Latin America Four Distinct Areas Mexico Central America South America Islands of the Caribbean

Geography – Diverse Landscape 7,000 miles from Mexico to the tip of South America Physical Barriers – hinders unity, trade, and contact Regionalism – loyal to specific locale and geographic area Guiana Highlands – 1,200 miles from Venezuela to Brazil. Largest waterfall in the world, Angel Falls at 3,212 feet Andes Mountains – 4,500 miles in length and the source of most river systems

Geography – 3 Large River Systems Amazon River 4,000 miles Vital transportation link Rio De La Plata 3rd largest commercial waterway Orinoco River The Casiquiare, a natural canal, joins the Orinoco and the Amazon

Geography – Climate Near or South of the Equator Tropical Rain Forests Deforestation – Cutting trees down in the Amazon Rain Forest. Rain forests produce much of the Earth’s oxygen 75% of Latin America is in tropical zone. Tropical Savannas – Found in northern and central portions of South America Caribbean Islands – Both wet and dry seasons  Arid Lands – Atacama Desert is the largest desert in South America and the driest desert in the world.

Geography – Natural Resources Agriculture – topography makes farming difficult Half of the world’s coffee and bananas 1/3rd of world’s sugar and cocoa Bolivia: 2nd largest producer of tin in world Chile is the world’s largest exporter of copper Mexico contains large deposits of silver Mineral Resources – oil in Mexico, Venezuela, and Columbia Vulnerable to poor weather conditions and price fluctuations

Geography – Deforestation

Geography – Deforestation

Geography – Deforestation