Environmental problems of South America. North America - Environmental Issues. Environmental problems of the North American continent. Ecological problems of the Amazon River

South America

South America, mainland, area - 18.13 million km2. The equator crosses the mainland in the northern part. Connected to North America by the Isthmus of Panama. It is washed by the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, the shores are weakly indented, only in the South there are many islands. The largest bay is La Plata.

Geological structure and relief.
Most of it is located on a shard of Gondwana, a platform. In the troughs with a stratum of sedimentary rocks, there are lowlands (Amazonian, Orinokskaya, La Platskaya), on the shields of the highlands (Guiana and Brazilian), from the west there is a folding zone (Andes). Mountain building continues, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are frequent (Chimborazo, Cotopaxi). Oil and gas deposits are located in the northern and central parts of the mainland, ore deposits on the Brazilian plateau. Gold reserves are large.

Climate.

The wettest of the continents. High mountains determine a variety of climates, the presence of high-altitude zoning. The equatorial belt occupies the Amazonian lowlands and the northwestern coast. Subequatorial belts - to the North (up to 15 ° N lat.) And South (up to 20 ° S lat.). In the tropical zone, the eastern part is influenced by the trade winds, there is a lot of precipitation on the coast (2000 mm), the difference between summer and winter t is insignificant. In the interior regions, precipitation is noticeably less (1000-500 mm). The Pacific coast is influenced by the cold Peruvian Current. Here is one of the driest places in the world (Atacama Desert). Subtropical belt. The eastern part - humid subtropics, the Pacific coast - dry subtropics of the Mediterranean type, with dry and hot summers and mild wet winters. In the temperate zone in the south of the continent, there is a maritime temperate and moderately continental climate. At the foot of the Andes, the climate is zonal, with altitude t decreases and the precipitation regime changes. The most severe is the highlands of the Andes, which lie in the tropical zone. The driest desert highlands in the world are located here.

Lakes and Rivers. South America has huge river systems. It is fed by rain, most of the rivers belong to the Atlantic Ocean basin.

Natural areas. Equatorial forests (selva) are located on both sides of the equator, occupying almost all of the Amazonian lowlands, the slopes of the Andes and the north of the Pacific coast. Along the Atlantic coast, tropical rainforests are widespread, close to the typical Hilea. The soils are red ferralite. Trees reach 80 m (ceiba), a melon tree, cocoa, rubber-bearing hevea grow. The plants are entwined with vines, there are many orchids, in the Amazon - Victoria Regia.

Animals

the world of South America is associated with numerous arboreal layers, land animals are few. Near the water - tapir, capybara, in the rivers gavial crocodiles, in the crowns - howler monkeys, sloths, birds - macaw parrots, toucans, hummingbirds, boas, including anaconda, are characteristic. There is an anteater, from predators - jaguar, puma, ocelot. The fauna of deserts and semi-deserts is similar to the pampa (nutria, small armadillos). In the southern part of South America, there are no large ungulates, but there are bakers, armadillos, anteaters, nandu ostriches, cougars, jaguars. In the steppes, there are fast pampas deer, pampas cat, several species of llamas, and rhea ostriches.

Plants

Savannahs occupy the Orinoco Lowlands and most of the Guiana and Brazilian Highlands. The soils are red ferralitic and red-brown. In the northern hemisphere, among tall grasses (llanos), there are tree euphorbia, cacti, mimosas, bottle trees. The southern (campos) is much drier, with more cacti. The steppes of South America (pampa) have fertile reddish-black soils, cereals predominate. Deserts and semi-deserts are located in the temperate zone in Patagonia. Soils are brown and gray-brown, dry grasses, pillow-like shrubs. Areas of altitudinal zonality. The most complete set of belts in the equatorial region. There are two large regions on the mainland - the East and the Andes. In the East, the Amazon, the Brazilian Highlands, the Orinoco plains, and Patagonia are distinguished.

Population

More than 250 million people. Spanish and Portuguese colonization and imported Africans resulted in a very variegated ethnic composition. The indigenous people are Indians (Mongoloid race), who created ancient civilizations (Incas). The majority of the population speaks Spanish and Portuguese, therefore South America, together with Central, is called Latin. The population gravitates towards the coasts, especially the Atlantic.

Danger to tourists

Ecological problems
Now the population of South America is nearly 320 million and 78% is urban. The continent has been developed unevenly by man. Only the marginal areas of the mainland (mainly the Atlantic coast) and some areas of the Andes are densely populated. At the same time, the interior regions (for example, the wooded Amazonian lowland) have remained virtually undeveloped until recently.
The origin of the indigenous population of South America (Indians) has long been controversial. The most common point of view is that South America was populated by Mongoloids from Asia through North America about 17-19 thousand years ago. At present, the number of Indians in South America is much higher than in North America, although during the period of colonization it has greatly decreased. In some countries, Indians still make up a significant percentage of the population. In Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia, they are about half of the total number, and in some areas they even significantly predominate. Most of the population of Paraguay is of Indian origin, many Indians live in Colombia. In Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, the Indians were almost completely exterminated in the first period of colonization, and now there are very few of them. Brazil's Indian population is also steadily declining.
The growth of large cities is causing serious environmental problems in urban areas around the world. This is a shortage and low quality of drinking water, air pollution, accumulation of solid waste, etc.

Deforestation is another major problem
The peculiarities of the history of South America and (as a consequence of this) the great unevenness in the distribution of the modern population and its relatively low average density determined the significant preservation of natural conditions in comparison with other continents. Large areas of the Amazonian lowland, the central part of the Guiana Highlands (Roraima Massif), the southwestern Andes and the Pacific coast remained undeveloped for a long time. Separate roving tribes in the Amazonian forests, almost not in contact with the rest of the population, not so much influenced nature as they themselves depended on it. Today, such areas are becoming less and less. The extraction of minerals, the laying of communication lines (in particular, the construction of the Trans-Amazonian Highway), the development of new lands in South America leave less and less space unaffected by human activity.
Extraction of oil in the very thick of the Amazon rainforest or of iron and other ores within the Guiana and Brazilian highlands required the construction of transport routes in the recently still remote and inaccessible areas. This led to an increase in population, destruction of forests, expansion of arable and pasture lands. As a result of an attack on nature using the latest technology, the ecological balance is disturbed and easily vulnerable natural complexes are destroyed.

Summing up, I would like to note that in spite of all today's problems, I look at the ecological future of the Earth, albeit with a very cautious, but still optimism: then life itself will sooner or later put everything in its place.

The nature of the continent has been significantly changed by the economic activities of people. The current state of the Amazon forests is a matter of concern, as the area of jungle is shrinking by 1% annually.

