Transcript Document 7130319

Cities of South America
• Population in metropolitan area: 6.4 million (accounts for 1/3 of the
nation’s population and workforce)
• Total population (2003): 7.9 million growing over 4% annually
• 90% Mestizo (mixed European and Native American) with small
minorities of whites, blacks, and Asians
• Capital and largest city of Peru (actually 10 times larger than its
second largest city)
• It is the second oldest capital in South America
• City accounts for 2/3 of entire nations GDP, tax collections, bank
deposits, private investments, physicians, and university students
• Mass migration of Peruvians (“campesinos”)
from the rural areas of the Andes to the city in
search of a better life
• Most of the city is occupied by residential
areas
• City’s core is filled with high density
apartments, tenements, and “pueblos
jovenes” or “barriadas” (shantytowns)
• Middle and upper class live farther from
the city’s core
• Continuous population increase has led
too much overcrowding and a serious gap
between the rich and poor
• Overpopulation in these poor squatter
settlements has led to a shortage of basic
necessities such as running water and
electricity
• Divided into 33 municipal districts – each with an
elected mayor and city council
•Currency: Nuevo Sol (1 US Dollar=3.35 Nuevo Sol)
• Lima dominates the nation’s service sectors in trade,
finance, and retail
• Majority of imports and exports move through city’s
Port of Callao (west coast of South America)
• industries produce textiles, clothing, processed foods,
and some machinery and vehicles
• Has 2 major highways which connect Lima with the
rest of the country
• Founded
January 18, 1535 by Francisco Pizarro after he
conquered the great Incan Empire
• Originally was named “La Ciudad de los Reyes” (The City of
Kings) after the Christian Feast of the Epiphany where the
Three Kings visited the Christ Child
• A massive earthquake struck the city in 1746 nearly destroying
the city completely
• In 1821 General Jose de San Martin, leader of the
independence movement of Latin America from Spain, took over
the city and 5 years later Lima became the capital of the
independent nation of Peru
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Beaches were once the main attraction in the summer; however, the
coastline has become increasingly polluted by untreated sewage
Plaza de Armas is the focal point of city life
Lima’s cathedral (1746) – glass coffin which is said to contain
Pizarro’s remains
Government Palace was built on the site of Pizarro’s house and is
home to the country’s president
Lima’s City Walls – some of which are still standing that were originally
built to defend from Pirate attacks in the 16th and 17th centuries
Universidad Nacional de San Marcos (1551) – oldest standing
university in entire western hemisphere
• Lima is not known for having much open green space or
parks as it has mostly been taken over by buildings and
residential growth
• pre-incan ruins still standing – Pachacamac (“earthmaker”)
•Transportation includes:
• Taxis/Automobiles
• Inner city busses
• “Lima Metro” – above ground mass transit system
• Transportation has been a major cause of pollution since
leaded petroleum is still widely used and there are no
restrictions placed on automobile efficiency
Rio De Janeiro
Brazil
Demographics
• Population: 6,051,399
• Ethnic Mix: 70% white, 20% black, 10%
other
• Religion: 75% Catholic, 25% other
Demographics (continued)
• Although Rio de Janeiro occupies a setting of magnificent natural
beauty, poverty and urban sprawl have spawned the favelas,
densely crowded neighborhoods of flimsy shacks. In contrast to
the more affluent neighborhoods along the city’s southern
beaches, favelas cover many of the city’s northern hills.
Economics
• Rio’s harbor is deep enough for the largest
vessels to come alongside the wharves,
which lie near the city center.
• Through the port flows the major portion of
Brazil’s imports and exports.
• Rio is also a distribution center for the
coastal trade.
Economy (continued)
• The city’s manufactures include textiles,
foodstuffs, household appliances,
cigarettes, chemicals, leather goods, metal
products, and printed material. There are
also two major airports.
• Rio’s climate is warm and humid and is a
success by being a major tourist center.
