UPSC Geography Oceans and Continents / महासागरों और महाद्वीपों Short Notes - World Geography (South America)

World Geography (South America)

• South America is a long triangular shaped continent. It is 4th largest continent,
• Stretches from 12°N to 55°S latitude
• Mountains - The Andes (longest mountain range in the world.) Aconcagua, Ojendal     Salado Chimborazo, Cotopaxi,
• Lakes- Titicaca (highest navigable lake in world), Poopo, Argentino Junin, Buenos Aires.Nahuel Huapi.
• Angel falls (on Orinoco River) is the highest in the world.
• Deserts: Patagonia   (Argentina Atacama (Western Coast), Monte desert (Argentina)               
• Climate and Vegetation: Hot wet Equatorial Climate, Selvas (Dense rainforests), Savanaa (grasslands). Pampas (grasslands of Argentina)

Patagonia (temperate desert).

• The Pacific Coastlands lie between Andes and the Pacific Ocean.

Important Crops

• Coffee - Brazil
• Cotton - Brazil
• Soybean - Brazil
• Wheat - Argentina
• Sugarcane - Argentina
• Sunflower - Argentina
• Beef-Argentina
• Fisheries - Peru

Minerals

• Petroleum - Venezuela Maracaibolake), Trinidad
  • Gold - Ecuador, Brazil
  • Silver - Peru
  • Copper - Peru
  • Tin - Bolivia
  • Diamonds - Guyana
  • Emeralds - Colombia
  • Iron one - Brazil
  • Nitrates - Atacama desert
  • Aluminium - Brazil
  • Lead - Peru
  • Zinc - Peru
  • Coal - Colombia

Tribes

• Bantu - Central and Southern Africa
• Berbers - Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia
• Masais - East Africa
• Hottentots - Kalahari
• Bushmen - Kalahari
• pygmies - Congo
  • Zulu - South Africa
• Tuaregs - Sahara
• Wolof- Senegal
• Fon-Benin
• Demba - Zambia
• Bambara - Mali
• Ashanti - Ghana
• Amhara - Ethiopia