Andes & South America Basics
Elevation Zones
Vocab & Land Use
Adaptations in Each Zone
Cities, Climate, and Skills
Final Jeopardy
100
What continent are the Andes Mountains located on?
South America
100
Which elevation zone is the hot country at the lowest elevations?
Tierra Caliente
100
What geoterm means dividing a mountainous region into zones based on elevation?
altitudinal zonation
100
What is one common crop grown in the tierra caliente?
bananas (also acceptable: rice or sugarcane)
100
What force pulls air downward and helps make air denser at lower elevations?
gravity
200
What is the nickname for the Andes because they run along the west side of the continent?
the backbone of South America
200
Which elevation zone is called the “Land of Eternal Spring”?
Tierra Templada
200
What geoterm means creating flat “steps” on mountain slopes so people can farm?
terracing
200
What is the main commercial crop grown in the tierra templada?
coffee
200
Why might someone near La Paz need extra oxygen when exercising or skiing?
the air is thinner and has less oxygen at high elevation
300
About how many miles do the Andes stretch from north to south?
about 4,500 miles
300
Which elevation zone is the cold country found around 6,000–12,000 feet?
Tierra Fría
300
What geoterm means the highest elevation where trees can grow?
tree line
300
What is one way people adapt their clothing or houses in the tierra caliente?
they wear light clothing OR live in open, breezy houses (often bamboo/wood with palm-thatch roofs)
300
A city near the equator is much cooler than another city near the equator because it is higher. What factor causes the temperature difference?
elevation (higher elevation = cooler temperature)
400
What is the Spanish word for the mountain ranges that make up the Andes?
cordilleras
400
Which elevation zone is the frost country found at the highest elevations?
Tierra Helada
400
What geoterm means the lowest elevation where snow stays year-round?
snow line
400
What is one way people adapt their houses to the cold in the tierra fría?
they build thick-walled houses made of stone or adobe
400
About how much does temperature drop for every 1,000 feet you go up in elevation (from the reading)?
about 3.5°F
500
Which three countries make up the central Andes in this lesson?
Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia
500
Put the elevation zones in order from lowest to highest.
Tierra Caliente → Tierra Templada → Tierra Fría → Tierra Helada
500
What geoterm means trading crops between lowland and highland areas?
vertical trade
500
What are two ways people adapt to life in the tierra helada?
raise llamas/alpacas OR wear warm clothing OR grow quinoa/potatoes OR work in mines
500
If you climb 4,000 feet higher, about how much should the temperature drop using 3.5°F per 1,000 feet?
about 14°F
500
Mt. Aconcagua is the highest mountain in the Andes. About how tall is it (in feet)?
About 22,831 feet (about 6,959 meters).