History
• Rio De Janeiro is a city of southeast Brazil
on Guanabara Bay, an arm of the Atlantic
Ocean. According to tradition, it was first
visited in January 1502 by Portuguese
explorers who believed Guanabara Bay to
be the mouth of a river.
• Therefore named the city Rio De Janeiro
“River of January”.
History (continued)
• It became capital of the colony of Brazil in
1763.
• The Brazilian empire in 1822.
• And of the independent country in 1889.
• In 1960 the capital was transferred to
Brasilia.
Significant Monuments/Markers
• The Statue of Christ the Redeemer. Located at the top of
Corcovado Mountain in Tijuca National Park. This great statue
stands 2330 feet tall, holding the city of Rio in his arms. This is
one of the most famous and most visited monuments in the
world.
Significant
Monuments/Markers(cont’d)
• Sugar Loaf Mountain is one of
the more spectacular tourist
attractions in Rio de Janeiro.
The two mountains of Sugar
Loaf are located between
Guanabara Bay and
Copacabana beach in Rio de
Janeiro.
 The view from the peak
of Sugar Loaf, 1,296 ft
(395m) above sea-level
Santiago, Chile
Santiago’s Location
History - settlement
– Santiago began as a fortified
encampment known as Santiago de La
Nueva Extremadura., it was the furthest
outpost in the Spanish empire at the
time.
– Founded in 1541 by conquistador
Pedro de Valdivia
– Araucanian Indians destroyed the
settlement and the Spaniards were
besieged for two years. The eventual
arrival of reinforcements from Peru
enabled the city to be re-founded and
Santiago settled
Population growth
• Late 1600 settlement of 200 houses, with
about 700 Spaniards
• Early 1900’s had a population of 30,000
• 1950 1.33 million
• 1970 2.84 million
• 2005 6.2 million (40% of Chile’s population)
City Growth
• In the beginning Haciendas or great farms were
the background of the city
• After independence from Spain in 1818,
Santiago became capital of Chile and emerged
as the most economically dynamic City of the
new South American republics
• Growth of the country's agriculture and mining
industries served to boost Santiago's status and,
throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, the city
experienced large-scale immigration from
Europe
City Sprawl
Economy
• Leading producing and exporter of Copper.
Accounts for ½ of country’s exports
• One of three big financial centers in South
America along with Buenos Aires and Sáo Paulo
• Some Companies that have South American
headquarters in Santiago: HP, Reuters, JP
Morgan, Coca Cola, Intel, Motorola, Kodak,
Nestle, and IBM
Some Architecture
More buildings …
Santiago’s biggest problems
Because of being located in a valley its geographic location is
Unfavorable for air dispersal. To reduce air pollution the city has
restricted the operation of motor vehicles, keeping 1/5th of all
vehicles in Santiago off the street each day. Government has also
Offered incentives for heavy industry to move out of the city.
Smog and Decentralization
The government is now decentralizing Santiago due to its rapid and high
growth rates. It is promoting out-migration to neighboring townships,
the countryside, other cities and reducing in-migration to the city.
It also has some of the best mass-transit systems to help reduce
pollution. It has a clean and safe subway system, one of the most
extensive Bus services, and plenty of taxicabs. All of these systems
are being upgraded and improved to help with growth.
Demographics
Population growth rate:
1.27%
6.2 million *1.27 = 75,000 peeps per year
Economic Growth Rate:
6% GDP increase projected for 2005 and 2006
Age structure:
0-14 years: 28%
15-64 years: 65%
65 years and over: 7%
Ethnic groups:
white and white-Amerindian 95%, Amerindian 3%, other 2%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 89%, Protestant 11%, Jewish
Literacy: Total population: 95.2%
Those in Poverty: around 17%, down from recent years, but very high
The capital of Brazil and model
of urban planning
Facts:
•Brasilia was planned for only 500,000
inhabitants, its population has grown much
more than expected.
•Due to zoning laws and the basic layout,
the majority of the population lives outside
the city limits in the 9 lower income satellite
cities.
•Brasilia was the most famous new
capital cite of the twentieth century.
