Amazon Rain ForestAmazon Rain Forest

How big do you think the Rain Forest is?

1.2 Billion acres◦1,875,000 Sq

miles

Where is it? Where is it? 60% in Brazil

◦Col., Peru, Ven, Ecu, Bol, Guya., Sur, and Fr. Guiana

Basin formed 50 million years agoBrazilian Highlands and Guiana Highlands wore

down◦ Left the Amazon River as a drain

Worlds Largest RiverGuiana Highlands

Brazilian Highlands

Andes Mountains

BASIN

Where does the name come from? Where does the name come from? ◦Francisco de

Orellana (Spanish conquistador, first European) ran into a tribe of

fierce women warriors

"doing as much fighting as ten Indian men."

◦Orellana recalled the Greek myth of warrior women and named the entire river "Amazonas.”

Canopy- dense mass of leaves at the tops of rain forest trees that provides habitat and shade◦Most animal life lives in the canopy◦Tree frogs, salamanders, monkeys, swarms of

insects, and about 1,400 species of birds

More types of butterflies than anywhere in the world

Worlds largest rodent: capybaraThere is a lucrative illegal wildlife tradeSmugglers look for monkeys, parrots, lizards,

and exotic bugs◦parrot = $10,000 monkey = $50,000

Effects of Cutting down the RFEffects of Cutting down the RF

Bad for the whole planet = 1/3 of the world’s oxygen comes from rainforests◦Photosynthesis- process of plants creating food

from CO2, H2O, and SunlightHolds 1/5 for worlds fresh water

ANDES MountainsANDES Mountains

World’s larges continental mountain range

Western Coast of S.AOver 4,500 miles long

◦120-430 miles wide

Average Height of 13.000 ft◦Highest Peak: Aconcagua

Seven Countries: Arg, Bol, Chi, Col, Ecu, Per, Ven

Along the Ring of Fire – Zone of Volcanic activity

Contains Many active volcanoes

Climate varies◦Why?

South = rainy and coolCentral = DryNorth= rainy and warm

◦Average temp in Col = 64 deg F

Tobacco and Potatoes originated in AndesPolylepis – High altitude forests and

woodlands found in Andes◦Trees only found around 15,000 ft above sea

level

Incas practiced irrigation 6.000 years ago◦Terracing is quite common

Potatoes and Maize important = staple food source

Tobacco, coffee, and cotton leading export crops

Coca important for legal local use in “mildly simulating” herbal teas.