Analogous Places

in

South Americaand the

United StatesSkip toquestionsection.

Here isa simple

basemapof SouthAmerica.

The highAndes

Mountainsform a wall

near thewest coast.

Here isa simple

basemapof SouthAmerica.

Theequatorcrosses

the mouthof the

AmazonRiver

That fact is pure luck.

It’s a happy accident, however,because it makes it very easy

for us to remember the locationof the biggest river on the planet

(and also to find the equatorif a map does not show it).

Here isa simple

basemapof SouthAmerica.

To help us makecomparisons,

here is theUnited States

at the same sizeand proper

latitude.

It’s “upside-down”because this partof South America

is south ofthe Equator.

If we flip iteast-west,we can see

how theclimatesline up

in the tworegions.

Coastal Brazilis like

Florida(think Rio!)

Paraguayis like

coastalTexas –with hot

and humid summersand warmwinters.

Uruguayis like

Mississippiand

Arkansas

Argentina’s“heartland”

is likeKansas

corn in the rainier east,wheat in the drier west

Patagoniais like eastern

Montana –cool and dry.

Patagoniais like

easternMontana –

cool and dry.

The centralcoastal area

of Chileis like

California.

Finally,Cape Horn

is likethe coast of Alaska.

Butno placein the 50

statesis like therainforestnear theequator.

QUESTIONS section

What rangeof high

mountainsruns nearthe westcoast?

Whatbig riverenters

the oceannear the

Equator?

Why does it help comparison,

to put theUnited States

here rather thanin the middle?

Why is theUnited States“upside down”

for this comparison?

Why didwe “flip” it backwardsto make thecomparison

better?

What areais like

Florida-

and why?

What countryis likesouth

Texas – and why?

What small countryis like

Mississippiand

Arkansas?

What countryis like

Kansas?

corn in the rainier east,wheat in the drier west

What areais like eastern

Montana –cool and dry?

Patagoniais like

easternMontana –

cool and dry.

The centralcoastal area

of Chileis like

California.Why is thatimportant?

What stateis most likeCape Horn?

Why?

Why doesthe U.S.have no

place thatis like theequatorialrainforest?