Latin America: The United States’ Southern Neighbors Regional Boundaries

Standards SS6G1 The student will locate selected features of Latin America and the Caribbean. Locate on a world and regional political-physical map: Amazon River, Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, Pacific Ocean, Panama Canal, Andes Mountains, Sierra Madre Mountains, and Atacama Desert. Locate on a world and regional political-physical map the countries of Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Haiti, Mexico, Panama, and Venezuela.

Essential Question What is Latin America?

A Region - an area that shares common characteristics What is Latin America? A Region - an area that shares common characteristics

Where in the World is Latin America?

Latin America is NOT a country. It is NOT a continent. Latin America is NOT a country. Latin America IS a cultural Region.

Latin America stretches ….. 5,500 miles From the Rio Grande River in Mexico to Cape Horn at the southern end of South America.

Regions of “Latin America” The Caribbean Mexico Central America South America

Latin America Caribbean Mexico Central America South America

Mexico

Central America

Caribbean (West Indies)

South America

Latin America KEY MEXICO CARIBBEAN ISLANDS SOUTH AMERICA CENTRAL AMERICA

Satellite Image of Latin America Countries of Latin America

Mexico

Sierra Madre Mountains

Guatemala has one of the highest poverty rates in L.A.

Belize

El Salvador

Honduras Along with Guatemala, Honduras has one of the highest poverty rates in Latin America.

Nicaragua

Costa Rica

Panama isthmus – strip of land

Panama Canal

Caribbean Sea

Gulf of Mexico

Pacific Ocean

Atlantic Ocean Atlantic Ocean

Caribbean Sea

Cuba

Dominican Republic

Haiti

Bahamas

Galapagos Islands

Brazil

French Guiana

Suriname

Guyana

Venezuela

Colombia

Ecuador

Peru

Chile

Argentina

Bolivia

Paraguay

Uruguay

Andes Mountains

Amazon River

Atacama Desert

Topography of Latin America Altiplano

Valleys Plains and Basins Llanos Amazon Basin Define the following terms: Mato Grosso Gran Chaco #1 Altiplano. #2. Pampas Pampas

Cities Havanna Port-au-Prince Mexico City Caracas Panama City Bogota Lima Brasilia Rio De Janiero Santiago Buenos Aires

Bodies of Water Gulf of Mexico Caribbean Sea Orinoco R. Amazon R. Pacific Ocean Lake Titicaca Uruguay R. Rio de La Plata Atlantic Ocean

Mountains and Peaks Sierra Madres Mts. Guiana Highlands Brazilian Highlands Andes Mts. Patagonian Plateau

Deserts Atacama Desert

one of the most spectacular waterfalls in Diverse Landscapes Iguaçu Falls one of the most spectacular waterfalls in the world. Taller than Niagara Falls most imposing natural attractions in Argentina.

The Sierra Madres, Mexico

Important for raising livestock Brazilian Highlands Important for raising livestock Pg. 190 in Textbook – How do the Brazilian Highlands compare in elevation to the Andes region? The Andes = approximately 13,000 feet are 8 times higher than the Brazilian Highlands at 1,600 feet.

Patagonian Region (Chile) Andes to the west cause this region to be dry, windy & barren.

Important source of compounds that can be used to develop medicines. AMAZON RAIN FOREST Important source of compounds that can be used to develop medicines. AMAZON RAIN FOREST

The world’s largest rain forest occupying 40% of South America. LOWLANDS The Amazon Basin. The world’s largest rain forest occupying 40% of South America.

AMAZON RIVER BASIN: WORLD’S SECOND LARGEST RIVER Begins in the Andes River flows nearly 4,000 miles. It length is about = to the distance from New York City to Rome, Italy. Funnels 20% of all the freshwater that flows on Earth.

It begins in the Andes Mountains in Peru and flows east across Brazil. AMAZON RIVER It begins in the Andes Mountains in Peru and flows east across Brazil.

The Eastern Flank of the Andes

Andes Mountains (Peru)

ANDES MOUNTAINS

Llamas in the Andes Related to the camel Useful pack animals Can carry as much as 130 lbs. Are sure footed on mountain trails.

PAMPAS OF ARGENTINA Fertile South American lowlands

LOWLANDS PAMPAS Pampas – productive farming region of S. America Lowland area in Latin America. Grassy plains that stretch from Argentina into Uruguay.

Cattle Ranching on the Pampas

Gauchos of the Pampas, Argentina

PANAMA CANAL

The Panama Canal Human made allows ships to travel between the Atlantic & Pacific Oceans.

ATACAMA DESERT Coastal desert 2. So arid that no rainfall has been recorded.

Patagonian Plateau, Argentina and Chile Atacama Desert, Chile The Atacama - one of the driest places on Earth. In some parts no rain has fallen for 400 years. Dry Climate Baja Peninsula, Mexico Patagonian Plateau, Argentina and Chile

Good for growing Sugar Cane Bananas ELEVATION & CLIMATE Tierra Caliente (hot land) close to sea level -Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico and Amazon Basin Good for growing Sugar Cane Bananas

Harvesting Sugar Cane

Tierra Templada (temperate land) ELEVATION & CLIMATE Tierra Templada (temperate land) areas that lie above 3,000 ft. above sea level days are hot, nights are cool Mexican central plateau and valleys in the Andes Mountains good for growing Tobacco Coffee

Growing Coffee

Tierra Fria (Cold Land) ELEVATION & CLIMATE Tierra Fria (Cold Land) highlands that are at least 6,000 ft above sea level nighttime and winter temperatures are cold Mexico City, Mexico and Bogota, Columbia are in the tierra fria. -good for growing POTATOES WHEAT Wheat BARLEY

Earthquake Zones

The Tropical Hemisphere Most of Mexico, all of Central America, & the Caribbean, & most of South America lie in the tropical zone, between the Tropic of Cancer, & the Tropic of Capricorn.

Latin American Climatic Zones

Vegetation

Amazon Rain Forest

Three-Tiered Vegetation

Native Indians of the Amazon

Jungle Fauna: the animal life of a region

Deforestation in the Amazon

Original Forest Cover Current Forest Cover Future Forest Cover

Eco-Tourism

Drug Trafficking Routes