1. Issues & Challenges of Latin America Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, & South America Chapters: 10-12

2. Mexico City (pages 234-235)  Describe the history of the site of Mexico City.  Name & describe 5 places of interest within the city for tourists.  Describe 4 Environmental Problems of Mexico City and the efforts to solve these problems.

3. Mexico City - Answers  Founded on the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan in central Mexico. At its height it was larger than any European city at that time.  1. Zocalo – Mexico City’s main square 2. Metropolitan Cathedral – (1500s) is the largest church in Latin America 3. National Palace – houses gov’t offices and Diego Rivera murals 4. Templi Mayor – Aztec Ceremonial Pyramid 5. Chapultepec Park – one of the world’s largest urban parks  Air pollution caused by cars & factory chemicals. City pumps huge amounts of water from wells & it is lowering the water table causing areas of the city to sink. Earthquakes. Factories have been forced to cut production or close. Cars with certain licenses can be only be driven on certain days. All new cars must have anti-pollution devices. Old cars are restricted from the road on “emergency” days.

4. Mexico  Economic Inequality  Reducing Poverty (especially amongst Mexican Indians)  Migration (legal & illegal)  Curbing Crime (drugs)  Poor infrastructure (unclean waters/sewers, worn out transportation systems)  Bring political/economic instability  Might slow migration  Takes away skilled workers from economy  Further economic/social progress  Causes health problems & people cannot get their goods to market IssuesEffects of Issues

5. Central America Environmental Issues  Volcanoes  Earthquakes  Hurricanes  Mudslides Volcano – Costa Rica Earthquake Damage Hurricanes Mudslides

6. Montserrat’s Soufriere Volcano  Errupted in 1995, destroying the islands capital and displacing thousands. The island’s inhabitants were forced to move to the northern part of the island. After another eruption in 1997, 2/3 of the population fled.

7. El Nino 1997 satellite image shows an El Nino developing in the eastern Pacific. The warmer water is in white.

8. El Nino (means “The Boy”)  Shows how a physical process that happens on once side of the planet can affect environments thousands of miles away.  Increases precipitation off North & South America causing hurricanes, flooding, etc.

9. Issues & Challenges of South America  Deforestation  Soil Exhaustion  Border Disputes  Terrorism/Drug Trafficking  Slums

10. Amazon Basin Development  Resources found in the Amazon rainforest include  Rubber  Oil exploration  Bauxite  Copper  Gold  Iron-ore  Land for ranching & farms

11. Development Causes Deforestation/Soil Exhaustion

12. Cleared lands that will be used for farming & the raising of cattle. Slash & Burn Methods are common.

13. Border Disputes  Left Bolivia landlocked in the 1880s  Ecuador & Peru  Venezuela & Guyana

14. Terrorism/Drug Trafficking  Groups use fear as a political force  Example: Colombia  Much of the violence is a result of the drug trade.  Illegal profits from drugs are used to buy off or assassinate judges & politicians and to support private armies 80% of all cocaine & 90% of all marijuana that enters the U.S. comes from South America.