Transcript Section 1 - WMS World Geography

Chapter Objectives
• Describe the dominant landforms and
natural resources of Latin America. 
• Discuss Latin America’s climate and
vegetation.
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The Land
Objectives
• Explain how geographers divide the large
region known as Latin America. 
• Identify the factors that have shaped the
formation of Latin America’s landforms. 
• Discuss how the Latin American landscape
has influenced patterns of human settlement. 
• List the natural resources that make Latin
America an economically important region.
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The Land
Terms to Know
• cordillera 
• gaucho 
• altiplano 
• hydroelectric
power 
• escarpment 
• llano 
• pampa 
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• estuary
The Land
Places to Locate
• Amazon River 
• Mexican Plateau 
• Middle America 
• Patagonia 
• Central America 
• Mato Grosso
Plateau 
• West Indies 
• South America 
• Sierra Madre 
• Andes 
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• Rio Grande 
• Río de la Plata
The Dominican Republic, a small
Caribbean country with a population only
slightly greater than that of New York City,
publishes ten daily newspapers. El Listín
Diario, read by 50,000 people every day, is
the oldest Spanish-language newspaper in
the Caribbean.
A Vast Region
• Latin America covers 8 million square
miles of land, from the United StatesMexico border to the southern tip of
Argentina in South America. 
• The name “Latin America” refers to the
languages (Spanish and Portuguese,
derived from Latin) spoken in this
geographic region. 
• Geographers divide Latin America into
three regions: Middle America, the
Caribbean, and South America.
(pages 193–194)
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A Vast Region (cont.)
Why do you think geographers divide
Latin America into three distinct areas?
Each area of this vast region has a
distinct physical geography. Dividing
the region in this way allows
geographers to discuss features of the
region more specifically and accurately.
(pages 193–194)
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Mountains and Plateaus
Latin America’s rugged landscape is the
result of its location on the Pacific Ring of
Fire, where plates of the earth’s crust have
collided for millions of years, causing
earthquakes and creating mountains and
volcanoes.
(pages 194–196)
Mountains and Plateaus (cont.)
• Mountains of Mexico, Central
America, and the Caribbean Mexico’s
Sierra Madre and the Central Highlands
in Central America rise above the
landscape of Middle America. 
• Many Caribbean islands are part of the
Central Highlands mountain range.
(pages 194–196)
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Mountains and Plateaus (cont.)
• Andes of South America The Andes
mountain ranges run along the western
edge of South America and are the
world’s longest mountain range (4,500
miles). 
• Their parallel ranges, called cordilleras,
are arranged in deep folds. 
• In southern Argentina, hills and lower
flatlands form a plateau known as
Patagonia.
(pages 194–196)
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Mountains and Plateaus (cont.)
• Highlands of Brazil Much of Brazil
consists of broad plateaus, such as the
Mata Grosso Plateau and the Brazilian
Highlands.
(pages 194–196)
Mountains and Plateaus (cont.)
What advantages and disadvantages
does Latin America’s rugged landscape
offer to residents?
The mountains provide abundant
natural resources and relief from the
heat of the lowlands, but they impede
travel and communications, create
natural hazards, and make construction
of infrastructure difficult.
(pages 194–196)
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Lowlands and Plains
• Narrow coastal lowlands hem the Gulf
of Mexico, the Caribbean Sea, and the
Atlantic and Pacific coasts of South
America.
(pages 196–197)
Lowlands and Plains (cont.)
• Inland areas of South America hold vast
grasslands that provide wide grazing for
beef cattle.
(pages 196–197)
Lowlands and Plains (cont.)
What economic activities might Latin
America’s lowlands and plains
support?
Fertile land in lowland areas supports
tropical crops, such as bananas; plains
areas favor ranching and the growing
of grains such as corn and wheat.
(pages 196–197)
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Water Systems
• Rivers of South America Navigable
rivers, such as the Amazon, serve as
transportation routes and provide
hydroelectric power. 
• Lakes Latin America has few large
lakes. 
• Lake Titicaca in the Andes of Bolivia and
Peru is the world’s highest navigable
lake.
(pages 197–198)
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Water Systems (cont.)
Why are rivers important to Latin
Americans?
The rivers often are used to transport
goods and people to and from remote,
mountainous, or densely vegetated
areas.
(pages 197–198)
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Natural Resources
• Latin America’s significant natural
resources include minerals, forests,
farmlands, and water. 
• Major deposits of oil and natural gas
occur along the Gulf of Mexico and
southern Caribbean Sea. 
• Mexico and Venezuela are leading
petroleum producers.
(page 198)
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Natural Resources (cont.)
• Venezuela’s Orinoco River area contains
11 percent of the world’s gold. 
• Brazil is also rich in gold, and Peru
and Mexico are known for their silver
deposits. 
• Chile is the world’s leading exporter
of copper. 
• Geographic inaccessibility, lack of
capital, and social and political divisions
hinder fuller development and distribution
of natural resources in Latin America.
(page 198)
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Natural Resources (cont.)
What challenges to the further development
of its natural resources does Latin America
face?
