Physical Geography of Latin America

1
Chapter 9

• Physical Geography of Latin America

2
Landforms and Resources

• Mountains
• Andes- South America
• Called Rockies in the US and Sierra Madre in
  Mexico
• Many active volcanoes
• Home to Inca in Peru
• Mountains were barriers to movement away from the
  coast---coastal areas are more densely populated.

3
Landforms and Resources

• Highlands- mountainous or hilly sections of a
  country
• Guiana Highlands
• NE section of S. America
• Brazilian Highlands
• E coast of Brazil

4
Landforms and Resources

• Plains offer rich soil for growing crops and
  grasses for grazing livestock.
• Llanos-grassy, treeless areas used for livestock
  grazing and farming
• Colombia and Venezuela
• Similar to Great Plains in the US

5
Landforms and Resources

• Cerrado- savannas with flat terrain and moderate
  rainfall
• Found in interior plains of Brazil
• Undeveloped but govt encouraging settlers to
  move into interior to develop the land

6
Landforms and Resources

• Pampas- areas of grassland and rich soil
• Southern Argentina and Uruguay
• Cattle and wheat grain

7

• River systems
• Central America the Caribbean less dependent
  on river systems than South America
• They are surrounded by water!
• Orinoco- northern most river found mainly in
  Venezuela
• Amazon- starts at the Andes and flows eastward
  toward the Atlantic
• Carries more water to the ocean than any other
  river in the world

8
River Systems

• Amazon- starts at the Andes and flows eastward
  toward the Atlantic
• Carries more water to the ocean than any other
  river in the world
• Parana River- originates in the highlands of S
  Brazil
• Through Paraguay and Argentina

9
Major Islands of the Caribbean

• 3 major island groups A.K.A. the West Indies
• 1st land encountered by Columbus
• Bahamas-
• Hundreds of islands off the southern tip of Fl.
  And north of Cuba
• Nassau-capital and largest city in Bahamas

10
Major Islands of the Caribbean

• Greater Antilles-larger islands of the Caribbean
• Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola (Haiti Dominican
  Republic), Puerto Rico
• Lesser Antilles- smaller islands SE of PR
• Leeward islands sheltered from the prevailing
  northeasterly winds
• Windward- islands face the winds that blow across
  them

11
Resources of Latin America

• Minerals- gold silver
• Energy- oil and natural gas
• Agricultural and Forest- timber
• Hydroelectric Power
• Brazil generates most because of so many rivers

12
Climate and Vegetation

• Climate Zones range from hot and humid Amazon
  River basin to dry and desert-like conditions of
  northern Mexico
• 2 million sq mi covered by Amazon rain forest
• Savannas
• Found in Brazil, Colombia, Argentina

13
Human Environment Interaction

• Terraced Farming- ancient technique for growing
  crops on hillsides or mountain slopes
• Slash and burn- trees, brush, and grasses cut and
  burned to clear fields.
• Effective in humid and tropical areas
• Amazon River basin

14
Human Environment Interaction

• Argentina, Chile, Uruguay
• 3 most urbanized countries
• People are moving from rural areas into cities
• In search off jobs and a better life
• Push/pull factors

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Human Environment Interaction

• Tourism
• increased employment
• more money introduced into local economy
• - congestion
• - pollution