SELVA.
Wet equatorial forests, or selva, located in the Amazon River basin, on both sides of the equator and occupy almost half the area of the continent. This is the largest forest area on Earth. High average annual temperatures and air humidity create conditions for the formation of impenetrable Amazon forests. At least 40 thousand plant species grow on the fertile red-yellow ferrallite soils. Ficus, Hevea (rubber), different kinds palms, lianas, “mahogany” (paubrasil), cinchona - these are far from full list representatives flora selva. Many of them are the most valuable tree species, medicinal plants, as well as natural dyes. The impenetrability of the Amazon forests led to the adaptation of animals to an arboreal lifestyle - sloths, prehensile-tailed monkeys, jaguars. The agouti lives here, an animal from the order of rodents, whose teeth are strong as a chisel and are capable of chewing the wood rind of the American walnut. Also typical representatives of the selva are porcupines, armadillos, anteaters, and numerous species of birds (hummingbirds, toucans, parrots).
SAVANNAH.
The Orinoco Lowland and most of the Guiana and Brazilian Highlands are occupied by savannah zone , forming on red ferrallitic and red-brown soils. In the Orinoco Lowland they are called llanos (from Spanish - plains). Here, among the tall grasses, individual trees grow - palms and acacias. On the Brazilian plateau, savannas are called campos(from Portuguese - plain). There is less woody vegetation here; shrubs, cacti, and grasses predominate. The most common animals are ungulates (deer, wild peccary pigs), pumas, armadillos, and jaguars.
PAMPA.
South of the savannas is located steppe zone , or pump (in the La Plata lowland). Due to the rich cereal vegetation cover, fertile red-black soils are formed here. In this area there are pampas deer, pampas cats, many rodents, and birds. More arid West Side- livestock raising area. Good natural pastures have been preserved here, but due to intensive grazing, the pampa no longer has such thick and tall grasses as in the times of freedom. gaucho. Cattle are raised here.
DESERT.
Semi-desert and desert zone It is not widespread in South America.
In a desert Atacama (tropical zone) are formed desert soils, ephemera and cacti. Once upon a time, the date palm was brought here, and it grows here in the wild. But the Atacama's surface is mostly rocky. During the day, the sun mercilessly heats the stones, and after it sets, within an hour the air temperature can drop from +40 to 0 °C. This leads to very strong physical weathering. Sometimes an echo is heard in the mountains, as if from thunder, but it is the rocks that crack from stress, unable to withstand such temperature changes. The Atacama is an extremely arid desert. There are areas here that have never experienced precipitation, and they are compared to the lifeless lunar surface.
Semi-desert Patagonia(temperate zone) occupies 1/3 of Argentina's area. Strong southern Antarctic winds in summer bring sudden cold snaps and frosts. In winter, they can replace 30-degree frost with a thaw. The wind force here is great not only open spaces, but also in rare cities. Cars parked along the sidewalks sway in the wind, like boats on the waves. Because of strong winds and the lack of moisture, there are almost no trees here and only thorny bushes, fleshy cacti, and in some areas wild grasses grow. More than 100 years ago the first sheep were brought here. Now there are much more sheep here than people (the ratio is about 10 to 1). The famous Australian merino sheep have taken root here, producing very expensive fine-fiber wool.
COAST.
Common on the Pacific Coast rigid-leaved evergreen forests and shrubs.
ANDES.
In the Andes altitudinal zone varies in the composition of natural zones and depends on the latitudinal position of the mountains. In the region of the equator, altitudinal zonation is most fully expressed. At an altitude of 2800 m, mountain evergreen forests grow, which at an altitude of 3400 m give way to mountain alpine meadows - paramos. The amount of precipitation decreases to 250 mm, the air here is the driest and thinnest in the world, the rays of the sun are scorching. Typical inhabitants of the highlands are the spectacled bear, chinchilla, llama, and condor.
Population of South America
The mainland is relatively sparsely populated. Approximately 387 million person (2011). Most live on the ocean coast. Population density is also high on the central plateaus of the Andes.