Forests are destroyed in order to expand pastures for cattle and increase the area for plantations of cotton, sugar cane, coffee, etc. The construction of the Trans-Amazonian highway, which crossed the Amazon from west to east by more than 5000 km, caused significant harm to nature (Fig.

The decrease in the area of selva is also associated with the extraction of minerals here, especially oil. Pollution can be the final blow that the jungle will not withstand.

The savannahs of the Brazilian plateau have been transformed by man into plantations of sugar cane, rice, oil palm, coffee, bananas, and grapes. Large areas are covered by pastures.

In addition, the plateau, extremely rich in mineral resources, is dotted with quarries, mines, waste rock dumps. All this depleted the soil, and in some places turned the former agricultural land into a lifeless space.

The natural vegetation of the pampa has also been preserved only in some small areas. The grassy expanses in the east have now turned into fields of wheat, flax, corn, and in the west - into pastures.

The destruction of the primary vegetation caused soil erosion, became the reason for the disappearance of numerous animals that once inhabited the pampa.

Man has also changed the nature of the mountainous part of the continent: in the lower altitude zones, the harvesting of valuable species of trees is rapidly increasing, modern mining equipment rises higher and higher in the mountains.

The natural complexes of South America have been significantly modified by man.

All the tin and beauty of South America, perky and fun)))

Modern political map of Africa. main states, problems of their development

An environmental problem is a deterioration associated with a negative impact of a natural nature, and in our time, the human factor also plays an important role. Depletion of the ozone layer, pollution of the environment or its destruction - all of this, one way or another, entails adverse consequences now or in the near future.

North America, which is quite significant, but is extremely acute, is one of the most progressive regions in the world. For the sake of prosperity, the United States and Canada have to sacrifice their nature. So what are the challenges in ensuring environmental safety for the inhabitants of the North American continent, and what do they threaten in the future?

Technological progress

First of all, it should be noted that over time, the living conditions of the urban population deteriorate, especially in industrial centers. The reason for this is the active exploitation of natural resources - soil, surface water, and the environment, destruction of vegetation. However, the most important links of the natural environment - soil, hydrosphere and atmosphere - are interconnected, and the human impact on each of them affects the rest, therefore destructive processes become global in nature.

As North America develops, the continent's environmental problems become more acute. The destruction and displacement of the natural natural landscape with its subsequent replacement with an artificial environment, which can be harmful and even unsuitable for human life, is happening evenly with progress. Already in the second half of the 20th century, the mass of waste on the North American continent was 5-6 billion tons per year, of which at least 20% were reactive.

Traffic fumes

Exhaust gas is a problem all over the world today, but the situation is particularly dire on the west coast of the United States in the state of California. In these places, steam passes along the mainland as a result of which steam condenses over the coastal waters, in which large volumes of vehicle exhaust gases are concentrated. In addition, during the summer half of the year, there is anticyclonic weather, which contributes to an increase in the influx of solar radiation, as a result of which complex chemical transformations take place in the atmosphere. The consequence of this is a dense fog, in which a mass of toxic substances is concentrated.

Experts studying the environmental problems of the North American continent call the excessive emission of exhaust gases a serious challenge to society, because they not only have a detrimental effect on nature, but also cause many human diseases.

Depletion of water resources

What other environmental issues are there in North America? On the mainland today things are very bad with water resources - they are simply being depleted. On the continent, the level of water consumption is steadily increasing, and today it is already exceeding the permissible level. Back in the last century, the American specialist A. Walman published the results of studies according to which more than half of the population of the United States consumes water that has been used at least once and passed through the sewer.

Under such circumstances, it is difficult to fulfill two very important conditions: along with the restoration of water quality, it is necessary to constantly ensure the availability of its natural volume in rivers and other bodies of water. Water levels in the country's largest reservoir dropped dramatically in 2015, and scientists warn that this could be the start of a longer drought.

Water pollution

Environmental problems are not limited to depletion alone. The list of negative factors in this area is quite long, but mainly it is the pollution of water bodies. Wastes are thrown out in them, in which everything is not contained, and shipping also causes significant damage.

Also today, quite a lot of harm is caused. Approximately a third of the water withdrawn from rivers annually falls on nuclear and thermal power plants, in which it is heated and returned to the reservoir. The temperature of such water is 10-12% higher, and the oxygen content is noticeably lower, which plays a significant role and is often the cause of the death of many living organisms.

Already in the second half of the 20th century, 10-17 million fish were killed in the USA every year from water pollution, and the Mississippi, which is the largest river in North America, is now one of the ten most polluted in the world.

Rest of nature

North America, located in almost all latitudes of the hemisphere, has a unique landscape and a very rich flora and fauna. Environmental problems have reached the virgin nature of the mainland. On its territory, there are several dozen national parks, which in today's conditions have become almost the only corners in which many millions of city dwellers can take a break from the noise and dirt of megacities. The influx of visitors and tourists, increasing at an incredible speed, affects them, which is why today some unique species of animals and plants are on the verge of extinction.

It is a sad fact that not only humans are a source of pollution - they are washed out by rainwater and blown out by the wind, and then various toxic substances contained in rock dumps are transferred to rivers. Such dumps can often stretch along the river bed for long distances, constantly polluting the reservoir.

Even in the north of Canada, where natural resources are not exploited so intensively, significant changes in nature can be seen today. The ecological problems of the taiga in North America are being studied by the staff of Wood Buffalo, one of the largest national parks in the world.

Exploitation of natural resources

As already mentioned, the continent's environmental problems are largely associated with the high technological level of development of the United States and Canada. The natural resources of North America are diverse and numerous: the bowels of the continent are rich in oil, natural gas, and the most important minerals. The huge timber reserves in the north and the agricultural-friendly lands of the south have been overused for many years, resulting in many environmental problems.

Shale gas

Recently, a lot of hype has arisen around shale gas - it is more and more intensively produced in North America. The environmental issues that can arise with the use of certain technologies appear to be of little concern to companies involved in the exploration and production of hydrocarbons from shale formations. Unfortunately, political intrigues play a role in promoting this type of extraction of energy resources, and the possible consequences for the environment are sometimes not taken into account at all. Thus, the US government has embarked on a course of acquiring independence from energy supplies from foreign markets, and if yesterday the country purchased gas from neighboring Canada, today it is already positioning itself as a hydrocarbon exporter. And all this is done to the detriment of the environment.

