Download Latin America Chapter 6 Geography

Latin America
Chapter 6 Section 1 – Physical
Geography
Pages 153 - 159
Chapter 6 – Physical Geography
Land and Water
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Plateau – A large raised area of mostly level land
Isthmus – A strip of land with water on both sides
that connects two larger bodies of land
Coral – The skeletons of tiny sea animals that form
together making a rock like substance
Pampas – The flat grassland regions of Argentina
and Uruguay
Tributary – Rivers and streams that flow into a larger
river
Mexican Cat Diagram
Chapter 6 – Physical Geography
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There are three regions that make up Latin America:
1. Mexico/Central America
2. The Caribbean
3. South America
The reason it is called Latin America???
The Sierra Madre Oriental and the Sierra Madre
Occidental are the Mountain Ranges in
Mexico…between lies the Mexican Plateau which is
where most of the population lives…why?
Chapter 6 – Physical Geography
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Central America is an isthmus cut in half by
mountains. On either side is the coastal plains. The
land is fertile volcanic soil so farming is big for these
people.
The Caribbean is made of coral islands and the tops
of underwater mountains. Cuba, Jamaica,
Hispaniola, and Puerto Rico are examples.
South America contains many landforms. The most
impressive is the Andes Mountains. The Andes are
the second highest and longest mountain range.
East of the Andes is the rolling highlands and the
Pampas. These features frame the largest tropical
rain forest in the world…The Amazon
Chapter 6 – Physical Geography
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The second longest river in the world is in
South America…the Amazon flows 4000 mi.
It contains about 20% of all the fresh river
water on the Earth from over 1000 tributaries.
Other systems: The Parana in Paraguay and
Uruguay forming the Rio de la Plata system.
In Venezuela it is the Orinoco River. Lake
Titicaca is the highest lake in the world and
lies high in the Andes Mountains.
Chapter 6 – Physical Geography
Climate and Vegetation
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El NiÑo – A warm water current that
occasionally flows in the Pacific off the coast
of South America.
Elevation – The height of land above sea
level.
Chapter 6 – Physical Geography
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The climate of Latin America is vast. Look at
following map. Everything from 80” of rain in
the rain forest to the Atacama Desert in Chile
and the Sonora Desert in Mexico.
The Caribbean has a great climate yet during
June to November is hurricane season.
What factors affect climate? How does
elevation affect climate?
The southern part of Argentina has an arid
climate…the region is called Patagonia.
Chapter 6 – Physical Geography
Natural Resources
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Hydroelectricity – Using the power of rushing
water to generate electricity.
Diversify – Adding variety
Chapter 6 – Physical Geography
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Many of the Latin American countries rely
upon only one crop or resource for their
income. Unfortunately, this causes problems
if the price for that commodity drops. The
country and their people suffer. That is why
many of the countries are trying to diversify
their industry to keep this from happening
and to prosper.
Chapter 6 – Physical Geography
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Mexico and Central America – Silver, gold, copper,
coal, iron ore, and most other minerals. Central
America is rich in farming for coffee, cotton, sugar
cane, cacao, and bananas.
The Caribbean – Sugar cane, coffee, bananas,
cacao, citrus fruits. Also, bauxite from Jamaica and
Nickel from Cuba and the Dominican Republic.
South America – Many of the same minerals and oil
from Venezuela. Trees and medicines from the rain
forest and fish from the waters. Farming…wheat in
Argentina