• Andes Mtns

–4500 miles long, world’s longest

–Cordilleras- several ranges running parallel

–Encircle high plains (altiplano) in Peru & Bolivia

Agua• MA’s rivers are small, but SA’s are HUUUUGE

–Rio Grande (Rio Bravo del Norte) is major one, though, outside SA

• Amazon- 4000 miles (NYC to Rome, Italy)–20% of Earth’s freshwater, 10X the volume

of the Mississippi–Hundreds of sm. rivers join it Amazon

Basin (creates a valuable functional region)–Only navigable for 2300 miles from Atlantic

Resources

• Oil: Gulf of MX and southern Caribbean MX and Venezuela are leaders in world (OPEC)

• Leaders in gold, silver, emeralds, copper (ancient civs. prospered with them)

• Problems: geography, lack of $, social/political unrest prevent development of resources