Transcript Latin America

Latin
America
Latin America includes. . . .
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Mexico
Central America
Caribbean Islands
South America
Why do we call it Latin America?
We call it LATIN America because most of the European countries that
colonized this region spoke Spanish or Portuguese. Both of these languages are
derived (or come from) the ancient Latin language. Thus we call this region Latin
America.
FYI: Latin was the language of the
Romans and much of the ancient
world. Almost every modern language
This picture of a chicken serves no
has its roots in Latin. Some of the
purpose.copies
It’s thereofto the
illustrate
a point.
earliest
Bible
were
written
in Latin.
Youthe
use
Latin
I just don’t
know what
point
is!
words every day and probably don’t
Maybe it speaks Latin.
know it. Ex: quiet, village, & school all
come directly from Latin.
What were those four regions
of Latin America again?
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Mexico
Central America
Caribbean Islands
South America
Let’s look briefly at each region . . .
Mexico
What type of map is this?
What are the two major mountain ranges of Mexico?
Mexico Fast Facts
• Farthest north of the Latin American countries
• Has two mountain ranges: Sierra Madre Occidental & the Sierra Madre
Oriental
• Between the mountain ranges is the central plain
• Has had recent earthquake & volcanic activity
• Its capital, Mexico City, is the second most populous city in the world and
suffers from air pollution
Central America
How many countries
make up this area of
What
geographical
Latin
America?
feature makes up
most of this region?
Central America Fast Facts
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Central America is the landmass that forms a bridge between
Mexico and South America
About 80% of Central America is hilly or mountainous
Seven countries make up Central America: Guatemala Honduras,
El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica & Panama
Central America is home to one of the world’s great manmade wonders:
the
Fertile soil from weathered volcanic lavas have made agriculture a productive way of life for the
many people who live in Central America.
Caribbean Islands
Notice the islands are divided into two groups.
Recognize any of these islands?
Can you spot them?
Caribbean Island Fast Facts
• The Caribbean region is a chain of
islands around the Caribbean Sea
• Some of these islands are the peaks of volcanic
mountains that rise from the ocean floor. Others
began as coral reefs, often encircling a volcanic
island and then growing over it.
• The climate of the region is tropical with consistent warm, moist
trade winds blowing from the east.
• Making up the principal hurricane belt, this region has long been
battered by their fury.
• Just to the north of the island of Puerto Rico is the deepest point in
all of the Atlantic Ocean.
Caribbean Climate
• Much of Latin America lies in the
Tropical Zone where temperatures
are generally high and all
elevations are warmer than they
are elsewhere.
• The waters of the Caribbean stay
warm most of the year and heat
the air over them. This creates
warm winds that keep the
Caribbean Islands balmy even in
the winter.
• This warm climate attracts tourist
from all over the world who come
to enjoy the balmy winds and
beaches and play an important
role in the economy of the area.
South America
South America Fast Facts
• The continent of South
America is linked to North
America by the Isthmus of
Panama.
• The longest mountain range
on earth (over 5,000 miles
long) stretch down the west
coast of South America
• The largest (although not the
longest) river on earth, the
Amazon, begins in the Andes
and flows east into the Atlantic
carrying millions of gallons of
water per second.
• South America is also the site
of the largest rain forest where
more than half of all the animal
species in the world live.
Questions
Textbook pp. 153 - 157
• 1. What are the four regions of Latin America?
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2. Why is it called Latin America?
3. What are the two mountain ranges of Mexico?
4. What is the world’s second most populous city?
5. What causes volcanic and earthquakes throughout LA?
6. Where is central America located?
7. How many countries make up Central America?
8. Describe two ways islands in the Caribbean are formed.
9. What links South America to North America?
10. Name two physical features found in South America.