Conclusions for the future

This short article briefly examined the environmental problems of North America. Of course, we did not consider all the information, but based on the available material, we can conclude that in the pursuit of profit and in the pursuit of material benefits, people methodically inflicted and continue to inflict serious damage to the environment, while rarely thinking about the consequences of their actions.

Trying to achieve the maximum effect in the exploitation of natural resources, we paid little attention to preventive measures, and now we have what we have. An illustrative example of this is the North American continent, perhaps the most highly developed region in the world, whose environmental problems are also very significant.

The countries of South America are at a higher level of development compared to other developing countries. Recently, the economies of Latin America have been growing faster than the world average. One of the main reasons is that South American countries have traveled a longer path of sovereign development. A certain role was played by economic management, reforms, high prices for raw materials, which contribute to the prosperity of the region. Currently, South American countries are not able to fully independently develop a diversified economy and are largely dependent on the developed countries of the world. Significant differences remain between individual countries. The economies of Brazil, Argentina, Venezuela are more in line with the level of developed countries. In Bolivia, Paraguay and a number of other countries, the level of economic development is lower.

Industry of South America

Hydropower resources contribute to the construction of the world's largest hydropower plants: Itaipu on the Parana River, Guri in Venezuela, Tucurui in Brazil. Part of the electricity is generated at thermal and nuclear power plants. Non-ferrous metallurgy is the leading industry in Chile, Peru
and Bolivia.

More than 2 thousand power plants operate in Brazil. These are mainly hydroelectric power plants, which produce 75% of electricity. Thermal, solar, wind and nuclear power plants account for 25% of the generated electricity.

In the countries of South America, the manufacturing industry is developing most dynamically. Modern enterprises of new industries appeared here. But a relatively diversified industry has been created only in two South American countries - Brazil and Argentina.

In Brazil and Argentina, the automotive and aviation industries are developed, there are nuclear power plants, large iron and steel plants, computers and military equipment are produced. The manufacturing industry is focused primarily on meeting the needs of the domestic market, which are growing due to the rapid increase in the population. The factories are located in cities with a favorable geographic location, a skilled labor force (Sao Paulo, Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro) and in places where fuel or raw materials are available (for example, Karajas in Brazil).

The machine-building complex is developing not only in Argentina and Brazil, but also in Venezuela, Chile, Colombia, Peru. Its most important centers were Buenos Aires, Cordova (Argentina), Sao Paulo, Belo Horizonte (Brazil).

The main branch of mechanical engineering is transport engineering. Cars are manufactured in Brazil, Argentina, Venezuela. Shipbuilding and aircraft building (Brazil), agricultural engineering (Brazil and Argentina) are developing. The aerospace industry is developing, microelectronics - in Brazil, robotics, the nuclear industry - in Argentina. The chemical and petrochemical industries were developed in Brazil and Argentina. In the world economy, the South American states are assigned the role of exporters of mineral raw materials and agricultural products. Each country specializes in the export of raw materials and products on which its well-being depends. In the mining industry, oil production is distinguished in Venezuela, Argentina, Ecuador, Colombia. Mining of iron, copper, nickel ores is the basis of the mining industry in Brazil, Venezuela, Chile, Peru. Brazil is also rich in reserves of manganese ore and bauxite. Huge reserves of copper ore are concentrated in Chile and Peru. Bolivia is famous for its tin mining. In Colombia, Brazil, Peru, precious metal ores are mined.

Areas of new development in the deepest parts of some countries are acquiring special significance.

The largest of them is being created in Venezuelan Guayana. It is based on the electric power industry and metallurgy. Iron ore is mined in an open pit and a significant portion of it is exported.

Agriculture plays an important role in the South American economy. The structure of agriculture is dominated by crop production. The largest area is occupied by areas in which traditional food crops are grown: corn, rice, millet, legumes, sweet potatoes.

The face of South America in world agriculture is defined by large plantations of tropical crops. The most important of these are sugarcane, coffee, cocoa, bananas and cotton. The Arabica coffee produced in Colombia stands out for its particularly high quality. Most of the wheat crop comes from Argentina and Brazil. Some countries and areas mainly produce only one crop (monocultural countries). Livestock raising is directed towards meat, but at the same time the production of milk and dairy products is increasing. Argentina has the second largest beef export in the world. Poultry farming is developing in Brazil, and its products are exported. (Study agricultural development areas on the thematic map.) Brazil's services sector employs about 70% of the population.

South America Transportation

The leading role in transportation is taken by road transport. The most important highways are the Pan American and Trans-Amazon Highways. Air and rail transport is of great importance. One of the world's highest railways from Lima to Orio crosses the Andes at an altitude of 4818 m.

External economic relations are carried out mainly with the help of sea transport. Raw materials, fuel, and agricultural products prevail in the export of South American countries.

The countries of South America supply the world market with coffee, cocoa, cotton, meat, wheat, sugar, citrus fruits. Chile exports copper, Peru - lead and copper, Bolivia - tin, Jamaica - bauxite. Projects for assembling enterprises of modern Belarusian equipment in Latin America are being created.

Environmental problems of South America

The growth of large industrial centers in South America is causing serious environmental problems in urban areas around the world. These are the poor quality of drinking water, air pollution, and the accumulation of solid waste.

In terms of the area of territories with undisturbed nature, South America ranks second after Antarctica. But under the influence of economic activity, the forest area is decreasing.

The Amazon in the Southern Hemisphere is considered one of the major deforestation areas. Extraction of oil in the thick of the Amazon rainforest, iron ore in the Guiana and Brazilian plateaus required the construction of transport routes in inaccessible areas. This led to an increase in population, destruction of forests, expansion of arable and pasture lands. The destruction of forests leads to the destruction of the soil, a reduction in the number of animals. Forest fires are a big problem. In South America, about 40% of tropical forests have disappeared.

In recent years, in the countries of South America, the struggle to maintain the ecological balance in nature has intensified. One of the areas of nature conservation is the creation of national parks and reserves. More than 700 protected areas have been created on the mainland. A large area is occupied by the San Joaquin National Park in Brazil, where the most valuable forests from the Brazilian araucaria are protected. The furry arachnid monkey, spectacled bear, breeding grounds for sea turtles are also protected here. Famous national parks Iguazu in Brazil, Manu in Peru.

The growth rates of economic development of the countries of South America are ahead of the world average. The countries of South America are characterized by a decline in the share of agriculture in GDP and an increase in the share of industry. The development of the economy is facilitated by the huge reserves of natural resources, the availability of labor resources, and the expansion of integration.

