large river systems, plains and plateaus, and the Amazon rain forest

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  Physical features of Atlantic South America include large rivers, plateaus, and plains.
  
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  Climate and vegetation in the region ranges from cool, dry plains to warm, humid forests.
  
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  The rain forest is a major source of nature resources.
  

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  Atlantic South America includes Brazil, __________________, Uruguay, and ________________.
  
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  The region covers ______________ of South America.
  
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  Brazil occupies almost _________________ of the continent.
  

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  The world’s largest river system
  
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  Flows eastward across northern Brazil through Peru to the __________________ Ocean
  
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  ______________________ miles long
  
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  Carries more water than any other river: _____________ of Earth’s surface water
  
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  Lowers the salt level of the Atlantic Ocean for more than 100 miles
  
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  Paraná River flows into Rio de la Plata and the Atlantic Ocean
  
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  Paraná River drains central part of South America
  
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  Rio de la Plata is an ________________________, or partially enclosed body of water where freshwater mixes with salty sea water.
  

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  The land of South America is mostly _________________ and _______________.
  
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  The Amazon Basin in ________________ Brazil is a giant floodplain.
  
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  The Brazilian Highlands are rugged, old, eroded mountain and a high plain area called the ________ __________ Plateau.
  
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  Farther south are the low plains known as ______________ ______________
  
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  Argentina is home to the wide, grassy plains of the __________________ and the dry plains and plateaus of _____________________.
  
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  All these plains rise in the west to form the high ____________________ Mountains.
  

General Climate

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  Cool climate in the _________________ and _________________ areas.
  
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  __________________ climate in the northern and coastal areas
  

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  Patagonia has a cool, _________________ climate.
  
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  Rich soils in _________________ ______________________ Pampas are good for farming.
  
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  In Gran Chaco, summer rains can turn here humid, tropical plains into marshlands.
  

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  Central region is ______________ _____________ climate with grasslands.
  
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  Amazon Basin’s tropical climate in northern Brazil supports the world’s largest ___________________
  

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  Amazon rain forest provides ____________, wood, rubber, plants for medicines, and other products.
  
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  ___________________, or the clearing of trees has become a problem.
  
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  Near coastal areas, the land supports _____________________ farming.
  
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  Planting the same crop ever year has caused soil ________________, which means the soil is infertile because it has lost ______________________ needed by the plants.
  
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  Other resources: _______________, silver, copper, _____________ and oil.
  
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  Dams provide _______________________________ power.
  

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  Brazil’s history has been affected by Brazilian Indians, Portuguese settlers, and enslaved Africans.
  
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  Brazil’s society reflects a mix of people and cultures.
  
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  Brazil today is experiencing population growth in its cities and new development in rain forest areas.
  

Colonial Brazil

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  First people: ________________ Indians arrived many thousands of years ago and hunted, fished and farmed.
  
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  1500: _______________ explorers arrived.
  
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  Colonists brought Africans to work as slaves on _________________ plantations.
  
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  Colonists established __________________ inland.
  
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  In the late 1600s and early 1700s: People discovered _______________ and _______________.
  
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  Late 1800s: Brazil began producing __________________.
  

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  1822: Brazil won independence from ____________________________ without war.
  
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  Economy did not change and ____________________ continued.
  
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  Brazil has been ruled by _________________ and elected officials.
  
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  Today, Brazil has an elected ___________________ and legislature.
  
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  Brazil is the __________________ country in South America.
  
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  It has _______________ million people – more than all the other countries combined.
  

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  More than half of people are descended from Portugal, ___________________, Germany, Italy or Poland.
  
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  Nearly _________________ percent are of mixed African and _____________________ descent.
  
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  Brazil has the largest ______________________ population outside of Japan.
  
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  Official language: _____________________
  
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  Others speak Spanish, English, French, Japanese or native languages.
  

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  About 70 percent are ___________________ ________________
  
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  Protestantism is growing in popularity among urban poor.
  
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  Some practice macumba, a religion that combines African, Brazilian, Indian and Christian beliefs and practices.
  

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  Brazilians celebrate __________________________ before Lent.
  
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  Carnival mixes African, native and European ____________________ (e.g. the _____________ adapted from Africa)
  
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  Cultural mix can be found in foods: vatapá, an African seafood dish, and feijoada, a black bean and meat stew.
  

The Southeast

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  Most people live in the ____________________.
  
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  Sao Paulo, the largest urban center in South America; ____________ largest in the world
  
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    a ________________, or giant urban area that includes surrounding cities and suburbs
    
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  Rio de Janeiro, the _________________ largest city in Brazil; Capital from 1822-1960;
  
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  richest region from _________________________ and good farmland
  
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  Poor people come to the cities for work
  
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  They live in slums called ____________________
  

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  Brazil’s __________________ region
  
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  Illiteracy and health care are a problem
  
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  ________________ make farming and raising livestock difficult.
  
