Physical Geography of Latin America Chapter Nine

General Overview of Latin America Runs from Mexico to Tierra Del Fuego which is over 7000 miles Includes all of Central and South America and the Caribbean Islands Bordered by the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, as well as the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea Video

Mountains and Highlands Andes Mountains ◦ Runs the entire length of North, Central, and South America  North America – Rocky Mountains  Mexico – Sierra Madre  South America – Andes ◦ They keep people from moving across into the interior of South America ◦ Was the home of the Incas in Peru

Mountains and Highlands Highlands – Mountainous or hilly sections of a country Guiana Highlands – In the northeast region of South America

Plains of Latin America Llanos of Columbia and Venezuela ◦ Grassy treeless areas used for livestock and farming Amazon River Basin ◦ In the interior of Brazil ◦ Known as the cerrado ◦ Vast savannas with moderate rainfall perfect for farming ◦ Had been ignored but now the Brazilian government is encouraging settlement

Plains of Latin America Pampas ◦ Found in northern Argentina and Uruguay ◦ Main products – wheat and cattle ◦ Gauchos Gauchos  Accomplished horsemen  Very similar to the cowboys in the United States

Gauchos

Rivers of Latin America Central America and the Caribbean ◦ These areas do not have large river systems ◦ Unlike South America, they do not depend on rivers for transportation ◦ River to know – Rio Grande (border of Mexico and United States)

Rivers of Latin America Orinoco River ◦ Runs through northern half of South America ◦ Flows 1500 miles to the Atlantic ◦ Forms part of the border between Venezuela and Columbia Parana River ◦ Starts in the highlands of southern Brazil ◦ Flows 3000 miles to the Atlantic ◦ Known as the Rio de la Plata in Uruguay

Rivers of Latin America Amazon River ◦ Flows 5000 into the Amazon River ◦ Starts in the Andes near the Pacific Ocean ◦ Fed by 1000 tributaries ◦ Carries more water to the ocean than any other river

Islands of the Caribbean Made up of three groups of islands: Bahamas – hundreds of islands south of Florida Greater Antilles – Cuba, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, and Hispaniola (Dominican Republic and Haiti) Lesser Antilles – Southwest of Puerto Rico ◦ Windward Islands – Winds blow across them ◦ Leeward Islands – Sheltered from winds

El Nino El Nino Weather pattern caused by warm water off the coast of South America Causes warm winters in US and other abnormal weather Can cause problems around the world Can cause problems around the world

Resources of Latin America Energy Resources ◦ Oil, natural gas, hydroelectric power Mineral resources ◦ Gold, silver, iron, copper, tin, lead, nickel ◦ Also have gems and titanium ◦ Among the world’s leaders in raw material production Problems in Latin America ◦ Much of what is produced is owned by other countries ◦ What is produced is exported away

Slash-and-Burn Farming Clear cutting trees, brush, and grass. Then burning the refuse. Began by the Pre-Columbian native Americans Problems with Slash-and-BurnSlash-and-Burn ◦ Soil is used up quickly ◦ People move and do it again. This destroys even more land

Terraced Farming Ancient way of growing crops on the sides of hills and mountains Farmers cut flat areas into the sides of mountains and plant crops on them Cuts down on soil erosion

Urbanization People in Latin America are rapidly moving from rural to urban areas. Most urbanized countries – Argentina, Chile, Brazil, and Uruguay Push-Pull Factors ◦ Push factors – Poor medical care, poor education, low paying jobs, and rich own all the land ◦ Pull factors – Better jobs, schools, and medical care

Urbanization Latin America has many large cities ◦ Rio de Janeiro ◦ Buenos Aries ◦ Mexico City – 30 million people in entire metropolitan area Problem with rapid growth ◦ Slums & pollution ◦ Strain on the infrastructure

Tourism Advantages of tourism ◦ Brings visitors who spend money ◦ Provides jobs Disadvantages of tourism ◦ Pollution ◦ Uses lots of land ◦ Governments can create debt ◦ Other countries own resort areas so money goes out of the country