Technological progress

Traffic fumes

Depletion of water resources

Water pollution

Rest of nature

Exploitation of natural resources

Shale gas

Conclusions for the future

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Slide captions:

SOUTH AMERICA GENERAL REVIEW ON THE NATURE OF SOUTH AMERICA

The purpose of the lesson: To repeat and generalize the theme of the continent "South America"; consolidate knowledge on the topic

Objectives: 1. To continue the formation of an idea of the integrity of the nature of the continent. 2. Develop imaginative thinking, speech, the ability to highlight the main thing, the ability to work with a map, to generalize the material. 3. Develop the ability to listen and analyze the answers of a friend. 4. Formation of logical thinking of students. 5. Development of skills in working with a computer, Internet resources.

GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION MATERIAL EXTREME POINTS: NORTH SOUTH WESTERN EAST OVERALL REFERENCE # 1 DESIGNATE ON THE CONTOUR MAP

FROM THE HISTORY OF DISCOVERY AND RESEARCH MATERIAL TASK №2

Christopher Columbus - 1492 - Discovered America

Amerigo Vespucci - took part in 2 expeditions. He was the first to describe open lands.

Alexander Humboldt - German geographer -18-19 centuries studied the nature of the continent.

Vavilov N.I. - Russian botanist established the centers of ancient centers of agriculture. (1923-1933)

ASSIGNMENT №3 WHY IN THE WEST MATERIAL MOUNTAINS, AND IN THE EAST-PLAINS?

Snow avalanche (May 1970) killed 25 thousand people

Earthquakes in the Peruvian Andes

Brazilian highlands

SOUTH AMERICA RELIEF TASK No. 4 TO IDENTIFY LARGE RELIEF FORMS

CLIMATE JOB # 5 RECORD CLIMATE AREAS: A) TROPICAL ZONE B) SUBTROPIC C) MODERATE

INLAND WATERS

TASK №6 Designate the largest rivers on the c / c

Waterfalls JOB №7 NAME WATERFALLS MATERIKA. WHAT RIVER SYSTEMS ARE THEY LOCATED ON?

JOB # 8? LAKE MATERIKA WHAT ARE THE NAME, WHERE ARE LOCATED?

LAKE TITICACA

NATURE OF SOUTH AMERICA

NATURAL ZONES ASSIGNMENT # 9 WHAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF THE PERUVAN CURRENT IN THE FORMATION OF THE COASTAL DESERT? What is the name of this desert? Where is?

NATURAL ZONES JOB # 10 WHAT NATURAL AREA YOU WILL GO TO, MOVING FROM POINT A TO POINT B

ASSIGNMENT # 11 WHAT IS THE CALLED NATURAL AREA? Where is it located?

ASSIGNMENT # 12 NAME REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PLANT WORLD WHO MEET ON THE MAINS OF AFRICA AND AUSTRALIA?

WHAT NATURAL ZONES ARE THE BIRDS PRESENTED IN?

THE WONDERS OF SOUTH AMERICA. SELVA

PUMP REPRESENTATIVES

PATAGONIA

THE STUDENT CROSSES THE DESERT

THEIR HOMELAND-SOUTH AMERICA

COUNTRIES OF SOUTH AMERICA. BRAZIL

On the subject: methodological developments, presentations and notes

The material will be useful for teachers of geography. It is a development of a lesson on the topic "Geographical Location of South America" ...

South America is the fourth largest continent on Earth. This is the southern part of the landmass, which is called the New World, the Western Hemisphere, or simply America. The mainland has the shape of a triangle, it is wide in the north and gradually narrows towards the southern point - Cape Horn.

The continent is thought to have originated when the Pangea supercontinent split several hundred million years ago. This theory states that throughout the whole of South America and Africa were a single landmass. For this reason, both modern continents have similar mineral resources and rock types.

Basic geographic information

South America together with the islands occupies 17.3 million km². Most of its territory is located in the Southern Hemisphere. It passes through the continent. The coastline is quite indented. Pacific and Atlantic oceans, which form bays at river mouths. The southern coast with the Tierra del Fuego archipelago is more indented. :

north - Cape Galinas;
south - Cape Froward;
west - Cape Parinyas;
east - Cape Cabo Branco.

The largest islands are Tierra del Fuego, Galapagos, Chiloe, Wellington Island and the Falkland Islands group. Valdes, Paracas, Taitao and Brunswick belong to the large peninsulas.

South America is divided into 7 natural regions: the Brazilian Highlands, Orinoco Plain, Pampa, Patagonia, North Andes, Central and South Andes. The continent includes 12 independent countries and 3 territories without sovereignty. Most of the states are developing countries. The largest country in terms of area - Brazil, is Portuguese-speaking. Other countries speak Spanish. In total, about 300 million people live on the mainland, and the population continues to grow. The ethnic composition is complex due to the special population of the mainland. Most people live on the Atlantic coast.

Relief

Andes

The base of the continent consists of two elements: the Andes mountain belt and the South American plate. It rose and fell several times during its existence. In elevated places in the east, plateaus have formed. Low-lying plains were formed in the troughs.

In the southeastern part of Brazil, the Brazilian Highlands settled. It stretches for 1300 km. It includes the mountain ranges of Serra de Manticheira, Serra do Paranapiataba, Serra Gerall and Serra do Mar. The Brazilian shield is located south of the Amazon. The Guiana Plateau, 1,600 km long, stretches from Venezuela to Brazil. It is famous for gorges and rainforests. The highest Angel Falls, 979 m high, is located here.

The Amazonian lowland was formed due to the rough waters of the river of the same name. The surface is filled with continental and marine sediments. In the west, heights barely reach 150 meters above sea level. The Guiana Highlands originated in the north of the continent. The longest mountain range on Earth, the Andes, is 9 thousand km. The highest peak is Mount Aconcagua, 6960 m. Mountain building continues to this day. This is evidenced by the eruptions of numerous volcanoes. The most active is the Cotopaxi volcano. The mountain range is seismically active. The last major earthquake hit the Chile region in 2010.

Deserts

In the southern part of the continent, a zone and semi-desert has formed. This is a unique territory for the temperate zone: deserts overlook the ocean coast. The closeness of the ocean creates high humidity. However, the Andes influenced the formation of the dry area. They block the path of wet winds with their mountain slopes. Another factor is the cold Peruvian current.

Atacama

Atacama Desert

The territory of the desert is located on the western coast of the continent, its total area is 105 thousand km². This region is considered the driest on the planet. In some areas of the Atacama, there has been no rainfall for several centuries. The Peruvian Pacific Current cools the lower ones. Because of this, this desert has the lowest humidity on Earth - 0%.