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  Region’s beautiful beaches attract _______________________.
  
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  Old colonial cities also attract tourists.
  
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  These were built during the days of the _________________ industry.
  
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  They feature brightly painted _________________________, cobblestone streets and churches.
  

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  The interior is a _____________________________.
  
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  Mild climate and land may make it good for __________________________ in the future.
  
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  Brasilia, Brazil’s capital
  
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    More than _______________________________ people
    
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    Build to help develop the interior
    
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    Modern buildings and busy _______________________
    

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  Manaus
  
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    Major port and industrial city
    
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    More than ______________________________ people
    
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  Indian villages are scattered throughout the rain forest.
  
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  Indian had little contact with outsiders until recently.
  
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  ____________________________, mining, and new roads are bringing more people.
  
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  The development brings income, but __________________ the rain forest.
  

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  Indians hunted in the ______________________ and further north build irrigation systems for farming.
  
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  Few native people remain.
  
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  1500s: _______________________ came to Argentina to find silver and ____________________.
  
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  Spanish monarch granted land to colonists, who forced ______________________ to work in their settlements.
  
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  Gauchos, Argentine ____________________, herded cattle and horses on the open grasslands of the Pampas.
  
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  1800s: Argentina gained ______________________, but violence and instability killed or drove away the Indians.
  

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  New immigrants arrived from _____________________, Germany and _____________________.
  
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  British helped build _______________________ that made it easier to transport agricultural products such as _____________ for export.
  
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  1900s: Argentina was rich, but struggled under dictator and military governments.
  
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  Leaders like Eva Perón were popular, but many abused human rights.
  
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  1970s: During the “Dirty War,” the government tortured and killed people believed to disagree with the government.
  
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  1980s: Argentina’s last military government
  

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  Most of Argentina’s _____________ million people are descended from _____________________ settlers.
  
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  Argentine Indians and ______________ make up 3 percent of the population.
  
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  Most people are __________________ ________________
  
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  ________________, a major export, is also part of the culture.
  

Buenos Aires

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  Capital
  
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  _________________ largest urban area in South America
  
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  Home to most of Argentina's industry
  
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  Its location near coast and ___________________ has contributed to economic development.
  
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  Most developed ________________________region
  
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  About _______________ percent of labor force works in agriculture.
  
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  Exports: ____________________, _____________________ and _________________
  

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  1900s: Government made reforms to help business grow.
  
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  Argentina joined Mercosur, an organization that promotes trade and economic cooperation among southern and eastern countries of South America.
  
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  Late 1990s/early 2000s: heavy debt and government spending brought on economic crisis.
  
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  2001: Political crisis results. Government changed hands _______________ times.
  
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  2003: Economy stabilized, but professionals had lost jobs and joined the informal economy, a part of the economy based on odd jobs that people perform without government regulation through taxes.
  

History

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  Its capital ______________________, close to Buenos Aires
  
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  Portugal conquered Uruguay, but _________________ took over in 1770s
  
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  __________________ Uruguayan Indians remained.
  
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  __________________: independence
  
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  Military governments have ruled off and on
  
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  Today it is a ___________________________
  

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  Most are descended from ___________________________
  
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  About _________ percent mestizo, Indians or African
  
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  Mostly ___________________ ______________________, Spanish-speaking
  
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  More than 90 percent live in ________________ areas
  
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  High literacy rate and many good jobs.
  

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  More than half of Uruguay's trade is with __________________ and _____________________
  
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  Exports beef grown on inland plains
  
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  Some limited industry
  
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  Few ____________________ resources
  
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  Hydroelectric power is a main source of _______________________
  

History

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  Paraguay is _____________________, or surrounded by land with no direct access to the ocean.
  
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  Paraguay River divides country into eastern ____________________ and western ____________________
  
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  Mid-1530s: Spanish claimed country
  
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  1811: _______________________________
  
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  Today it is a _____________________________
  

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  About 95 percent are ________________________________
  
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  Rest are Indians or people of ____________________________ descent
  
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  Two official languages: _________________________ and Guarani, an Indian language
  
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  Most people are Roman Catholic
  
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  _________________________ is the capital and largest city
  

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  Wealth and government controlled by a few __________________ families.
  
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  Nearly half of the country's workers are ______________________________
  
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  Many farmers grow just enough to feed themselves and their families (subsistence farming)
  
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  Small businesses, but not much _____________________
  
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  Promising resources like hydroelectricity