Most of South America occupy plains : Orinokskaya, Amazonian and la-platter lowland, Brazilian and Guiangian plateau and Patagonian plateau. Plains placing in the eastern part of South America is explained by the location in this part of the continent of an ancient South American platform. This part of the mainland contains the most important oil fields (Orinocus lowland), natural gas (Patagonia and Fire Land), iron, manganese, chromium, aluminum, nickel, uranium ores, gold and diamonds (Brazilian and Gwiank Plateau). In the south-east of South America, there is the lowest point of the mainland - Wpadina Salinas-Chikas (-42 m). In the West of South America along the entire Pacific coast are located the areas of the young Alpine (Cenozoic) folding. In the relief, they are represented by the High Mountains of Andami, the highest point of which - Akonkagua Mount - 6960 m. Active seismic and volcanic activity is connected with a young folding activity (Volcanoes Kotopakh, Lulylialyako, San Pedro and others). Andes are rude by non-ferrous metal ores: copper, tin, polymetallic, silver, gold and platinum, as well as iron ore and associate. In the edge deflection at the foot of the Andes are deposits of oil, natural gas and stone coal.
South America's relief is diverse. According to the nature of the geological structure and the peculiarities of the modern relief, South America is divided into two heterogeneous parts. The eastern part of the mainland is an ancient South American platform; Western - actively developing grass belt. Highlights of the platform - shields - correspond to the relief Brazilian and Gwiank Plateau . The defaults of the South American platform correspond to the giant lowland plains - Amazonian, Orinok, the system of internal plains (the plain Gran-Choo, Laplat lowland), and the young Patagonian platform - the plains of Patagonia. Amazon lowland is filled with marine and continental sediments. It is formed as a result of the activities of the Amazon River, as a result of the accumulation of prosecutions. In the west, the lowland is very flat, the river valleys are closed weakly, the heights barely reach 150 m. Northern and southern its outskirts, underlayed by crystal breeds of shields, elevated and gradually pass into the plateau. Brazilian plateore is located in the east of the mainland. It is the protrusions of the crystalline foundation of the platform, between which the deflections filled with sedimentary rocks and volcanic lavs are located. This is the greatest lift within the platform. Brazilian plateau has heights from 250-300 m in the north to 800-900 m in the south-east. The relief of the plateaus is a relatively aligned surface, over which boulder arrays and plateau are tested. In the north of the continent to the extensive protrusion of the folded base of the platform, the Guiangic Plateau (300-400 m) is timed. His relief is dominated by stepped plateau. Huge plains and significant sections of the South America flatarily are convenient for the life and economic activities of the population. (Show the largest lowlands and plateaus on the map and determine the maximum heights.)
Andes are the longest mountain range on a land of 9000 km long. Andes are one of the highest mountain systems of the globe. In height, it is inferior only to the Tibetan-Himalayan mountainous country. Twenty tops of the Andes rise to the height of more than 6 thousand m. The highest of them - Akonkagua (6960 m) (Fig. 86). The formation of the Andes is the result of the interaction of two lithospheric plates, when Naska's ocean cooker "dived" under continental south-American. At the same time, the edge of the continental plate was crushed into the folds, forming a mountain. Currently, the population continues. This is evidenced by the eruption of numerous volcanoes and the strongest catastrophic earthquakes. Among the major volcanoes, such as Chimborace (6267 m), which Kotopakh (5897 m) can be noted. The West Coast, occupied by Andami, belongs to the Pacific "Fire Ring". The most powerful registered earthquake in the world in 11-12 points occurred in 1960 in Chile. In 2010, in Chile, the earthquake took several hundred lives. Serious catastrophes occur in Andes once every 10-15 years. The And Mountain System consists of several meridianly elongated mountain ranges. There is an internal plateau and a plateau between the ridges, a height from 3500 to 4500 m.
