latin america physical geography
DESCRIPTION
Latin America Physical Geography. Photo by Linda Hammon. Latin America. Latin America can be divided into 3 sub-regions : Central America & Mexico (Mexico + 7 Countries) The Caribbean (Bahamas, Greater/Lesser Antilles, West Indies) South America. The Amazon River. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Photo by Linda Hammon
Latin America Latin America can be divided into 3 sub-regions:
Central America & Mexico (Mexico + 7 Countries)
The Caribbean (Bahamas, Greater/Lesser Antilles, West Indies)
South America
•Lowlands of the Amazon River basin hold many rich, natural resources – including species found nowhere else & possible treatments for a # of diseases.
• The Amazon River Basin is the largest rainforest in the world.
The Amazon River•Second longest river, and largest by waterflow
Main source of the Amazon River (Iquitos, Peru)
Why here???
Lake Titicaca
Lake Titicaca is in the Andes Mountains
A number of lowlands & river basins to the east, fed by runoff from the Andes
Bodiesof
Water
Atlantic Atlantic OceanOcean
Pacific Pacific OceanOcean
Gulf of Gulf of MexicoMexico
Caribbean Caribbean SeaSea
Amazon Amazon R.R.
Orinoco R.Orinoco R.
Uruguay Uruguay R.R.
Magdalena Magdalena R.R.
Sao Sao Francisco Francisco
R.R.
Lake Lake TiticacTiticac
aa
Lake Lake MaracaiMaracai
bobo
Rio de Rio de La PlataLa Plata
Parana Parana R.R.
Amazon River Basin• Reasons for deforestation:
– Subsistence farmers– Commercial farming & logging– Govt policies– World Bank mistakes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olmzzWo0wps
The Amazon contains sources of lumber, gold, and gems.
Countries with poor economies have reason to exploit, not preserve.
Spontaneous fires are also a danger here.
Fires burning in the Amazon Basin
Destruction of the Amazon Basin has occurred at an alarming rate – and in a number of countries
Because the problem is multinational, any solution will take cooperative efforts.
In the isolated regions of the Guiana Highlands (as in the Amazon River Basin), there are many indigenous groups with unique lifestyles.
These tribes are an example of… ?
Mountains
andPeaks
Andes Mts.Andes Mts.
Sierra Sierra Madres Mts.Madres Mts.
Guiana Guiana HighlandHighland
ss
Brazilian Brazilian HighlandHighland
ss
PatagoniPatagonian an
PlateauPlateau
Andes Mtn Range
World’s highest range outside of Asia – which implies that they are… ?
Longest range in the world
Most people in the Andes live below 11,500 feet.
Cuzco, Peru – 10,912 ft. La Paz, Bolivia – 11,942 ft.
Altitudinal zonation is found in this region.
Argentina/Chile - From glaciers and desert.
Why are climates so diverse in L.A.?
•Climates range from tropical moist to highlands to dry.
Central Chile has a Mediterranean climate – productive farms and grazing lands are found here.
Why is the climate here so nice?
Argentina and Brazil also have grassland regions
Valleys
Plainsand
Basins AmazoAmazo
n n BasinBasin
Pam
paPa
mpa
ss
Mato Mato GrossGross
ooGran Gran ChacChac
oo
Llano
Llano
ss
Deserts
Atac
ama
Atac
ama
Dese
rtDe
sert
Atacama Desert is the driest in the world with less than .04 inches of rain a year.
The Atacama Desert is kept dry by:
• Humboldt current
• East of Chilean Coast Range
• West of Andes
Other Feature
s
FalklanFalkland d
IslandsIslandsCape Cape HornHorn
Pana
ma
Pana
ma
Cana
lCa
nal
Galapagos Galapagos IslandsIslands
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vi19z4LEi0
Angel Falls- Highest uninterrupted waterfall in the world is located in Venezuela
Panama Canal was built to ease travel/commerce between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans
The Panama Canal
•The Galapagos Islands off the coast of Ecuador are used for research and ecotourism bringing much needed revenue into Ecuador’s economy.
Environment/Nature
1. How do physical features impact climate & vegetation in Latin America?
2. How do physical/environmental factors influence settlement patterns?
Scenes in the Amazon Rainforest
Scenes in Bolivia