Survey
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
Download - deercreekintermediate.org
Document related concepts
no text concepts found
Transcript
CHAPTER 11 SECTION 2 Latin America: Climate and Vegetation El Nino This occurs every few years and influences the weather patterns. Fish El Nino (Spanish for “little boy”) is a warming of the ocean water along the western coast of South America. are driven away Areas that usually have dry weather get heavy rains Low-lying regions are flooded In other parts of Latin America, drought plagues the land and people Andes Mountains This is the longest and one of the tallest mountain ranges in the world! In parts of the Andes there are below zero temperatures. The Andes Mountains are located in South America, running north to south along the western coast of the continent. Amazon Basin It is hot and humid This part of Latin America receives more than 100 inches of rain a year! The Atacama Desert Located in northern Chile, this is second driest region in the world (icy Antarctica is first!) Lies in the rain shadow of Chile’s Coast Range Completely barren and only receives occasional moisture from fog or shower every few decades; not measurable amount of rain has every been recorded Mining in this desert provides valuable mineral resources Hand of the Desert by Chilean sculptor Mario Irarrázabal Hurricanes in the Caribbean The weather in the Caribbean is usually sunny and warm. However, from June to November the region is often hit with fierce hurricanes. Hurricane Wilma (2005) This was the most intense hurricane ever recorded in the region. -Winds howled at more than 185 miles per hour. -Waves nearly 20 feet high smashed into the coast. Climate Factors that affect the climate: -elevation -location -wind patterns Climate Regions of Latin America Tropical wet: hot, humid, and rainy weather all year round Tropical wet and dry: equally hot, but rainy season does not last all year long Mexico, Brazil, Caribbean region Humid sub-tropical: summers are hot and wet; winters cool and damp Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay Arid / Dry: colder, drier area Patagonia – region shared by Argentina and Chile elevation Elevation is the height of land above sea level. this is a key factor affecting the climate of the mountains in Latin America •Between the tree line and the snow line are plants that grow low to the ground, such as various grasses. It is too cold and windy for trees to grow in this region, but birds, bats, mice, foxes, and llamas are able live in this region location Regions close to the equator are generally warmer than those farther away. wind patterns Winds move cold air from the North and South poles toward the Equator. Winds also move warm air from the Equator toward the poles. In the Caribbean, sea breezes help to keep temperatures moderate and affect rainfall. More rain falls on the sides of islands facing the wind than on the sides facing away. Vegetation Latin America’s varied climate and physical features make such extremes possible. -Rainforest: heavy rainfall -Desert: little to no rainfall -Pampas: less extreme climate economy Economy is the ways that goods and services are produced and made available to people. Sugar cane, coffee, and bananas are important to the economies of many countries around the Caribbean. CHAPTER 11 SECTION 3 Latin America: Resources and Land Use Bolivia Bolivia has long depended on its mineral resources for wealth. Tin became very important to them and brought wealth to their economy. In the 1920s and 1930s, a worldwide economic crisis hit. Industries stopped buying tin, as well as other natural resources. This economic crisis brought home a problem that many Latin American nations have: They rely too much on one resource. natural resources Natural resources are things found in nature that people can use to meet their needs. Latin America’s resources are as varied as its physical features and climate. Middle America Mexico Mexico is a treasure chest of minerals: Central America Silver Gold Copper Coal Iron Central America’s climate and rich soil are good for farming: ore Oil and Natural Gas Trees Coffee Cotton Sugar cane Bananas Cacao Fish and shellfish Hydroelectricity, electric power created by rushing water The Caribbean Caribbean countries also have rich soil and a good climate for farming. Framers grow: Sugar cane Coffee Bananas Cacao Citrus fruits Jamaica is one of the world’s main producers of bauxite, a mineral used to make aluminum. Cuba and the Dominican Republic have nickel deposits South America South America is also rich in minerals: Gold, copper, tin, bauxite, and iron ore Chile is the leading producer of copper in the world Forestry (forests cover about half the continent) Fish and Shellfish Harvesting Trees from these forests provide everything from wood for building to coconuts for eating. Tuna, anchovies, and shrimp South America has rich soil to grow crops: Coffee, wheat, sugar cane, cotton, and rice Hydroelectric Power About 85% of all Brazil’s electricity is generated by hydroelectric power plants Itaipu Dam on the Paraná River one-resource economy Some countries develop what is called a one-resource economy, an economy that depends largely on one resource or crop. World coffee prices affect not only the economies of many Latin American countries but also ordinary people, such as this Guatemalan coffee-picker. The World Economy Oil Farming Oil is one of Latin America’s most valuable resources. Much of South America’s oil is found in Venezuela. In the mid-1990s, oil companies produced more oil than needed. As a result, prices dropped. Some Latin American countries depend on only one or two crops. Increased production of coffee by other countries may cause the price of the crop to drop. diversify To diversify is to add variety. Factories, agriculture, and tourism are some of the ways Latin American countries are diversifying their economies. The governments of Latin America continue to look for ways to protect their nations from the hazards of a one-resource economy.
