Latin America

Vertical Zonation of Latin America 1) Tierra caliente (below 2500 ft.)- Spanish term for hot land; the lowest elevation zone of Latin America; usually experiences hot climate 2) Tierra templada (between 2500 & 6000 ft.)- Spanish term for temperate land; the elevation zone in the middle; broad leafed and needle-bearing evergreens

3) Tierra fria (above 6000-12,000 ft 3) Tierra fria (above 6000-12,000 ft.)- Spanish term for cold climate; Widely spaced evergreen trees and dense scrub 4) Puna (12,000-16,000 ft.)- Grasses, no trees 5) Tierra helada (16,000 ft. and above)- snow and ice.

Physical Characteristics

Most of the region experience tropical climates because of the location of the equator through S. America. The area directly on the equator has a tropical rainforest climate. This rainforest is the largest in the world. It is the Amazon Rainforest & it sits in the Amazon River Basin. The area on the outskirts of the rainforest has a tropical wet & dry (savanna) climate. The seasons south of the equator are reverse of the seasons north of the equator.

The western coast of S. America experiences a dry climate The western coast of S. America experiences a dry climate. This desert is called the Atacama Desert. Two areas of grasslands are the pampas & the llanos. There are numerous island chains in the Caribbean Sea. An island chain is called an archipelago. The western side of Latin America is part of the Ring of Fire that encircles the Pacific Rim. Therefore, this part of the region experiences earthquakes & volcanoes.

The Rio Grande River forms part of the boundary between Mexico & the U The Rio Grande River forms part of the boundary between Mexico & the U.S.

Economic (& Political) Characteristics

The Amazon Rainforest (Amazon Basin) is being cut down at an alarming rate. The depletion of forest resources is called deforestation. (human interaction with environment) Latin America has a diverse range of mineral resources. Chile has copper. Both Venezuela & Brazil have iron ore. Oil resources are found in three Latin American countries: Mexico, Venezuela, Ecuador.

There are many diverse economies in the region. The hacienda is a large farming or ranching estate in Latin America. Farming continues to make up a large part of the Latin American economy. Because much of the region is developing subsistence farming is the dominant economic activity. This type of farming consists of raising just enough food to stay alive. The types of crops raised are food crops.

In the mountainous regions, farming is practiced by carving steps out of the mountainside. This is called terraced farming. It is very common in the Andes Mountains. In the rainforest areas, poor farmers are cutting down the forests (deforestation) & burning the vegetation. This is called slash & burn agriculture. Unfortunately, the soil is not very fertile & farmers are usually able to farm a piece of land for only a few years before moving to another location & starting the process all over.

There are large companies that own land & have huge farms or plantations. This is called plantation agriculture. These types of farms grow cash crops to be sold for a profit. In the grasslands regions (llanos & pampas), cattle are raised on cattle ranges. The cowboys that work the ranges are called gauchos. There is a wide range of income levels in Latin America. This is called disparity of income distribution.

The Panama Canal runs through the Isthmus of Panama & connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. It is a major trade route. In Mexico, many people are migrating to Mexico City (urbanization). They are looking for a better place to live where they can find jobs & housing & have access to education & health care. Unfortunately, most live in squalid conditions on the outskirts of the city in squatter settlements called shantytowns. This is a common occurrence in numerous large Latin American mega cities.

Mexico City has an enormous pollution problem Mexico City has an enormous pollution problem. The city has a haze of smoke & fog called smog that hangs over the city. The Organization of American States (OAS) is a political organization made up of countries from the western hemisphere that works for peace & democracy. Brazil moved its capital city from Rio de Janeiro to Brasilia. In Mexico, large communally owned farms are operated by the community residents. These farms are called ejidos.

Cultural Characteristics

Most of the people in Latin America (Hispanic world) speak Spanish Most of the people in Latin America (Hispanic world) speak Spanish. An exception is Brazil. The official language of Brazil is Portuguese. There are three main Indian civilizations that existed in Latin America: ☻Aztec- area around Mexico City in present day Mexico; had pyramids. ☻Mayan- from the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico into Central America; famous site of Tikal in Central America; had pyramids. ☻Inca- along the Andes Mountains of S. America; famous site is Machu Picchu in Andes Mountains in the country of Peru.

The Spanish & Portuguese were the two primary European powers that colonized the region. The effects of colonization are still present in many ways, such as language, customs, music, religion, etc… The Europeans brought Africans into the region & enslaved them. Many African traditions are still evident in the region today. Many of the people of European ancestry intermingled with either native peoples (indians) or with African slaves.

Those people became the Mestizo- a person of mixed indian & European ancestry and the Mulato- a person of mixed African & European ancestry

The dominant religion in Latin America is Roman Catholicism The dominant religion in Latin America is Roman Catholicism. The Europeans brought this religion to the region. It is a branch of Christianity. There is a very rigid social structure in Latin America. In S. America, the most populated region is along the coasts. This is often called the populated rim of S. America. The large cities of Latin America are called mega cities. The poor people living in these cities ten to live in squatter settlements on the outskirts of the cities. These communities are called shantytowns.

There is a rapid population growth rate in Latin America There is a rapid population growth rate in Latin America. The region tends to have a population pyramid that is shaped like a triangle or pyramid. This indicates that a large percentage of the people are 15 years of age or younger. There is a trend for many Latin Americans to move to other regions of the world. This is called out-migration (emigration)

Cultural Heritage Music- African influences including calypso, steel drum bands, & reggae Dance- traditional Indian dances