From the 16th century European colonization of South America began. Spaniards and Portuguese began to settle on the mainland, and later immigrants from other European countries. The arrival of Europeans found most Indian peoples at the tribal level. The most powerful in that era was Inca state.
The conquest of the mainland by Spain and Portugal brought untold misfortunes to its indigenous population. The Inca state was plundered. The Indians of the Atlantic regions were enslaved and partially exterminated. Black slaves from Africa began to be imported to work on the plantations. Now in South America there live representatives of all three races of humanity. Among the population of the mainland there was a process of mixing of races, languages, customs, traditions, and morals.
Descendants from marriages of Europeans with Indians are called mestizos. They constitute the main population of many Andean countries. Descendants from marriages of Europeans and blacks are called mulattoes, and Indians and blacks - sambo. Blacks and mulattoes live mainly in the East of the mainland.
The majority of the South American population speaks Spanish , in Brazil - on Portuguese. Indians speak hundreds various languages. The most common languages are Quechua, Aymara, and others.
South American countries
There are not as many countries in South America as in Africa. The borders of modern states developed in early XIX V. as a result of the people's struggle for independence against the Spanish and Portuguese colonialists.
Almost all countries in South America, except two, have access to the oceans. The largest countries by area lie within Plain East mainland - Brazil, Argentina, Venezuela. Groups Andean countries consists of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile. The smallest country on the continent is Suriname.
The vast plains in eastern South America are very diverse in natural conditions. Every plain and every plateau is special natural complexes, often having their own names. Today in the lesson we will get acquainted with the nature of some of them. These are the Amazon and the Brazilian Highlands.
Topic: Continents. South America
Lesson: Natural Areas of Mainland South America: East of the Plains
Today in class we will learn:
how lowland plains and plateaus are distinguished according to natural conditions, what types of economic activities are common in lowland areas, and what types exist ecological problems related to human activities.
The largest natural areas identified on the mainland are the lowland East and the mountainous West (Andes). Within these areas, smaller natural complexes are distinguished, differing in geological structure, relief, climate and organic world.
A huge flat swampy lowland with a dense network of deep rivers in the Amazon basin (see Fig. 1).
The main features of the nature of the Amazon are determined by its flat terrain, long-term continental development and equatorial position. To this greatest area on the planet equatorial climate and humid tropical forests accounts for most of the basin's deepest river system Earth.
The boundaries of the Amazon are clearly delineated by the slopes of the Brazilian and Guiana highlands and the eastern foot of the Andes.
Rice. 1. Amazon
This region covers an area of about 5 million square meters. km. In size it exceeds the physical-geographical regions of not only South America, but also other continents.
The main features of the nature of the Amazon are determined by its flat terrain and equatorial position. These two factors determine the characteristics of the climate, vegetation and fauna of the region.
Innumerable natural resources are concentrated in the Amazon - forests with huge reserves of food, technical and medicinal raw materials, construction and ornamental materials. There are various minerals in the depths. All these riches are poorly researched and used very little. In a significant part of the region, nature has preserved its original appearance, not changed or slightly changed by human influence.
Rice. 2. Amazonian lowland ()
The Amazonian lowland is an area of long-term subsidence within the platform and has low altitudes and uniform flat relief throughout almost its entire territory (see Fig. 2). Even at the very foot of the Andes, the height of its surface does not exceed 100 m above sea level.
The climate here is predominantly equatorial with two periods of heavy rainfall (see Figure 3). Particularly heavy rainfall occurs there from February to June and from October to January.
The entire region is characterized by high and uniform temperatures with little seasonal variation. With uniform and high average temperatures in the Amazon, there is no intense heat, but even temperatures of 24 - 27° are difficult for people to tolerate due to the constant high humidity and lack of night coolness. Rain usually falls in the form of heavy and prolonged downpours in the afternoon, followed by clear weather in the evening and at night.
Rice. 3. Climatic features of the Amazon
These features climatic conditions favor the development of moisture-loving tropical forests with their diverse and lush vegetation.
This plant mass, the richest on Earth, has, especially in the western Amazon, innumerable resources of food, technical and medicinal raw materials, construction and ornamental materials. The Amazon Basin is playing important role in global metabolism, it accounts for about 10% of the Earth's primary biological production.
