Opener: 4/13 - #1 COPY and answer the following questions using TB page 193. What capital cities are located on the coast in South America? Why do you think there are so many on the coast? What capitals are located near the center of the country? What would be the advantage of having a centrally located capital? Which South American country has two capitals?

Write a response in 3-5 complete sentences! Opener: 4/14 - #4 COPY and answer the following: Many Latin American countries are suffering from problems associated with deforestation. Do you think the government should create laws to protect the environment? For example, should recycling be mandatory? Write a response in 3-5 complete sentences!

Physical Geography of Latin America From the Andes to the Amazon

Why is this region called “Latin America”? Spanish and Portuguese are the official languages of most countries Spanish and Portuguese are based on Latin.

How do Geographers divide Latin America? North America Mexico Central America (an Isthmus) 7 countries: Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama Land link between North and South America The Caribbean Islands-West Indies; divided into the Greater and Lesser Antilles Greater Antilles = Cuba, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Hispaniola (Dominican Republic and Haiti) Lesser Antilles = all other Caribbean islands Most are exposed peaks of under-water mountain ranges South America Largest land area, 13 countries total Brazil is largest

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

Mountains Mexico: Peru/Chile: Sierra Madre Oriental to the East Sierra Madre Occidental to the West Both meet near Mexico City to form the Sierra Madre del Sur. Peru/Chile: The world’s longest mountain chain ANDES MOUNTAINS (4500 miles) Runs the entire length of South America Home to the Inca Civilization in Peru

Andes

Waterfalls & Lakes Lake Titicaca Lake Maracaibo Angel Falls Shared between Peru and Bolivia Highest navigable lake Lake Maracaibo Largest in South America Contains oil fields Angel Falls Worlds tallest waterfall 3212 feet down and 500 feet across Located in Venezuela

Rivers Parana Amazon Second longest river system in South America Join near Buenos Aires to form the Rio de la Plata meaning “river of silver” Amazon Longest river in the Western Hemisphere (4000 miles long) More than half of the length is navigable Second only to the Nile River in length Carries more water to the ocean than any other river

Strait of Magellan A winding waterway between South America and the islands of Tierra del Fuego Discovered by Ferdinand Magellan as a short-cut to avoid sailing around Cape Horn

Panama Canal Built by the U.S. in the early 1900s Allows ships to move from the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea to the Pacific Ocean.

Atacama Desert Atacama Desert: One of the world’s driest deserts Completely barren of plant life The town of Calama, which is located in the Atacama, has NEVER received rain.

Amazon Rainforest World’s largest rainforest Receives over 80 inches of rain per year Home to 90% of the Earth’s animal and plant species Produces half of the world’s oxygen Provides rubber and timber for export Many of the nuts and plants from the rainforest provide essential medicine

Deforestation in the Amazon

Original Forest Cover Current Forest Cover Future Forest Cover

Natural Resources Hydro-Electric Power Oil & Natural Gas Copper Readily available because of numerous river systems and waterfalls Oil & Natural Gas Among the worlds leaders in production Mexico is 5th largest producer in the world (most of Mexico’s oil is exported to the U.S.) Venezuela is the only South American member of OPEC {largest known oil reserves in the world} Copper Chile is the world’s leading copper producer Produces 20% of the world’s copper Emeralds Colombia is famous for producing quality emeralds

Do-Now: Thursday, 3/21 Match the description (left column) to the country it is found in (right column). World’s 2nd longest river World’s tallest waterfall World’s highest navigable lake World’s driest desert Latin America’s leader in tourism Venezuela Chile Brazil Dominican Republic Peru and Bolivia