Physical Geography of Latin AmericaChapter Nine

General Overview of Latin AmericaRuns from Mexico to

Tierra Del Fuego which is over 7000 miles

Includes all of Central and South America and the Caribbean Islands

Bordered by the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, as well as the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea

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Mountains and HighlandsAndes Mountains

◦Runs the entire length of North, Central, and South America North America – Rocky Mountains Mexico – Sierra Madre South America – Andes

◦They keep people from moving across into the interior of South America

◦Was the home of the Incas in Peru

Mountains and HighlandsHighlands –

Mountainous or hilly sections of a country

Guiana Highlands – In the northeast region of South America

Plains of Latin AmericaLlanos of Columbia and Venezuela

◦Grassy treeless areas used for livestock and farming

Amazon River Basin◦In the interior of Brazil◦Known as the cerrado◦Vast savannas with moderate rainfall

perfect for farming◦Had been ignored but now the Brazilian

government is encouraging settlement

Plains of Latin AmericaPampas

◦ Found in northern Argentina and Uruguay

◦ Main products – wheat and cattle

◦ Gauchos Accomplished

horsemen Very similar to the

cowboys in the United States

Gauchos

Rivers of Latin AmericaCentral America

and the Caribbean◦ These areas do not

have large river systems

◦ Unlike South America, they do not depend on rivers for transportation

◦ River to know – Rio Grande (border of Mexico and United States)

Rivers of Latin AmericaOrinoco River

◦Runs through northern half of South America

◦Flows 1500 miles to the Atlantic◦Forms part of the border between

Venezuela and ColumbiaParana River

◦Starts in the highlands of southern Brazil◦Flows 3000 miles to the Atlantic◦Known as the Rio de la Plata in Uruguay

Rivers of Latin AmericaAmazon River

◦ Flows 5000 into the Amazon River

◦ Starts in the Andes near the Pacific Ocean

◦ Fed by 1000 tributaries

◦ Carries more water to the ocean than any other river

Islands of the CaribbeanMade up of three groups of islands:Bahamas – hundreds of islands south of

FloridaGreater Antilles – Cuba, Jamaica, Puerto

Rico, and Hispaniola (Dominican Republic and Haiti)

Lesser Antilles – Southwest of Puerto Rico◦Windward Islands – Winds blow across them◦Leeward Islands – Sheltered from winds

El NinoWeather pattern

caused by warm water off the coast of South America

Causes warm winters in US and other abnormal weather

Can cause problems around the world

Resources of Latin AmericaEnergy Resources

◦Oil, natural gas, hydroelectric powerMineral resources

◦Gold, silver, iron, copper, tin, lead, nickel◦Also have gems and titanium◦Among the world’s leaders in raw material

productionProblems in Latin America

◦Much of what is produced is owned by other countries

◦What is produced is exported away

Slash-and-Burn Farming Clear cutting trees, brush, and

grass. Then burning the refuse.Began by the Pre-Columbian

native AmericansProblems with Slash-and-Burn

◦Soil is used up quickly◦People move and do it again. This

destroys even more land

Terraced FarmingAncient way of

growing crops on the sides of hills and mountains

Farmers cut flat areas into the sides of mountains and plant crops on them

Cuts down on soil erosion

UrbanizationPeople in Latin America are rapidly

moving from rural to urban areas.Most urbanized countries –

Argentina, Chile, Brazil, and UruguayPush-Pull Factors

◦Push factors – Poor medical care, poor education, low paying jobs, and rich own all the land

◦Pull factors – Better jobs, schools, and medical care

UrbanizationLatin America has many large

cities◦Rio de Janeiro◦Buenos Aries◦Mexico City – 30 million people in

entire metropolitan areaProblem with rapid growth

◦Slums & pollution◦Strain on the infrastructure

TourismAdvantages of tourism

◦Brings visitors who spend money◦Provides jobs

Disadvantages of tourism◦Pollution◦Uses lots of land◦Governments can create debt◦Other countries own resort areas so

money goes out of the country