South America Human Life:South America, fourth largest of the worlds continents.

It is the southern portion of the landmass generally referred to as the New World, the Western Hemisphere, or simply the Americas. The continent is compact and roughly triangular in shape, being broad in the north and tapering to a pointCape Horn, Chile in the south. South America is bounded by the Caribbean Sea to the northwest and north, the Atlantic Ocean to the northeast, east, and southeast, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. In the northwest it is joined to North America by the Isthmus of Panama, a land bridge narrowing to about 50 miles (80 kilometres) at one point. Drake Passage, south of Cape Horn, separates South America from Antarctica. Relatively few islands rim the continent, except in the south. Human Habitation in South America: The oldest known dates for human habitation in the Americas are from sites in South America. The Monte Verde site in southern Chile has an occupation floor that is dated at 33,000 years ago. The tools at Monte Verde are of simple stone technology, but they indicate local environmental adaptation, not simply a variation of Siberian hunting technology. The degree of adaptation is significant because it indicates successful human occupation of South American coastlines for a considerable length of time. Environmental Issues Argentina: Current Issues: erosion results from inadequate flood controls and improper land use practices; irrigated soil degradation; desertification; air pollution in Buenos Aires and other major cities; water pollution in urban areas; rivers becoming polluted due to increased pesticide and fertilizer use Natural Hazards: Tucuman and Mendoza areas in the Andes subject to earthquakes; pamperos are violent windstorms that can strike the Pampas and northeast; heavy flooding Bolivia: Current Issues: the clearing of land for agricultural purposes and the international demand for tropical timber are contributing to deforestation; soil erosion from

overgrazing and poor cultivation methods (including slash-and-burn agriculture); desertification; loss of biodiversity; industrial pollution of water supplies used for drinking and irrigation Natural Hazards: cold, thin air of high plateau is obstacle to efficient fuel combustion, as well as to physical activity by those unaccustomed to it from birth; flooding in the northeast (March-April) Brazil: Current Issues: deforestation in Amazon Basin destroys the habitat and endangers the existence of a multitude of plant and animal species indigenous to the area; air and water pollution in Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, and several other large cities; land degradation and water pollution caused by improper mining activities Natural Hazards: recurring droughts in northeast; floods and occasional frost in south Chile: Current Issues: air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution from raw sewage; deforestation contributing to loss of biodiversity; soil erosion; desertification Natural Hazards: severe earthquakes; active volcanism; tsunamis Colombia: Current Issues: deforestation; soil damage from overuse of pesticides; air pollution, especially in Bogota, from vehicle emissions Natural Hazards: highlands subject to volcanic eruptions; occasional earthquakes; periodic droughts Ecuador: Current Issues: deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; water pollution Natural Hazards: frequent earthquakes, landslides, volcanic activity; periodic droughts Guyana: Current Issues: water pollution from sewage and agricultural and industrial chemicals; deforestation Natural Hazards: flash floods are a constant threat during rainy seasons Paraguay: Current Issues: deforestation (an estimated 2 million hectares of forest land have been lost from 1958-85); water pollution; inadequate means for waste disposal present health risks for many urban residents