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SOUTH AMERICASOUTH AMERICA
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MAJOR GEOGRAPHIC MAJOR GEOGRAPHIC QUALITIESQUALITIES
PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHYPHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY IS DOMINATED IS DOMINATED BY THE ANDES MOUNTAINS S AND THE BY THE ANDES MOUNTAINS S AND THE AMAZON BASIN.AMAZON BASIN.
POPULATIONPOPULATION IS CONCENTRATED ALONG IS CONCENTRATED ALONG THE PERIPHERY.THE PERIPHERY.
CULTURAL PLURALISMCULTURAL PLURALISM EXISTS IN MOST EXISTS IN MOST COUNTRIES AND IS EXPRESSED COUNTRIES AND IS EXPRESSED REGIONALLY.REGIONALLY.
REGIONAL ECONOMIC INTERACTIONREGIONAL ECONOMIC INTERACTION HAS BEEN MINIMAL IN THE PAST.HAS BEEN MINIMAL IN THE PAST.
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URBANIZATIONURBANIZATION THE MOVEMENT TO AND CLUSTERING OF THE MOVEMENT TO AND CLUSTERING OF
PEOPLE IN TOWNS AND CITIESPEOPLE IN TOWNS AND CITIES 79%- CONTINENT-WIDE IN SOUTH AMERICA79%- CONTINENT-WIDE IN SOUTH AMERICA SOUTH AMERICA’S INCREASE BASED ON SOUTH AMERICA’S INCREASE BASED ON
RATE OF “RATE OF “NATURAL INCREASENATURAL INCREASE” ” ANDAND INTERNAL MIGRATIONINTERNAL MIGRATION
MAJOR CITIES INCLUDE:Rio de Janeiro, BrazilSao Paolo, BrazilBuenos Aires, ArgentinaSantiago, Chile
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AgricultureAgricultureIn South AmericaIn South America
Mostly in the South:Mostly in the South:– Fruit & specialized cropsFruit & specialized crops– Mixed Livestock/CropsMixed Livestock/Crops– Grain FarmingGrain Farming
Subsistence Crops/Livestock (Throughout)Subsistence Crops/Livestock (Throughout) Mediterranean Agriculture (Central Chile)Mediterranean Agriculture (Central Chile) Plantation (TropicalPlantation (Tropical coastal fringe)coastal fringe) Traditional Cultivation (In Andes Mountains)Traditional Cultivation (In Andes Mountains) Shifting Cultivation (Amazon Basin)Shifting Cultivation (Amazon Basin) Livestock Ranching (Primarily Brazil and Livestock Ranching (Primarily Brazil and
Argentina)Argentina) Non-agriculture areas (Western coast)Non-agriculture areas (Western coast)
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Natural ResourcesNatural Resources Venezuela’s Orinoco River area
contains 11 percent of the world’s gold.
Brazil is also rich in gold, and Peru is known for its silver deposits.
Chile is the world’s leading exporter of copper.
Geographic inaccessibility, lack of capital-money , and social and political divisions hinder fuller development and distribution of natural resources in Latin America.
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CULTURE SPHERESCULTURE SPHERES
Plantation
Locations, soils, & tropical Locations, soils, & tropical climates favor plantation crops, climates favor plantation crops, especially sugar.especially sugar.
