The physical geography of an area has an enormous impact on the life of the people in that place. One of the most basic effects is what grows there. The available vegetation affects the lifestyle of the people in two important ways. First, it guides how they meet their basic needs. It also influences connections with other groups as contact for trade expands their activities.

• Identify different elements that maps show, such as elevation and vegetation.
• Consider the impact that geography has on how people meet their basic needs.

1. Discuss the notion of elevation and how maps indicate this aspect of geography.
2. Explore the impact elevation has on the basic needs of a society: food, clothing and shelter.
   Show the students MITN Bolivia:
   • 1971 Relief Map of Bolivia (Figure 22a)
   • 1971 Vegetation Map of Bolivia (Figure 22b)
   and the Student Sheet. Allow them time to complete questions independently.
3. Review their responses as a group.

Time Allocation: 15-20 minutes

Variation on the Activity
Look at MITN Bolivia:

• 1836 Map of South America (Figure 13)
• 1836 Map of Peru and Bolivia (Figure 14)
• 1892 Map of South America (Figure 16)
• 1892 Map of Bolivia, Ecuador and Peru (Figure 17)
• 1901 Map of Bolivia (Figure 18)
• 1922 Map of Bolivia (Figure 20)

Note the different ways that map makers have shown elevation on maps.

Special Resources for this Activity

• MITN Bolivia:
• 1971 Relief Map of Bolivia (Figure 22a)
• 1971 Vegetation Map of Bolivia (Figure 22b)

Assessment criteria

• Did students correctly identify elevation levels on the map?
• Did students recognize the impact that elevation has on vegetation?

Exploring new areas is a fun adventure. It can also be dangerous if the place is unknown. When the Spanish began to explore the Western Hemisphere in the 1500s, they frequently were the first Europeans who had ever come in contact with the native population and unfamiliar territory. Using the maps your teacher gives you, answer the following questions:

1. What grows at high altitudes? At low altitudes?
2. What might be some of the additional problems of growing things at high altitudes? At sea level?
3. What seems to grow well in Bolivia? What crops are absent?
4. What impact does the vegetation of an area have on other aspects of life in that place?