South America’s human landscape is deeply influenced by indigenous populations and their connection to the physical environment. These deep relationships continue to flourish on the continent through celebration, religion, and political action. Cultural Geography Historic Cultures
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What is the geography of South America?
South America, the fourth-largest continent, extends from the Gulf of Darién in the northwest to the archipelago of Tierra del Fuego in the south. South America’s physical geography, environment and resources, and human geography can be considered separately.
What geographic features affect settlement patterns in South Asia?
Major geographical features that affect settlement patterns in South Asia include the Indo-Gangetic Plain, the Himalaya Mountain Range, the Indus, Ganges, Brahmaputra rivers, and large bodies of oceans such as the Indian Ocean, which is home to the Maldives Islands, the Bay of Bengal, and the Arabian Sea.
Is South America becoming more urbanized?
South America now is one of the most urbanized regions in the world, following the industrially advanced areas.
Why do people settle in areas with high population density?
In areas of high population density, the land is often flat and low lying which encourages settlement development. Land like this is easier to build on and goods are easier to transport.
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How has South America's physical geography influenced its population?
Solution. Most people live on or near the coasts and along major rivers of the continent. These coastal regions offer favorable climates, fertile land, and access to transportation. The rain forests, deserts, and mountainous areas of South America's interior have discouraged human settlement.
What is the physical geography of South America?
South America can be divided into three physical regions: mountains and highlands, river basins, and coastal plains. Mountains and coastal plains generally run in a north-south direction, while highlands and river basins generally run in an east-west direction.
What are two examples of how South America's physical geography?
The main two physical features of South America are the Andes Mountains and the Amazon River.
Why does most of today's South American population live along the coasts?
They are as difficult to traverse as they are inhospitable to human settlement. South America's largest and most important cities are therefore found primarily on the coasts. Their situation is particularly pronounced on the Pacific Coast, where there is little room between the ocean and the Andes.
Why is South America so sparsely populated?
Most of this central lowland is sparsely populated because the soils are heavily leached, but in the south is the very fertile pampas of Argentina—one of the world's major food-producing regions where wheat and beef cattle are pre-eminent.
Why is the population of South America unevenly distributed?
In the west, there is a tropical rainforest climate, so very few people live there, as it is too humid. The east has monsoon weather with very high rainfall throughout the year. The south has a very dry climate, which causes a winter drought.
Which of the following has had the greatest impact on South America's physical geography?
Which of the following has had the greatest impact on South America's physical geography? cordilleras.
What are the characteristics of South America population?
The present population of South America is the result of four centuries of mixture among those four components—American Indians, Iberians, Africans, and more recent overseas immigrants—and their descendants.
How was South America populated?
South America is thought to have been first inhabited by humans when people were crossing the Bering Land Bridge (now the Bering Strait) at least 15,000 years ago from the territory that is present-day Russia. They migrated south through North America, and eventually reached South America through the Isthmus of Panama.
Which region in South America has a high population density?
Ecuador is made up of mainland territory and the Galapagos Islands, and covers a total area of 109,480 square miles. The country has a population of over 16.1 million people, which translates to a population density of 152.7 persons per square mile, the highest in the continent.
Why coastal areas have high population?
Because of the economic benefits that accrue from access to ocean navigation, coastal fisheries, tourism and recreation, human settlements are often more concentrated in the coastal zone than elsewhere. Presently about 40% of the world's population lives within 100 kilometers of the coast.
What are the 4 geographical regions of South America?
Four Regions of South America.Label the South American Map.Lightly Color the 4 regions as follows:Brazil Green.North Coast (Caribbean South America) Orange (Columbia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana)Andean Countries Purple (Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile)South Yellow (Uruguay, Paraguay, Argentina)
What are 3 physical features?
Physical features include landforms, bodies of water, climate, natural vegetation and soil.
What geographic feature dominates South America?
The far-reaching Andes Mountains and the massive Amazon River system dominate South America's physical geography. The five-thousand-mile-long Andes Mountain chain extends along the entire western region of the continent from Venezuela to southern Chile.
What are the physical features of south Africa?
Physical features range from bushveld, grasslands, forests, deserts and majestic mountain peaks, to wide unspoilt beaches and coastal wetlands.
