190 likes | 342 Views
Physical Geography of Latin America. SSWG7b . Describe the location of major physical features and their impact on Latin America. . Mountains/Highlands. Major Features: Andes Mountains, Brazilian Highlands, Sierra Madre Occidental, Sierra Madre Oriental
E N D
Physical Geography of Latin America SSWG7b. Describe the location of major physical features and their impact on Latin America.
Mountains/Highlands • Major Features: Andes Mountains, Brazilian Highlands, Sierra Madre Occidental, Sierra Madre Oriental • Second highest mountains in the world are the Andes • Andes divided into 3 chains mostly in Chile • Occidental (west)—steep with canyons & varying climates • Oriental (east)—tall, isolated and dry • Brazilian Highlands—made from volcanic lava
Mountains/Highlands Andes Mountains Brazilian Highlands
Mountains/Highlands Occidental Oriental
Plateaus • Major Features: Mato Grasso Plateau, Patagonia • Patagonia semi-arid plateau known for nomadic herding • Mato Grasso Plateau area where a lot of native people live.
Plateaus Mato Grasso Patagonia
Plains/Basins • Major Features: Amazon Basin, Pampas • Pampas is flat prairie like area mostly in Argentina • Pampas—major economic area for agriculture & herding • Amazon Basin—full of rare plants and possibilities for medications.
Plains/Basins Amazon Basin Pampas
Rivers • Major Features: Amazon, Paraguay, Parana • Amazon is the largest river in the world with lots of tributaries • Runs through most of Brazil • Paraguay River starts in Mato Grasso Plateau • Mostly used for minor trading
Rivers Amazon River Piranha!
Seas/Gulfs • Major Features: Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico • Caribbean Sea has many of the islands of the West Indies • Caribbean Sea area’s primary income is tourism • Gulf of Mexico—9th largest body of water in world • Recent ecological damage
Seas/Gulfs Caribbean Sea Gulf of Mexico
Additional Water Features • Major features: Panama Canal, Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean • Panama Canal built to lessen travel time for goods • Essentially connects the Atlantic & Pacific (through the Caribbean Sea) • Built from 1904 to 1914 • Oceans are part of eco-tourism
Additional Water Features Panama Canal Pacific Ocean
Deserts • Major Feature: Atacama Desert • Northern Chile between ocean and Andes • Almost little vegetation • Less than 1 inch of rain per year • Rich in minerals
Atacama Desert Deserts
Additional Features • Major Feature: Baja California, Yucatan Peninsula, Tierra del Fuego, Galapagos Islands, Easter Island • Tierra del Fuego is an archipelagowith cold climate • Tierra del Fuego—known for sheep • Galapagos—Darwin & diversity • Easter Island—big statues • Yucatan Peninsula—known for beach vacations • Baja California is actual a part of Mexico
Additional Features Baja California Tierra del Fuego
Additional Features Galapagos Islands Easter Island