Latin America Economic Geography

Agriculture Subsistence Farming – small family owned farms with low production Subsistence Farming – small family owned farms with low production Plantation Agriculture - Large farms that grow cash crops Plantation Agriculture - Large farms that grow cash crops People build terraced fields in mountainous areas People build terraced fields in mountainous areas Cash Crops Tea Coffee Sugar Cocao

Cash Crops in Latin America Tea CoffeeSugar cane Cocao

Rich Middle Class Poor U.S. Rich Poor Latin America Large Disparity

Terraced Fields People build terraced fields in mountainous areas such as the Andes. In agriculture, a terrace is a piece of sloped plane that has been cut into a series of successively receding flat surfaces or platforms, which resemble steps, for the purposes of more effective farming. This type of landscaping, therefore, is called terracing. Graduated terrace steps are commonly used to farm on hilly or mountainous terrain. Terraced fields decrease both erosion and surface runoff and may be used to support growing crops that require irrigation.

Deforestation People practice slash and burn farming in Latin America People practice slash and burn farming in Latin America They cut down trees and burn them to fertilize the soil They cut down trees and burn them to fertilize the soil Rainforests are being destroyed for timber, ranching, and farming Rainforests are being destroyed for timber, ranching, and farming

Ranching Latin America has many cattle ranches Latin America has many cattle ranches Cowboys in Argentina are called Gauchos Cowboys in Argentina are called Gauchos Gauchos work on the Pampas Gauchos work on the Pampas

Haciendas Haciendas were large land holdings in Latin America Haciendas were large land holdings in Latin America Some haciendas could be farms, ranches, or mines Some haciendas could be farms, ranches, or mines Haciendas were owned by wealthy landowners and poor people worked the land. Haciendas were owned by wealthy landowners and poor people worked the land.

Minerals Ecuador, Venezuela, and Mexico have oil Ecuador, Venezuela, and Mexico have oil Ecuador and Venezuela are members of OPEC. Ecuador and Venezuela are members of OPEC. Chile has large deposits of copper. Chile has large deposits of copper. Venezuela and Brazil have iron ore. Venezuela and Brazil have iron ore.

Mining

NAFTA NAFTA – North American Free Trade Agreement NAFTA – North American Free Trade Agreement Members are United States, Canada, and Mexico Members are United States, Canada, and Mexico NAFTA is a trade agreement that abolishes tariffs between the three countries. NAFTA is a trade agreement that abolishes tariffs between the three countries. U.S.CanadaMexico

Pollution Mexico City has severe air pollution.