Minerals. Mainland is rich in minerals. Rachets iron and manganese ore deposits are confined to the ancient shields South American Platform: Center and Paints of Brazilian Plateau, as well as the North of Guiang Plateau. The largest area of \u200b\u200bprey iron Rud. is karazhas. In the northern part on the outskirts of both plane, very large boxes, raw materials for the aluminum industry are located. Boxites are locked at small depths, and they are produced in an open way. Copper (Peru, Chile), tin (Bolivia), lead and zinc (Peru) are explored in Andes. The foothill devices of the Andes, especially Venezuela and Colombia, are rich in oil and natural gas. Coal deposits are less significant (Ecuador, Argentina). Many Andean countries are known for prey of precious stones. First of all, this refers to the extraction of emeralds in Colombia. Of the noble metals in South America, the largest stocks of silver in Peru. Anda belt is also famous for some non-metallic minerals. Among them, the first place is occupied by Selitra. The famous Chilean Selitra and iodine is mined in the dried water bodies of Atakama. South America relief is more diverse in comparison with Africa and Australia. High Andes in the West are separated by the main flat part of the mainland from the Pacific Ocean. South America has active seismicity. Southern America is called the "storeroom of the world." The mainland is rich in natural resources necessary for the development of many industries
Features of the geological structure of South America
Millions of years ago existed an ancient supercontinent Gondwana . It broke up into three large block of lithosphere, which formed the basis of four modern mainland: Africa, Australia, Antarctica and South America . About the last and will be discussed in this article.
In the geological structure of South America, a clear difference between the eastern and central parts from the western part of the continent is well traced. East and mainland center are located on the old Precambrian South American platform . In the north and east of the platform there are extensive sections of the exit of the ancient crystal foundation of the platform on the surface - Gwiang and Brazilian Shields . The western part of the mainland is represented folded area formed by the collision of the continental platform and the oceanic lithospheric plate.
Ocean cooker is fusey and comes under continental, forming deep Peruvian deflection (chute) along the entire west coast.
The edge of the continental plate is confused in the fold. Along the entire western edge of the mainland mountains rose. This is a young area - cenozoic folding . This is evidenced by volcanic eruptions and frequent earthquakes. The active process of the city is underway. The west coast of South America is part of "Pacific Fire Ring" - Areas of active seismic activity.
The platform part of the continent in the past was experiencing repeated dives and raising. This is evidenced by the deposits of sedimentary rocks at all. - marine deposits.
Currently, erosion processes reinforced by the economic activity of man prevail on the platform part of the continent.
Features of the relief of South America
The folded area in the West of South America forms one of the largest mountain systems of the planet - mountains Andes . In the language of the Indians it means "Copper Mountains" .
The Andes Mountains stretch along the coast of the Pacific Ocean. Three parallel mountain ranges. Many peaks rise above $ 6000 m above sea level.
The highest point of South America - g. Akonkagua ($ 6960 $ m).
At the same time, this is the highest point of the entire Western hemisphere.
Many here and acting volcanoes. The most famous of them - Kotopakh, Ruiz, San Pedro . In the middle part of the mining system there are internal platea, whose heights reaches $ 3500-4000 m. South America platform sections are represented by lowlands and plateaus.
Definition 1.
Lowland - This is a plot of plains with absolute heights to $ 200 $ m.
Definition 2.
Plateau - This is a plot of plains with absolute heights - more than $ 500 $ m.
South America lowland is Orinokskaya, Amazonian and La Plati . The height difference here is insignificant. These are almost flat plains.
Note 1.
Amazon lowland - The largest lowland area on the globe.
Thanks to marine sediments, the northern parts of the plains are rich in oil. Crystal shields were formed Brazilian and Guiang Plateau . As a result of ancient tectonic activity, lowering and raising the platform was accompanied by the faults of the earth's crust, the outdates of the lava. Places relief plans has a kind of tablet mountains. They are replaced by landscapes of hilly plains, low arrays, raised by the gorges.
Minerals
The distribution of minerals is connected with the geological structure.
- In the ancient shields are deposits Iron, manganese, uranium ores, bauxite, diamonds.
- Andes, justifying their name, are famous copper oresdeposits gold.
