South America By Kru Danny

This term… Collaborative essay using google docs One Moodle quiz Maps Study the physical and human geography of Latin America

Vocabulary Latin America Three sub-regions South American mountains Earthquakes advantages Mexican plateau Patagonia Escarpment

Facts South America is also known as Latin America (mainly because of the Latin root language that was used throughout the region) There are 13 countries within Latin America It is home to the highest waterfall, the largest river, the longest mountain – and also the world’s wettest, and driest, place. Portuguese and Spanish are the official languages

OPEN MOODLE AND LOOK AT THE PHYSICAL MAPS OF SOUTH AMERICA

3) What advantages can the Andes provide to people in this region? Latin America contains the longest mountain and largest river in the world. 1) What physical features could present barriers to the development of Latin America, and why? 2) What challenges and benefits do you expect the Amazon river to provide people in this region? 3) What advantages can the Andes provide to people in this region?

Comparing the past and the present. What European countries still have land in South America? Based on the information on the maps, what ethnic groups would you expect to find in Mexico today? Do you predict any issues?

Landforms Latin America’s landscape has affected settlement of the region. HOW? OPEN THE PHYSCIAL MAP Latin America is located in the western hemisphere, south of the United States. An area of 8 million square miles (20,720,000 sg.km) it covers 16% of the world’s surface. It is divided into THREE subregions: Middle America, The Caribbean and South America.

Mountains and Plateaus

Latin America has the world’s longest mountain. Beginning in North America (Rockies) it extends to South America’s most southern point. The mountains names change along the range. In Mexico, the Sierra Madre; Central America, Central Highlands; South America, The Andes.

How did it get there? The mountains were caused by its location to the Pacific Ring of Fire Open the mountains map Here, plates in the Earth’s crust have collided for millions of years causing the formation of mountains, earthquakes and volcanoes. Today, the plates movement continues to shape the landscape.

Study the mountains map 1) In which areas of Latin America have the most volcanic eruptions? (Middle America and South America) 2) What factors influence volcanic eruptions? (location to plate boundaries)

Earthquakes? No problem!! Despite the high activity and danger of volcanoes and earthquakes, humans have settled here for thousands of years. The mountains cooler climate, rich natural resources – water, volcanic soil, timber and minerals – have attracted many settlers. Historically, cultures have been divided and isolated, but now with modern technology, the internet is helping break down these “physical boundaries”

Mountains of Middle America and the Caribbean Open the physical map This map shows how the Sierra Madre surrounds the densely populated Mexican plateau. The mild climate, fertile volcanic soil and rainfall have attracted humans for thousands of years.

Andes The world’s longest mountain chain which measures 4,500 miles (7,242km) The Andes consist of cordilleras (parallel mountains) that separates land. As a result, you can find some very old cultures. In Peru and Bolivia, the Andes encircle the altiplano (which means high plain)

In southern Argentina, hills and flatlands form the plateau of Patagonia. The Andes to the west cause Patagonia to be a very dry and windy region.

The eastern side of South America has broad plateaus and valleys. Highlands of Brazil The eastern side of South America has broad plateaus and valleys. The Brazilian Highlands is a vast (large) area spanning seceral climate and vegetation zones. Its warm climate and open spaces make the Brazilian Highlands important for livestock. The eastern highlands plunge (fall) into the Atlantic ocean forming what is known as an escarpment.

Patagonia is dry as a result of the Andes high elevation. An escarpment is a steep slope or long cliff that occurs from faulting and resulting erosion and separates two relatively level areas of differing elevations

Review Latin America Three subregions South American mountains Earthquakes advantages Mexican plateau Patagonia Escarpment