LATIN AMERICAN PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY The Americas – refers to both North and South American continents (the Western Hemisphere) North America is technically everything above South America including all the islands

Is the U.S. apart of Latin America? Latin is a language, thus Latin America is a language region Is the U.S. apart of Latin America?

WEST INDIES / CARIBBEAN 1492 Columbus thought he had landed Indonesia or islands off the coast of India - thus the people were Indians - later area; the West Indies or the Caribbean The Caribbean Islands are separated into two regions GREATER ANTILLES – This includes Bahamas, Cuba, Jamaica, Haiti, Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico LESSER ANTILLES – This region is made up of dozens of tiny island nations

CENTRAL AMERICA Central America – isthmus connecting North America with South America Although parts of Mexico are considered to be Central America it is often left out Central America ranges from Guatemala to Panama

MIDDLE AMERICA Middle American -Refers to everything between the United States and the continent of South America This includes Central America as well as the Caribbean Islands

SOUTH AMERICA South America - continent with 13 countries Pope Alexander VI settled claims between Spain and Portugal with Line of Demarcation gave Spain 180° west of line, Portugal everything to the east Treaty of Tordesillas (1494) moved the line 800 miles west Brazil is the only Portuguese speaking country in Latin America

ANGEL FALLS Angel Falls – at 3,212 feet it is the tallest water fall in the world Forming in Venezuela from the Guiana Highlands AKA – Paradise Falls (UP)

Fresh water in the Atlantic Ocean AMAZON RIVER BASIN – Second largest river in the world but largest in volume containing 20 % of the world’s total fresh water. Located in Brazil along the equator. Fresh water in the Atlantic Ocean

AMAZON RIVER

BRAZILIAN HIGHLANDS Upland region making up most of Brazil south of the Amazon

ANDES MOUNTAINS Longest mountain range in the world It starts in Venezuela down the west coast of southern Chile

LAKE TITICACA Highest navigable lake in the world (12,500ft) On top of the Andes mountains and forms the border between Peru and Bolivia

GRAN CHACO Semiarid region in Northern Argentina, parts of Bolivia and Paraguay

What direction are the Prevailing Winds? ATACAMA DESERT Also located on the Tropic of Capricorn Never had a recorded rain drop Driest place on Earth It is a Rain Shadow formed by the Andes Orographic Effect What direction are the Prevailing Winds?

PAMPAS Low flat land with fertile soil for agriculture and open grasslands for ranching Located between 30° and 40° latitude Gauchos are Argentine cowboys

PATAGONIA Southern most region of South America Starting at about 42° latitude This region has stepping plains with little soil and landforms carved by glaciation

THE CARIBBEAN OR WEST INDIES REVIEW What is this region called? LESSER ANTILLIES MIDDLE AMERICA THE CARIBBEAN OR WEST INDIES LATIN AMERICA SOUTH AMERICA CENTRAL AMERICA