Latin America Cut-Away Box Assignment By Saber Ahmed 1/10/09

Economic Importance of Amazon Rainforest The Amazon Rainforest obtains many resources that is used for Brazils economy. It includes resources such as rubber, cocoa, coffee beans, various woods and much more. These resources are exported which improve the economy. The land of the Amazon Rainforest is also used for farmers for fertile land, and land for houses and other things. The Amazon Rainforest is a major economic importance of the Amazon Rainforest and it will always be. http://www.mongabay.com/images/rainforests/rainforest_map_neotrop.jpg

Economic Importance of the Pampas and Llanos regions The Pampas and Llanos regions are economically important primarily because they serve as land for grazing and for farming. They do have natural resources, but the main reason is for their fertile, flat lands. The regions are separated, which economically improves many countries, rather than just one. The Pampas and Llanos regions are large, massive regions of land which are used for farming and is an economic importance to Latin America. http://www.sampagrill.net/images/pampas.png http://www.la-tc.com/.web/Entusiasmo/Graphics/Llanos%20Map.jpg

Environmental Effects of El Nino and La Nina During El Nino, South America gets negatively affected environmentally because it rains more often in many areas, which causes floods that destroy homes, habitats, and kills many animals and plants. During La Nina, rain occurs less often, which destroys resources and agriculture. This affects the economy of South America. These are the main effects of El Nino and La Nina. http://airmap.unh.edu/graphics/nao_fig_2.jpg http://climate.ok.gov/images/news/lanina_map.jpg

Political and Economic importance of Panama Canal The Panama Canal is important economically and politically because both South America and North America uses it because it is such an easy and fast way to trade. Without it, trading would be harder and slower. It is an economic importance because whoever controls it can enforce taxes for other nations, and can say who can use it or not. The Panama Canal is important economically and politically. http://www.seatoyadventures.com/images/panamacanal1.gif

Economic Activity in the Caribbean Islands The Caribbean Islands include various economic activities which improve the economy greatly. They have many resources for trade such as fruits, beans, wood, etc., and it is a fertile land for farming. The Caribbean Islands also is a beautiful attraction for tourists and will always be. Many people go to tour, which is a major contribution for the economy. These are the major economic activities held in the Caribbean Islands. http://westindiesgate.com/img/caribbeanislands.png