1. Physical Characteristics SOL WG.6
LATIN AMERICA
Physical Characteristics
SOL WG.6

2. Where is Latin America? …and move southward
Find Mexico on a World Map...
…and move southward

3. Latin America

4. WHY is it called Latin America?
And Spanish just about everywhere else!!!
Portuguese is spoken in Brazil
Latin is a language
The two widely spoken languages are Latin-based
festival/cultures.html

5. Wow!
Did you know that Latin America includes 28 countries in Central America, South America, and the Caribbean.
Latin America is known as a Cultural Region, because the majority of the countries speak Spanish.
Test your map knowledge!
Go to the following website: _
Click on Latin America Map Game
Practice labeling the map at least once!

6. What physical characteristics do we need to know?
CLIMATE
Most of the region experiences TROPICAL climates because of its location near the equator.

7. Draw the Equator on your map!

8. The area directly on the equator has a tropical rainforest climate
The area directly on the equator has a tropical rainforest climate. This rainforest is the largest in the world, and is called the Amazon Rainforest!

9. Draw the Amazon
River on your map!

10. OUCH!!! This is called “Slash and Burn” Agriculture
Unfortunately, we’re being cut down and set aflame to make room for interior farmland and construction!!!!
OUCH!!! This is called “Slash and Burn” Agriculture
Rainforests:
Costa Rica and Brazil~ Amazonia (in Brazil) is the largest in the world!
“Amazonia”

11. Along with climate, In the Southern Hemisphere:
Remember that SEASONS are REVERSED:desrever

12. What calendar picture might be in the month of August in Chile?

13. The western coast of South America experiences a dry climate
The western coast of South America experiences a dry climate. What is the name of the desert that is found here?
Random Art Work found in the
Atacama Desert.
Constructed by Chilean Sculptor
Mario Irarrazabal.
Dedicated in 1992.
Stands 36 feet tall.

14. The Atacama Desert!

16. Label the Atacama
Desert on your map!

17. Grasslands: huge, flat plains in Latin America- known for agriculture:
#4c on Chapter 7 HW
Grasslands: huge, flat plains in Latin America- known for agriculture:
The Llanos are in Colombia & Venezuela and the most famous are the Pampas in Argentina & Uruguay

18. Latin American Cowboys are called Gauchos
We’re usually found in grassland ranches…like the Llanos in Venezuela
Or the Pampas of Argentina….
where the best beef cattle in the world is raised!!
Llanos
Latin American Cowboys are called Gauchos
Pampas

19. Label the Llanos
and the Pampas
on your map!

20. More Physical Features:
Greater (Bigger) Antilles
More Physical Features:
There are MANY islands in Latin America
The Caribbean Islands are called the “West Indies” or the “Greater and Lesser Antilles”
The Caribbean Islands are well known for their agriculture and tourism
Lesser (Smaller) Antilles
What is the name for a chain of islands?
ARCHIPELAGO!

21. ARCHIPELAGO!

22. ANDES MOUNTAINS: The longest chain and 2nd highest mountains in the world!!

23. RING OF FIRE! The western side of Latin America is part of the
That encircles the Pacific Rim. What
natural occurrences do you think occur here?
RING OF FIRE!

25. Earthquakes
volcanoes

26. Forms the border between Mexico & US The largest river in the world!!
Rio Grande
Forms the border between Mexico & US
The AMAZON!!
The largest river in the world!!
Rivers in Latin America

27. Mountains in Latin America
Sierra Madres
ANDES MOUNTAINS: The longest chain and 2nd highest mountains in the world!!

29. The next slide will help you with question # 17 on Chapter 7HW
GET IT OUT AND USE THE NEXT SLIDES TO HELP YOU!

30. Mountains in Latin America can be split into agricultural “zones” as you move higher up the mountain. This is called “vertical zonation”
Tierra
Helada
Sierra Madres
Tierra Fria
Hardy crops –
Potatoes, wheat, barley
Tierra Templada crops that like temperate land
ANDES MOUNTAINS: The longest chain and 2nd highest mountains in the world!!
Tierra Caliente crops that like hot temperatures 30

31. Let’s
learn
Some Spanish!

32. Tierra = Land
Helada = Frost/Frozen
Fria = cold

33. Templada=Temperate
Caliente = Hot/Warm

35. Another look at Vertical Zonation in the Andes Mts.

36. Now that you are done with the notes, go back to Map Game and practice one more time!
Test your map knowledge again! Try this website
out!
grade/sheppard-software-usa-geography-geography-online-games