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9.1 Physical Geography of Atlantic South America

Physical Features

  • Four countries are included in Atlantic South America: ______, ______, ______, and ______.
  • This region covers about ______of South America.
  • Brazil alone occupies ______of the continent.

Major River Systems

  • The ______is the world’s largest ______(not actual river).
  • It measures about ______long.
  • It extends from the ______in Peru and flows ______across Brazil to the ______.
  • Hundreds of ______flow into it.
  • Because of its huge ______area, the Amazon ______than any other river in the world.
  • About ______of the water that runs off Earth’s surface flows down the Amazon.
  • Where it meets the Atlantic, the ______of the Amazon lowers the ______of the ocean for more than ______from shore.
  • The ______ drains much of the central part of South America.
  • Water from this river eventually flows into the ______ and the Atlantic Ocean.
  • The Rio de la Plata is an estuary (______).

How does the Amazon River affect the Atlantic Ocean at the river’s mouth?

Plains and Plateaus

  • This regions landforms mostly consist of ______and ______.
  • The ______ in northern Brazil is a giant, flat floodplain.
  • South of the basin are the ______, a rugged region of old, eroded mountains, and another area of high plains called the ______.
  • Farther south is a low plains region known as the ______ which stretches across Paraguay and Argentina.
  • In central Argentina are the wide, grassy plains of the ______.
  • South of the Pampas is ______ – a region of dry plains and plateaus.

Climate and Vegetation

  • Southern Argentina (Patagonia) – ______climate.
  • North of Patagonia in the Pampas – ______and a humid subtropical climate.
  • Northern Argentina in the Gran Chaco – humid ______climate.
  • Central Brazil – ______climate with warm grasslands.
  • Northern Brazil in the AmazonBasin – ______supports the world’s ______.
  • It ______almost every day.
  • The ______ contains the world’s greatest variety of plant and animal life.

What are the main climates in Atlantic South America?

Natural Resources

  • The Amazon Rainforest is one of the region’s greatest ______.
  • It provides ______, ______, ______, ______, and many other products.
  • In recent years, deforestation (______) has become an issue in the forest.
  • The region’s land is also good for ______.
  • In some areas planting the same crop every year has caused soil exhaustion (______),
  • There are also good ______resources in this region.
  • Minerals like ______, ______, ______, ______and ______can be found here.
  • Dams on some of the region’s rivers also provide ______.

In a well written paragraph, including a topic sentence, at least 3 supporting sentences and a conclusion describe why the rain forest is a major source of natural resources.