Map of South America.South America South America, fourth largest continent (1991 est. pop. 299,150,000), c.6,880,000 sq mi (17,819,000 sq km), the southern of the two continents of the Western Hemisphere. is the fourth-largest continent, with a land area of almost 7 million square miles. Earth's longest mountain chain hugs the western edge of South America and includes Mount Aconcagua, the Western Hemisphere's highest peak (22,835 ft). South America's longest river is also the world's second-longest, beginning in the mountains of Peru and flowing eastward across northern Brazil for 4,000 miles to the Atlantic Ocean Atlantic Ocean [Lat.,=of Atlas], second largest ocean (c.31,800,000 sq mi/82,362,000 sq km; c.36,000,000 sq mi/93,240,000 sq km with marginal seas). Physical Geography Extent and Seas . The huge area drained by this river and its tributaries covers more than one third of South America and receives enough rainfall to sustain the world's largest tropical rain forest. Grasslands and plains are found in much of South America's southeastern region. Scientists are concerned that many mountain glaciers are melting due to global warming global warming, the gradual increase of the temperature of the earth's lower atmosphere as a result of the increase in greenhouse gases since the Industrial Revolution. . They also worry about the increasing rate of deforestation deforestation Process of clearing forests. Rates of deforestation are particularly high in the tropics, where the poor quality of the soil has led to the practice of routine clear-cutting to make new soil available for agricultural use. in the rain forests. South America's population is about 373 million. Name: -- For questions #1-5, locate and identify the countries of South America that match each description: 1. The country with a coastline along both the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea Caribbean Sea (kâr'ĭbē`ən, kərĭb`ēən), tropical sea, c.970,000 sq mi (2,512,950 sq km), arm of the Atlantic Ocean, Central America. : -- 2. The two countries at 30[degrees]S, 70[degrees]W that share a mountainous 2,300-mile-long border: -- 3. The Amazon rain forest occupies about one third of this enormous country: -- * 4. The countries that border the Pacific Ocean: -- * 5. The country surrounded by Argentina, Bolivia, and Brazil: -- * For #6-9, locate and name the geographical feature of South America that matches each description: 6. The Pacific Ocean islands owned by Ecuador: -- 7. The narrow body of water at the southern end of the continent that links the Pacific and Atlantic oceans: -- * 8. The mountain chain that stretches more than 4,000 miles along the western edge of South America: -- * 9. The ocean that borders South America: on the east: --; and on the west: -- * 10. Which of these U.S. cities is closest to the same longitude as Quito, Ecuador: Atlanta, Georgia; Jacksonville, Florida “Jacksonville” redirects here. For other uses, see Jacksonville (disambiguation). Jacksonville is the largest city in the state of Florida and the county seat of Duval County. ; or Raleigh, North Carolina For other uses of this name, see Raleigh. Raleigh (IPA: /ˈrɑli/, ral-ee) is the capital of the State of North Carolina and the county seat of Wake County. ? -- For #11-14, locate and identify each capital and its country: 11. 35[degrees]S, 58[degrees]W: -- 12. 16[degrees]S, 48[degrees]W: -- 13. 0[degrees], 78[degrees]W: -- 14. 4[degrees]N, 74[degrees]W: -- For #15-16, calculate the distance (to the nearest 100 miles) between each pair of cities: 15. Valencia, Venezuela, and Brasilia, Brazil: -- 16. Valparaiso, Chile, and Sucre Sucre, city (1992 pop. 131,769), S central Bolivia, constitutional capital of Bolivia and capital of Chuquisaca dept. Since 1898, La Paz has been the administrative capital of Bolivia. , Bolivia: -- For #17-18, name the countries you would pass through: 17. If you traveled east to west along the equator: -- 18. If you traveled north to south along the 70[degrees]W meridian of longitude meridian of longitude: see longitude. : -- For #19-20, use the "Who's Who Among World Leaders" and the "Economic Mop of the World" to identify the countries: 19. The country that elected its first female President in 2006: -- 20. The poorest of South America's Pacific coast countries: -- Wherever you see an asterisk (*), write the name of the country and/or geographical feature on the outline map. Answers 1. Colombia 2. Argentina, Chile 3. Brazil 4. Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Chile 5. Paraguay 6. Galapagos Islands 7. Strait of Magellan Noun 1. Strait of Magellan - the strait separating South America from Tierra del Fuego and other islands to the south of the continent; discovered by Ferdinand Magellan in 1520; an important route around South America before the Panama Canal was built 8. Andes Mountains 9. Atlantic Ocean; Pacific Ocean 10. Raleigh, North Carolina 11. Buenos Aires, Argentina 12. Brasilia, Brazil 13. Quito, Ecuador 14. Bogota, Colombia 15. 2,400 miles 16. 1,100 miles 17. Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador 18. Venezuela, Colombia, Brazil, Peru, Chile, Argentina 19. Chile 20. Ecuador |
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