Dates to Know: Test Correction Dates (below 75 only!): Today PM: @ 2:40PM Friday AM: 6:45-7:20AM Friday PM: @ 2:40PM Tomorrow: Invisible Children extra credit due Tuesday, 11/11: Latin America map quiz Tentative Latin America Test: Wednesday, 11/19

Physical Geography of Latin America

The Three Divisions Geographers divide Latin America into three areas: Middle America: includes Mexico and the 7 countries of Central America South America: the largest land area of Latin America Of S. America’s 13 countries, Brazil is the largest in land area and population Caribbean (aka-West Indies): The Bahamas, the Greater Antilles, and the Lesser Antilles

Las Montañas y Las Mesetas (Mountains & Plateaus) Profile: Towering mountains Mountains begin in the Rocky Mountains of North America, name changes as you move south and cross borders Mexico: Sierra Madre Central America: Central Highlands South America: Andes Rugged landscape because much of the area sits along the Pacific Ring of Fire, where plates among the earth’s crust have collided. Collisions  mountains, volcanoes, and earthquakes changing landscape

Pros & Cons of the Physical Geography Lowland mountain areas = cooler climate Rich natural resources: water, volcanic soil, timber, minerals Cons Ruggedness blocks movement & trade Isolation Radio, TV, air transport work to break down physical barriers

Mexican Plateau Surrounded by the two Sierra Madre mountain ranges: Sierra Madre Occidental & Sierra Madre Oriental Attractions: Low-latitude (mild climate) fertile volcanic soil adequate rainfall

Central Highlands South of the Mexican Plateau Chain of volcanic mountains of Central America, includes many Caribbean islands Islands are actually volcanic peaks above sea level Some volcanoes still active, making living on those islands unsafe

South American Grasslands Llanos of Colombia, Pampas of Argentina Pampas: a major “breadbasket”, produce large amounts of wheat & corn Provide wide grazing lands for beef cattle Employ cowhands to drive herd across the grass/terrain Llaneros: Llanos Gauchos: Pampas

H2O (Water) Rio Grande: border between Mexico & the US Amazon = world’s widest river (#2 longest) Is navigable!! Parana, Paraguay, and Uruguay Rivers provide hydroelectric power, or electricity generated from the energy of water Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay Also provides inland water routes

The Andes

The Andes, Backbone of South America The world’s longest mountain range Made up of several mountain ranges, called cordilleras Pass through seven countries, vary in landscapes Grouped into three sections

Tierra Caliente: Tropical! Lowest elevation zone Sea level – 3,000 feet Tropical climate, year-round warm temperatures (75-80 degrees) Eastern slopes: Broadleaf Evergreen forests Western slopes: tropical grasslands Heat = difficult places to live Crops: bananas, rice, sugarcane

Tierra Templada: Land of Eternal Spring 3,000-6,000 feet above sea level Mild, temperate climate with temperatures between 65 & 75 degrees yearly. Vegetation changes with elevation Lower elevations: palms, bamboo, jungle vines Higher elevations: broadleaf evergreen forests More populated, Mestizos (indigenous + European) Lower levels: grow oranges & bananas Higher levels: corn, beans, other veggies Main commercial crop: COFFEE!!!

Tierra Fría Between 6,000 & 12,000 feet Average temps: 55-65 degrees, colder at night (freezing at higher elevations) Altiplano (11,000): Lake Titicaca World’s highest navigable lake (12,500 feet above sea level) Navigable large & deep enough to hold large boats Hidden treasures! Tree line—between 10,000 & 12,000 feet Crops: potatoes, wheat, barley, corn, apples & pears

Adaptations in the Tierra Fria Build houses of stone or adobe brick (thicker) Body adaptation: larger lungs Farmers practice terracing to create flat lands on the slopes and steep hillsides of this area. Vertical Trade: trade of farm products between the higher & lower elevation zones People of lower elevations bring their crops to the people of the higher elevations (low  high) Bananas, oranges, tomatoes Higher elevations bring to lower (High  low) Potatoes, wheat

Tierra Helada: Cold & Windy Between 12,000 & 15,000 feet above sea level 20-55 degrees (F) Snow line: elevation at which permanent snow & ice begin (upper Tierra Helada) Shrubs & grasses Crops: quinoa, potatoes Llamas & alpacas provide wool for blankets, bags and clothing Some people work in the mines, because there are many mineral deposits Tin, lead, copper, silver Glaciers above snow line melt in summer, water into streams in lower elevations

Climate Regions

Tropical: Rain Forest Hot temps, abundant rainfall year-round Most Rain: January - June Evergreens form a dense canopy, or a continuous layer of leaves Amazon Basin: many species of plants & animals Location: S. America (Brazil, Amazon Basin)

Tropical: Tropical Savanna Locations: Southwestern Mexico Most Caribbean Islands North-central South America Hot temps, abundant rainfall year-round Difference? DRY SEASON Grasslands (Colombia & Venezuela)

Mid-Latitude: Humid Subtropics Southeastern South America (Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay) Short & mild winters Long, hot & humid summers with dry periods Short grasses in the pampas

Dry: Desert & Steppe Areas Northern Mexico, coastal Peru and Chile, southeastern coast of Argentina Very little rainfall in the desert Atacama Desert: Chile So dry, some places in this desert have never recorded any rainfall!! Cacti, shrubs—not much vegetation Steppes: N Mexico, NE Brazil, South Central South America Hot summers, cool winters, light rainfall