Transcript World History

Chapter 8
The Physical Geography of Latin America
Chapter Objectives
 Describe the dominant landforms and natural resources
of Latin America.
 Discuss Latin America’s climate and vegetation.
A Geographic View
Climate and Vegetation
Section 2
Objectives
 List the climate regions that are represented in Latin
America.
 Describe how Latin America’s location and landforms
affect climates even within particular regions.
 Discuss how the natural vegetation and agriculture of
Latin America are influenced by climatic factors.
Terms to Know
 Canopy
 Tierra Caliente
 Tierra Templada
 Tierra Fría
Places to Locate
 Amazon Basin
 Colombia
 Venezuela
 Argentina
 Uruguay
 Atacama Desert
A Geographic View
Climate and Vegetation Regions
 Most of Latin America lies between the Tropic of Cancer
and the Tropic of Capricorn; thus, much of its area has a
tropical climate. However, there is a great variety of
climates in the region.
 Tropical Regions Mexico, eastern central America,
some Caribbean islands, and such parts of South America
as the Amazon Basin have a tropical rain forest climate
and vegetation, with hot temperatures and abundant
rainfall occurring year-round.
Climate and Vegetation Regions
 The Rain Forest The Amazon Basin, with the earth’s
largest rain forest, covers one-third of South America
and has trees that form a dense canopy that soars as high
as 130 feet over the forest floor.
 Tropical Savanna In the tropical savanna climate
typical of the coast of southwestern Mexico, most
Caribbean islands, and north-central South America, the
grasslands have hot temperatures, abundant rainfall, and
a dry season lasting several months.
Climate and Vegetation
 The Humid Subtropics In the humid subtropical
climate of southeastern South America, the winters are
short and mild, and the summers are long, hot, and
humid.
Climate and Vegetation
Summary - Section 1
 Latin America includes Middle America, the Caribbean, and
South America.
 Latin America’s physical features include high mountain
ranges, less rugged highlands, vast central plains, and volcanic
islands.
 The water systems of Latin America, especially the mighty
rivers of South America, are key to human activity in the
region.
 Although the region is rich in natural resources, geographic,
political, and economic obstacles have kept resources from
being developed fully or shared equally.
Summary – Section 2
 Much of Latin America lies in the Tropics; however,
landforms and wind patterns give the region great climatic
diversity.
 Tropical climates such as tropical forest and tropical savanna
are the most common climates in Latin America.
 The natural vegetation of Latin America consists mainly of
rain forests and grasslands.
 The tropical highlands in Latin America include three vertical
climate zones that are based on latitude and elevation.