•It is a land mark in the history of
town planning.
•The government constructed the city on
an undeveloped site during the late
1950’s and the early 1960’s to encourage
settlement in the inland regions of Brazil.
•Ranked the 17th largest metropolitan
area in 1996.
Demographics
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Ethnic Division:
Caucasian = 55%
Mixed Caucasian & Africans = 38%
Africans = 6%
Other = 1%
Population: In 2005= 2,176,000
Population Growth Rate: 1.28%
Religion: Roman Catholic =70%
Languages: Portuguese (official), Spanish, English, and French
Male to Female Ratio: Males = 52%
Females = 48%
The Cathedral Metropolitan
Monuments
The head of Brazilian president
Juselino Kubitschek.
JK Memorial
The Congress
Juselino Kubitschek Bridge
History
• In the 18th century, Brazil’s governing authorities decided to transfer
the capital from Rio de Janeiro to an empty inland area safe from
naval attacks.
• They agreed to move the capital to Brasilia, which is a plateau
carved out of the state of Goias.
• Construction began in 1956 by landscape architecture Lucio Costa
and was completed on April 21st, 1960.
• He used a “Pilot Plan”, which features two great intersecting axes.
One for governmental and the other for residential, together they
form a rough outline of an airplane.
• East = Federal government buildings.
• The central intersection of important boulevards = Bus terminals
and hotels.
• West = More hotels, a sports arena, and a recreational facility.
• North and South = Residential areas, composed of six storied
apartment buildings. Every fourth block there is a school,
playground, shops, theaters, and more.
•There are two major roadways in the city running east and west. The
monuments and public buildings are located along the roadways.
•The railroad runs north and south in a curving line, intersecting the bus
terminal.
•The goal was to use modern design and lots of land to contrast earlier cities,
seen to be plagued by chaotic urban growth.
•The city was seen to be sterile and overly controlled.
Economics
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Driven by the Federal Government, which employs most of the cities
workers, with 42% in services, 31% in agriculture, and 27% in the industry.
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Small scale industry, food services, and construction are also important.
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Agricultural products include coffee, soybeans, wheat, rice, corn,
sugarcane, cocoa, citrus, and beef.
Positive Aspects:
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The city is not threatened by any kind of natural disaster.
• Good climate and sunny days are very common.
• Many and large green areas in the pilot plan.
• Virtually no air pollution.
Negative Aspects:
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It is not a walking city, the distance between building and sectors require a
vehicle.
• Housing prices are very high, compared to other Brazilian cities.
• Public transportation is inefficient.
• Very few people are found on the streets.
• The newer satellite towns have very few green areas.
• Many of the famous buildings are beautiful but not functional.
Medellin,
Antioquia
Medellin
• Capital of Antioquia, a province
of northeastern Colombia,
bordering Panama and the
Caribbean Sea.
• Located in the Aburra Valley,
at an altitude of about 1,500
meters.
• The Rio Medellin River flowing
northward, bisects the city.
• The San Lucas Mts. and the
Caucas River are located to
the East of Medellin.
• Medellin has an average
annual temp. of 24 degrees C.
Brief History
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1675: Medellin was founded.
1862: Medellin became the capital of Antioquia.
1951-1973: Population of Medellin nearly quadrupled due to immigration from
the countryside.
1970-1980: Economy began to deteriorate.
– Urban planning was unable to control urban growth and city expanded onto
the slopes of the surrounding Aburra mountains.
– Ongoing process of de-industrialization led to accelerated process of urban
decay.
1980-1990: Medellin became headquarters for Colombian drug cartel led by
Pablo Escobar.
– The drug cartels were tolerated by government because it helped attenuate
economic crisis. The huge influx of money generated expectations of quick
improvement in living conditions.
– New migration pattern developed. Gated communities were built on the flat
terrain in the city by rich. Poor moved out higher into the Aburra
mountains.
1990-2000: Crime and assassinations grew to an all time high.
– The state finally made efforts to cut the power of the Medellin cartel. Led
to civil war, government vs. drug cartel. Reputation of city suffered
internationally, it became known for uncontrollable drugs and violence.
