unique in its geological structure are, without exception, all the continents on our planet, including South America.The relief of the area is divided into two parts: mountainous and flat, with large depressions.Due to such structure of the crust, this continent has become the greenest on the planet and the most moist, but in parallel with the tropical forest here there are the most arid desert valleys and snow-capped peaks are very high.Well, look more closely at what the terrain in South America and how it is linked to the climate of the area.
geology and its foundations
known that the basis of all earthly landscapes make lithospheric plates.In some areas, they diverge, thereby forming depressions.In other overlap, forming the mountains and hills.This phenomenon is not devoid of South America.The relief of the continent can be divided into East and West.First presented in the form of mountains and dry valleys, the second - plain solid with portions of the lowlands.
reasons for this difference are in the history of the formation of the Earth.The eastern part of the continent is an old flat platform that is firm.The western part is located at the intersection of continental and oceanic plates, which still seemed to pushing each other.Through this process we were formed and continue to form the Andes - the longest mountain range in the world.It can be concluded that the relief of South America, in the western part is formed so far.The mountains are constantly rises, and the earthquake and volcanic processes do not cease.
East and its plain
This geological region occupies a large part of mainland South America.The relief here, as we have said, formed billions of years ago, and now he is firmly on a single lithospheric plate, which is seismically stable.In general, the east of the continent consists of six parts.A larger portion of the territory occupied by the Brazilian and Guiana highlands.They are located on the boards of the South American plates.On plates are also three lowlands: La Plata, Amazon and Orinoco.The last component of the relief - Patagonia.This step plateau, which rises to a height of 2000 m. It is located in the southeast of the continent, in the realm of Argentina.
Climate eastern plains
landforms in South America in the eastern part such that no mountains or high hills there.Because wind and cyclones from the Atlantic penetrate freely to the land, irrigating it rains, rewarding fog and thick clouds.
over this territory is a zone of low pressure, which is "fueled" by the Atlantic trade winds.As a result, there falls the maximum rainfall in the world.Thanks to them, the channel of the Amazon, the largest river in the world, are full-flowing.And they are surrounded by impenetrable tropical jungle inhabited by unique evergreens.
Structure West
This part of the continent is very narrow, and at the same time like a stretched from north to south.It is still being formed, because here almost every year, earthquakes, and every 10-15 years volcanoes erupt.Here the relief of the continent of South America can be divided into two parts: the Andes Mountains and the Atacama desert plains.Slowness of the ridge is 9,000 kilometers - it is the longest in the world.The highest point is Mount Aconcagua, its height - 6962 meters.This range is not only a watershed, but also a barrier to the Pacific cyclones.Cold winds from the Antarctic currents that are here only reach the hills of the Atacama, without getting deep into the continent.
Climatic data
Andes occupy the entire western coast of mainland South America.The terrain is divided into three parts: North, Center and South.The first of these is the wet - here the atmospheric dynamic minimum.The amount of rainfall in a year sometimes reaches 7,000 mm and the average - 4000 mm.The middle part of the Andes widest (500 km), and then the pressure is gradually increased.The amount of rainfall in a year - up to 1500 mm, sometimes drought to 500 mm.Temperature drops sharper both at the foot and in the zone of high zones.This is due to the fact that nearby is the Atacama - the most arid desert in the world.In some of its areas of rain and fog it was not as much as 400 years.Southern Andes driest.Changes in temperature then the maximum, and sometimes reach 40 degrees.The amount of precipitation - 250 mm.
Landscapes South America
Geological structure of any continent as a whole determines its flora and fauna, creating the landscape.Landscapes that we can find in South America, are incredibly diverse, and while every corner of the continent is unique, because these beauties anywhere anymore.
So the eastern coast, which is washed by the Atlantic - a gently sloping beaches.Gradually, they move to the small hills (a typical example - Rio de Janeiro).In other points of the continent's area is completely flat (Buenos Aires).In the center of the continent level decreases, which promotes the formation of a wooded area and numerous rivers.This is the famous South American jungle and the Amazon.West appears as a tall mountains covered with perennial snow and glaciers.Closer to the coast of the Pacific Ocean they go up into the hills, where the land is literally cracked from years of drought.Here are common canyons of rock reddish, which in the spring are covered with herbs and flowers, and in the summer turn into windy desert.
Results
We briefly considered what he, the relief of South America.Grade 7 - a time when children are studying in detail the structure of the different continents of our planet.That they have learned the material, to provide the best illustration of each individual section of the continent, so that the brain can associate general information with visual images.
