Map Exercise: South America

Rivers

The Orinoco River begins in the southern arm of Venezuela, and then flows north along the border between Venezuela and Columbia, picking up a number of tributaries along the way. At the city of Puerto Carreño, the Orinoco and Meta rivers collide and the Orinoco continues northeast, following the edge of the Guiana Highlands towards the coast. Before the Orinoco River reaches the coast, it turns into a delta and swamp-land, until it finally reaches the Atlantic Ocean (right near Trinidad and Tobago).

The São Francisco River begins in the mountains of the Brazilian state, Minas Gerais, and flows north, through the Tres Marias Reservoir, into the state of Bahia, through another reservoir (Sobradinho), along the border between Bahia and Pernambuco (heading east now), through one more reservoir (Itaparica), then along the borders between the states of Sergipe and Alagos until it finally reaches the Atlantic Ocean. Fun fact, the people in Brazil loving refer to the river as "Old Frank".

The Loa River begins near the border between Bolivia and Chile. It flows south, past the Volcano San Pedro and then west to the Atacama Desert. It makes it through the desert, still flowing, and reaches the Pacific Ocean.

The Marañón River begins at the mountain Yerupaja in the Andes of central Peru. It flows northwest along a deep valley and out into the beginning of the Amazon Basin. From there, it flows almost completely east until it reaches the beginning of the Amazon River. (I have this weird hunch that the Marañón River *isn't* counted as part of the Amazon so that the Nile could keep its title of longest river ;-) )

The Rio Grande begins on the western edge of Tierra Del Fuego in Chile, and from there flows east, crossing the Chile / Argentina border and continuing east to the Atlantic Ocean.

Mountains

The Tumuc Humac mountain range runs east and west along the southern borders of Suriname and French Guiana and a northern edge of Brazil.

The Serra Da Mantiqueira run along the coast of Brazil between the major cities of São Paulo and Rio De Janeiro.

The Cordillera Real range of mountains runs North and south from Lake Titicaca on the Peru / Bolivia border and south to the Bolivia / Argentina border. Really, this is just the Bolivian extension of the Andes and the Cordillera Oriental, but it gets a new name when it resides within the borders of Bolivia.

Site and Situation

South America is situated in the south-western hemisphere, and reaches from 10 degrees north to 55 degrees south (almost to Antarctica!) To the west is the Pacific Ocean and to the East the Pacific. The northern edge of the continent touches the Caribbean, but then juts out into the Atlantic Ocean. South America is fairly isolated from the other Continents, having large swaths of ocean between it and the rest of the world. Despite this, South America became a popular destination for European settlers, and you can find little European-style villages along the eastern coast of the continent.

South America is a large landmass separating the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. Along the western edge is the longest mountain range in the world, the Andes. The northern edge of South America is well populated and covered in forests, grasslands and moderate mountain ranges. To the south is the Amazon River Basin, the largest drainage system in the world. This area is covered with vast tropical rainforests and is characterized by extreme wetness. To the east of the river basin lies another highland area, in Brazil. This area is covered in grasslands and open forests. The coast along this region is also well populated. On the western edge, the land is characterized by a sparsely inhabited desert coast and moderately inhabited, but still dry, coastal range and plateaus merging with the heights of the Andes. Once we reach about 30 degrees south, the wind changes direction and the western coast becomes very wet and covered in temperate forests while the eastern plains (on the other side of the ever-[resent Andes) are covered in grasslands. When we finally reach the tip of South America, the climate becomes pretty chilly and the highs in the summer can reach all the way up to 50 degrees F.

Bonus

Describe a migration that has occurred in South America any time in history.