– War ended with assassination of Pablo Escobar in 1993.
– The city began to recover and rebuild itself.
Important Information
• Medellin is the second largest city in Colombia.
• It has a population of almost 2 million people.
• Ethnic groups: Mestizo 58%, white 20%, mulatto 14%, black 4%,
mixed black-Amerindian 3%, Amerindian 1%.
• Major exports: coffee, cut flowers,petroleum, coal, apparel, and
bananas.
• Medellin has a literacy rate of 91.3%.
• Spanish is the dominant language, and Roman Catholic is the main
religion.
• Best known event is the Flower Festival, where citizens celebrate
the cut flower business, which supplies around 70% of the flowers
imported by the U.S.
Transportation
• One of the major
improvements for
transportation in Medellin was
the addition of the Medellin
Metro.
• Built in 1995, it was actually
the first subway to be built in
Colombia.
• The main airport serving
Medellin, is the Jose Mario
Cordoba International Airport.
Medellin
and
Pablo Escobar
• Pablo Escobar is one of the most notorious names associated with
Medellin.
• His drug cartel penetrated the economic, socio-cultural, and political
spheres of the city. He practically owned Medellin in the 80’s.
• Estimates are that his drug cartel was taking in an estimated $25
billion annually in the 80’s.
• Seen as a type of Robin Hood to the people of Medellin. He built
stadiums and gave money to the poor. In return they served as
lookouts and hid information from the authorities.
• Once estimated by Forbes magazine to be the seventh-richest man in
the world, with Medellin cartel controlling 80% of the world’s cocaine
market.
• In 1991, Escobar turned himself in for fear of extradition to the U.S.
• Escobar was killed in 1993 after he escaped from prison.
Medellin Today
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Today, Medellin is experiencing an
urban and economic renaissance.
In 2003, 1.2 million square meters of
property were developed into hotels,
new housing, and office buildings.
The city’s transportation network is a
model for the rest of the Andes.
Universities and hospitals are top
tier, with doctors being credited for
such triumphs as the first kidney
transplant in Latin America.
The city still experiences crime, but
nowhere near as bad as past
decades.
The 2 million residents of Medellin
have never been more prosperous,
with profits from exports triple what it
was in the 90’s.
Salvador, Brazil
Salvador - History
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Founded in 1549 by Portuguese
settlers led by Thome de Souza.
Salvador was the major port of
Brazil during the Portuguese
colonial rule, leading in sugar
export and slave trade.
Salvador was the first capital of
Brazil until 1763 when Rio de
Janeiro took its place.
Seat of the 1st Catholic Bishop of
Brazil in 1552, and is still an
ecclesiastical center of power for
Brazilian Catholicism.
1583 Salvador’s population was at
1600, making it one of the largest
cites of the New World at the time.
Even at the time of the American
Revolution in 1776 Salvador’s
population was greater than any
American colonial city.
The Church of Saint Francis
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1624 Salvador was taken by the
Dutch, but soon recaptured by the
Portuguese the next year.
Salvador was also the center for
the Brazilian independence
movement. On September 7th,
1882, liberation was attained.
1948 population was 340,000
1991 population was 2.08 million
Salvador - Geography
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Salvador is located on a Peninsula on the
Atlantic in northeast Brazil.
The city is on the Baia de Todos os Santos,
or “The Bay of All Saints.”
The topography is predominately hill and
valley.
Salvador is also at the heart of Reconcavo
Baiano metropolitan region.
One of the distinct features of the city is
that it is separated into two parts, an “upper
city” (cidade alta) and a “lower city” (cidade
baixa). This is due to an actual difference
in elevation. The upper city is located on a
“bluff” 230 ft above the lower city.
Salvador – Geography (continued)
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The lower city is on the waterfront
and therefore is the commercial
and financial sector of the city.
There are docks and warehouses
and also a naval base located
there.
The upper city is the historic
sector of the city, containing
administrative buildings,
cathedrals and colonial
architecture.
