Important Physical Features of Important Physical Features of LATIN AMERICA

Locate on a world and regional political-physical map: Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, Sierra Madre Mountains, Panama Canal, Amazon River, Andes Mountains, and Atacama Desert

The Pacific Ocean is to the west.

The Atlantic Ocean is to the east.

The Caribbean Sea is north of South America and south of the island nations of the Caribbean.

The Gulf of Mexico touches the southern coast of the USA and the eastern coast of Mexico.

The Panama Canal creates a short-cut between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

How the Canal Was Built

The Amazon River is second in length only to Africa’s Nile River.

The Amazon Drainage Basin: So many tributaries feed into the Amazon, it carries more water than any other river on the planet.

The Amazon River

Sierra Madre Mountains

The Sierra Madres as seen from the Mexican Plateau.

Formed in a subduction zone, the Andes Mountains run all along the western coast of South America.

Andes Mountains

Atacama Desert The Atacama Desert – the second driest place on Earth.

The Atacama Desert

What feature is at the purple box?

Pacific Ocean

What feature is at the purple box?

Atlantic Ocean

What feature is at the purple box?

Gulf of Mexico

What feature is at the purple box?

Caribbean Sea

What feature is at the purple box?

Panama Canal

What feature is at the purple box?

Amazon River

What feature is at the purple box?

Sierra Madre Mountains

What feature is at the purple box?

Andes Mountains

What feature is at the purple box?

Atacama Desert

1.Green Box 2.Purple Box 3.Yellow Box 4.Orange Box 5.White Box 6.Pink Box 7.Turquoise Box 8.Brown Box 9.Blue Box

1.Green Box – Panama Canal 2.Purple Box – Sierra Madres 3.Yellow Box – Caribbean Sea 4.Orange Box – Atacama Desert 5.White Box – Gulf of Mexico 6.Pink Box – Amazon River 7.Turquoise Box – Atlantic Ocean 8.Brown Box – Andes 9.Blue Box – Pacific Ocean

Now check your knowledge. Complete the Latin America Physical Features Practice Activity!

Place numbers on the map to show the locations of each country below: 1.Bolivia7. Mexico 2.Brazil8. Panama 3.Canada9. Venezuela 4.Colombia10. USA 5.Cuba 6.Haiti Using a colored pencil LIGHTLY shade all of Latin America.

1.Caribbean Sea 2.Gulf of Mexico 3.Sierra Madre Mountains 4.Panama Canal 5.Pacific Ocean 6.Atlantic Ocean 7.Arctic Ocean Color the key and the corresponding countries on the map: Colombia Cuba Haiti Mexico Panama Venezuela Place numbers on the map below to indicate the locations of the features in the list at right.

1. Amazon River 2. Andes Mountains 3. Atacama Desert 4. Panama Canal 5. Pacific Ocean 6. Atlantic Ocean 7. Caribbean Sea Color the key below and the corresponding countries on the map: Bolivia Haiti Brazil Mexico Columbia Panama Cuba Venezuela On the map at left, draw in and number the features listed below.