Species composition and appearance forests varies depending on their position in relation to rivers. Periodic floods of the Amazon and its tributaries have a great influence on vegetation. In this regard, different types of forest vegetation are distinguished in the lowlands: forests in river valleys, flooded for several months a year ( local population calls them "igapo"); forests in river valleys, flooded a short time(they are called “varzeya”); forests on watersheds that are not at all flooded (known as “ete”). In addition, the aquatic vegetation of the Amazon itself and other rivers, as well as mangroves on the Atlantic coast, stands out.
Although animal world The Amazon as a whole is very rich, yet in the virgin forests such abundance is not striking. Thick rainforests The Amazon is generally poor in large animals. Most of them are found on the outskirts of forests and along rivers. Birds and insects, reptiles and amphibians predominate.
Rice. 4. Fauna of the Amazon ()
The fauna of the Amazon and its tributaries is especially rich (see Fig. 4). There are up to 2,000 species of fish, including predatory piranhas; large mammals (manatees, freshwater dolphins, capybaras), reptiles (river turtles, caimans). The giant anaconda boa constrictor lives along the banks of rivers and lakes, spending a significant part of its time in the water.
Brazilian and Guiana Highlands - the main core of eastern South America.
Between the flat, low-lying plains of the Amazon and Parana basins in the north and west and the Atlantic Ocean in the east, a territory with elevated and dissected relief extends for approximately 5 million km 2. This Brazilian Highlands(or, in other terminology, a plateau) (see Fig. 5).
This area is almost as large in size as the Amazon. At the same time, it is characterized by a wide variety of landscapes. The main features of its nature are determined by the predominance of the relief of plateaus and table plateaus and the dominance of subequatorial and tropical climates. Only yours southern outskirts The Brazilian Highlands extend into subtropical latitudes.
Rice. 5. Brazilian plateau ()
Long-term exposure to erosion processes, changes in structure earth's crust under the influence of recent tectonic movements created a wide variety of relief within the highlands, which combine areas of crystalline plateaus with island hills composed of sedimentary rocks, volcanic plateaus and blocky ridges formed as a result of Cenozoic faults and uplifts.
From the outside Atlantic Ocean The eastern and southeastern edges of the Brazilian Highlands appear as high and highly dissected mountains. As a result of the fragmentation and uplift of the East Brazilian Shield in the Neogene, ridges or “sierras” were formed, which reach heights of more than 2000 m. Highest point highlands - Mount Bandeira (2890 m) - located within national park"Caparao."
In the northern spurs of the plateaus in the Serra dos Carajas region, one of the greatest iron ore basins on the planet was discovered, where, in addition to high-quality iron ore, there are deposits of manganese, copper, chromium, nickel ores, bauxite and other valuable minerals (see Fig. 6). It is there, to the mining area and to the factories under construction, that the railway line from the Atlantic Ocean, crossing the Eastern Amazon.
Rice. 6. Map of mineral resources ()
To the west and north, the Brazilian Highlands are bordered by lowlands. Its edges either drop steeply, forming ledges several hundred meters high, or drop rather gently. There are many rapids and waterfalls on the rivers cutting through the edge of the crystalline plateau. Low-lying areas covered with tropical forests extend far into the highlands along river valleys.
The climatic conditions of the region are varied. Almost this entire vast territory is characterized by the division of the year into two periods - wet and dry. The duration of the wet and dry periods and the annual amounts of precipitation in different parts of the region are different, which is reflected in the nature of the vegetation cover and the appearance of the cultural landscape.
The Brazilian Highlands are dominated by savannas and tropical woodlands. The two most common types of savanna are campos limpos and campos cerrados.
This is the common name for savannas in Brazil (see Figure 7). Campos-limpos are characterized by a complete absence of woody vegetation. The area is a continuous sea of grass, and this vaguely resembles the steppes of the temperate zone. Among the herbs are various types of feather grass, bearded grass, wheatgrass, as well as representatives of the families Apiaceae, Lamiaceae and legumes.
