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Splash Screen
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Chapter Intro 1
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Section 1-4
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Section 1-6
A Vast Region

• Latin America covers 8 million square miles of
  land, from the United States-Mexico border to the
  southern tip of Argentina in South America. ?

• The name Latin America refers to the languages
  (Spanish and Portuguese, derived from Latin)
  spoken in this geographic region. ?
• Geographers divide Latin America into three
  regions Middle America, the Caribbean, and South
  America.

(pages 193194)
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Section 1-8
Mountains and Plateaus
Latin Americas rugged landscape is the result of
its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire, where
plates of the earths crust have collided for
millions of years, causing earthquakes and
creating mountains and volcanoes.
(pages 194196)
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Section 1-9
Mountains and Plateaus (cont.)

• Mountains of Mexico, Central America, and the
  Caribbean Mexicos Sierra Madre and the Central
  Highlands in Central America rise above the
  landscape of Middle America. ?

• Many Caribbean islands are part of the Central
  Highlands mountain range.

(pages 194196)
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Section 1-10
Mountains and Plateaus (cont.)

• Andes of South America The Andes mountain ranges
  run along the western edge of South America and
  are the worlds longest mountain range (4,500
  miles). ?

• Their parallel ranges, called cordilleras, are
  arranged in deep folds. ?
• In southern Argentina, hills and lower flatlands
  form a plateau known as Patagonia.

(pages 194196)
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Section 1-11
Mountains and Plateaus (cont.)

• Highlands of Brazil Much of Brazil consists of
  broad plateaus, such as the Mata Grosso Plateau
  and the Brazilian Highlands.

(pages 194196)
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Section 1-13
Lowlands and Plains

• Narrow coastal lowlands hem the Gulf of Mexico,
  the Caribbean Sea, and the Atlantic and Pacific
  coasts of South America.

(pages 196197)
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Section 1-14
Lowlands and Plains (cont.)
(pages 196197)
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Section 1-15
Lowlands and Plains (cont.)

• Inland areas of South America hold vast
  grasslands that provide wide grazing for beef
  cattle.

(pages 196197)
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Section 1-16
Lowlands and Plains (cont.)
(pages 196197)
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Section 1-18
Water Systems

• Rivers of South America Navigable rivers, such
  as the Amazon, serve as transportation routes and
  provide hydroelectric power. ?

• Lakes Latin America has few large lakes. ?
• Lake Titicaca in the Andes of Bolivia and Peru is
  the worlds highest navigable lake.

(pages 197198)
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Section 1-20
Natural Resources

• Latin Americas significant natural resources
  include minerals, forests, farmlands, and water. ?

• Major deposits of oil and natural gas occur along
  the Gulf of Mexico and southern Caribbean Sea. ?
• Mexico and Venezuela are leading petroleum
  producers.

(page 198)
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Section 1-21
Natural Resources (cont.)

• Venezuelas Orinoco River area contains 11
  percent of the worlds gold. ?

• Brazil is also rich in gold, and Peru and Mexico
  are known for their silver deposits. ?
• Chile is the worlds leading exporter of copper.
  ?
• Geographic inaccessibility, lack of capital, and
  social and political divisions hinder fuller
  development and distribution of natural resources
  in Latin America.

(page 198)
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End of Section 1
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Section 2-3
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Section 2-5
Climate and Vegetation Regions
Most of Latin America lies between the Tropic of
Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn thus, much of
its area has a tropical climate. However, there
is a great variety of climates in the region. ?

• Tropical Regions Mexico, eastern central
  America, some Caribbean islands, and such parts
  of South America as the Amazon Basin have a
  tropical rain forest climate and vegetation, with
  hot temperatures and abundant rainfall occurring
  year-round.

(pages 199202)
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Section 2-6
Climate and Vegetation Regions (cont.)

• The Rain Forest The Amazon Basin, with the
  earths largest rain forest, covers one-third of
  South America and has trees that form a dense
  canopy that soars as high as 130 feet over the
  forest floor. ?

• Tropical Savanna In the tropical savanna climate
  typical of the coast of southwestern Mexico, most
  Caribbean islands, and north-central South
  America, the grasslands have hot temperatures,
  abundant rainfall, and a dry season lasting
  several months.

(pages 199202)
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Section 2-7
Climate and Vegetation Regions (cont.)

• The Humid Subtropics In the humid subtropical
  climate of southeastern South America, the
  winters are short and mild, and the summers are
  long, hot, and humid.

(pages 199202)
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Section 2-8
Climate and Vegetation Regions (cont.)

• Desert and Steppe Areas Parts of northern Mexico
  and the southwestern region of South America have
  desert climates and vegetation in Chile the rain
  shadow effect of the Andes has produced the dry,
  arid Atacama Desert, whereas other areas have a
  steppe climate, with hot summers, cool winters,
  and light rainfall.

(pages 199202)
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Section 2-9
Climate and Vegetation Regions (cont.)
(pages 199202)
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Section 2-11
Elevation and Climate

• The climates of Latin America depend more on
  elevation than on distance from the Equator. ?

• The tierra caliente lies between sea level and
  2,500 feet and has average annual temperatures
  from 68?F to 91?F. The main crops include
  bananas, sugar, rice, and cacao.

(pages 202203)
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Section 2-12
Elevation and Climate (cont.)

• The tierra templada lies between 2,500 and 6,500
  feet and has average daily temperatures between
  60?F and 72?F. Coffee and corn are the main
  crops. ?

• In the tierra fría, frosts are common in the
  winter months. Potatoes and barley grow at these
  elevations.

(pages 202203)
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Section 2-14
Checking for Understanding
Define Match each definition in the left column
with the appropriate term in the right column.
__ 1. Spanish term for cold land the highest
altitude zone of Latin American highlands
climates __ 2. Spanish term for hot land the
lowest altitude zone of Latin American highlands
climates __ 3. top layer of a rain forest, where
the tops of tall trees form a continuous layer of
leaves __ 4. Spanish term for temperate land
the middle altitude zone of Latin American
highlands climates
A. canopy B. tierra caliente C. tierra
templada D. tierra fría
D
B
A
C
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End of Section 2