LATIN AMERICA

THE PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY OF LATIN AMERICA

STRONG SPANISH AND PORTUGUESE INFLUENCE ON LANGUAGE AND CULTURE

BLEND OF NATIVE AMERICAN, AFRICAN, AND EUROPEAN HERITAGE

MOSTLY TROPICAL AND SUBTROPICAL CLIMATE

WORLD’S LARGEST AREA OF TROPICAL RAINFOREST

LATIN AMERICA: WHAT MAKES IT A REGION?

KEY TERMS: CORDILLERAALTIPLANO

ESCARPMENTLLANOPAMPA

HYDROELECTRIC POWER

LATIN AMERICA: THE LAND

Western Hemisphere, South of the U.S. ◦8 million sq.mi. ◦16% of Earth’s surface◦Middle America (Mexico to Panama)◦Caribbean◦South America- largest landmass in Latin America

THE LAND

Extension of the Rockies◦ Mexico- Sierra Maestra◦ Central and South America- Andes◦ Location on the Ring of Fire◦ Earthquakes and Volcanoes still affect the area

Why did people move there?◦ Cooler climates◦ Natural resources- water, volcanic soil, timber,

and minerals◦ Rugged terrain = isolated communities

MOUNTAINS AND PLATEAUS

Sierra Maestra- Mexico, on the Mexican Plateau

The Carribean Islands◦ Are mainly volcanic peaks

Andes Mountains◦ 4,500 miles long covering the West Coast of S.A.◦ Longest and highest mountain range◦ Some peaks over 20,000 ft◦ Is a cordillera system- separate mountain ranges

that run parallel to each other◦ In Peru

Andes encircle the altiplano, or high plain

MIDDLE AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN

THE ANDES MOUNTAINS

Eastern S.A.- broad plateaus and valleys◦Ex: Mato Grosso Plateau Brazil, Bolivia, Peru

◦Ex: Brazilian Highlands Warm climate Good for raising cattle Ends in an escarpment- steep slope plunging into the Atlantic Ocean

THE BRAZILIAN HIGHLANDS

MATO GROSSO PLATEAU: BRAZIL

Brazil has the longest strip of coastal plain◦Northeastern Brazil to Uruguay◦Escarpment forces the Brazilian people

to live on the coast Llanos- inland grassland

◦Colombia and Venezuela◦Pampas- in Argentina and Uruguay Grazing land for cattle and livestock

◦Fertile soil- wheat and corn production

LOWLANDS AND PLAINS

ESCARPMENT

Transportation of goods and people◦ Mostly in South America

Amazon River◦ Headwaters in the Peruvian Andes◦ Empties into the Atlantic◦ Over 4,000 miles long◦ Carries 10x the amount of water volume than the

Mississippi Paraná Paraguay and Uruguay Rivers

◦ 2nd longest river system in Latin America

WATER SYSTEMS

Used for hydroelectric power Rio Grande

◦ Largest river in Middle America◦ A.K.A.- Rio Bravo del Norte

Panama Canal◦ Man made on the Isthmus of Panama◦ Used to get from the Atlantic to the Pacific

Lakes◦ Titicaca- Peru and Bolivia◦ Maracaibo- Venezuela (Oil fields)

WATER SYSTEMS (cont)

PANAMA CANAL

Oil- Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea

Orinoco River- (Venezuela)- GoldPeru and Mexico- SilverColombia- EmeraldsChile- Copper Jamaica- Bauxite = aluminum

NATURAL RESOURCES

KEY TERMS:

Tierra Helada Puna

Tierra FriaTierra TempladaTierra caliente

Canopy

CLIMATE AND VEGETATION

Tierra Caliente Sea level to 2500 feetCoastal areas and foothills75 to 80 F

Tierra Templada 2500 to 6000 feetEvergreens65 to 75 F

Tierra Fria 6000 to 12000 feetEvergreens and scrub55 to 65 F

Puna 12000 to 16000 feetGrass20 to 55 F

Tierra Helada Above 16,000 feetPermanent snow and iceLess than 20 F

CLIMATE ZONES

Climate affected more by elevation than location relative the Equator◦Have vertical climate zones

Tierra Helada-Andes Mts◦Puna- cold zone w/grass; cattle graze here

Tierra Fria◦Potatoes and Barley◦America’s highest climate zones

Tierra Templada◦Coffee and corn main crops

Tierra Caliente◦Bananas, sugar, rice, cacao

ELEVATION AND CLIMATE

Most of L.A. is tropical w/lush vegetation Tropical wet

◦ Dominates most of the region◦ Rainfall from the prevailing winds = moisture

from the Atlantic◦ Mostly lands in the Amazon Basin◦ Rainforests

Trees grow close to one another forming a canopy Dense layers of leaves Sunlight does not reach the floor Many species live here

CLIMATE AND VEGETATION REGIONS

Southwestern Mexico, Caribbean Islands, and North Central South America

High temperatures, rainfall, drought

Soils not too fertile but flooding has helped move sediments

Tropical Dry

Southeastern South America

Short winters

Heavy rain during Summer

Short grasses◦Today: Alfalfa, corn, and cotton

Humid Sub-Tropical

Northern Mexico, Peru, Chile, and Southeastern Argentina◦Desert climate and vegetation

Ex: Atcama desert◦In some places here rainfall has never

been recorded Vegetation

◦Cacti- due to lomas (dense sea fog) that comes over the area

Steppe◦N. Mexico, N. Brazil, South Central S.A. Hot Summer, cool Winter, grassy

DRY CLIMATES