- In the north of the mainland, large deposits found oil.
- On the deserted western coast, thanks to the characteristics of the climate, deposits were formed sodium Selitra.
The mainland center (Amazonian lowland) is still poorly studied and mastered.
Relief. The relief of South America is clearly distinguished by the flat-polar platform of the Underman East and the Mountain Andyian West, corresponding to the moving orogenic belt. The raising of the South American platform is represented by Guiang, Brazilian and Patagonian Plateau, the deflection - the lowlands and the plains of Llanos-Orinoco, Amazonian, Beni - Mamor, Grand Character, Mezhdrachy (PR. Paran and Uruguay) and Pampa; from the east. Plateau framed by narrow intermittent stripes of coastal plains.
Gwyan Plateau rises to the center (Nebina, 3014 m), Brazilian - with S.-Z. on Yu.-v. (G. Badeira, 2890 m), Patagonian - with V. on Z. (up to 2200 m). In the relief of the Gwianky and Brazilian plane, the baseland hollow-wavy plains prevail (high. Up to 1500-1700 m), within which the remaining cones of the vertices and ridges are distinguished (for example, Serra do-Espinyas) or dining rooms, mainly sandstone, hill - the so-called Shapada (Ayang-Tempui and Rooraima, etc.). The East Territory of Brazilian Plateau is divided into separate arrays (Serra da Mantikair, etc.), having characteristic forms of "sugar heads" (for example, Pan-Di-AsCarus in Rio de Janeiro). The defignments and the depressions of Brazilian plateau in the relief are expressed by monocillic-reservoir plains with raised edges-koustami, accumulative plains (Vpadina r. San Francisk, etc.) or lavva plateau (on average parana). In the relief of the Patagonia, layered, including volcanic, step-down plateaus, covered with ancient moraine and water sediments; The plateau is cut into the deep canyons of the rivers nascent in the Andes; Characterized arid forms of denudation.
The system of the Ridges of the Andes extends to 9,000 km on S. and Z. Mainland. At S. and S.-V., in Venezuela, - two chains of caribbean and deeply dismembered by faults and river erosion. The main, meridional Andes system, or Andiy Cordillere (Cordillera de Los Andes), reaching 6960 m (Akonkagua), snaps in the west of Yu.A. And divided into the northern, central and southern Andes. Northern Andes (up to 5 ° J.) are distinguished by alternating high fold-bull ridges and deep depressions. In Ekuadore, they consist of Eastern and Western Cordillers, in between which is filled with the products of the activities of Chimborato Volcanoes, Kotopakh et al. In Colombia, there are three main cordillers (Eastern, Central and Western), separated by depressions of PP. Magdalena and Kauca. Volcanoes (Wylas, Ruis, Pouras, etc.) are concentrated mainly in Central and Yu. Western Cordiller; For the central part of Eastern Cordillera typical of ancient-armed plateau, the height is 2-3 thousand meters. In the north and west, the largest lowland in the Andiy West is the Retroinsky and Prostochoan.
Central Andes (up to 27-28 ° sh.) Is significantly wider and monolithic northern. They are characterized by up to 3.8-4.8 thousand inner plans, bordered by edge ridges; The highest mountains carry a significant glaciation. Southern part - Central Highlands - the widest (up to 750 km) of the segment of the Andes; The main element is a Pune plateau with ancient-turn altiplano plateau in the southwest and a number of chill ridges in the east and south. In the east, Puna is framed by Cordillery-real, with Z. - Volcanic Western Cordillery (2-volcanic area of \u200b\u200bthe Andes with volcanoes Misti, Lulylyalyako, Sakhama, etc.), longitudinal tectonic depression (with an attacham desert) and coastal cordillera.
