1. Location, Climate, & Natural Resources
SS6G3

2. Latin America
How do location, climate, and natural resources affect where people live and how they trade in Latin America?
Let’s take a closer look at Mexico, Venezuela, Brazil, & Cuba…

3. Mexico
Read page 20 in your CRCT book.

4. Mexico’s Location
south of the US, east of the Pacific Ocean, and west of the Gulf of Mexico & Caribbean Sea
located between major bodies of water:
great opportunities for trading
can easily ship goods around the world
another advantage: close to US, so trade between two countries is convenient

6. Mexico’s Climate
Climate varies according to location: deserts in the north, tropical beaches, plains, plateaus, & the Sierra Madre Mountains.

7. Where People Live in Mexico
Most people live in central Mexico:
arable farmland with enough rain to grow crops (fewer people are choosing to work on farms)
many manufacturing centers are located here (provide jobs to 75% of the country’s population)
urban: 77%
rural: 23%

8. Mexico’s Natural Resources
Oil is one of the top exports:
exports 1.7 million barrels/day
Money from oil sales provides 1/3 of government’s budget.
It is one of the world’s top producers of silver.
Other exports include fruits, vegetables, coffee, & cotton.
Tourism is also a major industry.

9. Trade in Mexico 7 major seaports
exports: oil, manufactured goods, silver, fruits, vegetables, coffee, & cotton
Tourism
US is their main trading partner (3/4 of their trade)

10. Which metal is mined more in Mexico than anywhere else?
Copper
Iron
Lead
silver

11. Which country has about ¾ of the trade with Mexico?
Brazil
Guyana
United States
Venezuela

12. Which region of Mexico has the most people?
Central Plateau
Northern deserts
Sierra Madre Mountains
Tropical beaches

13. Which is a problem for the farmers of Mexico?
The soil is not very productive
Many areas have too much rainfall
There is not enough sunlight to grow crops
There are few businesses to sell farm equipment

14. Venezuela
Read page 22 in your CRCT book.

15. Venezuela’s Location
in northeast part of South America; just north of equator
coasts on Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean
gives it easy access to trade with other countries
nearby Panama Canal provides a shortcut to the Pacific to trade with Asian countries
mountains in the north and south, only about 3% arable land

17. Venezuela’s Climate hot, tropical climate cooler in the mountains
rain varies by region (16 inches on the coast; over 100 inches in the mountains)

18. Where People Live in Venezuela
urban: 88%
(75% have jobs in the service industry)
rural: 12%
Caracas is the largest city
Most people live in the northern highlands, along the coast.

19. Venezuela’s Natural Resources
sixth-largest oil exporter in the world
produces 2.8 million barrels/day
90% of the money the government makes on trade comes from oil exports
Farming provides jobs for 10% of the population.

20. Trade in Venezuela 90% of money made on exports comes from oil
4 major seaports
other exports: bauxite and aluminum, steel, chemicals, agricultural products, basic manufactures
tourism

21. Problems in Mexico & Venezuela
millions of citizens live in poor conditions
little or no health care, poor education
both countries rely on oil production for a large part of their trade:
When price of oil goes down, it is difficult for the government to pay its bills and help its people.
Pollution caused by oil is also a problem.

22. What is the main reason that few Venezuelans are farmers?
There is too much rain.
There is little arable land.
Venezuela trades with Guyana, Brazil, and Colombia for food.
Venezuela is able to buy the food it needs from other countries.

23. Which is a negative result of Venezuela’s oil business?
Health care services have improved.
Pollution has damaged the air and land.
Education for poor children has improved.
Road and telephone networks have expanded

24. How has Venezuela’s location helped its trade with other countries?
Venezuela is in the northern part of South America.
The countries of the Caribbean Sea can trade with nearby Venezuela.
The countries of Guyana, Brazil, and Colombia share a border with Venezuela.
Venezuela has a coastline with ports on the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.

25. Most people in Venezuela live in what type of area?
Rural
Urban
Half live in urban areas, half live in rural
This information has not been collected.

26. Mexico and Venezuela
Use the chart on page 24 of your CRCT book to compare and contrast Mexico and Venezuela.
Answer the questions on page 25

27. Brazil
Read page 26 in your CRCT book.

28. Brazil’s Location
eastern side of South America, along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean
shares a border with nearly every country in South America!
Amazon River and other large rivers stretch across Brazil

29. Brazil’s Climate
Location on the equator gives it the climate needed to support one of the world’s largest rainforests.
Climate is mostly hot and tropical.
In the south, the climate is temperate (mild).

