Answer key

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Last edited 42 days ago by Learn LoopHQ.

Chapter: 09. South America

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Long Answers

Detail the characteristics of the Amazon Basin’s ecosystem and the traditional life of its indigenous people.

The Amazon Basin hosts the world’s largest rainforest, the selvas, characterized by a hot, wet, and humid equatorial climate with daily rainfall. This ecosystem is a global biodiversity hotspot, home to millions of plant, animal, and insect species, and a treasure trove of natural resources. The indigenous people, numbering 2-3 million, traditionally led sustainable lives as hunter-gatherers, cultivating crops using shifting cultivation, and relying on the forest for food, shelter, tools, and medicine. They primarily travel by boat due to a lack of roads and speak over 180 languages, striving to protect their culture and the forest’s diversity amidst growing external threats.

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Describe the major river systems and important lakes of South America, highlighting their significance.

South America is home to impressive water bodies. The Amazon River is paramount, carrying the largest volume of water globally, navigable by ocean-going liners far inland, and originating in the Andes. The Orinoco River flows from the Guiana Highlands into the Atlantic, famously forming the world’s highest waterfall, Angel Falls, via a tributary. The La Plata River system, comprising the Parana, Paraguay, and Uruguay rivers, drains southwards into a wide estuary that serves as an excellent harbor. In terms of lakes, Lake Titicaca is the second highest freshwater lake, while Lake Maracaibo in Venezuela is crucial for its significant mineral oil deposits.

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Elaborate on the mineral wealth of South America and specific resources found in different countries.

South America possesses vast unexploited mineral wealth, historically attracting European explorers. Brazil is notably rich in iron ore and vast oil reserves. Venezuela is a major oil producer, contributing significantly to global crude oil and being an OPEC member, compensating for its lack of coal. Chile leads the world in copper production, with the immense Chuquicamata mine, and Peru is also an important copper producer. The Atacama Desert is abundant in nitrates, vital for fertilizers. Bolivia is a global leader in tin production, while gold is found in Colombia, Brazil, Ecuador, and Peru. Rare minerals like platinum and vanadium are discovered in the Andes, and bauxite is mined in Guyana and Suriname.

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Explain how various geographical factors influence the climate of South America.

South America’s climate is significantly shaped by its geography. The Andes Mountains act as a major climatic barrier; their high altitude leads to varied temperatures, and they block moist Trade Winds, creating rain shadow deserts like the Atacama and Patagonian deserts on their western and eastern sides, respectively. Ocean currents play a crucial role: the cold Peru Current cools and dries the western coast, while the warm Brazilian Current brings heavy rainfall to the eastern coast. Prevailing winds, such as the Trade Winds and Westerlies, distribute moisture and temperature across the continent. Finally, the continent’s latitudinal extent, with a large part lying in the tropical zone, contributes to generally high temperatures, especially near the equator.

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Discuss the significance of the Amazon rainforest for global climate and the threats it currently faces.

The Amazon rainforest, often called the “lungs of the world,” is crucial for global climate, absorbing one-fourth of the Earth’s carbon dioxide and releasing vast quantities of oxygen. It also plays a vital role in the global water cycle due to its massive river system and heavy rainfall. However, this critical ecosystem faces severe threats. Large-scale deforestation, primarily driven by cattle ranching to meet global meat demand, has reduced its CO2 absorption capacity by about one-third since the 1990s. Illegal logging and oil and gas exploration further contribute to its destruction. These activities not only cause biodiversity loss but also force indigenous populations from their traditional territories, posing a significant challenge for climate action and environmental sustainability.

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Describe the major physical divisions of South America.

South America is broadly divided into four main physical divisions. The West Coastal Plains are a narrow strip between the Andes and the Pacific Ocean, notably home to the driest Atacama Desert. East of these plains rise the Andes Mountains, the world’s longest mountain chain, consisting of parallel ranges with high peaks and active volcanoes. In the continent’s center lie the Central Plains, vast lowlands formed by major rivers like the Amazon, Orinoco, and La Plata system, featuring distinct regions like the llanos, selvas, and pampas. Finally, the Eastern Highlands, comprising the Guiana and Brazilian Highlands, are older, lower mountain ranges along the Atlantic coast, separated by the Amazon River.

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