Selina Concise Solutions for ICSE Class 6 Geography Chapter 10 South America Location Area Political and Physical Features

POINTS TO REMEMBER

1. The Isthmus of Panama joins South America to North America. South America is triangular in shape and a greater part of it lies south of the equator.
2. South America can be divided into four physical divisions-the West Coastal Plains, the Andes Mountains, the Central Plains and the Eastern Highlands.
3. The West Coastal Plains are narrow plains lying between the Pacific Ocean and the Andes Mountains, in the western part of the continent. The Atacama Desert is located here.
4. The Andes are a long stretch of high, young fold mountains that run parallel to the Pacific Coast in the western part of the continent. Mt Aconcagua, the highest peak in South America, and Lake Titicaca, the second highest freshwater lake in the world, are located here. There are also several active dormant volcanoes located here such as Mt Chimborazo and Mt Cotopaxi.
5. The Central Plains are lowlands that lie between the Andes in the west and the Eastern Highlands in the east. The flat plains are formed by the rivers Amazon, Orinoco, Parana, Paraguay and Uruguay.
6. The Guiana Highlands and the Brazilian Highlands form the Eastern Highlands. The two highlands are separated by the river Amazon. These highlands extend in the eastern part of the continent along the Atlantic coast.
7. The Orinoco River, the Magdalena River and the Amazon River are some of the important rivers of South America. Rivers Paraguay, Parana and Uruguay form the La Plata river system. Lake Titicaca, Lake Poopo and Lake Maracaibo are the important lakes of die continent.

IMPORTANT TERMS

1. Llanos : The grasslands of the Orinoco Basin.
2. Selvas : The dense equatorial forest of the Amazon Basin.
3. Pampas : The extensive temperate grasslands of Argentina.

VALUES AND LIFE SKILLS

Question : We must learn not to exploit natural resources and to instead, take care of our environment and the natural resources we have, like the indigenous people in the Amazon Basin
What are the ways in which you can encourage a sustainable lifestyle?
Answer:
We can encourage a sustainable lifestyle by following ways :
1. Become a member of a community garden.
2. Change the lights in your house (from light bulbs to CFL).
3. Become more efficient with your errands.
4. Start using Natural cleaners.
5. Walk, bike or car pool to work.
Sustainability involves using resources carefully so that they are available for future generations. Small changes in our daily routines can significantly reduce our carbon footprint and help protect the Earth.
Teacher's Tip: Think of the 3 R's: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle to remember how to live sustainably.
Exam Tip: When listing points for lifestyle changes, use bulleted points or numbered lists to make your answer easy for the examiner to read.

EXERCISES

A. Identify who I am

Question 1: I am a narrow neck of land that joins South America to North America and separates the Atlantic Ocean from the Pacific Ocean : Isthmus of Panama.
Answer: Isthmus of Panama.
An isthmus is a thin strip of land with water on both sides that connects two larger landmasses. The Isthmus of Panama is a vital geographic link that also contains a famous man-made canal.
Teacher's Tip: Remember "Isthmus" as a "land bridge" connecting the two Americas.
Exam Tip: Always double-check the spelling of "Isthmus" as it contains many silent or soft consonants.

Question 2: I am a hot desert that lies in the western coastal region of South America and stretches across the Tropic of Capricorn : Atacama desert.
Answer: Atacama desert.
The Atacama is known as one of the driest places on Earth, receiving almost no rainfall. It is located in northern Chile, tucked between the Andes and the Pacific Ocean.
Teacher's Tip: Associate "Atacama" with "Attack" (it's a tough, dry environment).
Exam Tip: Mention its location near the "Tropic of Capricorn" if asked for its specific geographical position.

Question 3: I am one of the few gaps in the Andean Mountain chain : Uspallata Pass.
Answer: Uspallata Pass.
A mountain pass is a navigable route through a mountain range or over a ridge. The Uspallata Pass is a critical transport route connecting Chile and Argentina through the high Andes.
Teacher's Tip: Think of a "Pass" as a "Doorway" through a giant mountain wall.
Exam Tip: Make sure to specify that it is in the "Andean Mountain chain" to be precise.

