1. Geographic Factors and Natural Resources
Chapter 9
Section 3

2. Setting the Scene Bolivia has always depended on mineral resources.
During the 1920s- 1930, a world wide economic crisis called the Great Depression hit. This caused industries to stop buying tin as well as other natural resources, and Bolivia suffered as its main resource failed to bring money into the economy.
Latin America’s problem was that they relied too much on their one resource.

3. Latin America’s Natural Resources
What Latin America’s natural resource.
Mexico and Central America: Riches of Land
Mexico has deposits of silver, gold, copper, coal, iron ore, and just about any other minerals you can think of.
Mexico also has….

4. Latin America’s Natural Resources
Does Mexico have a large lumber industry?
What are some of the crops farmers can grow in Central America due to their rich soil?
Central America’s resources are not limited to land only. People catch fish and shellfish in the region’s waters.
What else do they use the water for?

5. Latin America’s Natural Resources
Define hydroelectricity.
The Caribbean: Farming Resources
Caribbean countries also have rich farming soil and good climate.
Farmers grow…
Which country is one of the world’s main producers of bauxite?
What is bauxite?
What do Cuba and the Dominican Republic have? What about Trinidad?

6. Latin America’s Natural Resources
South America: A Wealth of Resources
Where is much of South America’s oil found?
South America’s plants and fish are natural resources, too. Forest cover about half of the continent and trees from these forests provide everything from wood for building to coconuts for eating.
People harvest many rain forest plants to make medicines.

7. Latin America’s Natural Resources
What are Brazil and Colombia’s key crop?
What other crops can be found in South America?

8. Natural Resources and Economy
Economic factors and Weather
Latin American countries depend on one or two crops, such as coffee, bananas, or sugar.
When the price of a crop goes down, exports of that crop bring less money into the country.
As a result, workers’ wages may drop and some workers may lose their jobs.
Weather and disease also cause people and businesses to lose money.
What else may affect the economy?

9. Natural resources and Economy
Depending on Oil
Oil is one of Latin America’s most valuable resources. But it is risky to depending on oil because the prices of oil increase and decrease suddenly.
Which two countries are major oil producers in Latin America?
What happened to Mexico and its oil prices in 1980?
Who else did this happen to?

10. Natural Resources and Economy
Avoiding the Problem of a One-Resource Country
Define diversify.
Many countries are building factories to make products that can be sold to bring more money into the economy. Factories also provide jobs.
What has Venezuela, Brazil, and El Salvador been trying to do?