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CULTURE SPHERESCULTURE SPHERES
European-commercial The most European part of The most European part of South South
AmericaAmerica Includes the Pampas - temperate Includes the Pampas - temperate
grasslandsgrasslands Economically most advancedEconomically most advanced
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CULTURE SPHERESCULTURE SPHERES
Indigenous- Subsistence Farming Correlates with the former Correlates with the former
Inca EmpireInca Empire Includes some of Includes some of South South
America’s poorest areasAmerica’s poorest areas Subsistence agriculture Subsistence agriculture
must contend with difficult must contend with difficult environmental challenges: environmental challenges: Mountains, deserts, Mountains, deserts, rainforestrainforest
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CULTURE SPHERESCULTURE SPHERES
Mestizo-transitional Surrounds the Indigenous-Surrounds the Indigenous-
subsistence regionsubsistence region A zone of mixture- culturally & A zone of mixture- culturally &
agriculturallyagriculturally Transition zonesTransition zones
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CULTURE SPHERESCULTURE SPHERES
Undifferentiated Characteristics are difficult to Characteristics are difficult to
classify.classify. Sparsely populated (deserts and Sparsely populated (deserts and
rainforest)rainforest) Isolation and lack of developmentIsolation and lack of development
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SUB-REGIONS
BRAZILNORTHCOLOMBIAVENEZUELAGUYANASURINAMEFRENCH GUIANA
SOUTHARGENTINACHILEURUGUAYPARAGUAY
WESTPERUECUADORBOLIVIA
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THE NORTH THE NORTH (CARIBBEAN SOUTH (CARIBBEAN SOUTH
AMERICA)AMERICA) VENEZUELA, COLOMBIA, GUYANA, VENEZUELA, COLOMBIA, GUYANA,
SURINAME, FRENCH GUIANASURINAME, FRENCH GUIANA REGIONAL CHARACTERREGIONAL CHARACTER: COASTAL : COASTAL
LOCATIONS, LOCATIONS, EARLY EUROPEAN EARLY EUROPEAN PLANTATION DEVELOPMENT, FORCED PLANTATION DEVELOPMENT, FORCED MIGRATION OF BLACK LABORERSMIGRATION OF BLACK LABORERS
VENEZUELAVENEZUELA – – 26.1 MILLION PEOPLE 26.1 MILLION PEOPLE OIL FROM LAKE MARACAIBO IS CHIEF OIL FROM LAKE MARACAIBO IS CHIEF
RESOURCERESOURCE CARACUSCARACUS & VALENCIA - KEY CITIES & VALENCIA - KEY CITIES
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CARIBBEAN SOUTH AMERICACARIBBEAN SOUTH AMERICA(CONTINUED)(CONTINUED)
COLOMBIA – COLOMBIA – 45.2 MILLION PEOPLE45.2 MILLION PEOPLE COFFEE, OIL & COAL - MAJOR EXPORTSCOFFEE, OIL & COAL - MAJOR EXPORTS COCAINE - LEADING ECONOMIC ACTIVITYCOCAINE - LEADING ECONOMIC ACTIVITY TORN BY INTERNAL VIOLENCETORN BY INTERNAL VIOLENCE BOGOTABOGOTA & MEDELLIN - MAJOR CITIES & MEDELLIN - MAJOR CITIES
THE GUIANAS (FRENCH GUIANA, THE GUIANAS (FRENCH GUIANA, GUYANA, SURINAME) -GUYANA, SURINAME) - POPULATIONS< 1.5 MILLIONPOPULATIONS< 1.5 MILLION ETHNICALLY DIVERSEETHNICALLY DIVERSE POVERTY STRICKENPOVERTY STRICKEN
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THE WEST THE WEST (ANDEAN SOUTH (ANDEAN SOUTH AMERICA)AMERICA)
PERU, ECUADOR, BOLIVIAPERU, ECUADOR, BOLIVIA REGIONAL CHARACTERREGIONAL CHARACTER: : INDIGENOUS INDIGENOUS
POPULATIONS, POPULATIONS, SUBSISTENCE AGRICULTURE, SUBSISTENCE AGRICULTURE, MOUNTAINOUS ENVIRONMENTS, POVERTYMOUNTAINOUS ENVIRONMENTS, POVERTY
PERU –PERU – 27.7 MILLION PEOPLE27.7 MILLION PEOPLE LIMA IS ITS PRIMATE CITYLIMA IS ITS PRIMATE CITY ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES - FISHING, ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES - FISHING,
IRRIGATED AGRICULTURE, SUGAR, IRRIGATED AGRICULTURE, SUGAR, COTTON, RICE, FRUIT, OIL, MINERALSCOTTON, RICE, FRUIT, OIL, MINERALS
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ANDEAN SOUTH AMERICAANDEAN SOUTH AMERICA(CONTINUED)(CONTINUED)
ECUADORECUADOR -- 13.6 MILLION PEOPLE13.6 MILLION PEOPLEMAIN EXPORTS: OIL, COFFEE, CACAO, MAIN EXPORTS: OIL, COFFEE, CACAO,
BANANASBANANASGUAYAQUIL - LARGEST CITYGUAYAQUIL - LARGEST CITY AND AND
COMMERCIAL CENTERCOMMERCIAL CENTERQUITO - CAPITAL QUITO - CAPITAL AND AND
ADMINISTRATIVE CENTERADMINISTRATIVE CENTER BOLIVIA –BOLIVIA – 9.2 MILLION PEOPLE 9.2 MILLION PEOPLE
LANDLOCKED AND POVERTY STRICKENLANDLOCKED AND POVERTY STRICKENMAIN EXPORTS: TIN AND ZINCMAIN EXPORTS: TIN AND ZINC
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EcuadorEcuador Has major settlements in the Has major settlements in the
Andean basinsAndean basins Steady increase in the Steady increase in the
proportion of Ecuadoran proportion of Ecuadoran population locating in the lower population locating in the lower slopes and the coastal areasslopes and the coastal areas
Oil has begun to be extracted Oil has begun to be extracted from the eastern side of Ecuador from the eastern side of Ecuador in the tropical lowlands that in the tropical lowlands that drain into the Amazon River.drain into the Amazon River.
