DISCOVER SOUTH AMERICA!

South America is the ’s fourth-largest continent. There are 13 countries in South America. To the west of South America lies the Pacific Ocean, to the east lies the and to the North lies the Caribbean Sea. The land of South America takes many shapes– from mountains to deep canyons and from high, flat plateaus to low-lying plains, islands and peninsulas.

You have been hired as a cartographer to chart the landforms and regions of South America. (Remember, a cartographer is a person who makes maps!) Be sure that you create a visually attractive and creative representation of the landforms and regions of South America. Your map must include:

BASIC PARTS OF A MAP • A title and a Compass Rose (with all 4 main directions labeled) • Location of Atlantic, Pacific, Southern Oceans & Caribbean Sea • The location of the Equator (0° latitude) colored RED across the continent • A legend/key that shows the symbolic representation for each landform, river, region, etc.

MAJOR LANDFORMS AND LANDMARKS You must research and identify the following landforms and landmarks of South America. The locations below should be drawn on your map AND coded in your legend or key. In addition, you must provide a sentence or two description of each location on the activity sheet. This worksheet will be individually graded.

• Mountains • Brazilian Highlands • Pampas • Cape Horn • Guiana Highlands • Amazon River • Amazon Rainforest • Lake Titicaca • Atacama • Patagonian Desert • Machu Picchu • Galapagos Islands • Angel Falls • Tallest Mountain (name, AND elevation must be given on chart)

Revised 10.14.14

COUNTRIES OF SOUTH AMERICA

The names of all 13 countries should be neatly written on your map. Use your research packet and/or websites as a reference.

RESOURCES OF SOUTH AMERICA:

You need to identify 10 major natural resources of this region of the Western Hemisphere. This list may include: crops the region grows, natural resources they produce, or products that the region mines, sells, etc. These resources should be written on the resources chart.

CONNECTION TO SCIENCE

Finally, you are responsible for researching and describing 3 animals that are unique to the continent of South America and Andes Mountains. Include a drawing and/or picture of the three animals you choose and a sentence or two description of each. These should be neatly incorporated into your map.

Your DISCOVER SOUTH AMERICA! Map project is due on: ______

HELPFUL WEBSITES: http://www.allaboutsouthamericatravel.com/south-america-regions.htm http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/continents/south-america/ http://www.freeworldmaps.net/southamerica/index.html

Revised 10.14.14