The Amazon The Amazon BasinBasin

The RiverThe River

The Amazon RiverThe Amazon River

The Amazon river is the biggest (not the The Amazon river is the biggest (not the longest that’s the nile) in the world.longest that’s the nile) in the world.

It travels for 7200 kmIt travels for 7200 km Has a catchment area of 5.7 million Has a catchment area of 5.7 million

square kmsquare km At the mouth is 100m deep and 70 km At the mouth is 100m deep and 70 km

wide.wide. New Zealand’s biggest river the waikato is New Zealand’s biggest river the waikato is

only 425km long.only 425km long.

FeaturesFeatures

The amazon basin has a number of features The amazon basin has a number of features these include:these include:

Volcanoes like Mt. SangayVolcanoes like Mt. Sangay Fold Mountains the AndesFold Mountains the Andes Ancient Hard rock Plateau’s the Brazilian and Ancient Hard rock Plateau’s the Brazilian and

Guyanian plateauGuyanian plateau The amazon riverThe amazon river The amazon rainforestThe amazon rainforest River delta’sRiver delta’s Etc.Etc.

Over 20 million species of animals live in Over 20 million species of animals live in the rainforest.the rainforest.

Some of them extremely big some smallSome of them extremely big some small The Amazon is one of the most diverse The Amazon is one of the most diverse

places on earth.places on earth.

PeoplePeople

The Amazon is home to many different The Amazon is home to many different indigenous tribes that live completely indigenous tribes that live completely independent of modern lifestyles.independent of modern lifestyles.

Relief of the landscapeRelief of the landscape

The Amazon Basin is fed from the The Amazon Basin is fed from the eroded material coming from the Andes.eroded material coming from the Andes.

Draw Image of the Amazon:Draw Image of the Amazon: Explain regions and what is created by Explain regions and what is created by

these features.these features. I.e. which regions have white, black and I.e. which regions have white, black and

clear rivers?clear rivers?

The AmazonThe Amazon

Insert here:Insert here: Relief and the riverRelief and the river The climateThe climate Soil and vegetationSoil and vegetation StratificationStratification The evolution of the landscapeThe evolution of the landscape

The Amazon processesThe Amazon processes

The present Amazon Basin was with land The present Amazon Basin was with land building (the andes), Volcanism (Mt. building (the andes), Volcanism (Mt. Sangay), Denudation processes (The Sangay), Denudation processes (The Andes), Mass Movement (the Andes), Andes), Mass Movement (the Andes), Transportation (the basin) Depostion Transportation (the basin) Depostion (The basin and the delta).(The basin and the delta).

Explanation with the different zones.Explanation with the different zones. Letter writing activityLetter writing activity

The Climate in the BasinThe Climate in the Basin

The Amazon basin moisture predominantly The Amazon basin moisture predominantly comes from convection rainfall.comes from convection rainfall.

Pg 50 how does this occur? Copy in diagram.Pg 50 how does this occur? Copy in diagram. The Sculpter: Water is the shaper of earth’s The Sculpter: Water is the shaper of earth’s

surfaces so sometimes it is called the sculptor. surfaces so sometimes it is called the sculptor. It wears and redistributes material creating It wears and redistributes material creating landforms. landforms.

ClimateClimate

Using page 50 find the following words and Using page 50 find the following words and give the definition of each.give the definition of each.

Hydrological cycleHydrological cycle AquiferAquifer Dew PointDew Point Orographic rainfallOrographic rainfall Frontal rainfallFrontal rainfall Convectional rainfallConvectional rainfall What is significant about these words on these What is significant about these words on these

pages?pages?

ITCZITCZ

The ITCZ or Inter-tropical convergence The ITCZ or Inter-tropical convergence zone is the region where the trade-winds zone is the region where the trade-winds meet due to the formation of a low meet due to the formation of a low pressure zone created by the sun heating pressure zone created by the sun heating the ocean. It dictates the type of rainfall the ocean. It dictates the type of rainfall in the Amazon Basin as this formation of in the Amazon Basin as this formation of a low pressure zone creates vast a low pressure zone creates vast amounts of convection rainfall.amounts of convection rainfall.

ITCZITCZ

Vegetation and SoilVegetation and Soil

Competition for Sunlight causes rainforest to be Competition for Sunlight causes rainforest to be stratified.stratified.

Pg 53 diag 11.13.Pg 53 diag 11.13. Rainfall: Rainfall is plentiful in the Amazon. Due to the Rainfall: Rainfall is plentiful in the Amazon. Due to the

movement of the ITCZ there is a wet and dry season movement of the ITCZ there is a wet and dry season for a large portion of the rainforest. This can put for a large portion of the rainforest. This can put pressure on the soil as it becomes saturated. Luckily pressure on the soil as it becomes saturated. Luckily due to the stratified nature of the foliage the water gets due to the stratified nature of the foliage the water gets filtrated. filtrated.

Diag 11.15Diag 11.15 Copy in reverse flowCopy in reverse flow

ContinuedContinued

Soil: The soil is a very important factor for the Amazon Soil: The soil is a very important factor for the Amazon Basin as it has shaped the landscape. The alluvial Basin as it has shaped the landscape. The alluvial sediment which has been eroded from the Andes has sediment which has been eroded from the Andes has travelled down and filled in the basin. On top of this travelled down and filled in the basin. On top of this alluvial sediment a rich Humus layer has develop from alluvial sediment a rich Humus layer has develop from dead plant matter. The water that percolates through dead plant matter. The water that percolates through the humus layer has leached nutrients out of the the humus layer has leached nutrients out of the alluvium. To negotiate this tree’s are buttressed out alluvium. To negotiate this tree’s are buttressed out instead of digging deep for stability.instead of digging deep for stability.

54 Copy in bullet points and 11.1654 Copy in bullet points and 11.16 Activities 1, 2, 4, 5, 6.Activities 1, 2, 4, 5, 6.Also do Question 11 page 47!!!Also do Question 11 page 47!!!