One migration that I find fascinating is the creation of the city of Brasília, Brazil. It was conceived of in the early 1800s, but not actually built until the 1950s. The city has since grown to about 2 million plus, although the original planners originally planned for only 500,000 inhabitants by the year 2000. A large portion of these "extra" immigrants are the workers who built the city, but then had no way to return home once the city had been completed. The city responded to this dilemma by building satellite cities around the new capital for these workers to settle in. More immigrants were attracted by the promise of new jobs in manufacturing and the service industry. Although Brasília was originally designed to integrate the classes, the large influx of new residents created class segregation anyhow with the poorer residents being segregated to the outer area of the city and the elite living closer to the center. One interesting thing that happened was that because the people of Brasília were from all parts of Brazil, their cultures meshed and merged, creating new Brazilian traditions and stories that are a blend of the people who migrated there.

Map Exercise: Mexico, The Caribbean and Central America

Rivers

Yaque del Norte flows from the mountain Pico Duarte (3175m) in the Dominican Republic, north-east through the city Santiago de los Caballeros and then does a u-turn and flows north-west through a valley and into the Cibao Bay and the Atlantic Ocean by the town of Monte Cristi.

Rio Nazas flows from the Sierra Madre Occidental range in the Durango territory, and east into the Chihuahuan Desert where it is stopped by a dam, forming a fair sized lake, after which is dissipates into the desert sands of Coahuila territory.

Rio Grande de Santiago begins in Laguna de Chapala, which lies on the border of Jalisco and Michoacan territories. It flows north, through the city of Guadalajara, through mountain valleys and into Nayarit territory where it reaches the coastal plains and the Pacific Ocean.

Rio Guayambre begins on the Nicaragua / Honduras border near El Mogotón (2107m) and flows northeast through the mountains of Honduras until it meets Rio Guayape where they merge and become Rio Patuca which continues northeast until it reaches Punta Patuca and the Caribbean Sea.

Rio Santa María begins in the Cordillera Central Range of Panama and flows south then east to the Bahia de Parita, the Golfo de Panamá and then the Pacific Ocean.

Mountains

The Maya Mountains are located along the coast of the Gulf of Honduras spanning the Guatemala and Belize borders. The main peak is Victoria Peak at 1120m in elevation.

The Sierra Madre Oriental range is the eastern arm of the extensive Sierra Madre range which runs north and south along the entire country of Mexico and into Central America all the way to Honduras. The Sierra Madre Oriental runs along the eastern coast of Mexico, spanning the territories of Coahuila (on the US/Mexico border), Nuevo León, Zacatecas, Tamaulipas, San Luis Potosí, Querétaro, Hidalgo, and Puebla (and maybe others I didn’t spot). I noticed some volcanos in the range, as well as many rivers feeding into the coastal plains.

The Serranía de san Blas run along the northern coast of Panama, to the east of the Panama Canal. As the coast turns south, the range ends, and the Serranía del Darién continue.

Site and Situation

The situation of Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean is between the Northern countries of North America and South America. Panama, part of Central America, is the ONLY way to get a boat from the Pacific to the Atlantic (or the reverse) without either cutting through the ice of the Arctic Ocean or around the southern tip of South America through the Straits of Magellan.

The site of Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean is quite varied. On the mainland, the north is dominated by a stark desert with little water and few people (although the Sierra Madre Occidental is a bit greener, it is still quite dry). Once you reach past the tropic of cancer, the climate changes for the wetter, and the desert turns to green grass, trees and tropical foliage. The area is characterized by an abundance of mountains, and the towns and cities of central Mexico are nestled in the river valleys. The land narrows (with the Yucatan Peninsula jutting up like a big fin to the north) and the climate turns distinctly tropical as we come to the Central American countries. The terrain is still mountainous, but covered in vast greenery. The landmass continues to narrow until it reaches the Isthmus of Panama which is where the Panama Canal was built. A short way farther down, central America joins up with South America and the country of Columbia. The Caribbean consists of a conglomeration of islands to the east of Mexico and Central America lying inside (for the most part) the Caribbean Sea. Most of the islands lay in a rough line from the tip of the Yucatan Peninsula, straight east, past Florida and then finally curving south as they reach the open ocean of the Atlantic. Cuba is the largest island, and is mainly flat, with some mountains on its eastern tip. The rest of the islands are either very mountainous (those that are of any size) or made from coral reefs, and are flat and usually quite small. The climate is mild, due to the regulating influence of the Sea, but there are many tropical storms and hurricanes that the residents must deal with on a yearly basis.