Average daily temperatures are cool for desert regions. It is 25 ° C. Fog can be observed in some areas in winter. Millions of years ago, the region was under water. Over time, the plain dried up, resulting in the formation of salt pools. There are a sufficient number of active volcanoes in the desert. Red stony soils prevail.

The landscape of the Atacama is often compared to the lunar landscape: sandbanks and rocks alternate with dunes and hills. Evergreen forests stretch from north to south. On the western border, the desert strip is replaced by thickets of bushes. In total, there are 160 species of small cacti in the desert, as well as lichens and blue-green algae. Acacias, mesquite trees and cacti grow in the oases. Among the climatic conditions, llamas, foxes, chinchillas and alpacas have adapted. The coast is home to 120 species of birds.

A small population is engaged in the extraction of minerals. Tourists come to the desert to visit the Valley of the Moon, see the "Desert Hand" sculpture and enjoy sandy snowboarding.

Sechura

Sechura Desert

This desert area is located in the northwest of the continent. On the one hand, it is washed by the Pacific Ocean, and on the other, it borders on the Andes. The total length is 150 km. Sechura is one of the cold deserts with an average annual temperature of 22 ° C. This is due to the south-westerly winds and ocean currents off the coast. It also contributes to the formation of fog in winter. Fog retains moisture and keeps you cool. Due to the subtropical anticyclones, the region receives little rainfall.

Sands form mobile dunes. In the central part, they form dunes with a height of 1.5 m. Strong winds move the sand and expose the bedrock. The flora and fauna are concentrated along the watercourses. There are two large cities on the territory of Sechura.

Monte

Desert Monte

The desert is located in the north of Argentina. It has a hot and dry climate. Precipitation may not fall for about 9 months a year. The weather changes are explained by the absence of mountains: the territory is open to north and south winds. In the valleys, clayey soils, and stony in the mountains. Few rivers are fed by rain.

The territory is dominated by semi-desert steppes. There are light forests near the water. The fauna is represented by birds of prey, small mammals, including llamas. People live in oases and near water bodies. Part of the land is converted into agricultural land.

Inland waters

Amazon river

The continent is experiencing record rainfall. Thanks to this phenomenon, many rivers were formed. Since the Andes act as the main watershed, most of the mainland belongs to the Atlantic basin. Water bodies are mainly supplied by rain.

The Amazon, with a length of 6.4 thousand km, originates in Peru. It has 500 tributaries. The rainy season increases the level of the river by 15 m. Its tributaries form waterfalls, the largest of which is called San Antonio. are used poorly. The length of the Parana River is 4380 km. Its mouth is located on the Brazilian Highlands. Precipitation comes unevenly because it crosses several climatic zones. In the upper course, due to the rapids, the Parana forms waterfalls. The largest, Igausu, has a height of 72 m. Downstream the river becomes flat.

The continent's third largest inland water body, the Orinoco, is 2,730 km long. It originates in the Guiana Plateau. There are small waterfalls in the upper reaches. In the lower part, the river forks to form lagoons and channels. During floods, the depth can be up to 100 m. Due to the frequent ebb and flow, navigation becomes a risky activity.

The largest lake located in Venezuela is Maracaibo. It was formed as a result of the deflection of the tectonic plate. In the north, this reservoir is smaller than in the southern part. The lake is rich in algae, due to which various species of birds and fish live here. The southern coast is presented. Tourists are attracted by a rare phenomenon called "Catatumbo Lighthouse". The mixture of cold Andes air, warm Caribbean air and methane from swamps creates lightning. They strike 160 days a year, and soundlessly.

Titicaca, the second largest lake in South America, is located between the Andes ridges. It has 41 inhabited islands. This is the largest navigable lake. Titicaca and the surrounding area are a national park. Rare ones live on its territory. Due to the thin air, there is an insignificant species diversity. Most of the continent has large reserves of fresh water.

Climate

Subequatorial climatic zone

The continent is located in five climatic zones. occupies the Pacific coast and the Amazonian lowlands. During the year, 2 thousand mm of precipitation falls. The temperature throughout the year is low, about 24 ° C. It is in this zone that equatorial forests grow, which are the largest massif of humid forests on Earth.

The fight for the environment is to create national parks and reserves. Countries need to implement clean technologies and replant areas that have been felled.

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Somewhere in the 60s of the last century on our planet was born what everyone knows today under the gloomy name "global problems". These are planetary, vital problems, on the solution of which the fate of humanity as a whole depends. They are interconnected, cover different aspects of people's lives and relate to all countries and peoples of the modern world, regardless of the level of their social, economic and cultural development. These are the problems of land and air, water and food, cities and countryside, physical and spiritual health, world war, etc. In the end, these are questions of the survival of people and living beings in general, in whatever part of the world they are.

The South American continent is one of the most amazing and beautiful places in the world. One cannot help but love this land, and the more painful it is to see and realize those of its troubles, which are at the same time the source and manifestation of a number of global problems. An obvious and vivid example of this is the ongoing and catastrophic deforestation of the Amazon rainforest, which is figuratively, but rightly called the green lungs of our planet. Dense evergreen forests that grow on the shores of the great Amazon produce colossal amounts of oxygen, scattered throughout the Earth. At the same time, the forest biomass of the Amazon Basin absorbs about one hundred million tons of carbon dioxide. The uniqueness and value of these forests also lies in the fact that they are distinguished by the greatest biodiversity in the world: every tenth species of animal or plant described in science is present here. The jungle of South America is the largest tropical forest in the world. It covers 5.5 million square kilometers, which is half of the total remaining rainforest on the planet. However, this state of affairs is changing rapidly.

For millennia, until the middle of the last century, tropical forests in the equator zone remained in a pristine state. And in just thirty years - from 1960 to 1990 - according to various expert estimates, 1/5 of the Amazon forest cover was destroyed. In general, it must be said that the rate of deforestation in the American region is one of the highest in the world and averages 0.48% per year. Of the 418 million hectares of forest cleared in the world over the past 30 years, Latin America accounts for 190 million hectares. Between 1990 and 2000 alone, the total forest area in the region decreased by 46.7 million hectares. Annually about 130 thousand square meters. km. green areas (this is an area of a country the size of Bulgaria) is burned out, cut down, flooded or destroyed in other ways. Given that the Amazon rainforest plays a key role in the hydrological and climatic system of the Earth and has a significant impact on the global climate, deforestation is truly a global problem.

Each of the South American countries where deforestation is taking place has its own profile of causes. So, in Brazil, this is primarily the needs of the development of agricultural production, in particular, the expansion of soybeans and grain crops, as well as an increase in the production of export beef. It turns out that 60 - 70% of the former forest land is used for raising cattle, mainly by small-scale farmers. In Colombia, the production of cocaine has a huge impact on deforestation. Coca bushes, which have recently become too abundant in tropical forests, significantly accelerate their destruction.