Technology has not yet overcome the
mountain ranges and other physical barriers
between countries. Trade and communication
are difficult. Unstable governments have
made investors wary of investing in the region.
Education systems are undeveloped in some
areas, which hampers technological
innovation. Health issues remain a challenge.
(page 198)
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Checking for Understanding
Define Match each definition in the left column with the
appropriate term in the right column.
__
B 1. Spanish for “high plain,” a
region in Peru and Bolivia
encircled by the Andes peaks
__
F 2. the cowhands of Argentina and
Uruguay
A. cordillera
B. altiplano
C. escarpment
D. llano
__
C 3. steep cliff or slope between a
higher and lower land surface
E. pampa
__
A 4. parallel chains or ranges of
mountains
G. hydroelectric
power
__
H 5. an area where the tide meets a
river current
H. estuary
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F.
gaucho
Checking for Understanding
Define Match each definition in the left column with the
appropriate term in the right column.
__
G 6. electrical energy generated by
falling water
__
E 7. grassy, treeless plains of
southern South America
__
D 8. fertile plains in inland areas of
Colombia and Venezuela
A. cordillera
B. altiplano
C. escarpment
D. llano
E. pampa
F.
gaucho
G. hydroelectric
power
H. estuary
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Critical Thinking
Identifying Cause and Effect How do the
physical features of Latin America affect
everyday life? Give examples.
Possible answer: Mountains are rich in
natural resources, but they also block
movement and trade and isolate regions
and people.
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Critical Thinking
Drawing Conclusions Why does much of
South America have the potential to produce
hydroelectric power?
Mountainous terrain creates fast-moving
rivers and streams that can be dammed for
generating electricity.
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Critical Thinking
Making Inferences What factors make
Latin America important to the global
economy?
Latin America has mineral wealth, such as
gold, silver, emeralds, copper, aluminum, tin,
and iron. It also has forest products and good
agricultural produce, oil, and natural gas.
Swift rivers and geothermal regions have the
potential to produce electricity.
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Analyzing Maps
Region Study the
physical-political
map on the right.
What part of South
America is
dominated by
mountains?
The western part,
especially near the
coast, is dominated
by the Andes.
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Applying Geography
Effects of Landforms Think about the
physical features of South America. Write
a descriptive paragraph explaining how
landforms affect the course of South
America’s water systems.
Climate and Vegetation
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.
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Climate and Vegetation
Terms to Know
• canopy 
• tierra templada 
• tierra caliente 
• tierra fría 
Places to Locate
• Amazon Basin 
• Argentina 
• Colombia 
• Uruguay 
• Venezuela 
• Atacama Desert
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The rain forests of Latin America are the source
of many medicines. For example, the poisonous
bark of certain curare plants is used to treat such
diseases as multiple sclerosis and other muscular
disorders, and as a surgical anesthetic. Scientists
use the chemical structures of rain forest plants
as models from which they can synthesize drug
compounds. Rain forest plants also aid in
research. Some plant compounds show scientists
how cancer cells grow, for example.
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.
(pages 199–202)
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Climate and Vegetation Regions (cont.)
• 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.
(pages 199–202)
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Climate and Vegetation Regions (cont.)
• 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.
(pages 199–202)
Climate and Vegetation Regions (cont.)
• Desert and Steppe Areas Parts of
northern Mexico and the southwestern
region of South America have desert
climates and vegetation; in Chile the
rain shadow effect of the Andes has
produced the dry, arid Atacama Desert,
whereas other areas have a steppe
climate, with hot summers, cool winters,
and light rainfall.
(pages 199–202)
Climate and Vegetation Regions (cont.)
What kinds of vegetation might be
found in rain forest areas of Latin
America?
Hardwood trees, palms, tree ferns,
and bamboo might be found in the
rain forests of Latin America.
(pages 199–202)
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Elevation and Climate
• The climates of Latin America depend
more on elevation than on distance from
the Equator. 
• The tierra caliente lies between sea
level and 2,500 feet and has average
annual temperatures from 68F to 91F.
The main crops include bananas, sugar,
rice, and cacao.
(pages 202–203)
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Elevation and Climate (cont.)
• The tierra templada lies between
2,500 and 6,500 feet and has average
daily temperatures between 60F and
72F. Coffee and corn are the main
crops. 
• In the tierra fría, frosts are common in
the winter months. Potatoes and barley
grow at these elevations.
(pages 202–203)
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Elevation and Climate (cont.)
Why do you think most Latin Americans live
in the tropical zones rather than high in the
Andes Mountains?
It is easier to survive in a tropical climate.
People can grow food, and they will not suffer
from severe winters. High in the mountains,
the temperatures are much colder, and
farming is much more difficult. Travel,
communications, and access to services such
as education, cultural events, and health care
are all more difficult.
(pages 202–203)
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Checking for Understanding
Define Match each definition in the left column with the
appropriate term in the right column.
