Physical Geography of Latin America

1. Physical Geography of Latin America Chapter Nine

2. General Overview of Latin America • Runs 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 • Video

3. Mountains and Highlands • Andes 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

4. Mountains and Highlands • Highlands – Mountainous or hilly sections of a country • Guiana Highlands – In the northeast region of South America

6. Plains of Latin America • Llanos 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

7. Plains of Latin America • Pampas • Found in northern Argentina and Uruguay • Main products – wheat and cattle • Gauchos • Accomplished horsemen • Very similar to the cowboys in the United States

9. Gauchos

10. Rivers of Latin America • Central 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)

11. Rivers of Latin America • Orinoco River • Runs through northern half of South America • Flows 1500 miles to the Atlantic • Forms part of the border between Venezuela and Columbia • Parana River • Starts in the highlands of southern Brazil • Flows 3000 miles to the Atlantic • Known as the Rio de la Plata in Uruguay

12. Rivers of Latin America • Amazon 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

13. Islands of the Caribbean • Made up of three groups of islands: • Bahamas – hundreds of islands south of Florida • Greater 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

15. El Nino • Weather 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

16. Resources of Latin America • Energy Resources • Oil, natural gas, hydroelectric power • Mineral resources • Gold, silver, iron, copper, tin, lead, nickel • Also have gems and titanium • Among the world’s leaders in raw material production • Problems in Latin America • Much of what is produced is owned by other countries • What is produced is exported away

17. Slash-and-Burn Farming • Clear cutting trees, brush, and grass. Then burning the refuse. • Began by the Pre-Columbian native Americans • Problems with Slash-and-Burn • Soil is used up quickly • People move and do it again. This destroys even more land

19. Terraced Farming • Ancient 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

20. Urbanization • People in Latin America are rapidly moving from rural to urban areas. • Most urbanized countries – Argentina, Chile, Brazil, and Uruguay • Push-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

21. Urbanization • Latin America has many large cities • Rio de Janeiro • Buenos Aries • Mexico City – 30 million people in entire metropolitan area • Problem with rapid growth • Slums & pollution • Strain on the infrastructure

22. Tourism • Advantages 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