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Where in the Latin America?

Explore the geography, climate, and natural resources of Latin American countries including Mexico, Venezuela, Brazil, and Cuba. Learn about air pollution in Mexico City and deforestation in the Amazon Rainforest.

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Where in the Latin America?

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  1. Latin America Geography and Environmental Issues Where in the Latin America?

  2. Mexico • Location: North America • Climate: • Northern Mexico has a steppe or desert climate. Dry climate with some rain • home to vast, grass-covered plains or desert shrubs • Southern Mexico has a Savanna climate. • The mountainous areas in central Mexico determines the climate based on the elevation. Such as the Sierra Madre Mountains.

  3. Mexico’s Natural Resources • SILVER! More silver is mined in Mexico than in any other country. • Mexico also has large deposits of Oil. • Also mined: Gold, Iron, Copper, Zinc, and Manganese

  4. Venezuela: Climate and Natural Resources

  5. Venezuela • Location: South America • Climate: • Northern part has a steppe climate • Central Venezuela has a Savanna Climate usually hot with seasonal rain • Southern Venezuela has a tropical climate typically hot and rainy year round

  6. Venezuela’s Natural Resources • OIL! Venezuela is an oil rich country. Venezuela has easy access to the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean allowing for easy exporting of oil around the world. • Venezuela also has deposits of natural gas and mines Iron, Gold, and Manganese • The government gets about half of its money from the oil business. • Even provides oil to Cuba at a reduced price!

  7. Brazil: Climate and Natural Resources

  8. Brazil • Location: South America. The biggest country in South America. • Climate: • Northern Brazil has a tropical climate. • Central Brazil has a Savanna Climate. • Southern Brazil has a Humid Subtropical Climate. What is the weather like in a humid Subtropical climate?

  9. Brazil’s Natural Resources • SUGAR!!! Sugar cane is Brazil’s number one exported natural resource. • It can easily trade with other countries because of its 7 seaports on the Atlantic coast. Brazil also has oil, Iron, Tin, Manganese, and aluminum. And plenty of hydroelectric power! • What about the Amazon rain forest? • 20% of the World’s oxygen comes from the Amazon rain forest!

  10. Cuba: Climate and Natural Resources

  11. Cuba Location: Caribbean sea Climate: Savanna: hot with seasonal rainfall

  12. Cuba’s Natural Resources • Land is used mostly for farming • This is because they have a large amount of arable land. • What is arable land? • They grow: Fruit and sugar cane which are the main exports • The also mine: Copper, Gold, and Nickel. Cuba also has a deposit of oil

  13. On your map, color the most populated areas in one color and the less populated areas in a different color. In the key indicate, what color represents the most populated areas and the less populated areas.

  14. Latin America Languages: Must include Spanish, Portuguese, French and English on Key Map 2 Green-Spanish Blue- French Hint: All countries in Latin America are Spanish except: Brazil, French Guiana, Suriname, Guyana, and Haiti

  15. Latin America: Environmental Issues Where in the Latin America?

  16. Latin America: Environmental Issues Air Pollution in Mexico City, Mexico

  17. Air Pollution in Mexico City • nearly 20 million people live here • second most populated city in the world--Tokyo is first • city’s population & location contribute to its bad air pollution problem • considered to be the most polluted city in the world

  18. Air pollution over Mexico City Smog underneath the clouds, surrounded by mountains

  19. Causes of Air pollution in Mexico City • huge population = lots of cars • high elevation--less oxygen so fuels don’t fully burn --higher level of gases that harm eyes, lungs, & the heart • Sierra Madre mountains surround city & trap in polluted air

  20. Mexico City Surrounded by mountains

  21. Effects of Air Pollution • Air pollution • Increase in asthma • Acid Rain

  22. Solutions for Air pollution in Mexico City • To reduce air pollution, the city promotes public transportation (buses, subway). • The city is also testing buses that run on cleaner burning fuels • new restrictions on car use • workshops to teach people about the environment

  23. Latin America: Environmental Issues Amazon Rainforest: Deforestation

  24. Amazon Rainforest • largest rainforest in the world • most of the rainforest is in Brazil • experiences a hot, humid, & rainy tropical climate • home to a huge variety of plants, trees, insects, birds, & animals • produces 1/3 of the earth’s oxygen (about 20%)

  25. Amazon Rain Forest Brazil

  26. Destruction of the Amazon Rainforest • The Brazilian government built a major highway system. • opened rainforest to loggers • Brazil’s population has increased

  27. Amazon Rainforest Before

  28. Amazon Rainforest After

  29. Results of deforestation • Plants & animals are losing their homes; many are endangered, and some are becoming extinct. • Loss of trees increases carbon dioxide, a gas that contributes to global warming.

  30. Clear-cutting, slash and burn, and Mud slide due to erosion

  31. Solutions • The government is passing laws to limit the number of trees • Companies are replanting trees and “farming” them until they are mature enough to cut again.

  32. Latin America: Environmental Issues Venezuela: oil-related pollution

  33. Black Gold in Venezuela • One of the world’s leading producers of oil • has been producing oil for about 100 years • Oil production has boosted economy • Main source of income for many people • Oil production results in toxic wastes, air pollution, & oil spills

  34. Results of drilling for oil… Venezuela

  35. Causes • Unscientific drilling • Poor government involvement • Lack of proper machinery to clean effected areas

  36. The effects • Venezuela’s coast has become polluted with oil. • The environment is damaged • Fishing industry is hurt • Breathing problems for children and elderly

  37. More effects of oil in Venezuela • Oil businesses have damaged Lake Maracaibo (largest lake in South America). • Large amounts of oil have been removed from the area so the land is changing. • eastern shore of the lake is dropping about three inches a year • government is having to take precautions to keep water from flooding into nearby towns

  38. Oil Spill What does this remind you of?

  39. Problems • Money from selling oil is the country’s main source of income. • Venezuelans are motivated to keep producing, selling, and burning oil--and polluting

  40. Solutions • Develop renewable energy sources • Focus on clean-up and prevention of pollution • Involve government more • Better training of workers (investing in human capital)

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