Chapter 13, Section 3The Southern Grassland Countries

7.2.8.A Explain the characteristics of places and regions.Anchor: CC8.5.6-8.D: Determine the meaning of words as they are used in text.

OBJECTIVE: Students will categorize the physical characteristics of the southern grassland countries.

AGENDA: 4.8.151. Finish Section 22. Assessment3. Start Section 34. TDD

Introduction• Uruguay, Paraguay and Argentina make up

southern South America. • Face economic hardships, but are among the most

prosperous South American nations. • Large percentage of people of European heritage

as well as a mestizo population.

Physical Characteristics• Southern South America consists of several

physical regions with varying characteristics. – Great Rivers– Andean Region– Tropical Lowlands– Grasslands– Patagonia

Great Rivers

Great Rivers Continued…• Rio de la Plata (River of Silver) is an estuary.– A broad river mouth formed where a flooded river

valley meets the sea. • Four rivers in the Plata estuary system form

national boundaries: – The Uruguay– The Pilcomayo– The Paraguay– The Parana

Great Rivers Continued…• The capitals of Argentina and Uruguay are both

located on the Rio de la Plata. • Argentina – Buenos Aires• Uruguay – Montevideo• River system provides cheap and efficient way for

people in this functional region to ship goods.

Andean Region• The highest peaks of the Andes are in western

Argentina. • They include the four highest mountains in the

Western Hemisphere (High as 22,834 ft. above sea level).

• Andes gradually give way to a gently rolling piedmont region. – Foothills

Tropical Lowlands• Gran Chaco (“hunting land”) is an interior lowland

region of savanna and dense shrub in parts of Paraguay, Argentina and Bolivia. – Temps. are mild rarely change. – Rainfall is seasonal. – Summer rains turn the area into mud. – Winter = soil is dry and windblown.

Grasslands• Pampas of Argentina and Uruguay are one of

South America’s best-known features. • Temperate grasslands, stretch for hundreds of

miles, were formerly home to hundreds of guachos. – Cowboys who herded cattle there.

Grassland Continued…• Today, the pampas are Argentina’s

breadbasket, producing about 80% of the nation’s grain and about 70% of its meat.

• Pampas have warm summers, cold winters. • Occasional violent winter thunderstorm

known as “pamperos.”

Patagonia• South of the pampas lies the windswept plateau

of Patagonia. • Desolate, dry, cold and sometimes foggy plain is

well suited for raising sheep. • Natural resources include rich deposits of oil and

bauxite.

Paraguay• Landlocked but the Plata River system provides an

outlet to the sea.• Almost all Paraguayans live in the highlands of

eastern Paraguay rather than the swampy Chaco. • ½ of the people live in urban areas, especially the

capital city of Asuncion, on the Paraguay River.

Paraguay Continued…• Most Paraguayans are mestizos, who speak

Guarani, the local Indian language, also Spanish. • Economy based on agriculture, mostly cotton,

grains and livestock. • For 35 years, General Alfredo Stroessner ruled by

military force (1954-1989).– Political freedoms were restricted– Critics of govt. were prosecuted

Paraguay Today• 1989, discontented military leaders replaced him. • New leader, General Andres Rodriguez, made the

government more responsive to people’s needs. • Since 1993, Paraguay has held free democratic

elections.

Uruguay• Uruguay takes its name from an Indian word

meaning “river of the painted bird.” • Mostly grasslands.• Main economic activities are raising livestock,

processing meat, and making products such as wool and leather.

• 75% of land is devoted to livestock grazing and another 10% to raising feed grains.

• Must import fuel and consumer goods (expensive).

Uruguay Continued…• Most Uruguayans are of European descent,

mainly Italian and Spanish. • Large middle class, with few slums. • Politically, Uruguay has an unstable history. • In 1973, the military took power, ruling for 12 yrs. – Repression– Imprisonment

**** Free Elections today, if you don’t vote you’re fined 0.0

OBJECTIVE REVIEW

• Students will explain the recent changes in political conditions in Paraguay and Uruguay.

Argentina• Like Uruguay, most of Argentina’s nearly 37

million people have European ancestors (Italian and Spanish).

• 88% live in cities. • 13 million in Buenos Aires alone. • Wealthiest country in Latin America.

Urbanization• Buenos Aires is a vibrant capital city that looks to

Europe for its fashions, art, food and style. • Factories produce goods for export, harbor filled

with freighters from all over the world. – Causes heavy air pollution.

• Buenos Aires is a magnet.

Political History• From the mid 1940s until 1983 Argentina was

ruled by a series of military dictators. – Best known was Juan Domingo Peron– 1946 to 1955– Wanted to develop Argentina’s industry and to

distribute wealth more evenly. – His wife, Eva, became a hero to Argentina’s poor.

Political History Continued…• Other dictators used government power to help

the wealthy, ignoring problems of the poor. • However, all of them censored newspapers,

closed down universities, and imprisoned political opponents.

• They tried to give the appearance of progress by borrowing money from foreign banks to build dams, roads, and factories.

Political History• Conditions under military rule in the 1970s were

particularly bad. • People were kidnapped by the military and never

seen again, period known as “dirty wars.”• 1982, Argentina lost a war against GB over control

of the Falkland Islands. Shamed, military held open elections.

• Deals with period of soaring inflation and enormous debt.