__
D 1. Spanish term for “cold land”; A. canopy
the highest altitude zone of
B. tierra
Latin American highlands
caliente
climates
C. tierra
__
B 2. Spanish term for “hot land”;
templada
the lowest altitude zone of
Latin American highlands
D. tierra fría
climates
__
A 3. top layer of a rain forest, where the tops of tall
trees form a continuous layer of leaves
__
C 4. Spanish term for “temperate land”; the middle
altitude zone of Latin American highlands
climates
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Critical Thinking
Making Inferences Why might some Latin
Americans live in areas in which climate and
agriculture are unfavorable?
Possible answer: Some Latin Americans
might live in these areas because of tradition
and natural resources (for example, minerals
and timber) that can support them
economically.
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Critical Thinking
Determining Cause and Effect How does
elevation affect climate and vegetation in
Latin America?
Possible answer: Higher elevations have
cooler temperatures and less varied
vegetation.
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Critical Thinking
Comparing and Contrasting Compare the
pampas to your region. How do the climate
and vegetation help define the economic
activities in each place?
Analyzing Maps
Place Study the
vegetation map
on the right.
Which two types
of vegetation
cover most of
South America?
Tropical rain forest
and tropical
grassland cover
most of South
America.
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Section 1: The Land (pages 193–198)
Key Points
• 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.
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Section 2: Climate and Vegetation
Key Points
(pages 199–203)
• 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.
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Reviewing Key Terms
Insert the key term that best completes each of the
following sentences.
cordilleras
altiplano
escarpment
llanos
pampas
gaucho
estuary
canopy
tierra caliente
tierra templada
tierra fría
hydroelectric power
1. The Andes consist of parallel mountain ranges,
cordilleras
or ___________________.
2. The high plain encircled by the Andes of Bolivia
and Peru is known as the ___________________.
altiplano
3. The plateau of the Brazilian Highlands plunges
sharply to the Atlantic Ocean, forming a steep cliff
called an ___________________.
escarpment
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Reviewing Key Terms
Insert the key term that best completes each of the
following sentences.
cordilleras
altiplano
escarpment
llanos
pampas
gaucho
estuary
canopy
tierra caliente
tierra templada
tierra fría
hydroelectric power
4. Cattle are raised on the broad grasslands called
llanos
___________________
in Colombia and
Venezuela and ___________________
in
pampas
Argentina and Uruguay.
5. The Río de la Plata is typical of an
___________________,
an area where the tide
estuary
meets a river current.
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Reviewing Key Terms
Insert the key term that best completes each of the
following sentences.
cordilleras
altiplano
escarpment
llanos
pampas
gaucho
estuary
canopy
tierra caliente
tierra templada
tierra fría
hydroelectric power
6. Highlands climates are divided into vertical zones,
tierra caliente
including the hot ___________________,
the
temperate ___________________,
and the cold
tierra templada
___________________.
tierra fría
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Reviewing Facts
Section 1: The Land
What are the three major geographic areas
within Latin America?
Middle America, the Caribbean, and South
America are the three major geographic
areas within Latin America.
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Reviewing Facts
Section 1: The Land
What three island groups make up the
West Indies?
The Bahamas, the Greater Antilles, and the
Lesser Antilles make up the West Indies.
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Reviewing Facts
Section 1: The Land
Which three rivers flow into the Río de
la Plata?
The Paraná, Paraguay, and Uruguay Rivers
flow into the Río de la Plata.
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Reviewing Facts
Section 2: Climate and Vegetation
What are the eight climate regions of Latin
America?
The eight climate regions are tropical rain
forest, tropical savanna, steppe, desert,
Mediterranean, humid subtropical, marine
west coast, and highlands.
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Reviewing Facts
Section 2: Climate and Vegetation
What factors determine why Latin America’s
highlands climate is divided into three zones?
Elevation and latitude are the factors that
determine the three climate zones.
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Reviewing Facts
Section 2: Climate and Vegetation
Where is the world’s largest rain forest
located?
The world’s largest rain forest is located
in the Amazon Basin.
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Reviewing Facts
Section 2: Climate and Vegetation
What are South America’s two main
grassland areas called?
South America’s two main grassland areas
are called llanos and pampas.
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Critical Thinking
Making Generalizations Write a
generalization that describes the kinds
of economic activities you would expect
to find in grasslands areas, using Latin
America as an example.
The grasslands are ideal for grazing, and
the rich prairie soil is ideal for agriculture.
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Critical Thinking
Analyzing Information Identify and
explain the factors affecting the location
of different types of economic activities
in Latin American countries.
Possible answer: Physical geography in
some areas of the region often impedes
economic development because geographic
inaccessibility isolates people. Yet some
areas, such as the pampas, are
economically strong.
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Locating Places
Match the letters on the map with the physical features
of Latin America.
__1.
Amazon River
D
__2.
Lake Titicaca
I
__3.
Rio Grande
C
__4.
Hispaniola
E
__5.
Lake Maracaibo
H
__6.
Río de la Plata
K
__7.
Gulf of Mexico
G
__8.
Pampas
F
__9.
Caribbean Sea
J
__10.
Orinoco River
A
__11.
Mexican Plateau
B
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Which Latin American country supplies 25
percent of the world’s coffee?
Brazil supplies 25 percent of the world’s
coffee.
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Quito; temperatures
get colder with
increased altitude
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