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The Physical Geography of Latin America. Unit 3 - Chapter 8. I. Section I. The Land. A. A Vast Region. Located in the Western Hemisphere Land area – 8 million sq. miles Latin America made up of 3 parts Middle America Central America & Mexico Caribbean (aka. the West Indies)
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The Physical Geography of Latin America Unit 3 - Chapter 8 Ch 8 PP
I. Section I The Land Ch 8 PP
A. A Vast Region • Located in the Western Hemisphere • Land area – 8 million sq. miles • Latin America made up of 3 parts • Middle America • Central America & Mexico • Caribbean (aka. the West Indies) • Bahamas, Greater Antilles, Lesser Antilles • South America • Only 2 landlocked countries • Paraguay & Bolivia Ch 8 PP
B. Mountains & Plateaus • Mountains of Mexico, Central America, & Caribbean • Sierra Madre Oriental (Eastern), Occidental (Western), & del Sur (of the south) • These mountains surround the densely populated Mexican Plateau • Central Highlands Ch 8 PP
Mountains & Plateaus (Cont.) • Andes Mtns. Of South America • World’s longest mountain range!!! • Also cordilleras • Altiplano – means high plain – Peru & Bolivia • Patagonia – plateau in Argentina • Highlands of Brazil • Mato Grosso Plateau • Brazilian Highlands • Escarpments – steep cliff or slope Ch 8 PP
C. Lowlands & Plains • Grasslands • Llanos – Colombia & Venezuela • Employ llaneros • Pampas – Argentina & Uruguay • Employ gaunchos Ch 8 PP
D. Water Systems • Rivers • Rio Grande – river that forms the border between Mexico & U.S • Amazon River – largest river in the world!!! • Rivers provide power – hydroelectric power Ch 8 PP
Water Systems (Cont.) • Lakes • Lake Titicaca – highest navigable lake – Andes • Lake Maracaibo – S. America’s largest lake – Venezuela • Waterfall • Angel Falls – highest waterfall in the world - Venezuela Ch 8 PP
E. Natural Resources • Oil & natural gas • Gold – Venezuela & Brazil • Silver – Peru & Mexico • Emeralds - Colombia • Copper - Chile • Bauxite – Jamaica • Tin – Bolivia & Brazil Ch 8 PP
II. Section II Climate & Vegetation Ch 8 PP
A. Climate & Vegetation Regions • Tropical Regions • Rain Forest • Amazon Basin • What forest is located here? • Canopy – continuous layer of leaves • Tropical Savanna Ch 8 PP
Climate & Vegetation Regions (Cont.) • Desert & Steppe Areas • Atacama Desert – Chile – one of the driest places on earth! Ch 8 PP
B. Elevation & Climate • Tierra Caliente – hot land • Tierra Templada – temperate land • Tierra Fria – cold land Ch 8 PP