Bonus

Are there any countries in Central America that are considered an MDC? If yes, name the country and explain why it is considered an MDC.

The Countries in Central America and the Caribbean that are considered MDCs by the UN are: Barbados, Cuba, Bahamas, Panama, Antigua & Barbuda, Trinidad & Tobago, Grenada, Costa Rica, Jamaica, Dominica, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Belize. These are the countries that score 70% or higher on the Human Development Index which takes into account life expectancy, education, and standards of living. By comparison, the United states is at 91% and Liberia which is at 33%. Mexico is also an MDC, but it’s not part of Central America ;-) This data also does not take into account foreign territories such as Puerto Rico which would otherwise qualify as an MDC.

Map Exercise: Canada

Rivers

Peace River: The headwaters are in the Omineca Mountains of British Columbia, formed by the meeting of the Finlay and Parsnip rivers. From there, it flows into Williston Lake, a reservoir filling the river basin. Peace River continues east to the British Columbia border and into Alberta. In the middle of Alberta, it hits the Slave River and ends, by name. Interestingly, the Finlay River (the main source of Peace River) is considered the ultimate beginning of the Mackenzie River, the 12th longest river in the world.)

Assiniboine River: The headwaters are in the southeastern area of Saskatchewan province. From there it flows south to Lake of the Prairies, which straddles the Saskatchewan / Manitoba border. From there, it flows south, takes a 90 degree turn and flows east to Winnipeg and into the Red River, which almost immediately flows into Lake Winnipeg, a huge lake that covers almost 9,500 square miles (or since we're in Canada, 24,500 square kilometers).

St. Lawrence River: This river begins at the edge of Lake Ontario, and follows the border of Ontario, Canada and New York, United States until the town of Cornwall, where it follows the Ontario / Quebec border for a short way until it moves into Quebec proper, and then flows through the cities of Montreal and Quebec, and then finally out into the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the Atlantic Ocean.

Back River (original name was 'Great Fish River'): The headwaters are in the Northwest Territories, where it flows north and into Nunavit. From there it flows into Lake Garry, and then on north until it reaches the Arctic Ocean.

Fraser River: The headwaters lie in the Columbia Mountains (part of the Rocky Mountains) in British Columbia. The river flows north, then turns around and flows south, almost to the British Columbia, Canada / Washington, United States border and then through Vancouver and out into the Strait of Georgia and the Pacific Ocean.

Mountains

Mackenzie Mountains: This mountain range runs north to south in the Northwest Territories along the border between the Northwest Territories and Yukon.

Monts Notre-Dame: This mountain range runs along the southern bank of the St. Lawrence River in Quebec Province.

Torngat Mountains: This mountain range occupies the northern most peninsula of Newfoundland, bordering Quebec Province and the Labrador Sea.

Site and Situation

Almost the entire country of Canada lies above the 45th parallel, and a majority of it extends to the 70th parallel (with smaller portions reaching past the 80th). Canada is the northernmost country of the continent of North America, and the northern edge is surrounded by the Arctic Ocean. To the east is the Atlantic Ocean, with the country (yay!) of Greenland not too far away. The southern border is entirely shared with the United States. A short (aprox 800 km) stretch of the southwestern border reaches the Pacific Ocean. The rest of the western border is shared with the United States.

The first thing to know about Canada is that it is a very cold country. The northern half of Canada is covered in vast tracts of uninhabited forests and tundra. The western portion of the country is dominated by the Rocky Mountain range, and is covered by dense forest. The northern portion of the county is comprised of many islands, all covered in tundra and ice. Following the northern coastline of the mainland, an enormous bay is reached which is frozen over for about half the year. The remaining portion of the country is bordered on the east by the Atlantic, and the south by the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River. The southern portion of this region is the most densely populated area of the country, and is covered by hardwood forests, good farmland, and access to the trade through the St. Lawrence and Great Lakes.

