Physical Geography of Latin America Physical Features Physical

Physical Geography of Latin America Physical Features

Physical Features • Middle America – Mexico & Central America – Central America is an Isthmus – Four tectonic plates meet – Mexico: two mountain ranges with a high central plain – Central America: spinal mountain range

Physical Features • Caribbean (West Indies) – Highly volcanic – Greater Antilles • Cuba, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, Jamaica – Lesser Antilles • Smaller islands from Virgin Islands to Trinidad – Bahamas – Lesser Antilles & Bahamas are both archipelagoes

Physical Features • South America – Andes Mountains • Cordillera: Plateaus and valleys provide farmland • Forms the western spine of the continent • 5500 miles long – the world’s longest chain • Peaks as high as 20, 000 feet

Physical Features • South America – Amazon Basin • 2. 7 million square miles • Contains the Amazon River • Highlands north and south – Amazon Highlands • Escarpment: Series of steep cliffs dropping into the Atlantic Plain – Lowland Plains • Llanos: northern plains • Pampas: southern plains • Cattle and grain farming

Waterways • Amazon River – Longest river in Latin America (>4000 miles) – Second longest river in the world (after the Nile) – Essential for life • Navigable for 2500 miles • Fishing industry • Irrigation

Waterways • Latin America’s second largest river system – Rio de la Plata (River of Silver) Estuary • Parana River • Paraguay River • Uruguay River • Orinoco River – Fertilizes the Llanos

Waterways • Lake Maracaibo – South America’s largest – Venezuela’s oil fields • Lake Titicaca – World’s highest navigable lake at 12, 500 feet • Panama Canal – Biggest construction project of its time PLAY

Natural Resources • Brazil – Disproportionate share of natural resources – 55% of the country is covered by forest • Timber, Rubber, Palm Oil, Nuts – Mineral wealth • Bauxite (aluminum), gold, tin, iron, manganese – Gasahol • Oil and Natural Gas are presented but limited

Natural Resources • Energy Resources – Venezuela: OPEC member • Region’s largest oil & natural gas reserves – Mexico • Oil / Natural Gas from the Gulf of Mexico – Ecuador – Bolivia • Energy production controlled by foreign governments • Slow production

Natural Resources • Other Resources – Silver: Mexico, Peru, Argentina, Dominican Rep – Gold: Dominican Rep, Nicaragua, Guatemala – Venezuela: Major exporter of iron ore – Columbia: World’s largest producer of emeralds – Chile: World’s largest producer of copper – Jamaica: Bauxite (aluminum) – Cuba: Nickel