the physical geography of latin america. strong spanish and portuguese influence on language and...
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LATIN AMERICA
THE PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY OF LATIN AMERICA
STRONG SPANISH AND PORTUGUESE INFLUENCE ON LANGUAGE AND CULTURE
BLEND OF NATIVE AMERICAN, AFRICAN, AND EUROPEAN HERITAGE
MOSTLY TROPICAL AND SUBTROPICAL CLIMATE
WORLD’S LARGEST AREA OF TROPICAL RAINFOREST
LATIN AMERICA: WHAT MAKES IT A REGION?
KEY TERMS: CORDILLERAALTIPLANO
ESCARPMENTLLANOPAMPA
HYDROELECTRIC POWER
LATIN AMERICA: THE LAND
Western Hemisphere, South of the U.S. ◦8 million sq.mi. ◦16% of Earth’s surface◦Middle America (Mexico to Panama)◦Caribbean◦South America- largest landmass in Latin America
THE LAND
Extension of the Rockies◦ Mexico- Sierra Maestra◦ Central and South America- Andes◦ Location on the Ring of Fire◦ Earthquakes and Volcanoes still affect the area
Why did people move there?◦ Cooler climates◦ Natural resources- water, volcanic soil, timber,
and minerals◦ Rugged terrain = isolated communities
MOUNTAINS AND PLATEAUS
Sierra Maestra- Mexico, on the Mexican Plateau
The Carribean Islands◦ Are mainly volcanic peaks
Andes Mountains◦ 4,500 miles long covering the West Coast of S.A.◦ Longest and highest mountain range◦ Some peaks over 20,000 ft◦ Is a cordillera system- separate mountain ranges
that run parallel to each other◦ In Peru
Andes encircle the altiplano, or high plain
MIDDLE AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN
THE ANDES MOUNTAINS
Eastern S.A.- broad plateaus and valleys◦Ex: Mato Grosso Plateau Brazil, Bolivia, Peru
◦Ex: Brazilian Highlands Warm climate Good for raising cattle Ends in an escarpment- steep slope plunging into the Atlantic Ocean
THE BRAZILIAN HIGHLANDS
MATO GROSSO PLATEAU: BRAZIL
Brazil has the longest strip of coastal plain◦Northeastern Brazil to Uruguay◦Escarpment forces the Brazilian people
to live on the coast Llanos- inland grassland
◦Colombia and Venezuela◦Pampas- in Argentina and Uruguay Grazing land for cattle and livestock
◦Fertile soil- wheat and corn production
LOWLANDS AND PLAINS
ESCARPMENT
Transportation of goods and people◦ Mostly in South America
Amazon River◦ Headwaters in the Peruvian Andes◦ Empties into the Atlantic◦ Over 4,000 miles long◦ Carries 10x the amount of water volume than the
Mississippi Paraná Paraguay and Uruguay Rivers
◦ 2nd longest river system in Latin America
WATER SYSTEMS
Used for hydroelectric power Rio Grande
◦ Largest river in Middle America◦ A.K.A.- Rio Bravo del Norte
Panama Canal◦ Man made on the Isthmus of Panama◦ Used to get from the Atlantic to the Pacific
Lakes◦ Titicaca- Peru and Bolivia◦ Maracaibo- Venezuela (Oil fields)
WATER SYSTEMS (cont)
PANAMA CANAL
Oil- Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea
Orinoco River- (Venezuela)- GoldPeru and Mexico- SilverColombia- EmeraldsChile- Copper Jamaica- Bauxite = aluminum
NATURAL RESOURCES
KEY TERMS:
Tierra Helada Puna
Tierra FriaTierra TempladaTierra caliente
Canopy
CLIMATE AND VEGETATION
Tierra Caliente Sea level to 2500 feetCoastal areas and foothills75 to 80 F
Tierra Templada 2500 to 6000 feetEvergreens65 to 75 F
Tierra Fria 6000 to 12000 feetEvergreens and scrub55 to 65 F
Puna 12000 to 16000 feetGrass20 to 55 F
Tierra Helada Above 16,000 feetPermanent snow and iceLess than 20 F
CLIMATE ZONES
Climate affected more by elevation than location relative the Equator◦Have vertical climate zones
Tierra Helada-Andes Mts◦Puna- cold zone w/grass; cattle graze here
Tierra Fria◦Potatoes and Barley◦America’s highest climate zones
Tierra Templada◦Coffee and corn main crops
Tierra Caliente◦Bananas, sugar, rice, cacao
ELEVATION AND CLIMATE
Most of L.A. is tropical w/lush vegetation Tropical wet
◦ Dominates most of the region◦ Rainfall from the prevailing winds = moisture
from the Atlantic◦ Mostly lands in the Amazon Basin◦ Rainforests
Trees grow close to one another forming a canopy Dense layers of leaves Sunlight does not reach the floor Many species live here
CLIMATE AND VEGETATION REGIONS
Southwestern Mexico, Caribbean Islands, and North Central South America
High temperatures, rainfall, drought
Soils not too fertile but flooding has helped move sediments
Tropical Dry
Southeastern South America
Short winters
Heavy rain during Summer
Short grasses◦Today: Alfalfa, corn, and cotton
Humid Sub-Tropical
Northern Mexico, Peru, Chile, and Southeastern Argentina◦Desert climate and vegetation
Ex: Atcama desert◦In some places here rainfall has never
been recorded Vegetation
◦Cacti- due to lomas (dense sea fog) that comes over the area
Steppe◦N. Mexico, N. Brazil, South Central S.A. Hot Summer, cool Winter, grassy
DRY CLIMATES