Bonus

Where, in Canada, are the most densely populated areas? Explain why this/these areas are most densely populated.

Generally, Canada is most highly populated in the southern portions of the country. The Arctic circle can be a harsh environment, and so it makes sense that the farther you go from the dark and freezing temperatures, the more people will be living there. More specifically, there are also more people living along the coast, due to the milder climate as well as the access the ocean brings. There is also a higher population density in the central plains. I imagine that it is easier to raise cattle and build roads in the areas where it is flat rather than the mountainous regions surrounding it.

Map Excersice: The United States

Rivers

Columbia River: Headwaters are in Canada (BC), then flows through Washington and then along the border between Oregon and Washington and finally into the Pacific Ocean.

South Platte River: Headwaters are in the Colorado Rockies. It flows through north-eastern Colorado, merging with the North Platte in Nebraska and continues until it hits the Missouri River in Omaha Nebraska.

Potomac River: Headwaters are in Virginia and West Virginia (South and North Branches, respectively). The river itself starts where these two branches meet in West Virginia and then form the border between Maryland and West Virginia as well as Virginia. It then flows through Washington D. C. and into the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean.

Rio Grande: The Headwaters are in southern Colorado, after which it flows south into New Mexico. The river neatly divides the state in half until it hits the New Mexico/Texas/Mexico border. At this point, it follows the Texas/Mexico border (the other way around, really, of course :-) ) until it reaches the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean.

Mountains

Ouachita Mountains: situated across the border between Oklahoma and Arkansas. The Eastern edge is at about Little Rock, Arkansas.

Sacramento Mountains: situated in south-central New Mexico, they lie north to south between the Pecos River and the Rio Grande.

Brooks Range: This range lies east to west across the north edge of Alaska, and includes many smaller mountain ranges (De Long, Endicott, and Baird).

Site and Situation

The situation of the USA: The majority of the country is contiguous, but also includes a small chain of tropical islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean as well as a northern state which partially lies in the arctic circle. Canada lies to the north, and Mexico to the south, otherwise the country is bordered by ocean. On a global scale, the country is partially isolated from other powerful nations because of the oceans lying between it and the rest of the world. It has also acted as a barrier between the East and West, and have also taken advantage of this arrangement through trade.

The site of the United States is varied in its topology, climate and other characteristics. It consists of almost 4 million square miles in area. The eastern side of the country (bordered on the east by the Atlantic Ocean) consists of hardwood forests as well as high population density. In the north, the climate is humid and cold, to the south, humid and hot. There is a mountain range (the Appalachians) that runs from the north to the south parallel to the coastline. On the other side of these mountains lies forests and farmland, gradually merging with the Great Plains, an extensive, high altitude prairie that covers the entirety of the central area of the country north and south. These plains eventually reach the Rocky Mountains which extend from the northern to the southern border. On the western side of the Rockies lies various desert areas until another set of mountains are reached (the Sierra Nevada Range and the Cascade Range). These mountains parallel the western coast, and the land between the coast and the mountains are again covered in forests and greenery. To the north lies a separated portion of the country, which consists of mountainous areas of ice and cold. Far out in the ocean lies another portion of the county in the form of a small volcanic chain of tropical islands. The continental divide lies in the Rocky mountains, and many important rivers stem from these mountains.

Final Project

I'll have to upload the file somewhere ... but I made a power point presentation for my final project.

My First Term of College

This is the end of my first term of college. I took two classes, both online, as I did not have a job when I registered, but hoped to find one and did not want my school and work schedule to overlap. By the time I finished my first week of school, I had a job working night shift at a local care home for dementia patients. This has been an experience! Something interesting happens almost every day I go to work. I haven't been to a regular school since 6th grade, as I was homeschooled (self taught, mostly) after that. I was nervous about taking a class with deadlines and assignments, but I think I did pretty okay in the end. I've been practicing my writing by blogging off and on over the years, and it doesn't hurt that I like it!

