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Latin America: Latin America
At a Glance: At a Glance
Latin America: Latin America a region that was influenced by Spanish/Portuguese settlers
1/6 of world’s land surface
Runs for 5,500 miles
From Rio Grande to Cape Horn
In between have
Mexico
7 countries of Central America
13 island nations
12 countries of South America
Lies between Pacific and Atlantic Oceans
Map of Latin America
Geographical features: Geographical features Mountains
Plains
Rivers
Rain Forests
Deserts
Mountains: Mountains Dominate much of Latin America
One chain called La Cordillera
In Mexico split and are called
Sierra Madre Occidental
Sierra Madre Oriental
Sierra Madre del Sur
South America
The Andes
4000 miles/Longest continuous
mts chain in the world/back bone of
South America
In Peru In Argentina Copper Canyon in Mexico
Problems Mts. cause: Problems Mts. cause Block communication
Travel is difficult
Loyalties and ties with region rather then to nation
Mts are young and still developing = volcanic eruptions/earthquakes/avalanche Earthquake in Mexico City - 1985
Plains: Plains Coast and inland plains
Two of the most important
Pampas of Argentina
Llanos of Colombia and Venezuela
Argentine Pampas: Argentine Pampas Spread almost 500 miles north to the Salado del Norte River and south to the Colorado River
In the east the Pampas are hot, west they are dry
Domain of the gaucho = person who works with cattle
Late 1800s way of life disappeared
One of the breadbaskets of
the world
Cereals/cattle/pigs
Llanos of Colombia and Venezuela: Llanos of Colombia and Venezuela From the delta of the Orinoco River in Venezuela westward into southern Colombia
Made up of level areas, rolling plains and low mesas (broad flat elevated areas)
Cattle major economic activity
Rivers: Rivers Five major river systems
Magdalena in Colombia
Orinoco in Venezuela
Amazon in Brazil
Sao Francisco in Brazil
Rio de la Plata in Argentina
Rain Forest: Rain Forest Mostly near the Equator
Stay green all year-round
Rainy and hot
More kinds of trees and animals than any other area of the world
Largest/oldest = Amazon Basin
Covers 1/3 of South America
Deserts: Deserts Patagonian and Monte deserts of Argentina
Atacama Desert in Chile
One of the driest in the world
No vegetation grows
People in towns have never seen rain Patagonian Desert Atacama Desert Atacama Desert
Antiplano of Southern Peru: Antiplano of Southern Peru
Santiago Mayan Women: Santiago Mayan Women
Igauza Falls, Argentina: Igauza Falls, Argentina
Walking Palm Tree, Costa Rico’s Rain Forest: Walking Palm Tree, Costa Rico’s Rain Forest
Rain Forest Parrot: Rain Forest Parrot
Brazilian Rain Forest: Brazilian Rain Forest
Volcano in Ecuador: Volcano in Ecuador
Andres Mountains, Chile: Andres Mountains, Chile