Question 4: I am the highest peak of the second highest young fold mountain chain of the world, with a height of 6,960 metres above sea level : Mt. Aconcagua.
Answer: Mt. Aconcagua.
Mt. Aconcagua is the tallest mountain in both the Southern and Western Hemispheres. It is located in the Andes range within the country of Argentina.
Teacher's Tip: "Aconcagua" is the "Ace" (top) of South American peaks.
Exam Tip: Memorize the height "6,960 metres" as it is often asked in objective questions.

Question 5: I am the second highest freshwater lake in the world : Lake Titicaca.
Answer: Lake Titicaca.
Lake Titicaca is located high in the Andes on the border of Peru and Bolivia. It is famous for being the highest navigable lake in the world for large vessels.
Teacher's Tip: "Titicaca" sounds like "Teeter" because it's high up on a mountain "totter."
Exam Tip: Don't confuse it with Lake Poopo; Titicaca is the freshwater one.

B. Write true or false.

Question 1: The $60^\circ$ W longitude passes almost through the middle of South America.
Answer: True.
Longitudes are imaginary vertical lines that help determine the east-west position of a place. The $60^\circ$ West meridian is a significant line that bisects the central part of the continent.
Teacher's Tip: Visualize the map of South America and draw a line down the center to remember the $60^\circ$ W mark.
Exam Tip: Ensure you include the "W" for West; writing just $60^\circ$ is technically incomplete.

Question 2: The Orinoco Plains are called the llanos.
Answer: True.
The Llanos are vast tropical grassland plains situated to the east of the Andes in Colombia and Venezuela. They are primarily drained by the Orinoco River system.
Teacher's Tip: Link the "O" in Orinoco with the "Llanos" (both relate to northern South America).
Exam Tip: Use the term "grasslands" when describing Llanos in descriptive answers.

Question 3: The selvas are another name for the grasslands of Argentina.
Answer: False.
Correct- The pampas are another name for the grasslands of Argentina.
Selvas actually refer to the dense tropical rainforests of the Amazon Basin. The Pampas are the temperate, fertile plains located further south in Argentina.
Teacher's Tip: "Selva" sounds like "Silver" (rain falling in a forest), while "Pampas" sounds like "Plains".
Exam Tip: In True/False questions, always provide the corrected statement for "False" answers to get full marks.

Question 4: The La Plata river system drains southwards into the Atlantic Ocean.
Answer: True.
The La Plata basin is the second largest drainage basin in South America. It collects water from major rivers like the Parana and Uruguay and empties into the Atlantic.
Teacher's Tip: Think of "Plata" like a "Plate" catching water and sliding it south into the ocean.
Exam Tip: Identify the specific rivers (Parana, Paraguay, Uruguay) that make up this system for a detailed answer.

Question 5: Lake Titicaca and Lake Poopo are saltwater lakes.
Answer: False.
Correct - Lake Titicaca and Lake Poopo are freshwater lakes.
These lakes are situated in the high Altiplano plateau of the Andes. While Titicaca is definitely freshwater, Poopo is often saline, but the textbook defines them as freshwater in this context.
Teacher's Tip: Most high-altitude mountain lakes are freshwater because they are fed by melting snow.
Exam Tip: Focus on Lake Titicaca being the "second highest freshwater lake" as mentioned in the points to remember.

C. Match the columns
A
1. Argentina
2. Peru
3. Uruguay
4. Venezuela
5. Colombia
B
(a) Bogota
(b) Montevideo
(c) Buenos Aires
(d) Lima
(e) Caracas
Answer:
1. Argentina - (c) Buenos Aires
2. Peru - (d) Lima
3. Uruguay - (b) Montevideo
4. Venezuela - (e) Caracas
5. Colombia - (a) Bogota
These are the political capitals of various South American nations. Knowing capitals helps in understanding the political geography and major urban centers of the continent.
Teacher's Tip: Use flashcards to match country names with their capitals.
Exam Tip: When writing the answer, write the full name of the country and its corresponding capital together.

D. Answer the following questions in brief

Question 1: What is the latitudinal extent of South America? In which hemisphere does the major part of it lie?
Answer: South America extends from $12^\circ$N to $55^\circ$S and from $35^\circ$W and $81^\circ$W. Major part of this continent lies in Southern hemisphere though some parts lie north of the equator.
Latitudinal extent describes how far a landmass stretches from north to south across the Earth's surface. Because the equator passes through its northern part, South America is found in both hemispheres, but most of it is below the equator.
Teacher's Tip: Remember "S" for South America and "S" for Southern hemisphere.
Exam Tip: Always include the degrees and the direction (N, S, W, E) for geographic coordinates.

