South America - Caribbean

❓ What is the highest point in the Caribbean South America, and in which country is it located?
💡 The highest point is in the Andes mountains in Colombia, reaching 18,000 feet (5,490 m).

❓ What is a cordillera?
💡 A cordillera is a mountain system in the Andes made up of roughly parallel ranges.

❓ What is the highest elevation area in Venezuela?
💡 The Guiana Highlands.

❓ What are the flat-topped formations in the Guiana Highlands called and how tall are they?
💡 Tepuis (tay-PWEEZ).
About 3,000 to 6,000 feet (900 to 1,800 m).

❓ What is the Llanos, and what are its characteristics?
💡 The Llanos is a region of plains between the highlands and the Andes. It is mostly grassland with few trees, at a low elevation, and floods easily.

❓ What is the region’s longest river, and how long is it?
💡 The Orinoco River is the region’s longest river, flowing for about 1,600 miles (2,575 km) through Venezuela to the Atlantic Ocean.

❓ How does location near the equator affect temperatures in Caribbean South America?
💡 Most of the region has warm temperatures year-round due to its proximity to the equator.

❓ How does elevation affect temperature in the Andes mountains?
💡 Temperature drops rapidly with elevation—about 4°F (2°C) every 1,000 feet (305 m).

❓ What type of climate and landscape characterizes the Llanos region?
💡 The Llanos has a tropical savanna climate with vast, flat landscapes and distinct wet and dry seasons that support grasslands.

❓ Where do rainforests thrive in Caribbean South America and what climate supports them?
💡 Rainforests thrive in southern Colombia’s humid tropical climate, which is part of the Amazon Basin with year-round rainfall.

❓ What are four major crops grown in Caribbean South America?
💡 Rice, coffee, bananas, and sugarcane.

❓ What are three valuable non-agricultural resources found in Caribbean South America?
💡 Oil, natural gas, and iron ore.

❓ Which two countries in Caribbean South America have large oil-rich areas?
💡 Venezuela and Colombia.

❓ What resources do the forests of Caribbean South America provide?
💡 Timber.

❓ What two seafood resources do the seas provide for Caribbean South America?
💡 Fish and shrimp.

❓ How are the region’s major rivers utilized for energy production?
💡 They are used to generate hydro-electric power.

❓ What makes most of Caribbean South America a rich agricultural region?
💡 Good soil and moderate climates.