2. Physical Features
4 Countries
Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, & Paraguay
Region covers 2/3 of South America
Most of the physical features found in South America
are found in these four countries
3. Major River Systems
World’s largest river system
Amazon: 4,000 miles long; extends from Andes Mts. to
Atlantic Ocean; hundreds of tributaries; carries more
water than any other river; freshwater flowing into
Atlantic Ocean lowers the salt level of Atlantic waters
for more than 100 miles out
Parana River system: drains much of the central part of
the region; 3,030 miles long; forms Paraguay’s border
with Brazil & Argentina; flows into Paraguay River &
continues to Rio de la Plata (an estuary)
Estuary: is a partially enclosed body of water where freshwater
mixes w/ salty seawater
4. Plains & Plateaus
Plains & Plateaus
Amazon River basin: giant, flat flood plain in northern Brazil
Brazilian Highlands: region of old, eroded mts. in southeast
Brazil
Gran Chaco: area of flat, low plains covered with low trees,
shrubs, & savannas
Pampas: wide, grassy plains in central Argentina
Patagonia: desert region of dry plains & plateaus in southern
Argentina
All southern plains rise in the west to form the high Andes
Mts.
5. Climate & Vegetation
Many climates
The North: coastal region covered with tropical rain forests & savannas
Highlands: humid subtropical climate like the southeastern U.S.; major
agricultural areas
Gran Chaco: humid tropical climate; water drains slowly & turns areas
into marshlands; armadillos, pumas, red wolves, & 60 snake species
Pampas: temperate grasslands; stretches for 400 miles; rich soils &
humid subtropical climate make area a major farming region
Patagonia desert: cool, desert climate
Andes: block the Pacific Ocean’s rain-bearing storms
Tropical, moist climates in northern & coastal areas; cooler climates in
southern & highland areas
Rain Forest: Amazon River basin supports world’s largest tropical rain
forest; rain falls every day; world’s greatest variety of plant and animal
life; piranhas, jaguars, anacondas, sloth, anteaters are some of the
animals found here
6. Natural Resources
Greatest Resource: Amazon Rain Forest
Food, wood, rubber, natural plants, medical plants, &
other products
Forests cleared for mining, ranching, & farming
Commercial agricultural
Soil exhaustion is a problem (soil has lost nutrients)
Minerals: gold, silver, copper, & iron
Oil deposits
Hydroelectric power from rivers
9. History
Descended from 3 Groups
Colonial Brazil
First people were American Indians
Arrived 1,000’s years ago
Life based on hunting, fishing, & small-scale farming
1500
Portuguese settlers came
Climate & soil made Brazil a large sugar growing colony
Slaves were brought in & worked alongside Brazilian
Indians on plantations
Plantation replaced forests on the Atlantic coast
10. Cattle Ranches
Set up further inland by Portuguese
1600s & early 1700s
Gold & precious gems were discovered in southeast
1800s
Southeastern Brazil became major coffee producer
11. Brazil Since Independence
1822
Independence gained from Portugal w/o a fight
Economy did not change much w/ Independence
Last country in Americas to end slavery
Dictators & elected gov’t have ruled country since
Today has elected president & legislature
Citizens can vote & do other political activities
12. People & Culture
People who came to Brazil over the years brought their
own traditions
Traditions blended to create unique culture
40% of people are mixed African and European
descent
½ of Brazilians are ethnic European
Descendants of Portuguese, Spaniards, Germans,
Italians, & Poles
Portuguese is official language
Also speak Spanish, English, French, Japanese, & Indian
languages
13. Religion
World’s largest Roman Catholic population
75%
Protestantism is growing popular among the urban
poor
Some practice Macumba
African, Indian, & Catholic religious ideas and practices
14. Festivals & Food
Celebrated before Lent
Mixture of traditions from Africa, Brazil, & Europe
Samba is danced during this time
15. Food
Immigrant influences
Eastern Brazil
Vatapa is popular: mixes seafood, sauces, and red
peppers
Feijoada: stew of black beans and meat
16. Brazil Today
Large size creates opportunities & challenges
Region’s largest economy
Many are poor
Does have modern & prosperous areas
Divided into 4 areas based on their people, economies,
& landscape
The Southeast:
Most people live here; Sao Paulo = city of 17 million
(megacity) & Ro De Janeiro = city of 11 million; richest region
