1. Latin America and the Caribbean
Region is grouped together because of its common culture and history
Due to size of region, many physical features are going to be unique to specific nations, instead of having uniting features

3. Latin America and the Caribbean
Region is grouped together because of its common culture, religion, and history
Consists of
Mexico (in North America)
Central America
South America
The islands in the Caribbean Sea

4. Mountains and Coastline
Map of Latin America
Surrounded by Atlantic Ocean on east, Pacific Ocean on west, and Caribbean Sea to the north
Mountains
Mountains span from north to south across the whole region
7,000 miles total of mountain ranges
From southern border of the US to Tierra del Fuego

5. Important Mountain Ranges
Andes Mountains
Chain of mountain ranges that run through the western portion of North, Central, and South America
Many active volcanoes
Mountain ranges provide protection to the people settled in the area
Incas in Peru were first settlers in South America

6. Important Mountain Ranges
Highland Area
Highlands: made up of the hilly or mountainous sections of a country
Highlands in Latin America include:
Parts of Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, and Brazil
Used for terrace farming

7. Plains Regions Llanos and Pampas Vast plains in Colombia and Venezuela
Llanos: grassy, treeless areas used for livestock grazing and farming
Vast plains in Argentina
called Pampas: areas with rich soil
Used to graze cattle and harvest wheat

8. Plains Regions Amazon River Basin
Extensive plains in the interior of Brazil
Cerrado: savannas with flat terrain and moderate rainfall that make them suitable for farming
Much of the land is undeveloped

9. River Systems Amazon Orinoco Parana
Central America and the Caribbean lack the river systems that are found in South America
South America has three great river systems
Amazon
Orinoco
Parana

10. Amazon River
Flows about 4,000 miles from west to east into the Atlantic Ocean
Starts in the Andes Mountains
Fed by over 1,000 tributaries
Carries more water to the ocean than any other river in the world

11. Orinoco River
Winds through the northern part of South America, mainly Venezuela
Flows more than 1,500 miles, partly along the Colombia-Venezuela border into the Atlantic Ocean
Drains the interior lands of Venezuela and Colombia

12. Parana River Originates in the highlands of Brazil
Travels south and west through Paraguay and Argentina
Estuary of the Parana and Uruguay rivers between Argentina and Uruguay and is called the Rio de la Plata
Estuary is the wide lower course of a river where its current is met by the tides

13. Other Major Waterways Panama Canal
Canal that connects the Caribbean Sea to the Pacific Ocean
Easier trade routes, don’t have to work all the way around the southern most point of S.A.
40 miles long, cuts 3,000 miles off trip from NYC to Japan