1. Latin America

2. Why is it called Latin America?
The languages of early explorers (Spain & Portugal) have Latin origins as well as the language used by the Catholic Church was Latin.
Includes: Central America, Caribbean, & South America
Mexico to southern Argentina (tip is Tierra del Fuego-”land of Fire”)

3. 37 countries make-up Latin America
3 largest: Mexico, Brazil, & Argentina
 Latin America is twice the size of the United States
 2/3 of Latin America lies within the tropics

4. Landscape Sierra Madres- Mother Ranges runs down middle
(1)Mexico & Central America
Sierra Madres- Mother Ranges runs down middle
Many volcanoes eruptions in the past 20 years, along the western side of Central America
Plains are along both coasts.
Lake Nicaragua- largest in Middle America
Rivers- none of the rivers are navigable for ships
*Panama Canal

5. (2)Caribbean Islands
Islands are the result of a mountain chain and volcanic activity along the boundary of the Caribbean Plate and the North American Plate.
Divided into 3 main groups
Bahamas pieces of land, 700 big enough to be called islands, only 20 inhabited
Lesser Antilles- arc towards South America, contain volcanoes
Greater Antilles (4 big islands)- mountains in center, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola (Haiti & DR), Jamaica

6. (3)South America
Andes Mountains- 4,000 miles long- longest mt. chain
Plains- Llanos, Pampas, Cerrado- excellent areas for farming
Major River Systems- Amazon, Orinoco, Parana

7. Resources
Numerous natural resources- oil, natural gas, gold, silver, aluminum ore, hydroelectric power, rain forest products
avocado banana grapefruit lemon
lime mango orange papaya
pineapple plantain sweet potato black pepper
cayenne chili pepper chocolate / cocoa (products)
cinnamon cloves ginger vanilla
cashew nuts coconut coffee rubber
chicle (chewing gum) ipecac quinine

8. Climate & Vegetation
Ranges from hot and humid in Amazon River basin to desert
Vegetation-ranges from rain forest to grasslands to desert scrub
Tropical Climates-both rainforest and grasslands. Mostly in Central America, the Caribbean, and South America.
Dry Climates-found in Mexico and some parts of S. America
Mid-Latitude Climates-located south of equator. Rio de Janerio southward

9. Human Environment Interaction
Farming
Slash and Burn- today the method is still used and the rain forest is being destroyed
Terraced farming- growing crops on mountain sides, look like steps

10. Urbanization/Urban Sprawl
People moving into cities faster than the cities can handle and therefore slums and shanty towns are created on the outskirts of the city

11. Tourism
pros- brings in money, provides jobs
cons- resort owners live elsewhere & profits are taken, large gap between rich tourist and poor residents

12. Exit Ticket?? With a Partner, answer 2 out of the 3 questions on your own piece of paper. Include the # of the question and answer in complete sentences. You do NOT need to write the question.
How are the landforms of the region both an advantage and disadvantage?
What are two reasons for the variety of climates and vegetation found in Latin America?
What factors have drawn people from the countryside into the cities of the region?