Latin America. General characteristic Lecture 9 Plan: General

Latin America. General characteristic Lecture 9

Plan: General information

Latin America 8 million square miles 16% of the earth’s surface Historical roots: Spain and Portugal Spanish and Portuguese based on Latin: Latin America

3 distinct areas of Latin America Middle America Mexico Central America Caribbean a. Bahamas: Bahamas and Turks and Caicos b. Greater Antilles (Cuba, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic) c. Lesser Antilles South America

Map Activity Place countries found on page 186 to 189 on the attached maps

Caribbean

Lesser Antilles

Greater Antilles

South America

Mountains Run the length from North America to South America Sierra Nevada in Mexico Sierra Madre: Occidental (Pacific Coast) “Western” Sierra Madre: Oriental: (Gulf Coast) “Eastern” Sierra Madre: del Sur: “Of the South” Andes Mountains in South America Formed by colliding tectonic plates (Cocos and Nazca) collide with North and South American Plates: Ring of Fire in the Pacific

Sierra Madre (Occidental)

Mountains as sanctuaries Places of human settlement Escape the heat from lowland climates Rich natural resources (water, volcanic soil, timber and minerals) Isolated peoples from one another Blocked trade and movement

Additional Areas Mexican Plateau: fertile land area between the Sierra Madres in Mexico Central Highlands: volcanic mountains in Central America

Mexican Plateau

Central Highlands

Andes Mountains Western edge of South America World’s longest mountain chain cordilleras: extensive chain of mountains that run parallel to one another. From the Spanish word cordilla, or cord.

Andes Mountains

Mato Grosso Plateau Eastern South America Brazil, Bolivia, and Peru Sparsely populated

Brazilian Highlands

Brazilian Highlands

Lowlands and Coastal Plains Brazil: Atlantic Coast: major area of settlement Vast Grasslands: Ilanos: Columbia Pampas: Argentina and Uruguay Provide grazing area for cattle and produces wheat and corn Llaneros (cowhands) in the Llanos Gauchos: (cowhands) in the Pampas

Brazilian Coastal Plain

Llanos

Pampas

Water Systems Rivers Rio Grande: borders Mexico and United States Amazon: longest river in Western Hemisphere Parana, Paraguay, and Uruguay Rivers form the second largest river system in Latin America Important sources of hydroelectric power: electricity generated from the energy of water Estuary: an area where the tide meets a river current (Rio de la Plata: river of Silver) Buenos Aires and Montevideo lie along the Rio de la Plata

River Systems

Rio de la Plata

Lake Titicaca: World’s highest lake

Lake Maracaibo: largest lake in South America

Lake Nicaragua

Natural Resources of Latin America Minerals (gold and silver) Forests Farmland Water Oil Natural gas

Climate and Vegetation Rain forests Arid deserts Grassy plains Sandy beaches

Tropical Climate: arrow indicates equator

Varied climatic regions in Latin America

Tropical Region Southern Mexico Eastern Central America Some Caribbean islands Parts of South America Hot Temperatures Abundant rainfall

Tropical Rainforest Trees form dense canopies (trees that cover and block out sunlight to the trees below them) Covers 1/3 of South America World’s wettest tropical plain 80-120 inches of rain per year

The Rain Forest

Mouth of the Amazon River

Tropical Savannah Coast of southwestern Mexico Most Caribbean islands North-central South America Illanos of Columbia and Venezuela Characteristics Hot temperatures Abundant rainfall Extended dry season

Tropical Savannah: Llanos

Humid Subtropics Southeastern South America (Rio de Janeiro to Argentina and Uruguay) Winters (Short and Mild) Summers (Long, hot and humid) Pampas

Pampas

Gauchos

Desert and Steppe Areas Northern Mexico Coastal Peru and Chile SE Argentina Atacama Desert: no rainfall Steppe: Northern Mexico and NE Brazil and Scentral S. America receive little rainfall. Steppe Climate: hot summers, cool winters, and light rainfall

Desert

Atacama Desert (Chile)

Elevation and Climate Vertical climate zones Tierra Caliente: sea level to 2,500 ft 68 degrees to 91 degrees Average rainfall Bananas, sugar, rice, and cacao. Tierra Templada: 2,500 feet to 6,500 feet 60 and 72 degrees Coffee and corn are grown Tierra Fria 6,500 to 10,000 feet Frost is common during winter months Potatoes and barley