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South America

Part I

Vocabulary•basin: a low area

surrounded by higher

land

Vocabulary

• selvas: Brazilian word for

rainforests

Vocabulary

•escarpment: a steep cliff

Vocabulary

• favelas: slum areas

Vocabulary

•deforestation: destroying

large areas of forest

Vocabulary• futbol: soccer

Brazil

Brazil’s Rainforest

• The Amazon Rainforest is the

largest rainforest in the world

• Brazilians call it a selva

• Its size is slightly smaller than the

U.S.

Brazil’s Rainforest

• The Amazon River is the world’s second-

longest river

• It is located in the Amazon Basin. In this

area rainfall can reach up to 120 inches in a

year!

• Measures 4,080 miles in length

• The distance from New York City to LA is

2,825 miles

• Current is so powerful, it carries soil 60 miles

out into the sea

Brazil’s Rainforest

• Approximately 3,000 species of

fish can be found in the Amazon

River

• Pirarucu are the largest freshwater

fish in the world -- measures up to

15 ft. and weighs up to 275 lbs.

Pirarucu, or arapaima

Brazil’s Highlands

• The Brazilian Highlands cover

about half of the country.

• They drop sharply to the Atlantic

Ocean, this drop is known as the

Great Escarpment.

Brazil’s Economy

• Main products:

–Coffee: largest producer in the

world

–Rainforest products such as

rubber and timber, however

deforestation is becoming a huge

concern

Deforestation

Brazil’s Rainforest

In addition, the rain forest is very important in regulating the earth’s climate.

Below are a few facts:

Fact: Covering less than 2 percent of the Earth's total surface area, the world's rainforests are home to 50 percent of the Earth's plants and animals.

Brazil’s Rainforest cont. Fact: Rainforests are found on every continent across

the Earth, except Antarctica.

Fact: Rainforests act as the world's thermostat by

regulating temperatures and weather patterns.

Fact: One-fifth of the world’s fresh water is found in

the Amazon Basin.

Fact: A typical four square mile patch of rainforest

contains as many as 1,500 flowering plants, 750 species

of trees, 400 species of birds and 150 species of

butterflies.

Brazil’s Rainforest cont. Fact: Less than one percent of the tropical rainforest

species have been analyzed for their medicinal value.

Fact: Originally, 6 million square miles of tropical rainforest existed worldwide. But as a result of deforestation, only 2.6 million square miles remain.

Fact: Every second, a slice of rainforest the size of a football field is mowed down. That's 86,400 football fields of rainforest per day, or over 31 million football fields of rainforest each year.

What does deforestation mean?

CNN Explains (2:32)

Deforestation Time-lapse

Brazil’s Culture

• Official language is Portuguese

• Majority of people live in large cities, which

are surrounded by favelas

Rocinha-biggest favela in Brazil

Brazil’s Culture• Huge statue called Christ the Redeemer

overlooks Rio de Janeiro

– Visit Christ the Redeemer (2:19)

Brazil’s Culture

• Many Brazilians enjoy futbol

– Brazilian Soccer Team Tricks (Can cut at

1:27)

• Every village has a soccer field, and all

large cities have stadiums

Brazil’s Culture

• Carnival is the festival that is

celebrated just before the beginning of

Lent

– It is held in Rio de Janeiro

– Includes music, parades, and costumes

– Similar to Mardi Gras in the U.S.

Rio de Janeiro

But will they be ready? (2:23)

Venezuela

Venezuela’s Land

• The Andean Highlands begin in

Venezuela

• Angel Falls -- the world’s highest

waterfall. Drops into Devil’s Canyon

Venezuela’s Land

• Mount Roraima is the tallest plateau

in South America

Venezuela

• Venezuela has more oil than any other

country in North or South America. Much

of the oil is exported to the United States

• Hugo Chavez, the president of Venezuela,

died in March 2013.

The Guianas

Guianas: Land & Economy

• All have highlands in the interior covered with thick rainforests and low coastal plains near the ocean

• Climate is hot and tropical

• Sugarcane grows in Guyana and French Guiana

• Rice and bananas grow in Suriname

• Many people mine gold and bauxite

Guyana• Settled first by the Dutch, later

taken over by Great Britain

• Won independence in 1966, but depends on aid from other countries

• 2/3 of population are from India, and about 1/3 of African ancestry

• Language: English

• Predominant religions: Christianity and Hinduism

• Georgetown, the capital, is the major city

Suriname

• Settled first by the English, then the Dutch

• 1975: Won independence from the Netherlands, but still depends on aid

• Language: Dutch

• Religion: 1/2 Christianity, 1/2 Islam & Hinduism

• Paramaribo is capital and main port Mosque in

Suriname

French Guiana

• French Guiana is a colony of France

• The country is headed by a French official called a prefect

• They speak French

• It has no official capital, however Cayenne is one of the major cities.

• Religion = Roman Catholic

• Culture is mix of French and Caribbean– Carnival, Caribbean music and dance

– Euros for money and sidewalk cafés like Paris

Ecuador

Ecuador

• Ecuador is the Spanish word for

Equator.

• The Galapagos Islands are just off the

coast and located on the Equator.

• Many plant and animal species exist

here and nowhere else in the world.

Galapagos Islands

Peru

Landscape

• Andes Mountains run along the entire

western coast.

• To the east of the mountains are the

foothills.

• The Amazon Rainforest covers the rest

of the country.

History

• The Incas once lived

high up in the

mountains during

the 1400s and 1500s.

• Empire covered

more than 2500

miles.

Quipu is an

Incan record

keeping device.

History

• Built the ancient city of Machu

Picchu nearly 8,000 ft up in the

mountains

• Ruins of the city were not

discovered until 1911 by Hiram

Bingham

Mystery of Machu

Picchu (2:47)

Machu Picchu

Puente del Inca

Nazca Lines

Any Questions??

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