I feel like I learned a lot this term. It wasn't the ideas or techniques that I read in the book that I appreciated the most (I know how to read, and I could have done that on my own), but the feedback and pushing I got from my teachers. I'm always happy to be shown (whether directly with a note or indirectly through an activity or assignment) how I am doing things wrong. I realized that I had been being lazy, as well as my over use of it and is. I've been catching myself doing the same thing while writing my sociology assignments, and I can re-write my sentences to be more complete. I can really tell the difference between a sentence with a bunch of 'it's and one with actual words instead.

Making Pie

I was invited to a friend's house for thanksgiving dinner, and so I offered to bring my upside-down pecan pumpkin pie. It's pretty much the most amazing pumpkin pie anyone has ever tasted. After waking up around noon on Thanksgiving, I set to work making my desert. I looked at the recipe, and realized that I had forgotten that I was out of evaporated milk. So, I headed out to Sherm's, battled through the wild crowds, all buying last minute ingredients for their meals. As I was making my way through the store, I passed a display of evaporated milk, so I grabbed one, and was on my way.

After I finally made it back home, I started mixing up the ingredients. First, a big can of pumpkin pie mix, next the evaporated milk. Once I had added the milk, I knew something wasn't right. I looked at my recipe, I looked at the can. I had purchased the wrong size, 12 ounces instead of 5. I didn't have a second can of pumpkin, and I dreaded going all the way to the other side of town and fighting for another can of pumpkin. Besides that, time was running out, and I needed to get to my friend's house soon! I decided to check the local convenience store, and thank goodness, they had a can of pumpkin (puree instead of the mix, but I could deal with that!).

I got home, and mixed up the pies, poured them into the pans and started putting them into the oven. I had ended up with two large pies and four small ones (like pumpkin pie shots). After I put the two large pies in, I realized that I didn't have room in the front for all four little pies, so I reached back and carefully set the little pies in the back. Well, I wasn't quite careful enough, and one of them dumped over, spilling all over the bottom of my oven.

I cleaned up what I could, and continued cooking. In a couple minutes (unknown to me) smoke started billowing out of the oven, and then the smoke alarm went off. Our smoke alarm is ... excessively loud. BEEEEP BEEEEP BEEEP THERE IS SMOKE IN THE HALLWAY BEEEP BEEEEP BEEEP EVACUATE THE BUILDING BEEP BEEEP BEEEP! and so on. I opened the windows and doors, and frantically waved something at the smoke alarm, trying to get the smoke away from it. I turned off the oven, and eventually the alarm stopped. I called up my friend and asked her if I could bake my pies in her oven. She said, sure, as soon as the turkey and rolls are done cooking. So, I started taking the pies out of the oven so that I could wrap them up and bring them over. The first pie I took out, as I was setting it on the stove top, slipped and fell, splat, upside-down on the floor of my kitchen. I almost cried.

I took the other pies out (no more accidents) and cleaned up the floor as best I could. I was a little worried about transporting the pie. I figured that with my luck, I would dump them all over my car. They made it to my friend's house. I carried them to the fence, opened the gate, tripped, almost fell, caught myself, made it through her herd of mastiffs and into the kitchen without further loss of pie. Whew!

Sadly, the pie sat there all through dinner, as the turkey (like all turkeys) took longer to cook than expected. They finally went into the oven at 7, baked for an hour and then got put in the freezer in an attempt to cool them down before people fell asleep. By 9:30 when I had to leave for work, they were still hot, and so I left without seeing what anyone thought of my pies.

In the middle of the night, my friend sent me a message telling me that it was the best pumpkin pie she had ever tasted.

I have half a can of pumpkin puree left ...