Latin America and the Caribbean

Latin America – Physical Map

Latin America – Political Map

Latin America a cultural region that includes Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean Islands, and South America

Includes . . . Mexico Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama (Central America)

Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay (South America)

Cuba, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Puerto Rico [US territory] (Caribbean Islands)

Physical Characteristics

Major Mountain Ranges Andes – west coast of South America Sierra Madres Oriental – eastern Mexico Sierra Madres Occidental – western Mexico Sierra Madre del Sur – southern Mexico

Rainforests Amazon – largest rainforest, located mostly in Brazil

Deserts Atacama located on west coast of South America in Chile Shrubs growing in gravel or sand

Grasslands Pampas – area of grasslands and rich soil in Argentina and Uruguay

Grasslands Llanos – vast, grassy, treeless plains in Venezuela and Colombia

Volcanoes / Earthquakes Mostly in Central America, the Caribbean, and the western side of South America Many Caribbean islands are volcanic peaks that rise above sea level.

Rivers Amazon flows across South America from the Andes to the Atlantic Ocean

Archipelagos Greater Antilles – larger Caribbean Islands Lesser Antilles – smaller Caribbean Islands

Climate

Reversed seasons south of the Equator – when we have Spring/Summer, they have Fall/Winter Tropical climates predominant

Vertical Zonation Tierra caliente – dry forest, swamp; warm to hot Tierra templada – wet forest; warm to cool Tierra fria – cloud forest; cool to cold

Economic Characteristics

diverse economies: some developed (Argentina) and some STILL developing (Guatemala) subsistence farming: farming only to feed your family plantation agriculture

slash and burn agriculture: clearing away forests to make large farms and ranches

cash crops and food crops Haciendas: Large plantations cattle ranches and gauchos

Gauchos in Argentina

Deforestation (for cattle ranches and logging) destruction of the rainforests oil resources – Ecuador, Venezuela, Mexico heavy smog and pollution – Mexico City

disparity of income distribution – some people very RICH and some very poor NAFTA member diverse mineral resources copper in Chile iron ore in Venezuela and Brazil

Cultural Features

Native American civilizations – Aztec, Inca African traditions – slaves influences of European colonization language religion predominance of the Roman Catholic religion rigid social structure – little movement

Famous Latin Americans Reflect the heritage of Europe, Africa and Native Americans Celia Cruz Rosario Dawson Jennifer Lopez Victor Cruz Shakira Pele Carlos Santana

Mestizos – people of mixed Spanish and Native American heritage location of settlements – coastal in South America

several Megacities – giant cities with more than 10 million people many large cities have squatter settlements – areas of informal housing inhabited by the poor Favelas

Houses in squatter cities are usually illegal since they do not conform to regulations. Residents are called squatters because they cannot afford to buy the sites legally, Favellas (squatter cities in Argentina)

People who live in squatter cities are often denied water and sewage services, education, health care, and the right to vote.

rapid population growth out-migration

Cultural Heritage Music African influences calypso – started in the Caribbean and combines musical elements from Africa, Spain, and the Caribbean. Improvised lyrics accompanied by steel drums and guitar

steel drum bands

Steel Drums

reggae – started in Jamaica and often deals with social problems and religion. Rooted in African, Caribbean, and American music.

Traditional dances i.e. mambo, salsa, cha-cha-cha, rumba, merengue, samba, flamenco, bachata, the tango

Spanish, Portuguese languages

Cultural Landscape Pyramids built in Mexico and Central & South America were large structures that usually had four stepped sides, a flat top, and a temple on top.

Cathedrals are common because many people are Roman Catholic. Mexico

Cathedral in Mexico

haciendas – large Spanish estates usually owned by wealthy families, run as farms or cattle ranches, and worked by peasants ejidos – communal farmland owned collectively by members of rural communities (mostly subsistence farming)

Tikal The remains of perhaps the largest and oldest Mayan city of Tikal is located in Guatemala. There are 9 groupings of courts and plazas. The terrain is hilly with present day swamps. The temples and palaces are high above the plazas.

a ceremonial and civic center Tikal is the "New York City" of the Maya, its skyscraper-like pyramids soaring up out of the jungle canopy.

Machu Picchu Located in Peru, high in the Andes, Machu Picchu is an ancient city. The Inca claimed it was the center of the earth.

Mexico City MEXICO

Rio de Janeiro BRAZIL

Buenos Aires ARGENTINA

Santiago CHILE