Section 1
The highest point in the Caribbean South America is in this country, a country larger than California and Texas combined. What is the name of this country?
Colombia
What term describes an unusual flat-topped formation that is sometimes called this. They create a dramatic landscape as they rise about 3,000 to 6,000 feet (900 to 1,800 m) above the surrounding plains.
Tepuís
Here, rain falls throughout the year, watering the forest’s huge trees. These trees form a canopy where the vegetation is so dense that sunlight barely shines through to the jungle floor. What is the name of this place?
Amazon Basin
One colonial city was a major naval base and commercial port in the Spanish empire. By the 1600s Spaniards and their descendants had set up large estates in Colombia. Spanish estate owners forced South American Indians and enslaved Africans to work the land. What is the name of this city?
Cartagena
This country is Caribbean South America's most populous country. Although it's is rich in culture and resources, more than 40 years of civil war have been destructive to the country’s economy. What is the name of this country?
Colombia
On the western side of Colombia this mountain range reaches 18,000 feet (5,490 m). It forms a cordillera (kawr-duhl-yer -uh), a mountain system made up of roughly parallel ranges.
Andes
Notice how much the elevation drops between the highlands and the Andes. This region of plains is known as what? It is mostly grassland with few trees. At a low elevation and not much vegetation, these plains flood easily.
Llanos
Good soil and moderate climates help make most of Caribbean South America a rich agricultural region. What are the names of these important crops?
rice, coffee, bananas, and sugarcane
After independence was achieved, this country was created. It included Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, and Venezuela. What is the name of this country?
The Republic of Gran Colombia
What is Colombia's national capital? A city located high in the eastern Andes.
Bogotá
What term describes a mountain system made up of roughly parallel ranges?
Cordillera
Flowing for about 1,600 miles (2,575 km), this river River is the Llanos' longest river. Snaking its way through Venezuela to the Atlantic Ocean, the river and its tributaries drain the plains and highlands.
Orinoco River
Besides from rice, coffee, bananas, and sugarcane. In addition, the region has other valuable resources, such as these resources. What are the names of these resources?
oil, iron ore, and coal
In the late 1700s people in Central and South America began struggling for independence from Spain. After independence was achieved, the republic of Gran Colombia was created. It included these countries. What are the names of these countries?
Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, and Venezuela
Soccer, as well as a traditional Chibcha ring-toss game is referred to as what?
Tejo
Lying on the Caribbean coast, this country is located in the middle of the other countries in the region. The country's highest elevation is in the Guiana Highlands, which stretch into Guyana and Suriname.
Venezuela
What other two rivers drain the Andean region? These rivers are also very important next to the Orinoco region.
The Cauca and the Magdalena
What other term do people refer to El Dorado as? The legend about a land rich in gold was inspired by the Chibcha culture in Colombia.
Golden One
In 1830 the republic of Gran Colombia dissolved, and this was created, including the countries Colombia and Panama.
New Granada
Many groups are heavily armed militant groups that have controlled large areas of the country. One of these groups is called an army of what, or members of an irregular military force? This group wants to overthrow the government. This group, as well as other militant groups, have forced farmers off their land and caused thousands of Colombians to flee the country.
Guerrillas
Venezuela’s highest elevation is in this place, which stretch into Guyana and Suriname. For millions of years, wind and rain have eroded these highlands’ plateaus. What is the name of this place?
Guiana Highlands
What term describes another type of landscape, that thrives in the humid tropical climate of southern Colombia.
Rain forests
A legend about a land rich in gold was inspired by what culture in Colombia. It covered their new rulers in gold dust. Then they took each ruler to a lake to wash the gold off.
Chibcha
What two countries were part of the New Granada, created after the Republic of Gran Colombia dissolved in 1830?
Colombia and Panama
Many heavily armed militant groups, as well as the guerrillas are involved in growing crops of an illegal plant. This plant is used to make cocaine, a dangerous drug. What is the name of this plant?
Coca plant