In the southern Andes in the north (up to 41 ° 30 "Yu. Sh.) The relief is expressed: the double major Cordillera (Akonkagua in Eastern, or advanced), to which the arrays of the precordeiler are harsh; the longitudinal valley of Chile and the Coast Cordillera. Between 33-52 ° H. Sh. There is another volcanic area of \u200b\u200bthe Andes with a large number of current volcanoes to Z. From the main Cordillera and extinct - east of her. In the most southern segment of the Andes - Patagonian Andes - Coast Cordillera turns into the Islands Archipelago, Longitudinal valley - in the system of straits, and flooded triggers sharply declining Patagonian Cordillera - in fjords. Mixing glacial forms. Modern glaciation in Yu.A. It covers an area of \u200b\u200b25 thousand km 2, of which over 21 thousand km 2 falls on South Andes. Glaciers are also in Western Cordillera, between 9 and 11 ° H. And on the islands of the fiery ground.
Relief America: The relief of North and South America is very diverse - each mainland has its own fully completed plan of geographic zonality, including the zones of coequal and intramatic sectors. However, both mainland have a number of common natural features. North and South America unites the presence of a single mountain system Cordiller. Due to the existence of this system, both continents are inherent in the meridional orientation of the main elements of the oriental and the asymmetry - the central and eastern parts of these continents are either plains or plateaus, while the western edges have a mountain relief. Cordillera are a bridge between the two continents, facilitating the exchange of flora and fauna, due to which there are certain features of similarities in the floral and faunistic composition between North and South America.Relief North America
The western part of the mainland occupies the mountain system Cordillera, the highest point of which is Mac-Kinley Mount (6193 m), oriental - extensive plains, plateau, rigid mountains. In the north-east of North America - the Lavrentian elevation. Internal areas - (high) great plains and (low) central plains. Central, large, part of North America is the Precambrian North American (Canadian) platform. The eastern edge of the mainland is bordered by the mountain raising of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, Labrador, Appalachi. Along the south-east coast, coastal lowlands are at the Adhesive and Primexican.
Relief South America
The western part of South America is occupied by the extensive mountain belt of the Andes, the central and eastern parts of the lowland and the plateau on the Precambrian South American platform. However, unlike North America, South America is a very warm mainland. The equator crosses it almost in the middle, and therefore landscapes of equatorial, subequatorial and tropical belts are developed on the predominant part of the territory. Asymmetry, characteristic of the relief, is also manifested in climatic conditions, and in the river network, and in the location of natural zones. Over the northern and central areas of the Offandian East dominate wet and warm air masses coming from the Atlantic Ocean, and therefore the most moisturized landscapes are located in the east. In the wide northern part of the mainland, there is one of the largest lowlands on the planet - Amazonian. The Amazon River originates in Andes, not far from the Pacific coast, and flows east through all the mainland, falling into the Atlantic Ocean. In this part of the mainland there are other major river systems - the Parran rivers and orinoco.
Andes are a complex mountain system, stretching along the entire west coast of South America. Almost all throughout Andes consist of parallel, very high (up to 6000 m) folded ridges - the eastern, central, western and coastal cordilire, between which lower areas are located - intermountable basins, then narrow, then expanding in the form of a flat.
The high-altitude Central Andyian Highlands (Pune) is an extensive area of \u200b\u200blow relief, sandwiched from all sides of high, more than 6000 m, Andes ridges. The average pulmonary height exceeds 4000 - 4600 m, and the width is about 600 km. Sections of volcanic plateau alternate with flat plains (altiplano), which are the bottom of the former giant lake. His residues - Lake Titicaca at an altitude of 3812 m (the greatest of the high mountain lakes of the world) with a depth of 304 m and the lake Popo.
To the north of the Amazon lowland is a Gwiank plateore height up to 3014 m. The south of the Amazon lowland is raised again. Here, on the protrusion of the South American platform, a Brazilian plateore was formed up to 2890 m high. Its relief is very non-uniform - from nearly vintage plateau in the center to high flat-terrestrial mountains in the east.
South of Brazilian Highlands stretches the wide Laplat lowland, according to which the Parran River flows.
South America has a different nature of the geological structure, which is associated with the formation of the earth's crust in different archaeological periods. The eastern part was formed in the Precambrian period, and there the relief of South America is a plain - this is a South American platform. The West is actively formed from the Paleozoic period and there are subjects there.
