Mid Term Review Sheet for Latin America
Vocabulary
Island- land mass surrounded by water Caribbean Islands Smaller islands are coral Larger islands are tops of mountains
El Nino- a warm ocean current that influences weather A warming of water in the eastern Pacific caused by weakening trade winds. When this happens is bring heavy rains to South America – What happens in west Pacific
DEFINE: El Nino
Tributary- river or stream that flows into a main river Over 1,000 tributaries feed the Amazon River
* Hot and rainy all the time * more sunlight for a longer time
Pampas – large plain or grassland of flat land with few trees
Highlands – area of high, mountainous land; elevated landforms; mountains;
Vegetation- plant life of a region Tropical wet have tropical rain forest vegetation. An abundance of plants Arid climates have desert shrub vegetation or little or no vegetation
Climate – long term weather patterns
In the Southern Hemisphere: REVERSED:desrever Remember that SEASONS are REVERSED:desrever
When it is winter in the USA... …it is summer in South America (and southern Africa & Australia & Antarctica)
Regional map of Latin America – Caribbean Is. – Mexico and Central America – South America
Relative Location Western Hemisphere Atlantic Ocean is east Pacific Ocean is west United States is north
ANDES MOUNTAINS Stretch along western edge of South America More than 5,000 miles long Longest mountain range in the world Run north and south
Amazonian Rain Forest is the largest Rainforest in the world Large tropical rain forest in the basin of Northern south America 80 inches of rain yearly but up to 260 inches; even ºF (warm and humid) year round Cover more than 1/3 of the continent Contains the Amazon River which is the second longest river in the world
Amazon River Basin - covers 35 percent of South America. Rain forest covers most of basin. Rain Forest produces half of the world’s oxygen
Amazon River - Second largest river in the world. Carrier more water than any other river. Begins in Peru empties into Atlantic Ocean
Atacama- the world’s driest desert Peru and Chile
Atacama Desert A desert in Chile The driest place on earth The Andes Mts. Shield this area from winds that carry moisture Some areas have never had a single drop of rain
Rainshadow
Desert – dry climate with little rain to support vegetation Climate is extreme: very hot during the day and very cold in the night
Highland climate – found in the mountains and plateaus. The climate becoming colder with high elevation
Tropical wet climate - hot, humid, rainy season all year Brazil Humid subtropical – Hot wet summers and cool winters Argentina, Uruguay Tropical and Humid Subtropical climate
Latin America is a land of extremes. Do you agree or disagree. Extreme hot climate – tropics Extreme cold – Highlands, Patagonia Extreme dry – desert Extreme wet/rainy – tropics
Name the major mountain range of South America. What ocean is on the western border of Latin America?
What river, located in South America, is the 2nd longest river in the world?
True or False? Latin America has a large variety of climates
What lake is situated high in the Andes Mountains and forms a border between Peru and Bolivia
Patagonia is a PLATEAU OR PLAIN?
What is an isthmus? DRAW ONE
What is an archipelago? DRAW What are the tropical grasslands of South America called? – Draw something you would see on it
What is the predominant climate in Latin America? Does Latin America have volcanoes and earthquakes?
Small rivers that feed a larger one. The Amazon River has over 1,000 of these.
Why is the Amazon River so BIG?
A land form surrounded by water on 3 sides is a___
What is the name of the largest tropical rain forest in the world.
What is the name of the material which is made up of tiny sea animals and formed many small islands of the caribbean?
What are the three regions of Latin America?
What is El nino?