Where is the most of South Asia's population located?
Most of South Asia's population, however, can be found on the Indo-Gangetic Plain , which is fed by three major rivers and is located in north-central India.
How many people live in South Asia?
Today, South Asia is home to approximately 1,946,460,084 people, which means that around 25% of the world's population can be found here. The majority of people living in South Asia live on what is called the Indo-Gangetic Plain. The Indo-Gangetic Plain is a belt that stretches across north-central India and includes the three major rivers, ...
What are settlement patterns?
Settlement patterns are patterns that take shape to conform to the geographical environment. Examples of settlement patterns include nucleated (structures are close to one another), dispersed (structures that are spread apart), and linear (structures are parallel to the geographical feature; they are in lines).
Where did the first settlements in South Asia originate?
The earliest settlements in South Asia arose in the Indus River Valley located in what is now modern-day Pakistan. The Indus River Valley with its rich alluvial soils was an ideal place for civilizations to emerge and evolve nucleated settlements, such as Mohenjo Daro and Harappa, which thrived in this region for centuries.
How to get a picture of a settlement pattern?
You can best get a picture of a settlement pattern from an elevated position, in which you can look down and clearly see how a settlement is laid out and get an idea of where people settled by looking at maps to view population density and the locations of settlements. Let's take a closer look at the geographical patterns ...
Why do you think people decided to build a community in that specific location?
Why do you think people decided to build a community in that specific location? Geography is often a major factor in deciding where a group of people settle. People need access to natural resources to build their homes and other infrastructure, to land that can provide food and water, and to places that are easily accessible to those who live in them.
Which countries are associated with South Asia?
Countries traditionally associated with South Asia include India, Bhutan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives. South Asia is home to the tallest mountains in the world, the Himalaya Mountain Range, the Deccan plateau, rainforests, mangrove forests, coastal areas with access to deltas, bays, gulfs, and seas, ...
What is the unequal distribution of population in South America?
The unequal distribution of population in South America—the “hollow continent” phenomenon —is likely to continue and even become more pronounced. Although certain frontier areas, such as Rondônia state in Brazil and the coca-growing regions of the Andes, have attracted substantial in-migration, those flows have been far less than the out-migrations to towns and cities in already densely populated areas. Development of the interior increasingly has relied on labour-saving technology, resulting in little incentive for migration. As the largest cities face overcrowding and increased crime rates, a likely solution will be the urbanization of surrounding rural centres.
How have South American economies changed?
This has come as a result both of external conditions beyond the control of these nations and of internal policy decisions made to produce change. At the most fundamental level, these countries mainly are exporters of relatively low-value primary products and semiprocessed materials and importers of higher-value manufactured goods. Great efforts have been made across the continent to expand the manufacturing sectors and to reduce dependency on imports.
What were the effects of the 21st century?
At the turn of the 21st century, the economies of many South American countries started to improve, and some of those countries were able to start paying off their debts.
What are the consequences of a high ratio?
As a consequence, the group of people in their productive (working) years is greatly reduced. That high ratio creates a heavier burden for the working group, while the economy is not able to raise the productivity level needed to compensate for it. Another crucial consequence is the so-called urban explosion.
What happens to the population in the second stage of population growth?
At the peak of population growth during the second stage, the proportion of children tends to be high, while in the third stage it is low. In South America the proportion of the population under 15 years is still relatively high. As a consequence, the group of people in their productive (working) years is greatly reduced. That high ratio creates a heavier burden for the working group, while the economy is not able to raise the productivity level needed to compensate for it.
Why is migration important in Bolivia?
Migration has remained important, however, because of unfavourable conditions in the countryside.
Which two countries have become the most urbanized?
Another crucial consequence is the so-called urban explosion. Argentina and Uruguay have become two of the most urbanized countries in the world, but their urban growth has been the result of large-scale foreign immigration. The dramatic increase in urban concentration began approximately in the 1930s.
Why is the population density high?
If the soil is rich and fertile; the population density is often high as people are able to yield good crops.
What is relief in a low population?
Relief. In areas of high population density, the land is often flat and low lying which encourages settlement development. Land like this is easier to build on and goods are easier to transport. In areas of low population density, the land is often rugged, steep and high above sea level.