Transcript Slide 1
Latin America Physical Geography 8.1 Physical Geography 8 mil sq. miles (~equal to N.A.) • Made up of Middle America and South America – Caribbean sometimes debated as part of MA Yellow- Caribbean Green- Central America Red- Middle America Purple- South America All together is LATIN AMERICA Physical Geography • Caribbean aka West Indies –3 parts: Lesser Antilles, Greater Antilles, & Bahamas • Brazil is largest and most pop. of SA’s 13 countries Highlands • Begins in Pac. Ranges/ Rockies Mexico’s Sierra Madre CA’s Central Highlands SA’s Andes –map pg 195 • Crust collision, sits on Ring of Fire • Why would ppl settle here? –Cooler climates –Rich in resources… like what?? • Water, fertile soil, forests, minerals –Protection Highlands • Mexico’s Sierra Madre –Sierra Madre Oriental (eastern) & Sierra Madre Occidental (western) meet at Sierra Madre del Sur –Surrounds Mxn Plateau • Mild climate, volcanic soil in South= settlement Highlands • Most Caribbean islands part of Central Highlands (range goes across sea) –Volcanic islands –Some still active Highlands • Andes Mtns –4500 miles long, world’s longest –Cordillerasseveral ranges running parallel –Encircle high plains (altiplano) in Peru & Bolivia Altiplano La Paz, Bolivia Atacama Desert • Driest place on Earth! – Some areas have never received rainfall since recordkeeping began • More than a million ppl live here – Live near coast, oases, or farm with drip-irrigation • Fog Catching Net: – Fog rolls in condenses on net drips to pipes water crops Highlands • Mato Grosso Plateau- from eastern Peru & Bolivia to most of Brazil –Low pop. • Brazilian Highlands- from MGP to eastern Brazil, ends in escarpment (cliff) Lowlands • Coastal plains along Brazil’s coast –Next to escarpment –Prime area for settlement/tourism • Llanos (Colombia & Venezuela) & Pampas (Argentina & Uruguay) –Grazing plains, pampas= breadbasket –Cowboys= llaneros or gauchos WATER • MA’s rivers are small, but SA’s are HUGE! – Rio Grande (Rio Bravo del Norte) is major one, though, outside SA • Amazon- 4000 miles (NYC to Rome, Italy) – 20% of Earth’s freshwater, 10X the volume of the Mississippi – Hundreds of sm. rivers join it Amazon Basin (creates a valuable functional region) 40% of SA – Only navigable for 2300 miles from Atlantic WATER • Parana, Paraguay, & Uruguay next lrgst water system –Commercial highway, hydroelectricity –Flow into estuary (Rio de la Plata) before Atlantic Notice the intense terracing!! • Lake Titicaca- world’s highest (elev.) navigable lake (Andes- Peru & Bolivia) –12,500 ft above sea level –Center for Incas WATER • Lake Titicaca is fed by rivers, melting glaciers, & rainfall –Losing water with shorter rain seasons & less glaciers (lowest since 1949) Caribbean Sea • Lake MaracaiboSA’s largest (Venezuela) –Caribbean inlet –Rich oil fields • Lake Nicaragua- CA’s largest lake (b/w Nicaragua & Costa Rica) • Lake Nicaragua- CA’s largest lake (b/w Nicaragua & Costa Rica) –Smaller than Titicaca –Has small volcanic islands w/in –Known for Caribbean pirates! Resources • Oil: Gulf of MX and southern Caribbean MX and Venezuela are leaders in world (OPEC) • Leaders in gold, silver, emeralds, copper (ancient civs. prospered with them) • Problems: geography, lack of $, social/political unrest prevent development of resources 5 Min Video • Physical geography video