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PeruPeru Home of the Incas, whose empire Home of the Incas, whose empire
extended over 2,000 miles through extended over 2,000 miles through Andean South America.Andean South America.
The Lost City of the Incas, known now The Lost City of the Incas, known now as Machu Picchu, represents a well-as Machu Picchu, represents a well-constructed ceremonial center constructed ceremonial center and city and city that had reached its peak well before that had reached its peak well before Columbus began his first voyage.Columbus began his first voyage.
The The potato was domesticated in Peru potato was domesticated in Peru and moved into active Old World trade and moved into active Old World trade after the arrival of the Europeans.after the arrival of the Europeans.
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BoliviaBolivia South America's poorest countrySouth America's poorest country Landlocked high in the Andes with its Landlocked high in the Andes with its
capital, capital, La PazLa Paz, located at 12,000 feet , located at 12,000 feet (3,700 m)(3,700 m)
The The Bolivian mine at Bolivian mine at PotosiPotosi produced produced nearly one-half of the world's nearly one-half of the world's silversilver in the in the 16th century 16th century as a result of the enormous as a result of the enormous investment of Native American labor and, investment of Native American labor and, later, African slaves in mining and refining later, African slaves in mining and refining precious metals for world trade.precious metals for world trade.
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THE SOUTHTHE SOUTH(MID-LATITUDE SOUTH (MID-LATITUDE SOUTH
AMERICA)AMERICA) THE THE SOUTHERN CONESOUTHERN CONE: :
ARGENTINA, CHILE, PARAGUAY, ARGENTINA, CHILE, PARAGUAY, URUGUAYURUGUAY
HEART OF EUROPEAN-COMMERCIAL HEART OF EUROPEAN-COMMERCIAL CULTURE SPHERECULTURE SPHERE
ARGENTINAARGENTINA -- 37.3 MILLION PEOPLE 37.3 MILLION PEOPLE 90% URBANIZED, PERIPHERAL 90% URBANIZED, PERIPHERAL BUENOS AIRES - PRIMATE CITYBUENOS AIRES - PRIMATE CITY EXPORTS: CEREALS, MEATS, VEGETABLE OILSEXPORTS: CEREALS, MEATS, VEGETABLE OILS
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THE SOUTH:THE SOUTH:MID-LATITUDE SOUTH AMERICAMID-LATITUDE SOUTH AMERICA
(CONTINUED)(CONTINUED)
URUGUAY -URUGUAY - 3.4 MILLION PEOPLE3.4 MILLION PEOPLE MONTEVIDEO - PRIMATE CITYMONTEVIDEO - PRIMATE CITY MOST EUROPEAN OF SOUTH MOST EUROPEAN OF SOUTH
AMERICAN COUNTRIESAMERICAN COUNTRIES EXPORTS: HIDES, MEATS,TEXTILESEXPORTS: HIDES, MEATS,TEXTILES
PARAGUAY PARAGUAY –– 6.3 MILLION 6.3 MILLION 95% MESTIZO95% MESTIZO LANDLOCKED LOCATIONLANDLOCKED LOCATION
CHILE CHILE – – 16 MILLION16 MILLION AN “ELONGATED STATE”AN “ELONGATED STATE” EXPORTS: COPPER AND NITRATESEXPORTS: COPPER AND NITRATES
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ArgentinaArgentina Second largest nation in South Second largest nation in South
AmericaAmerica Major urban growth along the coast Major urban growth along the coast
and in the plain of the and in the plain of the Rio de la Rio de la PlataPlata
The agricultural productivity of the The agricultural productivity of the pampaspampas - the dominant grasslands - the dominant grasslands - of the interior that largely defines - of the interior that largely defines ArgentinaArgentina
Beef and wheat - major Argentine Beef and wheat - major Argentine export commoditiesexport commodities