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South America
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| 1.1 Main Idea Physical Geo | South America contains diverse physical features |
| Andes Mountains | string of mountain ranges that stretch along the western side of South America |
| vegetation | plants |
| Amazon River Basin | the largest river basin on Earth; drains from the Andes to the Atlantic Ocean |
| Llanos | grasslands; wide open areas used for grazing and crops; contains both low and high elevations |
| Angel Falls | highest waterfall in the world located in Venezuela |
| Pampas | rich soil of the grassy plain of Argentina; best suited for ranching and large-scale farming |
| 1.2 Main Idea Climate & Elevation | Elevation and climate affect where people live and how they use the land |
| tierra templada | warm with adequate rainfall; "temperate land" |
| tierra caliente | hot with adequate to extreme rainfall; "hot land" |
| tierra fria | cool with some rainfall " cold land" |
| tierra helada | cold with little rainfall; cold climates; "frozen land" |
| subsistence farming | growing only enough food to feed one's family |
| 1.3 Main Idea Amazon River | The Amazon River supports life in its vast rain forest. |
| tributary | small river that drain into a larger river |
| Amazon River | second longest river; largest river by volume; originates in the Andes Mountains |
| biodiversity | variety of species living in an ecosystem |
| 1.4 Main Idea Currents | Wind currents and ocean currents influence climate across South America in powerful and unpredictable ways |
| currents | continuous movement of air or water in the same direction |
| Peru Current | Flows along the southern coast of Chile and brings cold waters to the Pacific coast in the west |
| Brazil Current | brings warm waters from the Atlantic and benefits the plain of the Pampas |
| Atacama Desert | one of the driest places in the world; located on the western side of the Andes in Northern Chile |
| rain shadow | a dry region on one side of a mountain range |
| El Nino | happens when the usual wind and ocean currents reverse; occurs at least once every 12 years |
| saturate | soak |
| 1.5 Main Idea Rain Forests | The health of the Amazon rain forest can influence climate change across the globe. |
| transpiration | plants and trees release water vapor into the air |
| greenhouse gas | a gas that traps heat energy, warming the earth |
| global warming | a term used to describe the rapid warming of Earth's surface |
| elevation & climate dtermine | how people use the land |
| South America contains | diverse physical features |
| Amazon River supports | life in its vast rain forest |
| Health of the Amazon rain forest | can influence climate change across the globe |
| climate change | a gradual shift in Earth's climate due to natural causes |
| Andes Mountains and the Amazon River Basin | these are known for their extreme climates |
| annual flooding of the Amazon Basin | provides rich nutrients that supports biodiversity |