All these plants burn out and turn brown during the dry period, only small cacti and agaves retain their appearance unchanged all year round. Although outwardly similar to the steppe, Kampos-Limpos differs from it in much greater diversity species composition. For every 2-3 m 2 of surface, up to 200-250 plant species can be counted.
In Campos Cerrados, trees and shrubs grow along with herbs. Trees no more than 3-5 m high usually have an umbrella-shaped crown. Grasses in the shade of trees can reach 1-2m in height and grow so densely that during the wet season the area becomes impassable. Fires are common in savannas, sometimes covering vast areas.
In the northeast of the highlands, which are characterized by great dryness, the typical savanna gradually turns into a kind of tropical forest - caatinga, where the vegetation is adapted to long-term drought (see Fig. 8).
The vegetation cover in Caatinga consists of trees and shrubs with almost no grasses.
Rice. 8. Caatinga ()
Many trees have swollen trunks and soft, porous wood that retains large amounts of moisture. The trunks of other trees are thin, and the crowns are very spreading. Many tree and shrub plants have spines. Therefore, the terrain is difficult to pass, although individual plants stand at quite significant distances from each other. Of the most typical caatinga plants, the most interesting cacti various forms, prickly pears and euphorbias. Among the latter are rubber plants. Several types of palms are also found, including the carnauba wax palm.
With the onset of rains, the caatinga changes its appearance very quickly. As eyewitnesses note, you can fall asleep in the evening in a forest scorched by the sun, devoid of leaves and flowers, and after a night of rain wake up in a completely different environment: in a few hours the forest is transformed - many plants are covered with leaves, bright flowers bloom on them.
Tropical rainforests grow along the eastern edge of the highlands, along the slopes of the Serres and on the hilly coastal plain. They start from the ocean itself wide stripe mangroves, which then turn into a forest very reminiscent of the Amazon forests. It contains cecropia, palm trees, tree ferns, vines, including a unique bamboo vine, and various epiphytes.
In the forests, even close to settlements monkeys live, causing great damage to gardens and crops; in the savannas there are armadillos, anteaters, as well as the large flightless bird rhea, which resembles an ostrich. There is an abundance of birds everywhere, especially parrots and hummingbirds; Typical predators are pumas and jaguars; snakes and other reptiles are very common.
There are many ants in forests and savannas. Some of them settle near human habitation and cause great trouble to people. An integral feature of the savannah landscape is termite mounds.
The Brazilian Highlands, with its unique complex of natural resources (valuable reserves of mineral raw materials, hydropower, climate and soils favorable for agriculture, richness of the organic world) are populated and developed unevenly, and therefore the degree of change in natural landscapes in its individual parts is different.
The most populated area is the area adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean. The most big cities- Sao Paulo (in 2000, population was 17.7 million people) and Rio de Janeiro (10.6 million people) - and industry is developed.
In many large cities, the problem of air pollution, particularly from vehicle exhaust, is so severe that some, such as São Paulo, have imposed restrictions on the use of private cars. Despite adding alcohol to gasoline and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by about 30%, no significant improvement in urban air quality has been achieved.
Concentrated in the Paraná basin largest areas plowed lands on which coffee trees, tobacco, bananas, and grapevines are grown. Rice crops are common on the irrigated lands of river valleys, especially in the north.
In the humid north, sugar cane and oil palm are grown, and in drier areas, coffee trees are grown. In the northeast, which suffers most often from droughts, cotton is grown on irrigated lands. In the interior parts of the highlands, vast areas are occupied by savannas and secondary thickets used as pastures.
The gradual settlement of vast areas of the South American jungle also did not pass without leaving its mark on this territory. Since the early 1960s. The population within the Brazilian Amazon increased 10-fold and by 2002 reached 20 million people. As a rule, settlement was accompanied by uncontrolled deforestation, as well as the destruction of unique species of flora and fauna. Observation data from space also indicates a sharp reduction in the area of Amazon forests.
Rice. 9. Deforestation of the Amazon ()
Since 2000, a large-scale plan has been implemented in the Amazon economic development, called "Avansa Brasil", which involves the construction of new automobile and railways, gas pipelines, power plants, power lines and other infrastructure elements. As a result of the implementation of this project according to the planned plan within the Brazilian Amazon, by the middle of the 21st century. up to 40% of forests may be destroyed.
