Transcript Chapter 2 & Latin America

Chapter 2 & Latin
America
Surface of the Earth
- Hydrosphere- 70% of
the earth’s surface is
water.
- Lithosphere- 30% of the
earth’s surface is land.
- atmosphere- layer of
gases
- Gases: Nitrogen (78%), Oxygen (21%), and Other
Gases (~1%)
- biosphere- the part of earth that supports life.
Continental Drift
How?
Constant Motion
Inner Core- Hot, but solid (why?)
Outer Core- Hot, but liquid
Mantle- Liquid Magma and Solid (Rock)
Convection
Crust- Continents and Ocean Basins (tectonic
plates)
Internal Forces
Internal plate movement
has defined the earth’s
surface.
mountains
(subduction)
trenches (accretion)
ridges (spreading)
faults (faulting)
External Forces-Erosion: The
wearing away of the earth’s
Wind
surface.
Glaciers
Water
Earth’s Water
The total amount of water always remains the same,
but it is in constant motion.
Water Cycle:
the catalyst => The SUN
Liquid to Evaporation to Condensation to Liquid
97% of the world’s water is salt water (4 oceans:
Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, Arctic)
Also Salt Water: Seas, Gulfs, Bays (partially
enclosed by land)
PROBLEM?
Solution
Desalination: refers to the process of removing
salt and minerals from salt water.
Problem?
Bodies of Fresh water
3% of water is fresh 1.5% is
in glaciers and ice caps
.5% is underground
(aquifers)
less than 1% is in rivers,
lakes, and streams
Latin America
Name is derived from Latin languages
(Spanish and Portuguese- Line of
Demarcation)
Middle America or Central America (Mexico through
Panama- 7 countries)
The Caribbean- West Indies
3 chains: Greater Antilles, Lesser Antilles and
Bahamas
South American Continent
Mountains
Sierra Madres and Andes
creates cooler climates
limited cultural diffusion
cultural diffusion: spread of cultural traits from
one culture to another.
Rain Shadow:
- Creates Atacama
Desert
Atacama Desert
Amazon River
second largest river on earth
10X as much water as the Mississippi. During certain
seasons, it gets 7 miles wide.
important to shipping and trade (but also an obstacle)
creates Amazon Basin with connecting rivers
Amazon Rainforestdense cover (canopy)
1/3 of South America
Shelters more species of life than any other
habitat on earth
creates problems for economic development,
and therefore faces deforestation.
Population
•
About 580 Million People (but with high
population growth)
•
Populated rim- population density is highest
along a continent’s coastline.
Primate Cities: an urban area which
dominates an entire country’s economic and
political affairs.
EXP: Mexico City, Havana, Caracas
Original Civilizations
Aztecs: Central Mexico
tenochtitlan
created chinampas- floating islands for planting
food.
Incas: Peru
cuzco- capital
quipu- a series of colored knots as a form of
accounting
Maya: Mexico and Yucatan Peninsula
Mathematics based on 20 with 0
Chinampas
Mayan Math
Primarily Catholic- Why?
Latifundia is quickly replacing minifundia
Small family owned farms being replaced by
big agribusiness.
Farm Land
Obstacles to Industrial
Growth
Rain forest and Mountains
Amazon is a catch 22.
political instability