Physical Geography of South America

 1. What are some physical features of the

Atacama Desert?
 2. Why is Patagonia called “The End of the
World”?
 3. How do Chile’s natural features contrast with
the country’s human-made features
 1.The Atacama Desert sits in the Andes Mountains, 9,000 feet
above sea level. The desert is one of the driest places on earth.
Volcanic valleys create dramatic landscapes.
 2. Patagonia is called “The End of the World” because it is the
southernmost point on the continent. It also has this name
because it feels very remote.
 3. While Chile has abundant wilderness and dramatic physical
features, the country also has very modern cities and a well
developed culture.
 Warm-up #1
 Which of the following is the
most likely reason for the
location of Argentina's major
cities?
A. climate, extreme cold in the
southern tip, and location of
rivers and waterways in the
north
B. early colonial settlement was in
the north and the extremely hot
climate in the south
C. all of the country's natural
resources are located in the
northern region of the country
D. the southern part of the country
lies along a very active fault line
 Warm-up #2
 Which physical

feature is a natural
border between
Argentina and Chile?
A. mountains

B. deserts

C. rivers

D. plains
South America’s diverse landscape is marked in the west by the high
peaks of the Andes and in the east by broad plateaus and valleys.
The cordillera established natural barriers that resulted in the
development of isolated groups.

Andes Mo
untains
(link)
Narrow, coastal
lowlands rim the
Atlantic and
Pacific coasts.
Inland grasslands like the llanos and the pampas provide
fertile soil and plains for cattle to graze.
The Amazon flows 4,000 miles through the heart of South America and is its
longest river. Hundreds of smaller rivers join the Amazon to form the Amazon
Basin. (Link)
Water Systems
The Pantanal is one of the world’s largest tropical wetlands.
Lake Maracaibo and Lake Titicaca are South America’s largest lakes.
Climate, Biomes, and
Resources
Diverse climates make South America a region of contrasts.
El Niño affects the climate in South America by creating unusually warm
ocean currents, and can have negative effects on coastal weather, fishing,
and agriculture. (link)
 Not a
lot
here
The physical
geography
dictates
each
country’s
access to
natural
resources.
Landforms of South America