The
Geographer's Tool is Used to Educate
Maps are geographic representations of people, places,
and environments in a spatial context. Geographers
acquire, process, and report data on maps to explain
how the world is laid out. One researcher's examination
of the geology, topography, and settlement patterns
in Banos, Ecuador is now graphically displayed in
a non-technical map to educate the public about Mt.
Tungurahua's eruptive potential.
The
Andes: Beautiful and Powerful
The Andes mountain range stretches more than 4,500
miles along the entire western length of the South
American continent. The range is home to more than
twenty peaks, each over 20,000 feet high. Ecuador's
central valley, the Valley of the Volcanoes, is formed
by two branches of the Andes. At least two hundred
volcanoes are in the chain, thirty of which are considered
active. In 1985, a massive eruption in the Colombian
Andes melted glaciers, triggering mudflows that killed
more than 25,000 people.
Natural
Hazards are a Matter of Perception
Volcanism provides dramatic proof that humans live
in a world ruled by physical processes. A sudden change
such as an eruption can affect the land's capacity
to support human activity and can produce disastrous
results. The way humans perceive the risks associated
with physical change, and if and how they develop
strategies to respond to them, vary. Some deny any
danger exists while others are launching extensive
public education campaigns. A devastating eruption
ninety years ago did not stop the town of Banos from
redeveloping. More research on physical phenomena
and on human response may help mitigate future disasters.
Exploiting
Geographic Advantages to Fuel the Chilean Economy
The diversity of climates found within Chile, the
result of the country's physical geography and shape,
is key to its explosive economic growth. The country
stretches 2,700 miles (4,500 kilometers) north-south
along the western shore of South America, passing
through a range of latitudes. East to west, the country
averages only 110 miles (177 kilometers) but contains
three distinct physiographic features: the Andes Mountains,
the Pampa Central, and the coastal ranges. The resulting
north-to-south climatic variability allows for the
production of a great variety of crops, from fruits
to timber products.
Beyond
table grapes and timber, the mountains are rich with
minerals such as copper, lithium, silver, and gold,
and the fisheries in the Pacific Ocean are well endowed
by the nutrient-rich Humboldt Current, also called
the Peru Current. In addition, Chile benefits from
its position in the Southern Hemisphere, where the
growing season falls between November and March. This
allows the country to serve produce markets in the
Northern Hemisphere during the winter months when
off-season local production cannot meet demand.
Changing
Economic Patterns in the Limari Valley
The growth of the table grape industry in the Limari
Valley has had a substantial impact on the agricultural
land-use and settlement patterns of the valley. As
more land is put into grape production, small farmers
are squeezed off their farms and forced to seek employment
at large vineyards. Land fulfilling local needs is
taken out of production, forcing residents to rely
on food from outside sources.
The
Changing Social Geography of the Limari Valley
As land-use practices change, the social geography
of the Limari Valley is also altered. The harvest,
a labor-intensive process, draws large numbers of
migrant workers from the countryside and cities. With
this influx of people, which more than quadruples
the population, come urban problems such as crime,
drug use, and alcoholism. Change is also occurring
in the home. The new vineyards offer employment opportunities
for the women of the valley. Yet, as more women enter
the workforce, families spend less time together,
challenging traditional expectations.
Trade
Demands Reshape Chilean Economy
The cool, wet climate of southern Chile is perfect
for the Radiata Pine, a tree imported from North America
over thirty years ago. In Chile, the trees are able
to mature in just twenty years, in contrast to thirty
years in North America. The tall, straight trees produce
sturdy lumber. Other important products in Chile's
export-oriented economy include paper, chemicals,
and petroleum.
As
the Chilean economy becomes increasingly dynamic in
the world market, a shift in export destination is
occurring. For many years, the United States and Germany
were the country's chief trading partners. As Chile
begins to reap the rewards of its unique geographic
advantages, new markets are sprouting across the Pacific
Ocean. Today Japan, along with the United States and
Germany, ranks as one of Chile's leading trade partners.
Across the Andes, Brazil has also climbed high on
this list of trading partners. Chile's emphasis on
an export-oriented economy has allowed the country
to aggressively seek out new markets for its products.
Some observers now refer to Chile as the next "economic
tiger" on the Pacific Rim.