(natural resources & most of countries industries and
productive farmland); also has poverty w/ huge slums called
favelas
17. The Northeast:
Area of many immigrants; poorest region; many unable to
read & health care is poor; region suffers from droughts
making farming & ranching difficult; difficult to attract
industry; tourism is important
The Interior:
Frontier land; could be important agricultural site someday;
capital of Brasilia located here
The Amazon:
People rely on river for transportation & communication;
isolated Indian villages; logging, mining & new roads are
bringing more people to region (provides needed income, but
destroys large areas of rain forest, & creates tensions among
Indians, new settlers, miners, & gov’t)
19. History
Originally home to groups of Indians
Groups living in the Pampas hunted wild game & other Indians
further north farmed & built irrigation systems
Spanish conquerors
Looking for riches
Spanish monarch gave land to colonists & granted the right to force
Indians living there to work the land
Pampas became an important agricultural region
Gauchos (cowboys) herded cattle & horses on open grasslands
1800s
independence from Spain
Period of instability & violence followed
Many Indians were killed
20. Modern Argentina
New immigrants came
Italians, Germans, & Spaniards
British built railroads across the country
Exports of meat & other farm products help make country richer
1900s
Struggled under dictators & military governments
Abused human rights
Economy & people suffered
1980s
last military government gave up power to an elected
government
21. People & Culture
European ties affect culture
Descended from Spanish, Italian, or other European
settlers
Argentine Indians & mestizos make up 3% of
population
Most are Roman Catholic
Beef is important agricultural product & big part of
diet
22. Argentina Today
Industry located in & around capital city of Buenos Aires
2nd largest urban area in South America
Home to 1/3 of all Argentines
Pampas: most developed agricultural region
11% of labor force works in agriculture
Large ranches & farms produce beef, wheat, & corn for export
1990
Joined Mercosur (an organization that promotes trade and economic
cooperation among the southern & eastern countries of South
America)
Late 1990s & 2000s
Debt & heavy gov’t spending caused economic crisis
Also caused a political crisis
Gov’t changed hands 4 times in 2001
2003
Economy stabilized, but people lives changed
Some people w/ professional careers lost jobs & joined informal
economy
A part of the economy based on odd jobs that people perform w/o gov’t regulation
through taxes
23. Uruguay
Along Rio de la Plata
Been influenced by larger neighbors
History
Claimed by Portugal during colonial era
1770s was taken over by Spain
Few Indians remained
independent in 1825
Military gov’t have ruled off and on
Has strong tradition of respect for political freedom
Today it is a democracy
24. The People
88% European descent
12% are mestizo, African, or Indian
Roman Catholicism is main religion
Spanish is official language, but many speak
Portuguese
90% live in urban areas
High literacy rate
Many have good jobs & can afford a wide range of
consumer goods
25. Economy
Tied to economies of Brazil & Argentina
½ of foreign trade
Many vacation on beach resorts in Uruguay
Climate & soil make agriculture important
Beef is an important export
Few mineral resources
Hydroelectric power is important
Big Challenge
Developing the poor rural areas of the interior
26. Paraguay
Landlocked country
Shares borders with Bolivia, Brazil, & Argentina
Paraguay River divides the country into two regions
East of River: most productive agricultural land
West of River: part of the Gran Chaco; low trees &
thorny shrubs; livestock grazes here
Claimed by Spain in 1500s
Independent from Spain in 1811
Ruled by dictators off and on until 1989
Today has elected government
27. The People
95% are mestizos
European descendants & Paraguayan Indians make up
rest
Spanish is official language
Most also speak an Indian language Guarani
Most are Roman Catholic
28. Economy
Wealth controlled by a few rich families & companies
Influence the government as well
Agriculture is important
2 types of economy
Traditional
Many subsistence farmers
½ of workers in Paraguay are farmers
Grow corn, cotton, soybeans, & sugarcane for profit
Market
Thousands of small businesses but not much industry
Future may be bright
Learn how to use its resources effectively
Hydroelectric dams & sell surplus electricity to Brazil & Argentina