Common and fairly good reasons for clearing the equatorial forest include the fact that it is widely used as a means of heating, and its valuable species are exported. In addition, population growth requires new places of residence, and the needs of the economy require the development of transport infrastructure. Therefore, every year, through the endless expanses of tropical forests, more and more roads are laid, along which new settlements instantly appear. Every year, at the end of the rainy season, settlers begin deforestation, regardless of its age and quality - new areas are cleared for crops. From year to year, giant bonfires are constantly burning in the jungle. The ash is used to fertilize the fields where maize, beans, cassava, rice, and sugar cane are grown. In addition, the decrease in the area of selva is also associated with the extraction of minerals here, especially oil, as well as with the expansion of the territory for plantations of cotton, sugar cane, coffee, etc.

What are the consequences of further significant reduction of equatorial forests, what is the threat?

It is reliably known that, in principle, deforestation leads to sharp temperature changes, changes in the amount of precipitation and wind speed. Reduction of tropical rainforests inevitably leads to a decrease in the supply of oxygen to the atmosphere, to an increase in the content of carbon dioxide in it. This, in turn, enhances the "greenhouse effect", leads to the extinction of many animal species, which will lose their natural habitat. Where the solid massifs are replaced by areas of forest thoroughly thinned out by people, arid and almost treeless plains are gradually emerging. Today it is the most characteristic landscape in Brazil. In connection with all this, one recalls the sad fate of the ancient cultures of Mesopotamia, the Mediterranean, and Central America. These civilizations, as you know, perished or disappeared from the historical stage precisely because people were mercilessly cutting down forests, and this was followed by soil erosion, silting of rivers, depletion of fertile lands and the decline of agriculture.

Similar fears are confirmed by the article by journalist Miguel Ángel Criado "Deforestation in the Amazon will lead to reduced harvests", published in the Spanish newspaper "Materia" on May 15, 2013. The author drew on research from several universities in Brazil and the United States, who constructed a model for the interaction of climate and land use and developed a number of predictions to understand what awaits us in the future. According to the conclusions of the scientists, if the deforestation of tropical forests is not stopped, then changes in land use will inevitably entail negative climatic consequences:

dangerous reduction in the capacity of selva to absorb carbon dioxide;
rising temperatures in the Amazon basin;
a decrease in the amount of moisture in the atmosphere and a violation of the precipitation regime.

And this, in turn, will lead to a decrease in the production of forage crops. Brazilian researchers predict that by 2050, if the area under crops is doubled, the harvest will be reduced by 30%.

Nevertheless, writes Miguel Criado, the Brazilian government and the agro-industrial complex are in favor of further deforestation. All indications are that forests will continue to be cut down. This is evidenced not only by the corresponding amendments to the Brazilian Forest Code, but also by the plans of private business, intending to double the volume of agricultural production by 2020. And the forests clearly interfere with this. Alas, the protective function that the Amazonian selva performs on a planetary scale is of little interest to them, but they are very interested in their own financial interests.

Another simultaneously global and continental problem, both aspects of which are inextricably linked and interact, is the problem of drugs in its entire range - drug addiction, drug production, drug trafficking, drug crime. Drugs are not just a new global threat, but a tragic factor in the death of 200,000 to 300,000 people annually. This is an annual drug turnover that brings in more than $ 320 billion, serving as the financial base for terrorism, piracy, organized crime and corruption. It is a conglomerate of criminal drug groups in the shadow sector of the global banking system, which has formed a system of monetary transactions in the amount of almost $ 1 trillion. These are illegal cartel-industrial formations that have turned into an extremely powerful social institution that cannot be controlled by the legitimate authorities, weakening the sovereign Latin American states and hindering their development.

The South American continent (mainly Colombia, Peru, Bolivia and Venezuela) together with Afghanistan are now two planetary drug centers in which the production of cocaine and heroin has acquired an industrial character and unprecedented volumes. So, if in the 50s of the XX century only 10 tons of cocaine were produced in the countries of the continent, then already at the end of the 80s - 500 tons, and in 2006 - 1030 tons. Thus, the level of cocaine production has increased here 100 times over 50 years, which had global negative consequences. Naturally, the first blow fell on North America and primarily on the United States. Here, already in the early 1980s, every 10th inhabitant confessed to using drugs.

After the US tightened control over the import of cocaine, the basic drug flow was split. In addition to the countries of North America, he also went to West Africa and the countries of the European Union. Moreover, in terms of volume, the new drug traffic and the basic one are practically identical. According to experts, it was the massive injection of cocaine from the countries of South America and, of course, the flow of heroin from Afghanistan that put the EU countries "on the needle". Currently, 10% of the adult population use drugs there. For the countries of West Africa and the Sahel, South American drug smuggling and trade caused a destabilizing tsunami in the political and socio-economic spheres. Addressing the UN Security Council in December 2009, Antonio Maria Costa, Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Organized Crime / ONUDC, said that the proceeds of drug trafficking are increasingly being used by terrorist and anti-government organizations in the Sahel to finance their military and subversive actions. The Bureau has convincing evidence that two illicit drug streams have crossed in the Sahara. One - heroin - uses East Africa as a transit point, the second - cocaine - West Africa. Further, both streams merge together and use new routes through Chad, Niger and Mali, Costa said. These drug flows are not only enriching organized crime. Terrorist and anti-government organizations operating in African countries also replenish their resources from the income from participation in drug trafficking. These funds are used to finance their operations, acquire weapons and pay for the militants.

In the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean, drug production and the continuous transit through Central America that it generates remains the key driver of terrible violence. In the period from 2000 to 2010, 1 million premeditated murders were registered there, which allowed these countries to become the absolute champion in this sad indicator. In 2014, the number of premeditated homicides in these countries was four times the global level. Today, more than 30% of all premeditated murders in the world are committed in these countries, despite the fact that only 9% of the world's population live there. Of the world's 50 most dangerous cities to live in, 40 are located in the Western Hemisphere, with Latin American cities in the top ten on this list. First of all, this is the Honduran city of San Pedro Sula, then the Venezuelan Caracas, then the Mexican Acapulco, Colombian Cali and the Brazilian Maceio.

The names of powerful Latin American transnational drug cartels have become known to the whole world, for example, the Medellin Cartel and the Cali Cartel in Colombia, Los Zetas in Mexico and Guatemala, Primeiro team da capital in Brazil, Mara Salvatrucha in El Salvador and Honduras other. Now experts note with alarm the trend of transformation of family-type drug cartels into syndicated-industrial type drug cartels, which include not only separate production and distribution, but also their own power structures (intelligence, counterintelligence, paramilitary formations), etc.