Passage between the two is made
by cable railways, winding roads,
and a vertical pedestrian lift known
as the Lacerda Elevator.
Salvador - Economy
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Before the Brazilian Independence
in 1823, Salvador was a major
industrial and port city. In Brazil it
was the center for trading sugar
and tobacco, and also the slave
trade during the Portuguese
colonial era.
Today the port still plays a major
role in the economy, exporting
cacao, sisal, soybeans, and
petrochemical products.
Also its role as an industrial city
has declined, the local industries
still include fishing, oil and gas
extraction, cigar manufacture, an
oil refinery, and tourism.
Ford Motor Company has a plant
in the metro area.
Salvador – Economy (continued)
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• Markets are also tourist
attractions in Salvador, such as
Sete Portas and Mercado
Modela.
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Salvador today is attracting
increasing numbers of tourists
because of its setting. Also, in the
1990s, the Bahian state
government restored the
Pelourinho district, which is
located in the historic sector of the
city in efforts to increase tourism
further.
Northeast Brazil is an
impoverished area with high birth
rates and infant fatality rates.
Salvador is no exception.
Salvador had high crime and
unemployment rates.
The average monthly income in
the 1990’s was equivalent to 447
dollars.
Sanitation had also been a
problem in the poorer
neighborhoods of Salvador. 1/3 of
people have no sewage hookups
or septic systems.
Salvador - Culture
• One of Salvador’s
distinguishing characteristics is
its presence of colonial
architecture in the Upper City.
One of the buildings located
there is a cathedral, still
standing from the year 1572.
Many other Baroque-style
churches are also located
there.
Salvador – Culture (continued)
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15 Forts from the colonial period
are also still standing in Salvador.
Salvador is also known for the
influence of African culture on the
city.
Candomble is an Afro-Brazilian
religion practiced in Salvador. The
city has over 1000 Candomble
temples – called terreiros.
The Afro-Brazilian martial dance of
capoeira is also popular in
Salvador.
Salvador has over 350 churches
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and has been called “Black
Rome.”
The Carnaval celebration in
Salvador is also a tourist
attraction. Many visit to
experience the circus and public
street parades and parties that
happen before Lent.
Distinct areas of Salvador are also
tourist attractions such as
Pelourinho, and the tourist market
Mercado Modela. Pelourinho
district was built when the city was
the economic powerhouse of
South America, and the buildings
reflect the wealth of the city at the
time.
Salvador - People and Places
• Dorival Caymnil
• Gal Costa
• Gilberto Gil – equivalent in
Brazil to John Lennon or Paul
McCartney in the U.S. He is a
Grammy Winner and the
current Minister of Culture in
Salvador.
• All MPB (Musica Popular
Brasileira) stars.
• Ruy Barbosa
• Antonia de Castro Alves, a
poet
• Jorge Amado, a novelist
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Jorge Amado, a novelist
State University of Bahia
Catholic University of Salvador
Lacerda Elevator – vertical
pedestrian lift built in 1873.
Replaced in 1928 and now
transports 50,000 people daily
between the upper and lower
cities.
Church of St. Francis
Church of Third Order of St.
Francis
Afro-Brazilian Museum.
Fort of St. Anthony of Barra –
built in 1580
Salvador – Important Facts
• Also known as Bahia for a long
time.
• 4th largest city in Brazil
• Salvador had a population of
2,631,831 people in 2004.
• Major religions are
Catholicism, Candomble,
Protestantism, Espiritism, and
recently Mormons. It is
common for individuals to
practice pieces of more than
one religion.
• Salvador’s population has
been growing as country-side
dwellers move into the city.
• Brazil’s oldest city.
• 450th Birthday in 2000.
• Gross Domestic Product per
capita: 4,309 Reals.
• Gross Domestic Product:
10,738,802 thousand Reals.
• Making up most of the GPD is
services with 8,229,247
thousand Reals.
