Latin America. General characteristic Plan: Topography Climate Resources

Latin America. General characteristic

Plan: Topography Climate Resources

Latin America 19,1 million square km 12,6% of the earth’s surface Historical roots: Spain and Portugal Spanish and Portuguese based on Latin: Latin America Population – about 590 million

Regions of Latin America 1. Middle America Mexico Central America 2. Caribbean a. Bahamas: b. Greater Antilles (Cuba, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic) c. Lesser Antilles 3. South America Central America The Caribbean South America

1. Central America

2. Caribbean

3. South America

Topography

Satellite Image of Latin America

Bodies of Water Atlantic Ocean Pacific Ocean Gulf of Mexico Caribbean Sea Amazon R. Orinoco R. Uruguay R. Magdalena R. Sao Francisco R. Lake Titicaca Lake Maracaibo Rio de La Plata Parana R.

Lake Titicaca: World’s highest lake (3812 m above sea level, depth - 304m., the largest fresh water basin, 8290 sq. km)

Mountains and Peaks Andes Mts. Sierra Madres Mts. Guiana Highlands Brazilian Highlands Patagonian Plateau

Andes Mountains (Peru)

The Eastern Flank of the Andes

Llamas in the Andes

The Sierra Madres, Mexico

Guianan Highlands, Venezuela

Brazilian Highlands

Patagonian Region (Chile)

Valleys Plains and Basins Amazon Basin Pampas Mato Grosso Gran Chaco Llanos

Amazon Rain Forest

Mato Grosso - a high plateau region in southwestern Brazil that forms a watershed between the Amazon and Plate river systems

Orinoco Lowlands, the Llanos (an extensive grassy treeless plain in South America)

Cattle Ranching on the Pampas (large treeless plains in South America)

Deserts Atacama Desert

Atacama Desert

Cities Mexico City Havanna Port-au-Prince Panama City Santiago Lima Buenos Aires Brasilia Rio De Janiero Caracas Bogota

Others Cape Horn - a rocky headland on an island at the extreme S tip of South America, belonging to Chile. It is notorious for gales and heavy seas; until the building of the Panama Canal it lay on the only sea route between the Atlantic and the Pacific Falkland Islands Cape Horn Panama Canal

The Falkland Islands or Islas Malvinas

Cape Horn

The Panama Canal

Going Through the Panama Canal

Atlantic Ocean Pacific Ocean Gulf of Mexico Caribbean Sea Amazon R. Orinoco R. Uruguay R. Magdalena R. Sao Francisco R. Lake Titicaca Lake Maracaibo Rio de La Plata Parana R. Andes Mts. Sierra Madres Mts. Guiana Highlands Brazilian Highlands Patagonian Plateau Amazon Basin Pampas Mato Grosso Gran Chaco Llanos Atacama Desert Mexico City Havanna Port-au-Prince Panama City Santiago Lima Buenos Aires Brasilia Rio De Janiero Caracas Bogota Falkland Islands Cape Horn Panama Canal

Active Volcanoes

Climate

Latin American Climatic Zones

Very Varied Climate Zones

Precipitation

Resources

Amazon Rain Forest

On the Ground Floor of the Rain Forest

Three-Tiered Vegetation

Three-Tiered Canopy – трехъярусный древесный полог

Native Indians of the Amazon

Jungle Fauna

Minerals of the Amazon Region Diamonds Amethyst Quartz Bauxite

Deforestation in the Amazon

Original Forest Cover Future Forest Cover Current Forest Cover

Agriculture and Fishing

Banana Plantation

Harvesting Sugar Cane

Growing Coffee

Rubber Industry

Oil Drilling in the Gulf of Mexico

Eco-Tourism

Drug Trafiking Routes

Demographics

Latin America’s Population Distribution

Sao Paolo, Brazil

Overcrowding in Sao Paolo, Brazil

Squatter Settlements (самовольное поселение) in Major Latin American Cities