30. Brazil’s Natural Resources
Only 7% of land is arable, but Brazil makes the most of this resource
Farmers grow 1/3 of the world’s coffee, and lead the world in production of oranges, papayas, sugar cane, and soybeans
Only the US exports more farm products that Brazil

32. Where People Live in Brazil
urban: 84%
rural: 16%
most populated country in Latin America
largest Portuguese-speaking country in the world
most Brazilians live along the coasts; 80% live within 200 miles of the ocean

33. Brazil’s Trade 7 major seaports
exports: transportation equipment, iron ore, soybeans, footwear, coffee, autos, sugar, fruits
tourism
Amazon Rainforest attracts many visitors
beaches are another attraction
USA is Brazil’s largest trading partner

34. Where do most Brazilians live in their country?
In the interior
Along the Amazon River
In the Amazon rain forest
Along the eastern, coastal areas

35. The climate of Brazil allows farmers to export all of these crops EXCEPT
Coffee
Oranges
Sugar cane
wheat

36. Which natural resource is an important export for Brazil?
Cars
Iron ore
Shoes
Sugar cane

37. Why does Brazil have a fast growing tourism industry?
Most Brazilians live in urban areas and need jobs.
Most brazilians live within 20 miles of the coast.
Brazil has many cities scattered across the country that tourists enjoy visiting.
Brazil has many natural wonders that cannot be found anywhere else in the world.

38. How does Brazil’s location help it trade with other countires?
There are 7 major seaports along the Atlantic coast.
The Amazon River allows ships to travel inland to the Andes
Brazil shares a border with nearly every other South American country.
Brazil is able to purchase from other countries goods that it cannot make on its own.

39. Cuba
Read page 28 in your CRCT book.

40. Cuba’s Location
an island 90 miles south of Florida, in the Caribbean Sea
700 miles long
largest island in the Caribbean
location on ocean trading routes has been an important influence on its history and economy

41. Cuba’s Climate tropical but moderated by trade winds
It’s warm to hot all year long, but the winds provide relief from the heat
rainy season from May to October and a dry season from November to April
target for hurricanes
Hurricane season runs from June to November.

42. Cuba’s Natural Resources
28% of Cuba’s land is arable
most important export: sugar cane
other exports include: coffee, fish, fruits, & tobacco
Tourism is a fast-growing industry.

44. Where People Live in Cuba
urban: 76%
rural: 24%
Havana is the largest city
20% of Cubans live in Havana

45. Cuba’s Trade 3 major seaports
exports: sugar, nickel, tobacco, fish, medical products, citrus, coffee
tourism
Venezuela is Cuba’s largest trading partner; it sells oil to Cuba at a reduced price.

46. Communism in Cuba
The Communist government of the Soviet Union helped support Cuba for many years.
When it collapsed in 1991, Cuba faced difficult times.
Trade from other countries does not bring in enough money to meet needs of Cuba’s people.
Government sometimes orders businesses & factories to close.
Also orders blackouts—times when all electricity is cut off in order to save electricity.

47. What has been the main export for Cuba for the past 200 years?
Coffee
Fish
Fruits
sugar

48. Which industries are helped the MOST by Cuba’s location on the ocean?
Tourism and fishing
Fishing and tobacco
Sugar and health care
Tourism and health care

49. Which product does Venezuela provide at a reduced cost to Cuba?
fish
Oil
Sugar cane
wheat

50. The large amount of arable land is MOST helpful to which industry?
Farming
Fishing
Manufacturing
tourism

51. What country supported Cuba until 1991?
Canada
Soviet Union
United States
Venezuela

52. The US has what type of trade barrier against Cuba?
NAFTA
Embargo
Quota
tariff

53. Brazil and Cuba
Using the chart on page 30 of your CRCT book – Answer the questions on page 31.

54. Latin American Mascots!
Create a mascot to represent one of the following countries: Cuba, Mexico, Brazil, and Venezuela.
Create an illustration of your country’s mascot.
Write at least 3 reasons why the mascot represents your country.

55. Juan the Taco!
Most people live in the center of Mexico; most of the filling of the taco is in the center.
The yellow shell of the taco represents the sun in Mexico.
Help me think of another!