Physical Geography of Latin America Physical Features Physical













- Slides: 13


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
Latin America Definition of Latin America Latin America
Geography of Latin America Geography Latin America is
Physical Geography of Latin America Latin America is
World Geography Latin America Notes Physical Latin America
Latin America Physical Geography LA Physical Geography Includes
The Geography of Latin America Unit Latin America
Unit 3 Latin America Physical Geography of Latin
Geography of Latin America Political Physical Features Standards
Latin America and WWI Latin America and WWI
LATIN AMERICA SOCIAL SCIENCES COUNCIL CLACSO LATIN AMERICA
Latin America Regions of Latin America The Caribbean
LATIN AMERICA Where is Latin America Find Mexico
Latin America Nueva Cancion Latin America 1 continent