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LATIN AMERICA
Sarah Urevig
Mexico
■ Landforms
– Sierra Madre Occidental mountain
range runs through Mexico mostly
the west side and south side.
– Copper Canyon
– Sierra Madre del Sur is a mountain
range in southern Mexico.
– Baja Peninsula
■ Bodies of Water
– Pacific and Atlantic Ocean
– Gulf of Mexico
– Caribbean Sea
– Gulf of Tehuantepec
– Gulf of California
–
–
–
–
Balsas River
The Rio Grande
Lake Chapala
Lake Cuitzeo
Mexico
■ Religions
– Roman Catholic (88%)
– Protestant (5%)
■ Languages
– Most Mexicans speak
Spanish
but there are other
indigenous languages
Mexico
■ Economic Strengths
– The Mexican economy is trying to
enhance efficiency and liberalizing
investment governments.
■ Standard of living
– GDP is $9,000
– Life expectancy is 69(male) and
76(female).
– 92% literacy rate
– Lacks in health care options.
– Urbanization level is 75%
■
Governments
–
Mexico’s government is
divided into 3 levels, the
Federal Union, the state
government, and the
municipal government.
–
The Federal Union has three
branches, executive,
legislative, and judiciary.
Mexico
■ History
– A Spanish expedition came to Mexico to enrich themselves with gold. They
ruled for 300 years.
– During the French Revolution, Spanish power declined. Mexico gained
Independence on September 16, 1810.
– Mexico became a country on October 4, 1824.
■ Environmental Concerns
– Drinking water sources are polluted in the north.
– There is a lack of waste disposal facilities.
– Groundwater depletion in the Valley of Mexico.
■ Key Element of Culture
– The people of Mexico put high value on family, distant or close, and enjoy
having celebrations with them.
Central America
■ Landforms
– Central America is a land bridge
connecting North and South
America.
– Sierra Madre de Chiapas mountain
range.
– Cordillera Isabelia mountain range.
■ Bodies of Water
– Lake Nicaragua
– Gulf of Fonseca
– Gulf of Honduras
– Panama Canal
– Lake Managua
Central America
■ Religion
– The majority of people are Roman Catholic.
– The rest of the people are Protestant with
some other trace religions.
■ Language
– Most people speak Spanish.
– Other people speak indigenous languages.
Central America
■ Economic Strengths
– Central America is growing.
– They project that their GDP will reach 4.75%.
■ Standard of Living
– Life expectancy is around 70 years old.
– Literacy rate is 77.3%
– GDP is an average of $1,716.00.
■ Governments
– Some of Central America is a republic.
Guatemala has a constitutional democratic
republic and so does Honduras. Costa Rica
has a democratic republic and Panama has a
constitutional democracy. Belize has a
parliamentary democracy.
Central America
■ History
– Spanish explorers arrived in the 1500’s.
Settlers built towns and churches.
– Independence came to Spanish Central
America in the 1820’s.
– In the early 1900’s, the US built the Panama
Canal across central Panama.
■ Environmental Concerns
– Deforestation is a major concern.
– They also struggle with pollution and soil
erosion.
■ Key Element of Culture
– Latin America has many races because
people were brought to Latin America during
slavery of other migrations.
Bahamas
■ Landforms
– The Bahamas are a group of coral
islands.
– The highest point is located on Cat
Island, which is 206 feet above sea
level.
– There is one small river on the Andros
island.
■ Bodies of water
– Atlantic Ocean
– Straits of Florida
– Caribbean Sea
Bahamas
■ Religion
– 70% Protestant
– 13% Christian
– 12% Roman Catholic
■ Language
– They speak English.
Bahamas
■ Economic Strengths
– The economy here depends on
tourism.
■ Standard of Living
– GDP is $25,049.
– Literacy rate is 98%.
– Life expectancy is 70.
■ Governments
– Unitary Parliamentary democracy
and Constitutional monarchy.
– Monarch is Elizabeth II
– Governor-General is Sir Arthur
Foulkes
– Prime Minister is Hubert Ingraham
Bahamas
■ History
– During proprietary rule, The Bahamas became a
haven for pirates, including Blackbeard.
– After American independence, Loyalists and their
slaves moved to The Bahamas. These Loyalists
established plantations on some islands and
became a political force in the capital.
■ Environmental Concerns
– coral reef decay
– waste disposal
– water pollution
■ Key Element of Culture
– Regattas are important social events in many
family island settlements. They usually feature
one or more days of sailing by old-fashioned work
boats, and a celebration.
Greater Antilles
■ Landforms
– Islands
– Volcanoes
– Mountains
– Pico Duarte on the island
of Hispaniola.
■
Bodies of water
– Caribbean Sea
– Atlantic Ocean
Greater Antilles
■ Religion
– The Taíno people
spirituality centered on
the worship of zemís
which are spirits or
ancestors.
■ Language
– Taino Language
Greater Antilles
■ Economic Strengths
– Strong health care and education
systems.
■ Standard of Living
– GDP is $20,649.
– Literacy rate is about 99%.
– Life expectancy is about 79 years.
■ Governments
– Democratic Republic.
Greater Antilles
■ History
– Cuba was first inhabited by American Indians.
– It was a Spanish colony until the SpanishAmerican War.
■ Environmental Concerns
– High demands of water and energy resources.
– Marine pollution.
■ Key Element of Culture
– They enjoyed wearing gold pennants.
Lesser Antilles
■ Landforms
– The Lesser Antilles are a group of islands in
the Caribbean Sea.
– Mountains
■ Bodies of water
– Caribbean Sea
– Atlantic Ocean
Lesser Antilles
■ Religion
– Mainly Roman Catholic
■ Language
– English is the official language.
Lesser Antilles
■ Economic Strengths
– Manufacturing is important.
■ Standard of Living
– GDP is about $17,455.
– Literacy rate is about 99%.
– Life expectancy is about 70.
■ Governments
– Republic
Lesser Antilles
■ History
– Christopher Columbus encountered the island
of Trinidad on 31 July 1498.
– Trinidad and Tobago gained its independence
from the United Kingdom on 31 August 1962.
■ Environmental Concerns
– Pollution deforestation, soil erosion, and
wildlife depletion.
■ Key Element of Culture
– Trinidad and Tobago is the birthplace of
calypso music and the steelpan.
South America
■ Landforms
– Amazon Basin
– Andes Mountains
– Atacama Desert
– Brazilian Shield
– Cape Horn
■ Bodies of water
– Pacific and Atlantic Ocean
– Scotia Sea
– Amazon River
– Lake Titicaca
South America
■ Religion
– Roman Catholic
– Christianity
– Protestant
■ Language
– Most speak Spanish but English,
Dutch, and French are also official
languages.
South America
■ Economic Strengths
– Imports and domestic production.
■ Standard of Living
– GDP is about $9000.
– Literacy rate is about 85%.
– Life expectancy is about 77.
■ Governments
– South American governments have drifted
to the political left which supports social
equality.
South America
■ History
– In 1494, a treaty divided it between
Spain and Portugal.
– The Spanish focused on the west
because the Inca lived there.
– They gained independence between
1810 and 1830.
■ Environmental Concerns
– Pollution and deforestation.
■ Key Element of Culture
– South American nations have a rich
variety of music.