LATIN AMERICA Chapter 9

Latin America Includes the following: Mexico Central America (7) Caribbean nations South America

Panama Canal Finished in 1919, controlled by the U.S. until Dec. 1999 in which time it went back to Panama Ships enter a bay and go through a system of locks, cost to build -- $380 million Collect $32,000 per vessel to enter (depending on size) Commission collected $375 million in tolls $175 million in fees U.S. paid Panama $90 million a year

Mexico Eastern range -- Sierra Madre Oriental Western range -- Sierra Madre Occidental They connect in southern Mexico Plateau of Mexico lies between them (mesa - isolated Mt. with a flat top). Mexico City is located here

South America Andes Mt. -- second highest mt. in the world Brazilian highlands -- cover 1/4 of S.A Llanos -- lowland region between Venezuela and Colombia. (tropical grassland)

Facts / Terms Amazon -- carries more water than any other river in the world Climate of the Amazon River Basin -- tropical wet High elevations in South America -- cool temp. and sparse pop. Timberline -- the boundary above which forest vegetation can live Alpine Tundra -- grows above the timberline Plains -- llanos, pampas and gran chaco

Amazon Rainforest The rainforest can have several layers of canopy 2.7 million square miles of South America are rainforest Warm temp. and heavy rain creates the single largest and most varied mass of vegetation in the world Canopy -- uppermost branches cover an area The rainforest can have several layers of canopy

Pictures of the Rainforest

Caribbean Islands Islands formed from Mt. ranges on the floor of the ocean and from cays -- low lying coral islands 3 Island groups: 1. The Bahamas -- closest to the U.S> 2. Greater Antilles -- 4 largest islands (Cuba, Haiti, Dominican Republic, and Jamaica) 3. Lesser Antilles -- small islands to the south

Last of ch. 9 notes Caribbean climate -- warm tropical climate all year 80 degree average Sierras block rain in Mexico -- northern Mexico is an arid climate Mexico city -- elevation of this city is 7,350 feet 74 degree high in July