Scientists say that if the Brazilian authorities do not take emergency measures to protect the Amazon as soon as possible, the matter may end environmental disaster not only on a regional, but also on a planetary scale.
We should not forget that the Amazonian jungle is, figuratively speaking, “ green lungs» Earth, since it significantly affects the chemical composition and temperature regime atmosphere, as well as the distribution of precipitation. Therefore, a sharp reduction in the area of equatorial forests will inevitably lead to climate change throughout the Earth.
Area - 18.1 million km2, with islands - 18.3 million km2
The most high peak- Mount Aconcagua, 6960 m
The deepest depression is on the Valdez Peninsula, -42 m
The greatest length: from north to south - 7640 km, from west to east - 4990 km.
Features of nature
A continent distinguished by many natural records. It is the wettest and greenest continent; it contains the world's largest lowland and the longest land mountains, the deepest river and the highest waterfall.
Geographical position
South America is located almost entirely in the Southern Hemisphere.
The coasts of South America are mostly straight. Large cities are located on the coasts of a few bays. Only the southern part of the Pacific coast is severely dissected. Here, off the coast of the mainland, stretches the archipelago of the Chilean Islands. In the extreme southeast, the Strait of Magellan separates the archipelago from the mainland.
Surface character
The elevation difference is 7 km: from 6960 m (Mount Aconcagua in the Andes) to -42 m (a depression on the Valdez Peninsula). This is the most contrasting relief compared to the relief of all southern continents. The longest river stretches 9,000 km along the Pacific coast mountain system sushi - . East End The continent is mostly flat.
The relief reflects the structural features of the earth's crust. The eastern part of the mainland is located on an ancient South American platform. The Brazilian and Guiana plateaus were formed on its shields, and the lowlands were formed on the plates: Amazonian, Orinoco, La Plata. In the south of the mainland between the Andes there is a stepped plateau up to 2000 m high.
The Andean fold belt began to form when South America was still part of Gondwana. Mountain building caused by the convergence continues to this day, which is why strong earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur in the Andes.
Climate
The main part of South America is hot, and only the narrowest southern part is temperate. Therefore, on the mainland they prevail high temperatures, and even in the temperate zone in winter their average monthly values exceed 0° C.
Due to strong heating over the surface of the continent Atmosphere pressure usually lower than those above the surrounding oceans. This causes an influx of moist oceanic air masses onto the continent. The entire northern part of South America is influenced by the trade winds blowing from the Atlantic. In temperate latitudes, westerly winds dominate. However, the high Andes prevent air from penetrating inland, and its influence extends only to the climate of the narrow coastal plains and adjacent mountain slopes. Air currents from the Atlantic Ocean, on the contrary, freely penetrate westward all the way to the eastern foothills of the Andes, and even the interior regions receive sufficient rainfall. Therefore, South America is the wettest continent on the globe.
Inland waters
Thanks to abundant moisture, South America is rich in surface and. It accounts for 1/5 of the volume of water carried by all the rivers of the world. The main watershed is the Andes, so the largest part The continent's territory belongs to the Atlantic Ocean basin. The largest rivers also belong to him: Orinoco. They are predominantly fed by rain and are most abundant in the summer, when precipitation falls in the subequatorial belts.
There are few large lakes in South America. In the Andes, at an altitude of 3812 m, lies the highest mountain lake in the world - Titicaca. On the coast Caribbean Sea there is a large lagoon lake Maracaibo. There are glacial lakes, and in the floodplains of rivers there are numerous small lakes - oxbow lakes.
Glaciers are found at altitudes above 5000 m; in the south of the continent they sometimes descend to the level of the Pacific Ocean.
Organic world and natural areas
It is distinguished by its diversity and the presence of a large number of endemics. This is explained by the meridional extent of the continent and its long-term isolation from other continents.
The set of natural zones generally corresponds to climatic zones and regions. The oceans, the position of the southern part of the continent in temperate latitudes, and the presence of a belt have a great influence on zonation high mountains. In the Andes and in high areas of the plateaus, altitudinal zonation is clearly expressed.