South America
Platform has a deflection and raised areas. At the place of the first (also called "shields"), there are two highlands - Brazilian and Guiangie. In the period when they rose, the slopes became practically vertical. Part of the Brazilian Highlands in the East, where Sierra were formed. In 2890 meters above sea level there is the highest point of the highland - an array of a banner.
Fig. 1. Relief of South America.
As for the deflection, there are three plains of huge scales - La Plati, Orinokskaya, as well as Amazonian.
Relief and minerals of South America are closely related to its geological history. Thus, the ancient boards of the platform are richer than iron ore - this is Brazilian (center and outskirts) and the Guiangic (North) of Highlands. In highlands, rich inventories of bauxite with the content of aluminum) and manganese. Where the platform begins, oil reserves are located and accompanying its natural gas, as well as a stone angle. The leader in the extraction of "black gold" and gas with full right can be considered Venezuela. These facts are necessarily noted in the textbook for grade 7.
Fig. 2. Brazilian Highlands.
Where the magmatic rocks climb close to the surface or even led to it, uranium, titanium, nickel and zirconium are detected.
Top 4 Articleswho read with this
In South America, 38% of the overall stock of iron ore on the planet is concentrated.
Highland of South America
The mountainous part of South America is called the English West, and it is located in the West.
Chain Andes - one of the highest on earth. If you make a comparison of the relief of Africa and South America, then one of the differences will be due to these mountains: when the glaciers descended from their vertices, they "cut off" the coast, which is not observed on African mainland.
There are twenty vertices in Andes, whose height exceeds 6 thousand meters above sea level. And the highest point chain is the mountain of Annokagua. It is located in the Chilean-Argentine part of the mountain range and rises 6960 meters. At the same time, the total length of all the mountain chain is almost nine thousand kilometers, which makes it the longest on Earth.
Fig. 3. Andes.
Andes began to be formed in the period of Paleozoa, in the Hercyrian folding, but the main period for them was Alpine. In the chalk period, the result of folding was Western Cordillera (Colombia-Fire Land). But the features of the relief of the central Andes are associated with the Alpine orthogenesis, when the ancient gercy structures were broken and partially raised. That is how the main high-altitude plateau was formed.
Andes continue to be formed in the modern period. This is evidenced by the strongest earthquakes (the last of which happened less than half a century ago, in 1970 in Peru). Earthquake epicenters are confined to the Peruvian groove, stretching along the west coast of the mainland. The consequence of earthquakes become tsunami. The highest out of the current volcano in this part of the world - Lulylyalyako, is also not sleeping his fellow Osorno, San Pedro, Kotopakh, Ruiz.
Thus, in the western part, the prevailing form of relief determine the presence of appropriate minerals. Ores of metamorphic and magmatic origin are located in the Andes rich deposits. Precious stones and non-ferrous metals, which are rare, are also found in these places in significant quantities. So, Chile ranks second in the world ranking of countries producing copper and molybdenum ore, and the reserves of tin in Bolivia are regarded by experts as significant. This is not speaking of Colombia, "country of emeralds." In addition to the above minefinks, the western part of South America has gold, zinc and platinum reserves, as well as antimony, silver, lead and tungsten. Many of them began to develop more ancient incons, which even called one of the Titicaca lakes, that is, the "lead rock".
Chile is rich in sewage raids, which were formed from the litter of seabirds by biochemical decomposition. The main factor in their formation was the desert climate.
What did we know?
We received a description of the relief of South America with reference in historical periods of its formation, and also learned that a certain part of the mainland continues to be formed. The process of formation is manifested by earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. We sorted out how the origin of the form of relief affects what useful fossils are common in a particular region and learned interesting facts about it. In addition, we received information about the main plains of South America and the Mountain chain of the Andes, and also on the peculiarities of the mainland relief and the distribution of resources.
Test on the topic
Report assessment
Average rating: 4.6. Total ratings received: 180.