Sao Paulo, Brazil
History of Sao Paulo
• The city was founded in 1554 by Jesuit
Missionaries
• Later was established as a simple urban outpost
for coffee barons up until the 20th century
• Officially became a city in 1711
• Many immigrants from Japan, Germany, Italy,
Arabia, and Spain came to work at the large
coffee plantations scattered through the city
• Sao Paulo grew in industrial strength around the
turn of the century which caused the city to
expand rapidly due to immigration
Economic and Political Systems
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Sao Paulo has a diverse economy
centered around its large industrial
and commercial center
Close to one half of the country’s
industrial output comes from the city of
Sao Paulo
Sao Paulo State accounts for over ¾
of the country’s output of machinery,
electrical goods, and rubber
Democratic government with one
president, very similar to the United
State’s Political system
Luiz Inácio da Silva is the current
president
Demographics
• The city has an area of
575 sq. miles
• A population of 10.9
Million
• Largest city in Brazil
(near second largest in
the world based on
population)
• 20 million people live in
the greater metropolitan
area of Sao Paulo
Social Aspects
• Sao Paulo is home to the University of Sao
Paulo
• Has a major art museum known as MASP
• Major symphonic orchestra known as OSESP
• Grand Prix race track called Interlagos
• World’s largest private-owned sports stadium
• Sao Paulo also takes part in the Carnival
celebrations that go on all throughout South
America (much like Mardi Gras)
Entertainment
• Many shopping malls such as Shopping
Morumbi, Sao Paulo Marketplace,
Shopping Eldorado, and Jardin do Sul
• Embu is a nearby city with many street
vendors who sell a diverse array of art
• Chohoscorias are famous for their
barbeque type menu and unique setting
Poverty in Sao Paulo
• Sao Paulo has a major
problem with Poverty
• Approximately 1,500,000
people now live in favelas
(shanty towns) in Sao
Paulo and surrounding
areas
• Crime has suddenly
increased, and
kidnappings and robbery
are relatively common in
the city
Ethnic Groups in Sao Paulo
• Of the approx. 11 million people in Sao Paulo
the breakdown is as Follows:
• 3 million descendents of the Portuguese
• 3 million descendents of Italian
• 3 million descendents of African heritage
• 1 million Japanese (largest pop. Outside of
Japan)
• 1 million German
Rapid Population Growth
• From a population of merely 32,000 people in
1880, Sao Paulo has grown considerably in the
last century
• In 1980, the population was at 8.5 million
• Today, the population is close to 11 million
• Urban sprawl is evident in the first slide with the
picture of Sao Paulo taken by satellite
Santa Cruz, Bolivia
Where is it?
Santa Cruz lies 416
meters above sea
level and is located in
central Bolivia near
the Piray River, in the
tropical llanos (plains)
region east of the
Andes Mountains.
History of Santa Cruz
• The land where Santa Cruz was founded on was
inhabited by the ancient Aymará civilization, who lived on
Lake Titicaca. Later, this civilization was conquered by
the Incas, who were themselves conquered by the
Spanish in 1538. Throughout the country’s colonial
history, it was known as Upper Peru. Simon Bolivar led
the country to independence in 1825. In its early years,
independent Bolivia was ruled by a succession of
caudillos (military dictators) who tried, with mixed
success, to integrate the country’s three disparate
regions – the central region, the eastern Andes and the
Altiplano – into a national entity.
• The city of Santa Cruz de la Sierra was founded by Ñuflo
de Chávez on February 26, 1560.
Important Facts
• Total Population: 1,364,389
• Full Name of the city is Santa Cruz de la
Sierra
• It is the Capital of the Santa Cruz
Department(or State)
• Is considered the fastest growing city in
Bolivia
Economy
•Santa Cruz is a trade and processing center for sugar,
rice, cotton, fruit, soy, and corn.
•Has a strategic and commercial importance because of
its central location.
•There are also natural-gas reserves and an oil refinery
nearby.
•Important industries are leather crafting, sugar refining,
and alcohol production.
•A rail line gives the city access to both the Atlantic and
Pacific oceans.