Thus, in terms of its scale and consequences, the drug problem has acquired such a status that it can be put on a par with the problems of terrorism, piracy and nuclear non-proliferation. It is no coincidence that many states, politicians, public figures and specialists consider it necessary to urgently form a fundamentally new global anti-drug agenda, expand and strengthen international cooperation in the field of anti-drug policy.

The problem of anthropogenic pollution of the environment is also among the acute global problems with a pronounced South American specificity. It is the result of many factors: population growth, industrialization, urbanization, transport development, etc. Already due to the fact that the level of urbanization in the region is about 80%, and in the cities of Argentina, Uruguay, Venezuela and Chile it is even higher - from 88 up to 93%, the problem of pollution of the lithosphere (soil cover), atmosphere and hydrosphere inevitably arises. After all, every day giant urban agglomerations - Sao Paulo, Lima, Bogota, Rio de Janeiro, Santiago, Buenos Aires and others - produce tens of thousands of tons of solid waste. They require disposal, but, unfortunately, most of them rot in open-air landfills, which creates an extreme environmental and epidemiological hazard.

As you know, as a result of the decomposition of organic waste, gas is released, which contains methane and carbon dioxide. It not only exudes a fetid odor, but also destroys all vegetation on the surface, and also enhances the greenhouse effect. Gas ignitions and fires are quite common in landfills. Poisonous smoke enters the atmosphere and poisons all life within a radius of several kilometers. In addition, due to landfills, deep soil contamination and groundwater poisoning occur. The surrounding bodies of water become toxic and hazardous to humans, and the soil becomes unusable for several hundred years after the closure of the landfill. But that's not all. Being a repository of various toxins and the most dangerous bacteria and also a source of food for thousands of birds, animals and even people living and working in landfills, the latter become the cause of epidemics and even a kind of biological weapon.

A striking example of such a landfill was the Brazilian Jardim Gramacho, located in the metropolitan area of Rio de Janeiro. It was considered one of the largest in the world. Every day, up to nine thousand tons of waste was taken there, and over the 34 years of its existence, more than 70 million tons of waste have accumulated there. Environmentalists believe that it was because of this landfill that the beach in Guanabara Bay, which was once considered one of the cleanest in Rio de Janeiro, turned out to be polluted. The closure of Jardim Gramacho was postponed several times. However, in the summer of 2012, literally on the eve of the start of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio + 20) in Rio de Janeiro, the Brazilian authorities considered it a matter of honor to close Jardim Gramacho. This is undoubtedly a great achievement, especially when you consider that a powerful waste recycling plant was built not far from the six millionth capital of the most colorful carnival in the world. However, there are few stories with such a positive ending. They are rather the exception to the rule.

For example, in 2011, the famous El Bordo Poniente landfill near Mexico City was closed. It was called the largest municipal solid waste landfill in Latin America. Here, in a quarter of a century, from 50 to 60 million tons of garbage have accumulated. Closing the landfill, according to the Mexican Minister of the Environment, is equivalent to cutting the harmful emissions of 500,000 cars. The Mexican government planned to build a plant to generate electricity on the site of the closed landfill. However, while these plans remain unfulfilled, and millions of tons of garbage are still rotting near Mexico City. As for the 15 thousand tons of garbage that the multimillion-dollar metropolis produces every day, it is transported to other landfills.

Despite the concern of the public and the authorities of the countries of South America with the problem of utilization of household and industrial waste, its solution in the near future is hardly possible due to economic reasons. Therefore, there will be huge landfills such as Shakhta on the outskirts of Guatemala City and hundreds of small landfills throughout the region.

Modern agglomerations are also a powerful source of atmospheric pollution, which occurs as a result of the operation of public and private transport, household and industrial equipment, various life support systems and industrial enterprises. Together, all this creates billions of tons of solid and gaseous particles annually. The main air pollutants are carbon monoxide and sulfur dioxide, which are formed primarily during the combustion of mineral fuels, as well as oxides of sulfur, nitrogen, phosphorus, lead, mercury, aluminum and other metals. In turn, sulfur dioxide serves as the main source of the so-called acid rain, which reduces yields, destroys both vegetation and life in river reservoirs, destroys buildings, and adversely affects human health.

Increasing emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere creates a particular problem. Such emissions are known to threaten humanity with the so-called greenhouse effect and global warming. If in the middle of the 20th century, worldwide CO2 emissions were about 6 billion tons, then at the end of the century it exceeded 25 billion tons. The economically developed countries of the world are primarily responsible for these emissions. But in recent decades, due to the development of industry and energy, carbon emissions have also increased significantly in several countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.

In general, in South America, industries with a high level of environmental pollution have developed significantly. This is due, on the one hand, to the transfer of “dirty” industries here from developed countries, on the other, to the industrialization strategy with the predominant development of material, energy and labor-intensive industries. Today 80% of industrial pollution is associated with the use of fuel and energy resources. Oil refining and petrochemicals are ecologically the most hazardous industries. In Brazil, the dirtiest area was Kamasari, where a large petrochemical complex was built. Such areas, where the concentration of hazardous production takes place, are called the "valley of death".

Industrial pollution in Brazil is also associated with the expansion of ethanol production from sugar cane. With its own limited oil resources and a desire to reduce its dependence on oil imports, Brazil has become the only country producing industrial alcohol from sugar cane. The overwhelming majority of cars here run on alcohol engines. However, now the attitude towards such an actively pursued program "Proalkol" began to change, since its ecological consequences are already clear: a large emission of pollutants, pollution of the natural environment with waste water from distillation plants. Moreover, the industry turned out to be excessively water-intensive.

The condition of the watersheds of South America is a special and very acute problem. On the one hand, there is a lack of clean water in many large areas, on the other hand, the level of its pollution is high. For example, in Buenos Aires, about 3.5 million people quench their thirst with water, which contains a lot of its pollutants. In Costa Rica, half of the locals take water from underground wells using submerged pumps that operate without water purification equipment. In Venezuela, the situation with clean drinking water is even more dramatic: there is practically no infrastructure in the country, and most of the inhabitants of this state receive drinking water at a rate. Against this background, corruption is rampant in the country, and government officials responsible for the distribution of water resources are making huge fortunes for themselves, banally selling quotas for drinking water has become worth its weight in gold.

