MR. BURTONChapter 10.1—South America

Over view

MAIN IDEA

The physical geography of Atlantic South America includes large river systems, plains and plateaus, and the Amazon rain forest.

MAJOR RIVER SYSTEMS IN SOUTH AMERICA

Amazon RiverAmazon River

• World’s largest river system• 4,000 miles long• Carries more water than any other

river: 20 percent of Earth’s surface water

• Lowers the salt level of the Atlantic Ocean for more than 100 miles

Rio de la PlataRío de la Plata

Paraná River flows into Río de la Plata and the Atlantic Ocean.

Paraná River drains central part of South America.

Río de la Plata is an estuary, or a partially enclosed body of water where freshwater mixes with salty sea water.

PLAINS AND PLATEAUS

The land of South America is mostly plains and plateaus.

Argentina is home to the wide, grassy plains of the Pampas and the dry plains and plateaus of Patagonia.

All these plains rise in the west to form the high Andes Mountains.

Cool climates in southern and highland areas

Tropical climates in the northern and coastal areas

General Climate

ARGENTINA FLAG

Patagonia has a cool, desert climate.

Rich soils in humid subtropical Pampas are good for farming.

In Gran Chaco, summer

rains can turn these humid, tropical plains into marshlands.

BRAZIL

Central region is tropical savanna climate with grasslands.

Amazon Basin’s tropical climate in northern Brazil supports the world’s largest rain forest.

Outline of Brazil

EXIT SLIP

Explain THREE (3) things/ideas/items you have learned and connect to something you have learned from ideas we have learned.

Identify TWO (2) questions that you still have or want to know about.

Summarize ONE (1) aha moment you learned.