1. LATIN AMERICA

2. GEOGRAPHY

3. Unique features
Columbia supplies 90% of the world production of Emeralds
Driest place on earth is the Atacama Desert in Argentina
Venezuela has the highest uninterrupted water fall, Angel Falls at 3211 feet

4. South america’s size 4th largest continent 6,879,000 sq miles
12% of the earth’s land

5. Amazon river 4,300 miles long Flows through 6 countries
No bridges cross it
Satellite View

6. Amazon rainforest
Half of the rainforest in the world is in the Amazon region

7. Climate of Latin America

8. The Tropics Much of Latin America is located in the Tropics
Tropic of Cancer
Tropic of Capricorn
This area receives direct rays of the sun for much of the year

9. Climate Zones Climate Zone Location Tropical Wet
Some Caribbean Islands and much of Central and South America
Tropical Dry
Parts of Central America, most Caribbean Islands, and north central South America
Steppe
Northern Mexico, coastal Peru and Chile, northeastern Brazil, and southeastern Argentina
Desert
Pacific coast of Northern Chile (Atacama Desert)
Mediterranean
Central Chile
Humid Subtropical
Southeastern Brazil to the Pampas in Argentina and Uruguay
Marine West Coast
Southern Chile and Southern Argentina

11. Climate of Latin America
Andes:
Below sub-zero temperatures
why are the Andes Mountains cold?
Amazon River Basin:
Tropical heat (80°F)
Receives over 80 inches of rain per year
Atacama Desert
One of the driest places on Earth
what physical feature creates the desert?

12. The Atacama Desert

13. Climate in the Caribbean
Climate is usually sunny and warm
Hurricane Season: June to November
The Caribbean

14. Climate Factors Elevation is the height of land above sea level
The higher the elevation= the colder the temperature
Location to the equator: countries that are located on or near the Equator are warmer.
The farther you move away from the Equator the more the temperatures drop

15. Altitude Climate Zones

16. Altitude Climate Zones
Altitude Zone
Temperature
Crops Grown
Tierra Helada
20°F - 55°F
Little to no vegetation
Tierra Fria
55°F - 65°F
Barley, wheat, potatoes, apples
Tierra Templada
65°F - 75°F
Coffee, corn, citrus
Tierra Caliente
75°F - 80°F
Bananas, rice, sugarcane, cacao

17. What is the Ring of Fire?
The ring of fire is located around the Pacific Ocean
75% of the world’s active volcanoes located here
90 % of earthquakes happen here
The Ring of Fire is a direct result and consequence of plate tectonics and the movement and collisions of crustal plates

18. The Ring of Fire

19. Tsunamis
Tsunami take place when a huge earthquake occurs causing the plates below the water to push up causing the water to create a huge wave.
The waves can reach 90 feet or higher.

20. Earthquakes Earthquake
Why are there so many earth quakes in Latin America?
What two countries have experiences earthquakes in the past year?
Earthquake

21. Hurricanes
Storm system characterized by a low pressure system center and thunderstorms that produce strong wind and flooding rain.
Feeds off the heat released when moist air rises and the water vapor it contains condenses.

22. Hurricanes Form almost exclusively in tropical regions.
Referred to as: typhoon, tropical storm, cyclonic storm, and tropical depression.
Hurricane Katrina

23. Hurricane Disasters

24. Hurricane Disasters
Katrina, Day by Day