Transcript Chapter 1 Notes Land and Water

Chapter 1 Notes
Land and Water
• 3 Regions: Mexico/Central America; Caribbean;
South America
• Latin America: Latin because most languages
spoken by colonizing European countries (Spanish,
Portuguese, French) have the roots in Latin.
• Central Plateau of Mexico: covers more than half of
the country’s area, most people live here.
• Central America has fertile soil due to volcanic ash.
• Caribbean: made up of coral (tiny skeletons), larger
islands (Cuba, Hispaniola, Jamaica, Puerto Rico)
are tops of underwater mountains, most people farm
for a living.
South American Landforms:
Andes: 4500 miles long, reaches heights of up to
20,000 feet, 2nd highest mountain chain in world,
steep and difficult to cross, rich soil for farming
Amazon: second longest river in world, flows around
4000 miles from Peru through Brazil, carries more
water than any other river, has over 1000
tributaries, known as the “Ocean River” for its area
coverage (2 million square miles).
Other Features: Parana, Paraguay, and Uruguay
form the Rio de la Plata. Lake Titicaca, highest
lake in the world.
Climate/Vegetation
• Many different climates in Latin America, from place to
place. Trade and travel affected by high mountains and
rain forests. Types of crops in the Andes, influenced by
elevation.
• Part of Caribbean climate, hurricanes- frequent the
region from June to November.
• People dress appropriately for elevation: the higher you
go the cooler it gets.
• Most of Latin America has some type of tropical climate,
until you go higher in elevation or you move to the south.
• In Paraguay, Uruguay, and Argentina they have a similar
climate to southern United States, good for growing
wheat and apples. Farther south, they raise sheep on
the drier, colder plains of the Patagonia.
• Factors Influencing Climate: elevation, latitude (Equator),
winds, oceans, man.
Natural Resources
• Water- provides hydroelectricity
• Mexico-has oil and natural gas, mineral deposits, and
wood.
• Caribbean- rich soil for farming, sugar cane, coffee,
bananas, fruits.
• Central America- rich soil, for farming as well.
• Big coffee producers- Colombia and Brazil.
• South America-wood a valuable resource, forests
cover half the continent.
• Relying on one product- bad idea, many countries
have diversified (add a variety) products.
• Oil- Venezuela, Mexico big producers
• Chile- copper is big business
•
1. What lake located in the Andes Mountains is the highest in the world?
– A. Lake Maracaibo
B. Lake Titicaca
C. Lake Ontario
D. Lake Victoria
•
2. Which country is the leading producer of copper in the world?
– A. Brazil
B. Venezuela
C. Chile
D. Mexico
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3. Which flat grassland regions in South America are very similar to the Great
Plains in the United States?
– A. Andes
B. Pampas
C. Amazon River Basin
D. Patagonia
•
4. Mexico and Central America are dominated by
– A. mountains.
B. rain forests.
C. dry flatlands.
D. small, rolling hills.
•
5. Which river carries more water than any other river in the world?
– A. the Orinoco River
B. the Amazon River
C. the Uruguay River
D. the Paraguay River
•
6. Most people in the Caribbean islands make a living
– A. mining.
B. fishing.
C. farming.
D. as tour guides.
•
7. Due to its size, geographers classify South America as a(n)
– A. island.
B. isthmus.
C. tropical forest.
D. continent.
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8. The term for a narrow strip of land that has water on both sides and joins two
larger bodies of land is
– A. island.
B. isthmus.
C. tributary.
D. plateau.
•
9. What type of severe weather frequently strikes the Caribbean islands?
– A. tornadoes
B. tsunamis
C. hurricanes
D. earthquakes
•
10. The Caribbean island of Jamaica is one of the world's main producers of
– A. copper.
B. oil.
C. nickel.
D. bauxite.
•
11. Which of the following is NOT true of the Andes Mountains?
– A. The Andes Mountains are the second highest mountains in the world.
B. The Andes Mountains run along the western coast of Mexico.
C. The Andes Mountains rise, in some places, to heights of more than 20,000 feet.
D. The Andes Mountains are steep and difficult to cross.
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12. Most Latin Americans speak
– A. Spanish, Portuguese, or English.
B. Spanish, French, or English.
C. French, English, or Portuguese.
D. Spanish, Portuguese, or French.
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13. Mexico and Central America are also called Middle America because they are
– A. located directly on the Equator.
B. located between two continents.
C. very heavily populated.
D. together considered to be their own continent.
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14. The drop in oil prices in the 1980s probably helped to convince Venezuela to
– A. import more oil.
B. increase its use of hydroelectricity.
C. diversify its economy.
D. stop pumping oil.
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15. All of the following are key factors in climate EXCEPT
– A. wind patterns.
B. the Equator.
C. cloud cover.
D. elevation.
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16. Coral, which forms some Caribbean islands, is made up of
– A. indigenous rock.
B. the skeletons of tiny sea animals.
C. volcanoes.
D. marsh grass.
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17. What natural resource is used in Central America to create hydroelectricity?
– A. water
B. oil
C. coal
D. the Pacific Ocean
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18. Why are Latin American countries trying to diversify their economies?
– A. They need more labor to work on their farms.
B. Their natural resources are running out.
C. They need more loans.
D. To depend on one resource or crop is too risky for a stable economy.
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19. In order to survive at higher elevations, vegetation must be able to
– A. produce a strong root system.
B. produce its own minerals.
C. withstand high temperatures and flood-like conditions.
D. withstand cooler temperatures and irregular rainfall.
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20. Which of the following statements best describes why Latin America experienced
an economic crisis in the 1920s and 1930s?
– A. A severe drought destroyed thousands of crops.
B. Latin American nations had depleted many of their natural resources.
C. Latin American nations did not have the money to develop their natural
resources.
D. Latin American nations relied too heavily on one resource.