1. Life and Work in Latin America
SS6G3 The student explain the impact of location, climate, distribution of natural resources, and population distribution on Latin America and the Caribbean.
Compare how the location, climate, and natural resources of Mexico and Venezuela affect where people live and how they trade.
Compare how the location, climate, and natural resources of Brazil and Cuba affect where people live and how they trade.

2. Where Do You Live?
Our daily lives are affected by where we live. The location of our country, the climate, and our natural resources make an impact on our lifestyle and the jobs we hold.
All of the above also affects our country’s trading partners.

3. Mexico Mexico is a land of varying geography and climate.
The capital city, Mexico City, is located on a plateau. This is where most of the population lives.
Mexico City is one of the largest metropolitan areas in the world.

4. Working in Mexico
The location, climate, and natural resources determines where the citizens of Mexico live and work.
Only 12% of Mexico’s land is arable ( fit for farming), but where they do farm they are able to be very productive.
Crops: coffee, tobacco, cotton, fruits, and vegetables.

5. Working in Mexico
About 75% of Mexicans live in urban (cities) areas. They moved there to find employment in factories.
Maquiladoras are foreign owned factories located on the border of Mexico and the United States. Their workers take parts and assemble them into marketable products.
Tourism is very important to Mexico’s economy. Resort towns like Cancun and Acapulco support a thriving tourist industry.

6. Mexico’s Natural Resources
Silver, copper, lead, iron and oil
Mexico’s most valuable natural resource is oil/petroleum.
Petroleum is drilled along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico.

7. Venezuela Venezuela’s geography places a role in its varied climate.
Most of Venezuela is hot and humid, but as you travel higher into the mountains the temperatures cool off.
May – November is Venezuela’s rainy season.
Most Venezuelans live in cities along the coast of the Caribbean Sea and in the nearby mountains.
The capital city is Caracas. Many people moved there to find jobs.

8. Venezuela’s Economy
Venezuela’s economy is supported by oil. Rich deposits of oil/petroleum are found near Lake Maracaibo and in the plains of the eastern part of the country. This state run industry provides many jobs.

9. Brazil: South America’s Giant
Brazil is not only South America’s largest country, but it has the highest population and wealthiest economy.
Brazil’s terrain (landscape) does not vary much. It has mountain on the eastern coast, but it is best known for the Amazon rain forest. The rain forest covers 2/3rds of the country.
Brazil has a warm and humid climate.

10. Brazil
Most Brazilians live near the Atlantic coast and in the cities of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. (JOBS)
Southwestern Brazil is home to the large farms called plantations. Their single crops are grown to sell around the world. They grow oranges, coffee, and other crops.
Brazil’s natural resources, like iron ore, are located in the SW part of the country.

11. Trans-Amazon Highway
Brazil’s rain forest was sparsely populated until the government built the Trans-Amazon highway. It connects the coast of Brazil to Peru.
Brasilia, the new capital city that was built just south of the Amazon Basin. This caused lots of controversy because much of rainforest habitat was destroyed .

12. Cuba
Life in Cuba, the largest island in the West Indies, is very tropical.
The climate is warm, semi-tropical, with good rainfall.
Mountains cover 1/4th of the island with the rest covered in rolling plains.

13. Agriculture in Cuba
Cuba has some of the richest soil in the Caribbean.
They grow: sugarcane, coffee beans, and tobacco.
Sugar is Cuba’s most important crop.

14. Where Cubans Live
75% of Cubans live in urban areas, especially the capital city of Havana. They work in factories that: 1) make clothing, 2) process sugar, and 3) make cigars.
Cuba has a communist government that owns and controls the country’s farms and businesses.

15. Trade Secrets
Countries trade with their neighbors because it keeps costs down; it does not cost as much to ship
Mexico sends 80% of its exports to the USA.
Mexico is an important source of petroleum for the USA.
Venezuela’s main trading partners are the USA, Brazil, and Colombia.
The USA provides much of Venezuela’s food since they are not strong in agriculture.

16. Trade Secrets (continued)
Brazil’s location on the Atlantic Ocean allows it to ship products easily around the world.
Brazil’s two top trading partners are the USA and Argentina.
Cuba does NOT trade with the USA…a trade embargo has been in place since the 1960s.
Cuba trades heavily with Venezuela and communist China.