Physical Physical Features of Features of

Latin AmericaLatin AmericaMrs. Sample

6th Grade Social Studies

Latin America is divided into three Latin America is divided into three

regions:regions:

• Mexico and Central America

• Caribbean• South America

Mexico and Central Mexico and Central AmericaAmerica

• 2,500 miles (about as wide as the US)• Central Plateau in Mexico

o lies between Sierra Madre mountains and makes up more than half the country’s area

• Central America is an Isthmus.o isthmus = a narrow strip of land that has water

on both sides and joins two larger bodies of lando Many Volcanoes in Central America- as a result,

their soil is fertile and many people farm.

Mexican PlateauMexican Plateau

Gulf of MexicoGulf of Mexico• bordered by the US

to the north, five Mexican states to the south, and Cuba to the east

• Arm of the Atlantic Ocean

• Mississippi River & Rio Grande empty into the Gulf of Mexico

Sierra Madre Sierra Madre MountainsMountains

Sierra Madre Sierra Madre MountainsMountains

• mountain system in Mexico• three major chains: the Sierra Madre

Occidental in the west, the Sierra Madre Oriental in the east, and the Sierra Madre del Sur, which extends along the southern coastoThe Sierra Madre range contains

some of the highest mountains and volcanoes in Mexico.

Sierra Madre Sierra Madre MountainsMountains

Mexico and Central Mexico and Central AmericaAmerica

Panama CanalPanama Canal

Panama CanalPanama Canal• canal across the isthmus of Panama in Central

Americao allows vessels to travel between the Pacific

and Atlantic oceans• handles a large volume of world shipping and

enables vessels to avoid traveling around South America, reducing their voyages by thousands of miles and many days. o consists of artificially created lakes,

channels, and a series of locks, or water-filled chambers, that raise and lower ships through the mountainous terrain of central Panama

Panama Panama CanalCanal

Caribbean SeaCaribbean Sea

Caribbean Caribbean • small islands are made of coraloskeletons of tiny sea animals, rock-

like substance• larger islands are tops of underwater

mountains oexamples: Cuba, Jamaica

Caribbean SeaCaribbean Sea• partially enclosed on the north and

east by the islands of the West Indies, and bounded on the south by South America and Panama, and on the west by Central America

• a major trade route for Latin American countries

• a popular resort area—noted for its mild tropical climate and beautiful waters

Caribbean SeaCaribbean Sea

Andes MountainsAndes Mountains

Andes Mountains Andes Mountains • Andes Mountains—4,500 miles along west

coasto They rise at some points to 20,000 feet

—same height as twenty 100 story buildings stacked on top of each other

o 2nd largest mountains; Himalayas are the 1st

• highlands east of the Andes• Amazon River Basin—contains the largest

tropical rain forest (Amazon Rain Forest) in the world; covers 1/3 of the continent

AndesAndes

Atacama DesertAtacama Desert

Atacama DesertAtacama Desert• Atacama Desert (Chile)—one of the

driest places on earth; very little rainfallobetween the Pacific Ocean and the

Andes Mountains

Atacama DesertAtacama Desert

Amazon RiverAmazon River

Amazon River & Amazon River & RainforestRainforest

• Amazon River Basin—contains the largest tropical rain forest (Amazon Rain Forest) in the world; covers 1/3 of the continent

• Rivers serve as natural highways where it’s hard to build roadso provide food and hydroelectric power

• Amazon River—2nd largest river in the world (1st--Nile River)o 4,000 miles from Peru across to Atlantic

Oceano contains 20% of all fresh water in the

world

Amazon from SpaceAmazon from Space

Amazon Rain ForestAmazon Rain Forest