South America contains about 40% of the world's forests. There are forested natural areas in all climatic zones, they cover almost half the area of the continent. Forests are wet or variable-humid, depending on the precipitation regime. Where precipitation is insufficient, they are located in savannah or steppe (pampa).
Natural resources
There are many in South America. The Brazilian plateau contains iron, uranium ores and rare metals, and Guiana - iron and aluminum ores. Thickness sedimentary rocks in the Amazonian lowland, in the foothill and intermountain depressions of the Andes (especially in) are rich in oil and gas. In the Andes there are large reserves of non-ferrous ores and precious metals, especially tin and copper. Extraction and export to other countries are the basis of the economy of some states.
Hot and humid tropical climate favorable for growing many crops: coffee, cocoa, sugar cane, cotton, tobacco, bananas, pineapples. But for people's lives more favorable climate subtropical zone, as well as areas at altitudes above 1000 m, where summers are not very hot and winters are warm.
Forests are of great economic importance. Particularly durable, colored and fragrant types of wood are harvested here. The hard wood of Quebracho and Araucaria is highly prized. Resin is mined in subtropical and mountain forests, vegetable oil and wax, medicinal substances (caffeine, quinine).
Natural areas
The largest natural areas identified on the mainland are the lowland East and the mountainous West (Andes). Within these areas, smaller natural complexes are distinguished, differing in relief, climate and organic conditions.
South America
South America is entirely in Western Hemisphere. Most of it is located south of the equator. The continent will be crossed by the Southern Tropic. It is very elongated from north to south, stretching for more than 7 thousand kilometers. From west to east, the widest part is about 5 thousand, however, for the most part its extent is small, and the continent tapers towards its southern tip.
Extreme points mainland:
North - Cape Galinas 12°25"N, 71°39"W
South - Cape Froward 53°54" S, 71°18" W
Western - Cape Parinhas 4°40" S, 81°20" W
Eastern - Cape Cabo Branco 7°10" S, 34°47" W
South America is located in the equatorial, subequatorial, tropical, subtropical and temperate climate zones.
In the east, the continent is washed by the waters of the Pacific Ocean, in the north and west - by the Atlantic. Coastline very weakly cut. Only in the southeast there are several large bays: La Plata͵ San Matias, San Jorge and Bahia Grande. To the north is the only Caribbean Sea.
In the north, South America is connected to North America through the Isthmus of Panama. Together they form a single part of the world - America. In general, the continent is located in the southern (almost entirely) and western hemispheres.
Natural conditions South America is diverse and contrasting. Based on the nature of the surface structure on the continent, two parts are distinguished. In the east, lowland, elevated plains and plateaus prevail for the most part, in the west - the longest mountain ranges Andes. The formation of the Andes began in the Paleozoic and has not ended yet.
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The Andes continue to rise, volcanoes erupt, and strong earthquakes occur.
South America is the most wet continent Earth. The Andes, which block the path of the westerly winds, contribute to the abundance of precipitation. There is a dense river network here, incl. and the largest rivers on the globe - the Amazon and Parana. In the Andes, at an altitude of 3800 m, lies the largest alpine lake in the world - Titicaca.
Due to the predominance of a hot, humid climate on the continent, South America has widespread forests and relatively few deserts and semi-deserts. The highland climate of the Andes is very diverse. It changes as you rise from the foothills of the mountains to the peaks and as you move from the Northern to the Southern Andes.
South America is rich in mineral deposits. Located in the Andes largest deposits copper ores, silver, tin, lead. There are fuses of gold. This contributed quite early development metallurgy here.
Zone high civilizations ancient times in South America occupied the region Central Andes. The Central Andes are bordered on the east by the forests of the Amazon basin, and on the west by the ocean. The northern periphery is formed by the territory of modern Ecuador. In southern Peru and Bolivia, the area of ancient civilizations extended to approximately 17°S. Moreover, from the beginning of the 1st millennium BC. Southern Andes, with the exception of central regions Chile and the eastern slopes of the Argentine Hades were part of the cultural influence of the Central Andean civilizations.
