3. Latin America 525 Million Mexico 112 Million

4. Language Spanish and Portugese (derived from Latin) Religion Christianity (88% is Roman Catholic) Rural vs. Urban Countries with high urban populations (Brazil, Argentina, Venezuela) are wealthier- higher GDP- than rural countries (Haiti, Belize, Guyana).

5.  Democracy is spreading in all of Latin America after years of Spanish oligarchy’s (rule by a small group)

6.  Amazon River & River Basin 7 million cubic feet per second (largest river in world in terms of water)  Amazon Rainforest is biggest in world (2 million square acres)  Andes Mountains 5,000 miles long

7.  Shift to democracy also bringing shift to free-market economies  Region is global leader in exports of raw materials Gold Silver Iron Copper Aluminum Tin Lead Nickel

8. Mexico City - 18 million, 2 nd largest in world Sao Paolo - 17 million, 4 th largest in world Buenos Aires Rio de Janeiro Lima Bogota Mexico Brazil Argentina Brazil Peru Colombia

9. 1) Rain Forest Resources & Preservation 2)Reforming Democracy 3)Large Income Gap between Rich and Poor

10.  Mexico City is built on top of the ancient ruins of Aztec city of Tenochtitlan, which was one of the world’s largest cities in the 1500’s.  The southern tip of South America is the shortest distance to Antarctica in the world