Climate Vegetation Key Physical Features Vocabulary Cordilleras several

Climate & Vegetation

Key Physical Features Vocabulary • Cordilleras – several ranges that run parallel to each other (Andes Mtns) • Altiplano – ”high plain”; in Peru & Bolivia, Andes encircle this area • Highlands of Brazil – form a steep slope called an escarpment (great for raising livestock) • Inland grasslands – llanos (Columbia & Venezuela) & pampas (Argentina & Uruguay) = GRAZING FOR CATTLE • Andes Mountains formed by collision of South American & Nazca tectonic plates

Important Bodies of Water • Rio Grande – border of Mexico & U. S. • The Panama Canal – man made connection between Atlantic & Pacific Ocean • Lake Maracaibo – holds Venezuela’s oil fields & largest lake • Hydroelectric power from Parana, Paraguay & Uruguay Rivers (2 nd largest river system that drains rainy east half of S. America

Climate & Vegetation • Variety of climates • Cold peaks of Andes • Hot & Humid Amazon Rainforest • Dry, desert-like northern Mexico & Southern Chile • Vegetation range includes • Grasslands • Largest rainforest in the world • Desert scrub & mosses of the tundra

Why is there so many different climates & types of vegetation? 1. Spans a great distance on each side of Equator (latitude) 2. Big changes in elevation due to massive mountains 3. Warm currents of Atlantic & cold currents of Pacific Ocean affect climate

Tropical Climate Zones • Produce rain forests & grasslands (Savannas) • Rainforests = Central America, Caribbean, South America • Savannas = South America

Tropical Wet Climate Zones • • • Rain Forests – dense forests made up of different specials of trees Unique & biodiverse Variety of plants & animals living in balance = ecosystem Hot & rainy year round Amazon Rainforest = hottest Trees grow together to form canopy

Tropical Wet & Dry • Known as savannas – grasslands with trees • Tropical & subtropical regions • Hot climates with seasonal rain • Brazil, Columbia, Argentina

Dry Climate Zones • Found in Mexico & South America ONLY • 2 types – Semiarid & Desert

Dry Climate Zones – Semiarid • Generally dry with some rain • Vast, Semiarid, grass-covered plains • Sometimes desert shrubs grow here • Mexico, Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina

Dry Climate Zones - Desert • • Parts of northern Mexico, coast of Peru Atacama Desert – Northern Chile Patagonia Area Desert – Southern Argentina Shrubs growing in gravel or sand

Mid-Latitude Climate Zones • Moderate; located south of the equator, from Rio de Janeiro southward • 4 types • • Humid subtropical Mediterranean Marine West Coast Highlands

Humid Subtropical • Rainy winters & hot, humid summers • Parts of Paraguay, Uruguay, southern Brazil, southern Bolivia, northern Argentina • Varied vegetation

Mediterranean • Hot, dry summers with cool, moist winters • West coast of Chile • Low shrubs & small trees

Marine West Coast • • Cool, rainy winters & mild, rainy summers Coast of southwestern South America (southern Chile & Argentina) Forests are typical vegetation THINK: Washington or Oregon coast

Highlands • Vary from moderate to cold depending on elevation • Other factors influence climate such as wind, sunlight, landscape • Mountains of Mexico & South America

Elevation Climate Zones • Tierra Helada – zone of permanent snow & ice on peaks of Andes • Puna - Grazing sheep, llamas, alpacas w/ grass & no trees • Tierra Fria – widely spaced evergreen trees & dense scrub; winter frosts common • Middle America’s highest climate zone • Tierra Templada – “temperate”; broad-leafed & needle-bearing evergreens; most densely populated of zones • Tierra Caliente – coastal areas & foothills with some trees; some rainforests here too