Economic activity people in the Andes is possible up to an altitude of 4.5 km. On the plateaus of the Central Andes, isolated from the influence of the ocean, there are dry mountain steppes and semi-deserts called puna. Pune is divided into the lower one, suitable for agriculture, and the upper one, suitable only for grazing livestock. On the central plateaus of the Andes, located in the tropical zone, the air is exceptionally clean and dry. Little precipitation falls as snow even in summer. The weather changes not only according to the seasons, but also during the day, and abruptly and several times. It is difficult for a person to tolerate such a climate. Puna stretches from northern Chile to central Peru. Further towards Ecuador it is replaced by alpine meadows, called páramo in South America. Puna and Paramo differ in relief, climate, flora and fauna, and therefore these zones were developed in ancient times different groups tribes
Originality natural environment in the far north of Peru (desert giving way to savannah and more warm waters Pacific Ocean) compared to more southern regions significantly influenced the course of ethnic and economic processes. This site turned out to be an insurmountable obstacle for the cold-loving alpaca (genus of llamas), domesticated on the plateaus of Bolivia and Peru.
Below Pune there are warmer valleys and pits, mostly characterized by an arid climate; therefore, the development of agriculture here required irrigation. The eastern slopes of the mountains occupy cold, rainy areas with poor soils. The forest areas below were not part of the distribution zone of the Central Andean civilization, but their population sometimes penetrated to the west, playing famous role in the history of ancient Peru.
Natural resources The Central Andean region is much richer than Mesoamerica. Here were the necessary conditions for growing potatoes and other mountain root crops, corn, pumpkin, quinoa, and beans. On the coast - for growing cotton and tropical root crops: sweet cassava, sweet potato and others. There were also prerequisites for the development of cattle breeding - the wild llama.
The lower belt of mountains facing the Pacific Ocean is arid and dissected by steep gorges. There is almost no population here. Next comes the coastal plain. In northern Peru it reaches a width of 50 km. The cold Humboldt Current determines the climate of the coast. It's not hot here. Summer and winter differ slightly in temperature. Life on the coast is concentrated where mountain streams open onto the plain or where there are sources of groundwater. The oases are separated from each other by desert areas 20–40 km wide. They are fertile and favorable for life. Thanks to admission nutrients off the coast of Peru, one of the richest biosystems of marine organisms in the world has developed. There was so much fish here that the fields were fertilized with it. The catch of just one percent of these reserves per year ensures the existence of more than one hundred thousand people, and without any additional sources nutrition. However, the population of the Central Andean region had much more reliable sources of protein food than the Indians of Mesoamerica. Namely, the lack of reliable sources of protein food became a big brake on the development of Mesoamerica.
The distribution of natural resources determined the spatial structure of the Central Andean civilization. From the very beginning there were two relatively independent center. In the mountains best opportunities for the development of a productive economy, they existed in the south of the region in the Lake Titacaka basin. The most extensive pastures and fields are located here. Considerable economic importance there was also a freshwater reservoir. The mountainous regions of Ecuador lagged somewhat behind in development, acquiring important only under the Incas.
On the coast, the center of development was shifted to the north. The oases here are the most extensive, and the sea is richest. The extreme south of the coast of Peru was under strong influence cultures of the Titicaca basin. The mountainous regions in the north were influenced by coastal cultures.
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Most complex nature cultural interaction had in central Peru.
In general, cultural diversity in the Central Andean region was very high in ancient times. Plots of fertile lands here are separated by deserts and mountain ranges, and predominantly agricultural areas alternate with predominantly pastoral ones. The level of development of the Indian tribes inhabiting this territory was not the same. The barbarian periphery penetrated deeply into the zone of high cultures.
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All this created an extremely complex and dynamic system Central Andean civilization.
Natural conditions of South America - concept and types. Classification and features of the category "Natural conditions of South America" 2017, 2018.
South America is entirely in the Western Hemisphere. In the north, South America is connected to North America through the Isthmus of Panama. The southern, narrowed and dismembered part of the continent is known as Central America. North America reaches its greatest width in temperate and subpolar latitudes.
