By: Ms. Susan M. Pojer

Regions of Latin America Central America The Caribbean South America South America

Satellite Image of Latin America

Bodies of Water Atlantic Ocean Pacific Ocean Gulf of Mexico Caribbean Sea Amazon R. Orinoco R. Uruguay R. Magdalena R. Sao Francisco R. Lake Titicaca Lake Maracaibo Rio de La Plata Parana R.

Mountains and Peaks Andes Mts. Sierra Madres Mts. Guiana Highlands Brazilian Highlands Patagonian Plateau

Andes Mountains (Peru)

Andes One of the longest, continual chain of mountains in the world Runs North to South through 7 countries in South America Home to several volcanoes Highest peak is Aconcagua

Llamas in the Andes

Llamas Domesticated camel-like animal used in Andean cultures Used for meat, wool and moving various items Llamas are very social animals, living in herds. They can learn simple tasks

The Sierra Madres, Mexico

Sierra Madres Mts These mountains are known as a cordillera- 2 parallel mountain ranges separated by land. The mountains are separated by the Mexican plateau. Plateau- high, flat mountain like terrain West- Sierra Madre Occidental (high plateau formed by volcanic rock) East- Sierra Madre Oriental (drier climate, more interior)

Guianan Highlands, Venezuela

Guainan Highlands Home to Angel Falls (longest/largest waterfall in the world) Home to tepuis- misshapen, eroded, mountainous flat tops

Brazilian Highlands

Covering half of Brazil, most of the population lives here

Patagonian Region (Chile)

Patagonia Located at the southern end of South America, it is shared between Argentina and Chile The name Patagonian comes from the word Patagon (meaning giant). The word was first used by Ferdinand Magellan (Portuguese explorer) in 1520 to describe the very tall natives Climate/weather ranges from steppe like to cold, with glaciers coming into the lakes

Valleys Plains and Basins Amazon Basin Pampas Mato Grosso Gran Chaco Llanos

Amazon Rain Forest

Rainforest Most of the forest is located in Brazil, followed by Peru Represents half of the world’s remaining rainforest One of the most species-rich areas in the world

Mato Grosso

Mato Grasso State located in Brazil, meaning “thick Bushes” Includes beautiful waterfalls, cliffs and canyons Cultures are a mix of native, African and European (Portuguese) descents

Orinoco Lowlands, the Llanos

Llanos Spanish word for plains Plain- flat, low land, covered with grasses/shrubs. Animals mostly graze on plains

Cattle Ranching on the Pampas

Pampas Fertile lowlands with a mild climate, average precipitation, good for agriculture Grasses Located between Argentina and Uruguay

Gauchos of the Pampas, Argentina

Gauchos (Cowboys) Located in Patagonia (Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and Chile) They herd cattle on the pampas Equivalent to the American cowboy or the Spanish vaquero

Deserts Atacama Desert

Atacama A plateau located between Peru and Chile Driest desert in the world Changes in the elevation temperature are due to the Humboldt Current which is a cold, low salt content ocean current

Cities Mexico City Havanna Port-au-Prince Panama City Santiago Lima Buenos Aires Brasilia Rio De Janiero Caracas Bogota

Others Falkland Islands Cape Horn Panama Canal

The Falkland Islands or Islas Malvinas

Falklands An archipelago located in Patagonia A British territory that enjoys internal self government The capital and only city is called Stanly Legal British citizens Long history of island disputes between the French, Portuguese and the British

Cape Horn

Named after a city in the Netherlands Located in Chile Ships do not have to make dangerous voyages, they can now use the Panama Canal

The Panama Canal

Panama Canal Located in the country of Panama, which is an isthmus- narrow strip of land connecting two larger land areas, usually with water on either side The canal connects the Atlantic to the Pacific via the Caribbean Sea. Construction of the canal began in Many people died while building the canal due to the tropical climate and the mosquitoes. Some builders died of malaria.

Going Through the Panama Canal

Atlantic Ocean Pacific Ocean Gulf of Mexico Caribbean Sea Amazon R. Orinoco R. Uruguay R. Magdalena R. Sao Francisco R. Lake Titicaca Lake Maracaibo Rio de La Plata Parana R. Andes Mts. Sierra Madres Mts. Guiana Highlands Brazilian Highlands Patagonian Plateau Amazon Basin Pampas Mato Grosso Gran Chaco Llanos Atacama Desert Mexico City Havanna Port-au-Prince Panama City Santiago Lima Buenos Aires Brasilia Rio De Janiero Caracas Bogota Falkland Islands Cape Horn Panama Canal

Earthquake Zones

Active Volcanoes

The Tropical Hemisphere

LatinAmericanClimaticZones

Very Varied Climate Zones

Precipitation

Temperatures

Elevation

Altitudinal Zonation: Vertical Climate

Amazon Rain Forest

On the Ground Floor of the Rain Forest

Three-Tiered Vegetation

Three-Tiered Canopy

Native Indians of the Amazon

Jungle Fauna

Jungle Fauna- the animals in a region or area Flora- the plants in a region or area Biota- the living things collectively in a region or area; the plants, animals and fungi

Minerals of the Amazon Region Diamonds Amethyst Quartz Bauxite

Deforestation in the Amazon

Original Forest Cover Future Forest Cover Current Forest Cover

Agriculture and Fishing

Banana Plantation

Bananas Found in tropical climates Needs deep, fertile soil, in particular alluvial soil to grow

Harvesting Sugar Cane

Growing Coffee

Rubber Industry

Rubber Produced by latex in plants Trees are slightly cut, through the bark, to drain latex sap Stretchy, flexible and waerproof

Oil Drilling in the Gulf of Mexico

Eco-Tourism

Drug Trafficking Routes

Population and Projections

Population

LatinAmerica’sPopulationDistribution

Sao Paolo, Brazil

Overcrowding in Sao Paolo, Brazil

Squatter Settlements in Major Latin American Cities

Squatter Villages Slums/shanty towns or areas Poor Some of the residents may be immigrants Over-crowding Unsanitary conditions, air/water pollution