1. From the Andes to the Amazon
Physical Geography of Latin America:
From the Andes to the Amazon
From rain forests and mountain ranges, to deserts and savannas, Latin America is rich with varied beauty, resources, and plant and animal life.
Angel Falls, Venezuela.
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2. Landforms and Resources
Section 1
Landforms and Resources
6 slides
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3. Landforms and Resources
SECTION
Landforms and Resources 1 #6
Mountains and Highlands
The Andes Mountains
• Andes Mountains—South American range along western side of continent
- once home to Inca civilization in Peru; has many active volcanoes
Highlands
• Highlands—mountainous or hilly areas of country
- Guiana Highlands, Brazilian Highlands
Continued . . .
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4. • Llanos—grassy, treeless areas used for livestock grazing, farming
SECTION 1
Plains for Grain and Livestock #5
Llanos of Colombia and Venezuela
• Llanos—grassy, treeless areas used for livestock grazing, farming
Plains of Amazon River Basin
• Cerrado—flat savannas with moderate rainfall, good for farming
Pampas of Argentina and Uruguay
• Pampas—areas of grassland, rich soil, used for cattle and wheat
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5. - Rio Grande forms border between U.S. and Mexico
SECTION #4 1
The Amazon and Other Rivers
Central American Rivers
• Central America, Caribbean are bordered by water and have fewer river systems
- Rio Grande forms border between U.S. and Mexico
Orinoco River
• Orinoco River—1,500 miles through northern South America to Atlantic
- flows partly along Venezuela-Colombia border and
drains interior lands
Continued . . .
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6. • Amazon River—flows 4,000 miles, from west to east, to Atlantic
SECTION 1 #3
continued The Amazon and Other Rivers
Amazon River
• Amazon River—flows 4,000 miles, from west to east, to Atlantic
- branches start in Andes
- fed by over 1,000 tributaries
- carries more water than next seven largest rivers in the world combined
Paraná River
• Paraná River—3,000 miles, starts in Brazilian highlands
• Estuary—wide lower course of river where its current is met by tides
Continued . . .
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8. • West Indies: Bahamas, Greater Antilles, Lesser Antilles
SECTION 1 #2
Major Islands of the Caribbean
Columbus and the West Indies
• West Indies: Bahamas, Greater Antilles, Lesser Antilles
Bahamas
• Hundreds of islands off southern Florida, north of Cuba
- Nassau is largest city and capital
The Greater Antilles
• Larger islands in Caribbean: Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola (Haiti & Dominican Republic), Puerto Rico
The Lesser Antilles
• Smaller islands southeast of Puerto Rico
Continued . . .
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9. • South America is a world leader in mining, exporting raw materials
SECTION 1 #1
Resources of Latin America
Mineral Resources
• Gold, silver, iron, copper, bauxite (aluminum ore), lead, nickel, precious gems, tin, titanium, tungsten
• South America is a world leader in mining, exporting raw materials
Energy Resources
• Oil, coal, natural gas, uranium, hydroelectric power are plentiful
Continued . . .
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10. Copper Mine in Chile

11. Climate and Vegetation
Section 2
Climate and Vegetation
5 slides
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12. Climate and Vegetation
SECTION
Climate and Vegetation 2 #5
A Varied Climate and Vegetation
Reasons for the Variety
• Latin America’s broad range of climate, and vegetation due to 3 factors:
- it spans great distances on either side of the equator
- it has big changes in elevation due to the mountains
- its climate’s affected by both warm Atlantic waters and cold Pacific waters
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13. • Largest is Brazil’s Amazon rain forest with 2 million square miles
SECTION #4 2
Tropical Climate Zones
Tropical Wet
• Rain forests—dense forests with different species of trees, its hot and rainy all year
• Largest is Brazil’s Amazon rain forest with 2 million square miles
- 2,500 types of Amazon trees
- animals include anaconda, jaguar, piranha
Tropical Wet and Dry
• Savannas found in Brazil, Colombia, Argentina and are hot with seasonal rain
Continued . . .
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14. • Dry climate with some rain
SECTION 2 #3
Dry Climate Zones
Semiarid
• Dry climate with some rain
- home to vast, grass-covered plains or desert shrubs, mostly found in Mexico, Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina
Desert
• Found in north Mexico, coast of Peru, north Chile’s Atacama Desert
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15. The Atacama Desert in Chile with the Andes in the background.

16. • Rainy winters and hot, humid summers; varied vegetation
SECTION #2 2
Mid-Latitude Climate Zones
Humid Subtropical
• Rainy winters and hot, humid summers; varied vegetation
- parts of Paraguay, Uruguay, south Brazil and Bolivia, north Argentina
Mediterranean
• Hot, dry summers and cool, moist winters
- vegetation is chaparral (drought-resistant trees)
- this is the climate of part of Chile along the west coast
Continued . . .
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17. SECTION 2 #1
continued Mid-Latitude Climate Zones
Marine West Coast
• Cool, rainy winters and mild, rainy summers; forest vegetation. This occurs in southern Chile and Argentina
Highlands
• Varies from moderate to cold due to elevation, wind, sun, landscape, mostly found in mountains
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18. Human-Environment Interaction
Section 3
Human-Environment Interaction
4 slides
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19. Human-Environment Interaction
SECTION
Human-Environment Interaction 3 #4
Agriculture Reshapes the Environment
Slash-and-Burn
• Slash-and-burn—cut trees, brush, grass; burn debris to clear fields
- used by native peoples and today by poor
farmers in Amazon basin
Terraced Farming
• Terraced farming—step-like farm fields cut into mountains, hillsides
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20. Slash and Burn in Brazil

21. • Highly urbanized countries: Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Brazil #3
SECTION
Urbanization: The Move to the Cities 3
From Country to City
• Highly urbanized countries: Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Brazil
Poor people move to cities to improve their lives
• Push factors—factors that “push” people to leave rural areas
• Pull factors—factors that “pull” people to cities
Rapidly Growing Cities
• Most populous city in Latin America is Mexico City
- 18 to 20 million in city, 30 million in greater
metropolitan area

22. • Similar problems affect cities throughout the region - growing slums
SECTION #2 3
continued Urbanization: The Move to the Cities
Rapidly Growing Cities
• Similar problems affect cities throughout the region
- growing slums
- increasing unemployment and crime
- environmental problems include air pollution, drinking water shortages
• Governments can’t afford facilities to support population increases
- failing infrastructure—sewers, transportation, electricity, housing
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23. • Tourists spend money on souvenirs, trips, restaurants
SECTION
Tourism: Positive and Negative Impacts 3 #1
Advantages of Tourism
• Tourists spend money on souvenirs, trips, restaurants
- regional ports serve cruise ships
- residents work in restaurants, resorts, hotels, guide tours and activities
• Helps reduce income gap between rich and poor
Disadvantages of Tourism
• create congestion, pollution
• Gap between rich tourists and poor residents creates dislike
• Local governments run up debt to build tourist facilities

24. A cruise ship docks alongside a floating market in Otrobanda, on the Caribbean island of Curaçao.