Latin America- Physical

Landforms Land Bridge- a strip of land that connects two larger landmasses, enabling migration of plants and animals to both areas. Ring of Fire- Western Mexico is part of ring of fire.

Water systems Northern Mexico- has a dry climate with few permanent water ways Lerma River- Mexico’s most important river Gulf of Mexico Gulf of California

Climate, and biomes Three factors influence Mexico’s climate: Regional high-pressure systems Northeast trade winds Vertical climate zones- occur as elevations increase Mexico has a variety of biomes

Mexico’s economy- natural resources Silver and other minerals Leading petroleum-producing country

Central America

Landforms Central America has three distinct belts: Isthmus of Panama Pacific Lowlands Caribbean Lowlands Central Highlands 7,000 islands are considered part of the mainland’s Central Highlands Isthmus of Panama it connects North and South America and separates the Caribbean Sea (Atlantic Ocean) from the Gulf of Panama (Pacific Ocean)

= Central Highlands Caribbean Lowlands Pacific Lowlands

Water systems Inland lakes and waterways are important to Central America's growth and development providing transportation drinking water irrigation hydroelectric power Commercial fishing and the use of other marine resources in the Caribbean Sea have increased international trade.

Water system Panama Canal Human made allows ships to travel between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans without having to travel around South America's Cape Horn

Climates Much of Central America has a tropical wet climate with rainforests found in many of the regions A tropical dry climate is found on many of the Caribbean Islands The climate and ecosystems of some parts of central America are affected by elevation.

resources Nickel Iron ore Fish Timber Petroleum

South America

Landforms South America’s diverse landscape is marked in the west by the high peaks of the Andes and in the east by broad plateaus and valleys. The cordillera established natural boundaries that resulted in the development of isolated groups.

Landforms continue Narrow coastal lowlands rim the Atlantic and the Pacific coasts. Inland grasslands like the llanos and the pampas provide fertile soil and plains for cattle to graze.

Water systems The Amazon flows 4,000 miles through the heart of South America and is its longest river. Hundreds of smaller rivers join the Amazon to form the Amazon Basin.

Water systems The Parana, Paraguay, and Uruguay Rivers drain the rainy eastern half of South America. The Pantanal is the world’s largest tropical wetlands. Lake Maracaibo and Lake Titicaca are South America’s largest lakes

Climates, biomes and resources Diverse climates make South America a region of contrasts. El Niño affects the climate in South America by creating unusually warm ocean currents, and can have negative effects on Coastal weather Fishing Agriculture

Natural Resources The physical geography dictates each country’s access to natural resources.

Amazon Rainforest The Amazon Rainforest shelters more species of plants and animals than anywhere on earth. The Lungs of The Planet