Important Dates Latin American Map Key due – January 21 st (Today) Latin America Map Test – January 27 th Latin America Content Test – February 3 rd

Physical Characteristics of Latin America

What is Latin America? North American: –Mexico –Central America All of South America

Central America An isthmus connecting South America to Mexico Isthmus: a narrow strip of land connecting two larger land areas, usually with water on either side.

In your notes Shade in Latin America

Major Mountain Ranges of L. America Sierra Madres Mexico has mountains on its east and west coast with a plateau between Occidental Oriental

Plateau Definition a large flat area of land that is higher than other areas of land that surround it

Major Mountain Ranges Andes Mountains Longest mountain system in the world Stretch for over 5,500 miles, peaks over 20,000 ft. Chilean Andes

Cordillera definition Parallel mountain chains Columbian cordillera

Tectonic Activity Five plates meet in Central America – lots of ?

Biomes & Climate Zones of Latin America

TROPICAL CLIMATES ARE PREDOMINATE! Why? Reminder: During which months is it summer in South America?

Rain Forests Tropical wet climate is found in Caribbean and much of Central and South America Year round hot temperatures Rain Forests located here

Rainforest Facts Rainforests now cover less than 6% of Earth's land surface. Scientists estimate that more than half of all the world's plant and animal species live in tropical rain forests. Tropical rainforests produce 40% of Earth's oxygen. Seventy percent of the plants in the rainforest are trees. About 1/4 of all the medicines we use come from rainforest plants.

Rainforests, continued Tall straight trees with few branches until you get to the top of the tree. Why? Canopy –umbrella like covering of leaves where little or no sunlight reaches the forest floor

Where do you think most animals live?

Amazon River Basin South America has the world’s largest rain forest – Amazon River Basin –H–Highest amount of biodiversity in the world Def: the existence of many different kinds of plants and animals in an environment

Coastal Desert Atacama Desert –O–One of the driest places on earth –A–Along the Pacific coast of northern Chile –L–Located in the rain shadow of the Andes

Rain Shadow Effect Windward – located on the side that is facing the direction that the wind is blowing from Leeward - located on the side that is sheltered from the wind

Rain Shadow Effect Orographic Effect - As the air system moves up the side of the mountain, the temperature drops, causing the water vapor in the air to also cool off and condense.

Tropical Grasslands llanos Lowland plain Stretch through eastern Colombia and Venezuela

Temperate Climates Most temperate zones lie SOUTH of the Tropic of Capricorn (southeastern South America) –From southern Brazil to the Pampas of Argentina and Uruguay Winters are short and mild, summers are long and humid Seasonal Differences

Temperate Grasslands – Pampas Flat fertile grasslands in Southeast S. America Herding cattle is a major economic activity in the pampas of Argentina and Uruguay –Gauchos – cowboys of Pampas

Archipelagoes – collection of islands Tierra del Fuego Caribbean

1.The grasslands located in the tropical region of S. America are called __. 2.The Atacama desert is caused by the __ of the __ mountains 3.The Caribbean islands are considered a(n) __. 4.Central America is considered to be a(n) __ b/c it is a narrow strip of land connecting two larger pieces of land. 5.The majority of Latin America’s climate is considered __. 6.The South American rainforest is centered around the ___ River Basin. 7.Why are there so many earthquakes and volcanoes in Latin America? 8.Which kind of plate boundary is most likely to produce earthquakes? 9.The ___ mountain ranges run on either side of Mexico with a(n)__ in the middle. 10.The grasslands in the more temperate region of South America are known as the ___. 11.Most the biodiversity in the rainforest is located in the ___.