1. Dates to Know: Test Correction Dates (below 75 only!):
Today 2:40PM
Friday AM: 6:45-7:20AM
Friday 2:40PM
Tomorrow: Invisible Children extra credit due
Tuesday, 11/11: Latin America map quiz
Tentative Latin America Test: Wednesday, 11/19

2. Physical Geography of Latin America

4. The Three Divisions Geographers divide Latin America into three areas:
Middle America: includes Mexico and the 7 countries of Central America
South America: the largest land area of Latin America
Of S. America’s 13 countries, Brazil is the largest in land area and population
Caribbean (aka-West Indies): The Bahamas, the Greater Antilles, and the Lesser Antilles

6. Las Montañas y Las Mesetas (Mountains & Plateaus)
Profile: Towering mountains
Mountains begin in the Rocky Mountains of North America, name changes as you move south and cross borders
Mexico: Sierra Madre
Central America: Central Highlands
South America: Andes
Rugged landscape because much of the area sits along the Pacific Ring of Fire, where plates among the earth’s crust have collided.
Collisions  mountains, volcanoes, and earthquakes changing landscape

8. Pros & Cons of the Physical Geography
Lowland mountain areas = cooler climate
Rich natural resources: water, volcanic soil, timber, minerals
Cons
Ruggedness blocks movement & trade
Isolation
Radio, TV, air transport work to break down physical barriers

9. Mexican Plateau
Surrounded by the two Sierra Madre mountain ranges: Sierra Madre Occidental & Sierra Madre Oriental
Attractions:
Low-latitude (mild climate)
fertile volcanic soil
adequate rainfall

12. Central Highlands South of the Mexican Plateau
Chain of volcanic mountains of Central America, includes many Caribbean islands
Islands are actually volcanic peaks above sea level
Some volcanoes still active, making living on those islands unsafe

14. South American Grasslands
Llanos of Colombia, Pampas of Argentina
Pampas: a major “breadbasket”, produce large amounts of wheat & corn
Provide wide grazing lands for beef cattle
Employ cowhands to drive herd across the grass/terrain
Llaneros: Llanos
Gauchos: Pampas

16. H2O (Water) Rio Grande: border between Mexico & the US
Amazon = world’s widest river (#2 longest)
Is navigable!!
Parana, Paraguay, and Uruguay Rivers provide hydroelectric power, or electricity generated from the energy of water
Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay
Also provides inland water routes

19. The Andes

20. The Andes, Backbone of South America
The world’s longest mountain range
Made up of several mountain ranges, called cordilleras
Pass through seven countries, vary in landscapes
Grouped into three sections

23. Tierra Caliente: Tropical!
Lowest elevation zone
Sea level – 3,000 feet
Tropical climate, year-round warm temperatures ( degrees)
Eastern slopes: Broadleaf Evergreen forests
Western slopes: tropical grasslands
Heat = difficult places to live
Crops: bananas, rice, sugarcane

24. Tierra Templada: Land of Eternal Spring
3,000-6,000 feet above sea level
Mild, temperate climate with temperatures between 65 & 75 degrees yearly.
Vegetation changes with elevation
Lower elevations: palms, bamboo, jungle vines
Higher elevations: broadleaf evergreen forests
More populated, Mestizos (indigenous + European)
Lower levels: grow oranges & bananas
Higher levels: corn, beans, other veggies
Main commercial crop: COFFEE!!!

25. Tierra Fría Between 6,000 & 12,000 feet
Average temps: degrees, colder at night (freezing at higher elevations)
Altiplano (11,000): Lake Titicaca
World’s highest navigable lake (12,500 feet above sea level)
Navigable large & deep enough to hold large boats
Hidden treasures!
Tree line—between 10,000 & 12,000 feet
Crops: potatoes, wheat, barley, corn, apples & pears

27. Adaptations in the Tierra Fria
Build houses of stone or adobe brick (thicker)
Body adaptation: larger lungs
Farmers practice terracing to create flat lands on the slopes and steep hillsides of this area.
Vertical Trade: trade of farm products between the higher & lower elevation zones
People of lower elevations bring their crops to the people of the higher elevations (low  high)
Bananas, oranges, tomatoes
Higher elevations bring to lower (High  low)
Potatoes, wheat

29. Tierra Helada: Cold & Windy
Between 12,000 & 15,000 feet above sea level
20-55 degrees (F)
Snow line: elevation at which permanent snow & ice begin (upper Tierra Helada)
Shrubs & grasses
Crops: quinoa, potatoes
Llamas & alpacas provide wool for blankets, bags and clothing
Some people work in the mines, because there are many mineral deposits
Tin, lead, copper, silver
Glaciers above snow line melt in summer, water into streams in lower elevations

30. Climate Regions

31. Tropical: Rain Forest Hot temps, abundant rainfall year-round
Most Rain: January - June
Evergreens form a dense canopy, or a continuous layer of leaves
Amazon Basin: many species of plants & animals
Location: S. America (Brazil, Amazon Basin)

32. Tropical: Tropical Savanna
Locations:
Southwestern Mexico
Most Caribbean Islands
North-central South America
Hot temps, abundant rainfall year-round
Difference? DRY SEASON
Grasslands (Colombia & Venezuela)

33. Mid-Latitude: Humid Subtropics
Southeastern South America
(Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay)
Short & mild winters
Long, hot & humid summers with dry periods
Short grasses in the pampas

34. Dry: Desert & Steppe Areas
Northern Mexico, coastal Peru and Chile, southeastern coast of Argentina
Very little rainfall in the desert
Atacama Desert: Chile
So dry, some places in this desert have never recorded any rainfall!!
Cacti, shrubs—not much vegetation
Steppes: N Mexico, NE Brazil, South Central South America
Hot summers, cool winters, light rainfall