Of all the continents, North America extends farthest to the north. Its elongation from the polar latitudes almost to the equator led to a huge variety of natural conditions. And the significant extension from west to east led to the formation continental climate in inland areas mainland. Its length is the largest of all the continents of the Earth and is 75,600 km. The continent is washed by three oceans: the Pacific in the west, the Atlantic in the east and the Arctic in the north.
Geographical studies
The continent will be crossed by the Southern Tropic. The coastline is very slightly indented. Only in the southeast there are several small bays: La Plata, San Matias, San Jorge and Bahia Grande. Together they form a single part of the world - America. Extreme southern point The mainland is considered Cape Froward, the northern is Cape Gallinas, the extreme eastern point is Cape Cabo Branco, and the western one is Cape Pariñas. Thus, most of the continent is in the southern hemisphere.
The southern part is dominated by the tropical zone, which leads to precipitation large quantity precipitation. Due to the fact that this territory contains plains, wet air masses penetrate into South America without obstacles.
general characteristics
Famous bays in South America: San Jorque, La Plata, Bahia Grande and San Matias, but none of them can be called large. The influence of the Pacific Ocean falls on the southern and western coasts of the mainland. And the extreme southern strip of the continent is separated from Antarctica by the Drake Passage, and, despite this, the influence of the natural conditions of this continent on the nature of this part of South America is quite noticeable.
North and South America, together with the adjacent islands, are traditionally united into one part of the world called America. But according to natural conditions, these continents represent two completely different worlds, which is due to differences in geographical location and in the history of their development. North America stretches from the polar latitudes almost to the equator.
To the north are Greenland and the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Many islands adjoin North America in the northwest and west: the Aleutians, Queen Charlotte, Vancouver, and the Alexander Archipelago. Northernmost island point North America- Cape Morris Jesup in Greenland (83° 39′ N). This is the land closest to the pole northern hemisphere. The seas deeply dissect the eastern and northern coasts of the continent, and to a much lesser extent - its western coast.
Spanish expeditions XV-XVI
Waters of the North Arctic Ocean, washing the northeastern and northern coasts of the mainland, constantly have low temperature. The interisland Baffin Sea washes the eastern shores of Baffin Island and Devon Island and the southeast of Ellesmere Island. The Baffin Sea is connected by a system of narrow straits to the northernmost of all Arctic seas - the Lincoln Sea.
The Pacific coast of North America, with the exception of the northern section, is much less dissected than the Atlantic. Almost everywhere at a relatively short distance from the mainland in Pacific Ocean deep oceanic depths predominate. The area of the mainland together with the islands is 24,247 thousand km2, the area of the islands is 3890 thousand km2. In the far north and south, the land is strongly dissected by water basins. All the main orographic zones of North America extend along the strike of the continent itself.
In terms of geographical location and development features, North America has much in common with Eurasia. These continents are characterized general patterns climate formation and similar types of climate, similar types of zonal landscapes, relief, etc.
North America is similar to Eurasia, but at the same time has its own unique characteristics. geographical features. The coast of the mainland is rather weakly indented. Most bays are small, formed at the mouth of rivers as the ocean moves inland. The average height of the continent is quite small, which is explained by the large territory occupied by the lowlands: Amazonian, Orinoco and La Plata.
Brazilian plateau
Chile has huge deposits of saltpeter. South America is extremely rich in inland waters due to its humid climate and abundance of plains. The Amazon collects water from 40% of the territory of South America, in its lower reaches its width reaches 20 km, the river is also very deep, which allows even sea vessels go far inland.
The geographical location and topography of the continent lead to the fact that the climate of South America is warm and very humid. The entire northern and most of the central part of the continent are located in the equatorial and subequatorial climate zones.
Between these zones there is a zone of continental subtropical climate, with dry, hot (+25°C) summers and warm (+10°C) winters. Temperate zone occupies the southern tip of the continent. The temperate maritime climate is formed on west coast, there are warm winters, cool summers and a lot of rainfall.
The shores of North America are washed by the waters of three oceans: the Atlantic, Arctic and Pacific. From west to east, the widest part is about 5 thousand, however, for the most part its extent is small, and the continent narrows towards its southern tip. South America is crossed by the equator, and 10% of its territory is located in the northern hemisphere.