Question 2: Name the water bodies that lie to the east and the west of this continent.
Answer: The continent is bounded by Pacific ocean in West, Atlantic Ocean in East. The Caribbean sea lies north of this continent and it stretches as far South as the Southern Ocean.
The Atlantic and Pacific are the two largest oceans in the world and they define the coastlines of South America. These oceans play a massive role in the continent's climate and trade routes.
Teacher's Tip: Remember: "A"tlantic is on the right (East) and "P"acific is on the left (West).
Exam Tip: If the question asks for east and west, stick to Atlantic and Pacific, but adding the Caribbean and Southern Ocean shows extra knowledge.

Question 3: Identify the major physical divisions of South America.
Answer: The major physical divisions of South America are:
The West Coastal Plains.
The Andes Mountains.
The Central Plains.
The Eastern Highlands.
Physical divisions are regions classified by their landforms like mountains, plains, or plateaus. These four regions categorize the diverse terrain found across the entire continent.
Teacher's Tip: Imagine traveling from West to East: Coast -> Mountains -> Plains -> Highlands.
Exam Tip: Use a numbered list to present the four divisions clearly for better presentation.

Question 4: In what respect is the Atacama Desert different from the Patagonian Desert?
Answer: Atacama desert is a hot desert which lies in the Western Coastal Region across the Tropic of capricorn in North Chile whereas Patagonian desert is a cold desert which lies between $40^\circ$S and $50^\circ$S in Argentina in eastern highlands.
Deserts are not always hot; they are defined by their lack of moisture. The Atacama is a tropical desert while the Patagonian desert is a rain-shadow desert in a cooler temperate zone.
Teacher's Tip: Think: "Atacama = Hot Coastal" and "Patagonia = Cold Southern".
Exam Tip: When asked to "compare" or "contrast," use the word "whereas" to show the difference clearly in one sentence.

Question 5: Name three Andean towns that are also capital cities in South America.
Answer: Bogota, the capital of Colombia; Quito, the capital of Ecuador, and La Paz, the capital city of Bolivia, are important towns. Cuzco, the old Inca capital, Oroya in Peru, and Potosi in Bolivia are also important cities.
These cities are unique because they are located at very high altitudes within the mountain range. This affects everything from the local climate to how people live and breathe in thin air.
Teacher's Tip: Remember "B-Q-L" for Bogota, Quito, and La Paz.
Exam Tip: Ensure you mention which country each capital belongs to for a complete answer.

E. Answer the following questions in one or two paragraphs

Question 1: Describe the Andes under the headings:
Extent
Position
Features
Significance
Answer:
Extent - Long stretch of young fold mountains that run parallel to pacific coast in Western part of South America.
Position - They are not one mountain range but several parallel ranges with basins and plateaux between them lying in the West Coastal region of South America.
Features - Despite being near the equator, the highest peak. Mt. Aconcagua remains snow covered. The Uspallata Pass is one of few gaps in the lofty mountain range. Lake Titicaca is the highest freshwater lake found in Andes. There are many active volcanic mountains present in Andes as they form a part of Pacific Ring of fire.
Significance - Andes are storehouse of mineral wealth like copper, gold, silver, tin, lead and platinum. Many short, swift rivers flowing down the Andes supply hydroelectricity.
The Andes are the longest continental mountain range in the world, stretching through seven countries. They act as a massive barrier that influences the weather patterns and provides vast resources to the people.
Teacher's Tip: Use the acronym "E.P.F.S." (Extent, Position, Features, Significance) to remember the paragraph structure.
Exam Tip: Underline the sub-headings like "Extent" and "Significance" to make your answer look organized.

Question 2: Explain the following : llanos, selvas, pampas and the Gran Chaco.
Answer:
1. Llanos - The Orinoco Plains are called llanos which means plains in Spanish.
2. Selvas - The Amazon Lowlands are called selvas.
3. Pampas - The temperate grassy plains of Argentina are called pampas.
4. Gran Chaco - The vast alluvial region which is not drained well and become marshy during rainy season in Parana- Paraguay lowlands are called Gran Chaco.
Each of these terms refers to a specific type of vegetation or geographic region. These regions determine the type of farming and wildlife found in different parts of South America.
Teacher's Tip: Associate Gran Chaco with "Choco-marsh" (sounds similar) to remember it's marshy.
Exam Tip: Define both the location (like "Argentina") and the type of land (like "grasslands") for each term.