Bolivia experienced a real water crisis in 2016, which continues to this day. Water is scarce in five of the nine Bolivian departments. Agriculture and residents of large cities such as La Paz are also affected. The water from the taps here flows once every couple of days a week and - only for a few hours. The immediate cause is the worst drought in the country in a quarter of a century. But, according to experts, it's not just her. This is the result of many factors. This is a crisis in water resources management, and serious climate change, including the rapid melting of glaciers. Since 1970, due to the Bolivian glaciers have decreased by 30-50%. They are a vital source of water for the country. A 2008 World Bank report noted that most of the glaciers in the Andes will disappear by 2028 and will affect 100 million people.

The drinking water situation in Uruguay and Chile is no less difficult. Experts estimate that between 2040 and 2100, these countries will experience intense melting of glaciers in the Andes, which will cause mudflows and floods. Not only will it be necessary to evacuate tens of thousands of local residents from their settled places, but it will also be necessary to provide them with drinking water, which simply cannot be taken from anywhere. In Peru, the situation is slightly different: there seems to be enough sources of clean drinking water in the country, but the uncontrolled use of pesticides in agriculture has led to the fact that many of them have become simply unusable. And this is only part of the problem, since the local authorities have officially recognized that the main source of water pollution in the country is untreated discharges from industrial enterprises, most of which work using technologies of the last century and have no treatment facilities at all. Anyone who has been to Peru is familiar with this picture - on the bank of a small river, from which 20-30 years ago, local residents took water for drinking, there is a huge enterprise that discharges into the river not just untreated wastewater, but liquid industrial waste containing almost all elements from the periodic table of Mendeleev.

Some scientists are confident that in the future, humanity will face a war over the possession of water resources. And this scenario is already visible in South America, where friction has increased between countries such as Argentina and Uruguay over access to clean drinking water sources. The governments of these countries periodically exchange rather harsh statements against each other, accusing opponents of too much water intake from rivers flowing simultaneously through the territories of Argentina and Uruguay.

Fortunately, most of the countries in the region have already understood what water problems await them in the future, if the situation is not corrected now. For example, a number of states have established specialized ministries responsible for the use of water resources. At the same time, special attention is paid to the development of glaciers in the Andes, which, according to experts, contain up to 85% of the fresh water reserves in the region. The Chilean authorities are especially zealous about this problem, which has at its disposal the largest glacier in the Southern Hemisphere, with an area of 20 thousand square kilometers. Also, Argentina feels good in this regard, where the valley of the La Plata River is located, the basin of which occupies a third of the country's territory. However, industrial enterprises located on its banks and tributaries have been causing great damage to the river for more than a decade. So, in most cases, ecologists are right, considering that the root cause of the deteriorating state of the region's water basins is not climatic factors, but anthropogenic factors, in particular, industrial, agricultural and domestic waste discharges into rivers, lakes and seas.

Also a striking example of global problems in the countries of South America are sharp and growing social inequality, food shortages, growing poverty and crime. Many experts see the reasons for such a concentration of global problems in the region in the fact that historically external shocks have resonated with internal problems. Home of them? material and moral deterioration of the model of socio-economic development, which functioned with more or less success in the states of Latin America in 2003? 2013 and provided them with a relatively dynamic increase in the main macroeconomic indicators. As a result, according to the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe, CEPAL), the region's total GDP contracted by 0.7% in 2015, while exports fell by 14%. Considering that in 2013 - 2014 the export of goods decreased by 3 and 0.4%, respectively, we can speak not about an isolated case, but about the prevailing negative trend. It is also intensified by international competition.

Fortunately, in recent years, the struggle to maintain ecological balance has intensified in the countries of South America. It goes in two directions: first, the development of legislation on nature protection; the second is the creation of national parks and reserves. Currently, there are already more than 300 of them. Only in the Amazon there are six national parks and eight protected scientific stations. In the context of growing man-made and anthropogenic pressure on the Earth's biosphere, priority projects are developing a post-industrial "green economy", clean energy and transport, waste-free industries, deep processing of natural resources and waste from public and household economies.

Also, among the ways to solve global problems, including environmental ones, are:

legislative definition of environmental management norms;
application of centralized environmental protection measures, for example, uniform international norms and rules for the protection of the oceans, protection of the atmosphere, climate, forests, etc .;
expanding international cooperation in solving global problems.

It remains to be hoped that the peoples of South America, who have relatively recently decided on their own civilizational path of development, will be able to find the will and clear intentions to share planetary solidarity and take part in the common cause of the joint struggle against threats to all mankind and its natural habitat.

Now the population of South America is nearly 320 million and 78% is urban. The continent has been developed unevenly by man. Only the marginal areas of the mainland (mainly the Atlantic coast) and some areas of the Andes are densely populated. At the same time, the interior regions (for example, the wooded Amazonian lowland) have remained virtually undeveloped until recently.

The growth of large cities is causing serious environmental problems in urban areas around the world. This is a shortage and low quality of drinking water, air pollution, and the accumulation of solid waste.

Extraction of oil in the very thick of the Amazon rainforest or of iron and other ores within the Guiana and Brazilian highlands required the construction of transport routes in the recently still remote and inaccessible areas. This led to an increase in population, destruction of forests, expansion of arable and pasture lands. As a result of an attack on nature using the latest technology, the ecological balance is disturbed and easily vulnerable natural complexes are destroyed.

Until the middle of this century, nothing seemed to threaten the evergreen forests of the Amazon. But the construction of the Trans-Amazonian highway led to the possibility of human penetration into the depths of the equatorial forest. Logging has increased and the Amazon forests are threatened with destruction.

Tropical agriculture is developing, which leads to the destruction of the pristine ecosystem. In equatorial and tropical latitudes, coffee, cocoa, bananas, pineapples, sugarcane and other crops are grown. In subtropical regions with sufficient moisture, other crops predominate: citrus, tea, wheat, corn (in the pampas). People also use the lower slopes of the Andes for agriculture. Alpine meadows serve as pastures.

Natural complexes have been greatly changed in places of mining. In open pit mining, the width of the quarries can be several kilometers. The industrial centers of Sao Paulo and Buenos Aires are some of the most polluted cities on the mainland.

Environmental problems of South America. North America - Environmental Issues. Environmental problems of the North American continent. Ecological problems of the Amazon River

All the tin and beauty of South America, perky and fun)))

Technological progress

Traffic fumes

Depletion of water resources

Water pollution

Rest of nature

Exploitation of natural resources

Shale gas

Conclusions for the future

Industry of South America

South America Transportation

Environmental problems of South America

Technological progress

Traffic fumes

Depletion of water resources

Water pollution

Rest of nature

Exploitation of natural resources

Shale gas

Conclusions for the future

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