Latin America Chapter 9: Physical Geography of Latin
America
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Latin America 8 million square miles 16% of the earths surface
Historical roots: Spain and Portugal Spanish and Portuguese based
on Latin: Latin America
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3 distinct areas of Latin America Middle America a.Mexico
b.Central America Caribbean a. Bahamas: Bahamas and Turks and
Caicos b. Greater Antilles (Cuba, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Haiti, and
the Dominican Republic) c. Lesser Antilles South America
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Map Activity Place countries found on page 186 to 189 on the
attached maps
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Caribbean
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Lesser Antilles
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Greater Antilles
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South America
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Mountains Run the length from North America to South America
Sierra Nevada in Mexico Sierra Madre: Occidental (Pacific Coast)
Western Sierra Madre: Oriental: (Gulf Coast) Eastern Sierra Madre:
del Sur: Of the South Andes Mountains in South America Formed by
colliding tectonic plates (Cocos and Nazca) collide with North and
South American Plates: Ring of Fire in the Pacific
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Sierra Madre (Occidental)
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Mountains as sanctuaries Places of human settlement Escape the
heat from lowland climates Rich natural resources (water, volcanic
soil, timber and minerals) Isolated peoples from one another
Blocked trade and movement
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Additional Areas Mexican Plateau: fertile land area between the
Sierra Madres in Mexico Central Highlands: volcanic mountains in
Central America
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Mexican Plateau
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Central Highlands
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Andes Mountains Western edge of South America Worlds longest
mountain chain cordilleras: extensive chain of mountains that run
parallel to one another. From the Spanish word cordilla, or
cord.
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Andes Mountains
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Mato Grosso Plateau Eastern South America Brazil, Bolivia, and
Peru Sparsely populated
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Brazilian Highlands
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Lowlands and Coastal Plains Brazil: Atlantic Coast: major area
of settlement Vast Grasslands: Ilanos: Columbia Pampas: Argentina
and Uruguay Provide grazing area for cattle and produces wheat and
corn Llaneros (cowhands) in the Llanos Gauchos: (cowhands) in the
Pampas
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Brazilian Coastal Plain
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Llanos
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Pampas
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Water Systems Rivers Rio Grande: borders Mexico and United
States Amazon: longest river in Western Hemisphere Parana,
Paraguay, and Uruguay Rivers form the second largest river system
in Latin America Important sources of hydroelectric power:
electricity generated from the energy of water Estuary: an area
where the tide meets a river current (Rio de la Plata: river of
Silver) Buenos Aires and Montevideo lie along the Rio de la
Plata
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River Systems
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Rio de la Plata
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Lake Titicaca: Worlds highest lake
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Lake Maracaibo: largest lake in South America
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Lake Nicaragua
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Natural Resources of Latin America Minerals (gold and silver)
Forests Farmland Water Oil Natural gas
Tropical Region Southern Mexico Eastern Central America Some
Caribbean islands Parts of South America Hot Temperatures Abundant
rainfall
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Tropical Rainforest Trees form dense canopies (trees that cover
and block out sunlight to the trees below them) Covers 1/3 of South
America Worlds wettest tropical plain 80-120 inches of rain per
year
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The Rain Forest
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Mouth of the Amazon River
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Tropical Savannah Coast of southwestern Mexico Most Caribbean
islands North-central South America Illanos of Columbia and
Venezuela Characteristics Hot temperatures Abundant rainfall
Extended dry season
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Tropical Savannah: Llanos
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Humid Subtropics Southeastern South America (Rio de Janeiro to
Argentina and Uruguay) Winters (Short and Mild) Summers (Long, hot
and humid) Pampas
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Gauchos
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Desert and Steppe Areas Northern Mexico Coastal Peru and Chile
SE Argentina Atacama Desert: no rainfall Steppe: Northern Mexico
and NE Brazil and Scentral S. America receive little rainfall.
Steppe Climate: hot summers, cool winters, and light rainfall
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Desert
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Atacama Desert (Chile)
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Elevation and Climate Vertical climate zones Tierra Caliente:
sea level to 2,500 ft 68 degrees to 91 degrees Average rainfall
Bananas, sugar, rice, and cacao. Tierra Templada: 2,500 feet to
6,500 feet 60 and 72 degrees Coffee and corn are grown Tierra Fria
6,500 to 10,000 feet Frost is common during winter months Potatoes
and barley