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Culture
The predominant religion is Roman Catholic, but there is a scattering of
other Christian faiths. Indigenous Bolivians, however, have blended
Catholicism and their traditional beliefs. An example is the near
synonymous association of Pacha Mama (Mother Earth) and the Virgin
Mary.
Spanish is the official language throughout Bolivia, although only 6070% of the population speaks it, and then often as a second language. The
indigenous languages of Quechua and Aymara are the preferred languages.
When bargaining in rural markets, a Quechua word or two will not only
endear you to the vendors, but usually get you an extra orange or more
juice! Several other small indigenous groups speak their own languages.
English is understood in the best hotels and in airline offices and travel
agencies, but it's of little use elsewhere.
Bolivian food consists mainly of meat, corn pancakes, rice, eggs and
vegetables. Local specialties include pique a lo macho, grilled beef and
sausage; lechón, suckling pig; and cuy, whole roasted guinea pig-however,
some delicacies may only be for the most adventurous stomachs.
• Religious Affiliations of the population of Santa Cruz
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Catholic: 1,046,463 - 76.6% of the city’s population
Evangelical: 136,993
Others: 14,505
None: 28,564
Not Specified: 100,512
Major Landmarks/Attractions
• Piraí River: The riverbanks are often the spot for weekend picnics.
• Municipal Zoo: One of the best zoos in South America, features
birds, reptiles, mammals, from the region as well as endangered and
exotic species.
• Plaza 24 de Septiembre: Ideal for relaxing and watching sloths
hanging in the tall trees.
• The Cathedral: Located on the Plaza 14 de Septiembre, the
cathedral dates back to the early 1600's. The cathedral museum
displays religious art work, gold and silver artifact from the Jesuit
missions.
• Museo de Historia Natural: Display a collection of flora and fauna
of the region.
Landmarks (Continued)
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Lomas de Arena de El Palmar: Located 16 Km south of Santa Cruz these
large sand dunes and fresh water lagoons are ideal for weekend picnics
and swimming.
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Parque Nacional Noel Kempff Mercado: Really worth seeing, this
spectacular natural park, about 440 Km northeast of Santa Cruz, has an
incredible scenery of waterfalls, rivers, rainforests and a wide variety of flora
and fauna (alligators, pink dolphins, caimans, river otters, tapirs, spider
monkeys, etc.).
•
Jesuit Missions: From Santa Cruz, east across the Río Grande, this circuit
of Jesuit missions. founded between 1696 and 1760, composed by the
mission of San Javier, San Ramón, San Ignacio, Concepción, San Rafael,
Santa Ana, and San José de Chiquitos were declared "World Heritage" by
the UNESCO World Heritage Committee on December 12, 1990 in Alberta,
Canada.
•
El Fuerte de Samaipata: (Fortress) 120 Km southwest from Santa Cruz,
the entire Inca ruins complex of around 40 hectares was declared "World
Heritage" by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee on December, 2nd
1998 in Kyoto, Japan.
Pictures
Buenos Aires, Argentina
About Argentina
• 21 Provinces
• 4,466,896 sq. mi.
• Population of 37
Million
• 11 Million of which are
in Buenos Aires
• “Pampas” fertile
farming ground
Brief History
• 1536- Founded by Spaniards
looking for Gold
• 1580- Permanent Spanish
Settlement
• 1617- Given its own Governor
in and had provincial status
• 1776- Capital of New Viceroy
controlled Territory
• 1810- Severed from Spanish
Empire, establishes its own
government
• 1862- Capital of Argentina
• 1880- Federalization,
Beginnings of Urbanization
Important Factors
•
Most European of all Latin
American Cities
•
Known as the “Paris of South
America”
•
Wide Boulevards, Leafy Parks,
Grand Architecture, and lots of
Monuments
•
47 barrios, each one with its
own distinct flavor and culture
Porteños Population
Population
Area Sq. Mi.
Pop. Per Sq. Mi.
