The Physical Geography of Latin America Unit 3

A. A Vast Region Located in the Western Hemisphere ► Land area – 8

B. Mountains & Plateaus ► Mountains of Mexico, Central America, & Caribbean § Sierra

Mountains & Plateaus (Cont. ) ► Andes Mtns. Of South America § World’s longest

C. Lowlands & Plains ► Grasslands § Llanos – Colombia & Venezuela ►Employ llaneros

D. Water Systems ► Rivers § Rio Grande – river that forms the border

Water Systems (Cont. ) ► Lakes § Lake Titicaca – highest navigable lake –

E. Natural Resources ► Oil & natural gas ► Gold – Venezuela & Brazil

II. Section II Climate & Vegetation Ch 8 PP 10

A. Climate & Vegetation Regions ► Tropical Regions § Rain Forest ► Amazon Basin

Climate & Vegetation Regions (Cont. ) ► Desert & Steppe Areas § Atacama Desert

B. Elevation & Climate ► Tierra Caliente – hot land ► Tierra Templada –

Slides: 13

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The Physical Geography of Latin America Unit 3 - Chapter 8 Ch 8 PP 1

I. Section I The Land Ch 8 PP 2

A. A Vast Region Located in the Western Hemisphere ► Land area – 8 million sq. miles ► Latin America made up of 3 parts ► § Middle America ► Central America & Mexico § Caribbean (aka. the West Indies) ► Bahamas, Greater Antilles, Lesser Antilles § South America ► Ch 8 PP Only 2 landlocked countries § Paraguay & Bolivia 3

B. Mountains & Plateaus ► Mountains of Mexico, Central America, & Caribbean § Sierra Madre Oriental (Eastern), Occidental (Western), & del Sur (of the south) ► These mountains surround the densely populated Mexican Plateau § Central Highlands Ch 8 PP 4

Mountains & Plateaus (Cont. ) ► Andes Mtns. Of South America § World’s longest mountain range!!! § Also cordilleras § Altiplano – means high plain – Peru & Bolivia § Patagonia – plateau in Argentina ► Highlands of Brazil § Mato Grosso Plateau § Brazilian Highlands ► Escarpments slope – steep cliff or Ch 8 PP 5

C. Lowlands & Plains ► Grasslands § Llanos – Colombia & Venezuela ►Employ llaneros § Pampas – Argentina & Uruguay ►Employ gaunchos Ch 8 PP 6

D. Water Systems ► Rivers § Rio Grande – river that forms the border between Mexico & U. S § Amazon River – largest river in the world!!! § Rivers provide power – hydroelectric power Ch 8 PP 7

Water Systems (Cont. ) ► Lakes § Lake Titicaca – highest navigable lake – Andes § Lake Maracaibo – S. America’s largest lake – Venezuela ► Waterfall § Angel Falls – highest waterfall in the world Venezuela Ch 8 PP 8

E. Natural Resources ► Oil & natural gas ► Gold – Venezuela & Brazil ► Silver – Peru & Mexico ► Emeralds - Colombia ► Copper - Chile ► Bauxite – Jamaica ► Tin – Bolivia & Brazil Ch 8 PP 9

II. Section II Climate & Vegetation Ch 8 PP 10

A. Climate & Vegetation Regions ► Tropical Regions § Rain Forest ► Amazon Basin § What forest is located here? ► Canopy – continuous layer of leaves § Tropical Savanna Ch 8 PP 11

Climate & Vegetation Regions (Cont. ) ► Desert & Steppe Areas § Atacama Desert – Chile – one of the driest places on earth! Ch 8 PP 12

B. Elevation & Climate ► Tierra Caliente – hot land ► Tierra Templada – temperate land ► Tierra Fria – cold land Ch 8 PP 13