Question 3: How are the Eastern Highlands different from the Andes Mountains?
Answer: The Eastern highlands are much lower in height than the Andes. The Andes are young fold mountains having active volcanic erruptions whereas the Eastern highlands are composed of old hard rocks and have Patagonian Desert which is a cold desert.
Mountains like the Andes are "young" because they were formed more recently and are still growing. In contrast, the Eastern Highlands are older, worn down by erosion, and are much more stable geologically.
Teacher's Tip: Remember: Andes = Young & Tall; Eastern Highlands = Old & Short.
Exam Tip: Use the word "composed of" to talk about the rock types (old hard rocks vs. volcanic) for extra marks.

Question 4: Describe the Amazon, the largest river of South America.
Answer: The Amazon River rises in the Andes Mountains and flow Westward across the widest part of the continent. This is the largest river in the world. The equator passes near the mouth of this river. It divides the Guiana Highlands and the Brazilian highlands.
Note: The Amazon actually flows Eastward towards the Atlantic Ocean, though it originates in the western Andes. It carries more water than any other river on Earth, sustaining the world's largest rainforest.
Teacher's Tip: The Amazon is like the "Heart" of the continent, pumping life into the rainforest.
Exam Tip: Always mention that it is the "largest river in the world" by volume of water.

Question 5: Describe the La Plata river system.
Answer: The flat plains that are formed by the Parana, Paraguay and Uruguay rivers collectively is called La Plata river system. These rivers flow southwards and drain into the South Atlantic Ocean in a wide estuary in Argentina, which provides on excellent harbour.
An estuary is where the mouth of a river meets the sea, mixing fresh and salt water. The La Plata estuary is one of the widest in the world and serves as a major gateway for shipping.
Teacher's Tip: Remember the three rivers: P-P-U (Parana, Paraguay, Uruguay).
Exam Tip: Use the word "estuary" when describing where the system meets the Atlantic Ocean.

F. On a blank outline map of South America mark and name the following:
1. Isthmus of Panama and Cape Horn
2. Rivers Amazon, Paraguay, Uruguay and Orinoco
3. Selvas, pampas, Guiana Highlands and Brazilian Highlands
4. Mountain peaks - Aconcagua, Cotopaxi and Chimborazo
5. Lake Titicaca and Lake Poopo
Answer: (As shown on the map provided in the textbook)
Isthmus of Panama (North tip), Cape Horn (South tip).
Amazon (Central), Orinoco (North), Paraguay/Uruguay (South).
Selvas (Amazon basin), Pampas (Argentina), Highlands (North-east and East).
Peaks (Along the west coast Andes chain).
Lakes (Central Andes plateau).
Map work helps students visualize the physical features they have studied in the text. Practice drawing and labeling these items helps in better geographical retention.
Teacher's Tip: Start by marking the coastline features like Cape Horn first, then move inland to the rivers.
Exam Tip: Use sharp pencils and clear labels; don't overlap your text on the map markings.

G. Picture study
The picture here shows the world’s highest waterfall, which is in South America.

Question 1: Identify the waterfall.
Answer: Angel Falls.
Angel Falls is nearly a kilometer high and is located in the Guiana Highlands of Venezuela. It was named after Jimmie Angel, an American aviator who was the first to fly over them.
Teacher's Tip: "Angel" falls from the "Heavens" (Highlands).
Exam Tip: Be careful not to confuse it with Niagara or Victoria Falls, which are on different continents.

Question 2: Which river forms this waterfall?
Answer: The world’s highest waterfall ‘Angel Falls’ are formed by tributary of the river Orinoco.
The specific tributary is often called the Churun River. These waters eventually flow into the Great Orinoco, which is one of the longest rivers in South America.
Teacher's Tip: Connect "Orinoco" and "Angel" as both are in the northern part of the continent.
Exam Tip: If the question asks for the river, "Orinoco" or "a tributary of the Orinoco" are both correct answers.