Q. Consider the following statements regarding the Patagonian Plateau:
1.It is a classic geomorphic example of a Piedmont plateau located at the southern terminus of South America.
2.The plateau functions as a cold, hyper-humid rain-forest ecosystem due to unhindered winds blowing off the Pacific Ocean.
3.Economically, the sparse vegetation and cold climate make it a vital regional zone for extensive pastoral sheep rearing.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Answer: C
Notes:
Detailed Explanation:
- Statement 1 is correct: The Patagonian Plateau in southern Argentina is a classic Piedmont plateau—a high landform that sits at the foot of a mountain range (the Andes) and drops off steeply on its other side toward the Atlantic Ocean.
- Statement 2 is incorrect: The Patagonian Plateau is actually a rain-shadow desert plateau. The towering Andes mountains to its west block incoming moisture from the Pacific Ocean, causing the air to drop its rain on the Chilean side and cross into Patagonia as dry, desertifying wind.
- Statement 3 is correct: Because the climate is cold and arid, the landscape is dominated by hardy shrubs and short grasses. This semi-arid steppe vegetation makes the plateau ideally suited for large-scale, commercial sheep ranching rather than crop farming.