Capital Federal-
2,904,000
77
37,638
Inner Suburbs
5,202,000
360
14,436
Outer Suburbs
3,094,000
633
4,886
Urbanized Area
11,200,000
1,070
10,467
Buenos Aires is ranked 4th in the world’s highest urban populations, behind only
Shanghai, Bombay, and Karachi. When considering metropolitan area however, it
falls to 17th.
Maps
Demographics
•
Only .05% inhabitants of
Buenos Aires are of Native
Decent
•
Most Porteños are of Spanish
or Italian Decent, though there
are also sizeable percentages of
German, Arab, Jewish,
Armenian, Anglo-Irish, Korean,
Japanese, and Chinese
•
Italian and German names
outnumber Spanish ones
•
96% Catholic
Economy
•
Buenos Aires is the financial, industrial,
commercial, and cultural hub of Argentina.
Its port is one of the busiest in the world;
navigable rivers connect it to the Argentine
North-East, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay.
As a result, it serves as the distribution hub
for a vast area of the south-eastern region
of the continent.
•
Agricultural products such as meat, grain,
dairy, tobacco, wool, and hide from pampas.
•
Industries include automobile
manufacturing, oil refining, metalworking,
machine building, and the production of
textiles, chemicals, clothing, and beverages.
Government
• Political Instability from
1945-1983
• La Guerra Sucia and
the 10,000-30,000
Disaparecidos
• Distrust in National
Government
• Today Three Branch
style similar to US
• Gobernador Felipe Solá
Population Reference Bureau
Thank you very much, that’s all for me.
Bogotá,
Colombia
Origins
• Founded in 1538 by Jimenez de
Quesada as capital of New Granada
• Was known as the “Athens of America”
• Jose Acevedo y Gomez led the first
successful revolt in 1810.
• After Bolivar’s decisive victory in 1819,
Bogotá became the capital of Greater
Colombia.
Origins, cont.
• When the country divided in 1830, Bogotá
became the capital of what we know today as
Colombia.
• Much of the city was damaged by rioting in
1948, after the assassination of radial leader
Jorge Eliecer Gaitan.
• In 1955 Bogotá and the surrounding area
were organized as a “Special District”, which
became the “Capital District” in 1991.
Demographics
• Population of roughly 7.8 million people
• Located at altitude of 8660 feet above sea
level at the base of two mountains in the
Northern Andean Range.
• Population is currently increasing at rate
of 5% per year, mostly due to rural
residents flocking to the city.
• Currently, the urban area covers 384.3
square kilometers.
Religions
• 97% Christian
– Other religions observed include:
•
•
•
•
Islam
Judaism
Primal/Indigenous
Secular
Economy
• Bogotá is Columbia’s largest economic
center, and it’s residents refer to Bogotá
as Colombia’s “first city”.
• It is home to most foreign companies
doing business in Colombia, as well as
Colombia’s main stock market.
• Three largest sectors of Bogotá’s
economy are the export of coffee,
emeralds, and flowers.
More on the Economy…
• Colombia’s coffee is prized as the
finest in the world, and it is the world’s
largest producer of the product.
• In downtown Bogotá, millions of dollars
of domestically produced rough and
cut emeralds are bought and sold daily
• As much as 55% of all flowers sold in
the United States are imported from
Colombia.
Culture
• Bogotá is home to several universities:
– Universidad del Rosario, the oldest in
Colombia
– National University of Colombia
– Los Andes University
– Pontifical Javerian University
– Universidad Externado de Colombia
– University of Santo Tomas
Festivals
• Festival Iberoamericano de Teatro
– Most important theatre festival in Latin America
and Spain.
• Bogotá’s Half-Marathon
– International marathon that takes place between
June and August, with 200 million pesos in prizes
• La Candelaria
– A neighborhood of Bogotá where a great number
of cultural events occur. It is home to several of
Bogotá’s universities.
Transportation
• Bogotá is a modern city with a modern
transportation system consisting of:
– Airlines
– Busses
– Taxis
– The Transmilenio
– A train that serves the outskirts of the city