the land of latin america 8.1

CHAPTER 8 SECTION 1

The Land of Latin America

The Land

Latin America covers 8 mil sq. miles

Covers 16% of the Earth’s surface

It extends from the US-Mexico border to the southern tip of Argentina.

Why is it called Latin America?

The name “Latin America” refers to the languages spoken in this region. (Spanish and Portuguese are derived from Latin)

How is it divided?

Latin America is broken up into 3 different regions:

1. Middle America (Mexico and Central America)

2. The Caribbean

3. South America

Landscape of Latin America

LA’s rugged landscape is a result of its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire.

The plates have collided for millions of years, causing earthquakes and creating mountains and volcanoes.

Middle America Mountain Ranges

All of LA’s mountains are an extension of the Rockies. They are…..

- The Sierra Madre in Mexico

- Central Highland in Central America

- Andes in South America

Sierra MadreConsist of 2 mountain

ranges…..- Sierra Madre Oriental

(Eastern)- Sierra Madre Occidental

(Western)

They meet near Mexico City to form the Sierra Madre del Sur (of the South)

Central Highlands

Central Highlands are the mountains in Central America.

Many Caribbean islands are also a apart of this mountain range.

The islands are volcanic peaks and many of them are active!

The Andes

The Andes mountain range run along the western edge of South America.

It is the world’s longest mountain range stretching 4,500 miles.

It is also the highest mountain range rising more than 20,000 feet.

Rivers of Latin America

Rio Grande river forms the border between the United States and Mexico.

The Amazon River is the longest and most important on Latin America.

Parana River is the 2nd largest in South America

The Amazon River

Second longest river in the world!

The Amazon River extends about 4,200 miles across South America.

Starts in the Andes and extends to the Atlantic Ocean.

It carries 10 time the water value of the Mississippi River.

The Amazon River Basin

Several counties and other rivers drain into the Amazon River.

This is known as the Amazon River Basin.

It drains Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Columbia, Venezuela and Brazil.

Lakes in Latin America

LA has few large lakes

Lake Titicaca in the Andes of Bolivia and Peru is the world’s highest navigable lake (12,500 ft above sea level)

Lake Maracaibo is South America’s largest lake but connects to the Caribbean

Lake Nicaragua is the largest in Central America

Natural Resources

LA’s most significant resources are……

- Minerals- Forests- Farmlands- Water

Resources Continued

Venezuela and Mexico are rich in oil

Brazil is rich in gold

Peru and Mexico have silver deposits.

Chile is the world’s leading exporter of copper.

Resources Continued:

- Geographic inaccessibility- Lack of capital- Social and political

divisions

Hinder fuller development and distribution of resources in Latin America.