Photo by Linda Hammon Latin America can be

Photo by Linda Hammon

Latin America can be divided into 3 subregions: Central America & Mexico (Mexico + 7 Countries) The Caribbean (Bahamas, Greater/Lesser Antilles, West Indies) South America Latin America

The Amazon River • Second longest river, and largest by waterflow • Lowlands of the Amazon River basin hold many rich, natural resources – including species found nowhere else & possible treatments for a # of diseases. • The Amazon River Basin is the largest rainforest in the world.

Main source of the Amazon River (Iquitos, Peru) Why here? ? ?

Lake Titicaca is in the Andes Mountains A number of lowlands & river basins to the east, fed by runoff from the Andes Lake Titicaca

Bodies of Water Gulf of Mexico Caribbean Sea Lake Maracaibo Orinoco R. Magdalena R. Amazon R. Pacific Ocean Sao Francisco R. Lake Titicaca Parana R. Uruguay R. Rio de La Plata Atlantic Ocean

Amazon River Basin • Reasons for deforestation: – Subsistence farmers – Commercial farming & logging – Govt policies – World Bank mistakes http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=olmzz. Wo 0 wps

The Amazon contains sources of lumber, gold, and gems. Countries with poor economies have reason to exploit, not preserve. Spontaneous fires are also a danger here. Fires burning in the Amazon Basin

Destruction of the Amazon Basin has occurred at an alarming rate – and in a number of countries Because the problem is multinational, any solution will take cooperative efforts.

In the isolated regions of the Guiana Highlands (as in the Amazon River Basin), there are many indigenous groups with unique lifestyles. These tribes are an example of… ?

Mountains and Peaks Sierra Madres Mts. Guiana Highlands Brazilian Highlands Andes Mts. Patagonian Plateau

Andes Mtn Range World’s highest range outside of Asia – which implies that they are… ? Longest range in the world

Most people in the Andes live below 11, 500 feet. Cuzco, Peru – 10, 912 ft. La Paz, Bolivia – 11, 942 ft.

Altitudinal zonation is found in this region.

Argentina/ Chile - From glaciers and desert. Why are climates so diverse in L. A. ? • Climates range from tropical moist to highlands to dry.

Central Chile has a Mediterranean climate – productive farms and grazing lands are found here. Why is the climate here so nice? Argentina and Brazil also have grassland regions

Ll an os Amazon Mato Basin Grosso Gran Chaco Pa mp as Valleys Plains and Basins

Deserts Atac ama Dese rt Atacama Desert is the driest in the world with less than. 04 inches of rain a year.

The Atacama Desert is kept dry by: • Humboldt current • East of Chilean Coast Range • West of Andes

Pan am a. C ana l Other Features Galap ag Islan os ds Falkland Islands Cape Horn

The Panama Canal was built to ease travel/commerce between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans Angel Falls- Highest uninterrupted waterfall in the world is located in Venezuela • http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=-vi 19 z 4 LEi 0

• The Galapagos Islands off the coast of Ecuador are used for research and ecotourism bringing much needed revenue into Ecuador’s economy.

Environment/Nature 1. How do physical features impact climate & vegetation in Latin America? 2. How do physical/environmental factors influence settlement patterns?

Scenes in the Amazon Rainforest

Scenes in Bolivia