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Latin America

Latin America. Geography. Overview of Latin America. Latin America. Begins at the Rio Grande River on the southern border of the United States and extends to the southern tip of South America. Covers 7,900,000 square miles or 16% of the earth’s surface. The Land. Mountains

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Latin America

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  1. Latin America Geography

  2. Overview of Latin America

  3. Latin America • Begins at the Rio Grande River on the southern border of the United States and extends to the southern tip of South America. • Covers 7,900,000 square miles or 16% of the earth’s surface

  4. The Land • Mountains • Mexico has three mountain ranges • West Indies islands are the tops of volcanic mountains • The Andes Mountains stretches along the west coast of South America • Plains • Cover the coasts of Mexico and Central America • Two inland plains found inside South America • Pampas of Argentina and llanos of Colombia and Venezuela

  5. The Land • Rivers • Contains five rivers including the Amazon • The Amazon stretches 4,000 miles and is the longest river in the Western Hemisphere. • Natural Resources • Oil and natural gas are prevalent in Mexico and Venezuela • Other resources found are copper, iron ore, silver, and lead. • Rich soil allows farmers to grow grains, fruit, and coffee.

  6. Climate and Vegetation • Elevation • Low elevation-hot and humid with green tropical vegetation • Higher elevation- the climate becomes milder and the temperature becomes cooler • Highest elevation- very little plant life (snow or frost) • Rainforests • Cover the lowland areas of Latin America • Largest is in Brazil in the Amazon basin • Found on the east coast of Central America and some of the Caribbean islands

  7. Economy • Based mainly on agriculture • Farmers grow coffee, bananas, and sugarcane • Latin America is a top cattle raising region in the world • Service industry and manufacturing is growing

  8. The People • Population- 500 million people (9%) • 70% live in cities and along the coastlines • Very diversified (many different groups of people) • Democratic governments have emerged and continue to emerge.

  9. Latin America • Physical geography varies • Low-lying plains and vast water systems • Beauty and magnificence of the high rugged peaks of the Andes mountains

  10. Location and Basic Facts • Located in the Western Hemisphere, south of the United States • 8 million square miles of land (16% of the world’s land surface) • Divided into three sub-regions: • Middle America • The Caribbean • South America

  11. Mountains and Plateaus • The Andes mountains are the most distinctive landforms in this region • Located along the Pacific “Ring of Fire” • Plate movement still occurs causing earthquakes and volcanic eruptions • People have settled into the mountain region and mostly plateaus

  12. Mountains and Plateaus • The cooler climate and rich resources drew settlers in • These regions were at one time very isolated • Technology (cell phones, tv, and internet are breaking down physical barriers

  13. Mountains in Middle America and the Caribbean • Sierra Madre mountain ranges are surrounded by the Mexican plateau • Mild climate, fertile volcanic soil, and rainfall have attracted settlers for many years • The Central Highlands is a chain of volcanic peaks in which many islands in the Caribbean Sea are part of

  14. Andes of South America • Stretch 4,500 miles along the western edge of South America • The longest mountain chain and one of the tallest in the world

  15. Highlands of Brazil • Mato Grosso Plateau- sparsely populated plateau of forests and grasslands • Brazil, Bolivia, Peru • Brazilian Highlands- spans several climate and vegetation zones • Key place to raise livestock

  16. Figure 1

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  22. Chapter 9 Latin America Mr. Jeremy Rinkel

  23. Mexico

  24. Bridging Two Continents • Land bridge- a narrow strip of land that joins two larger landmasses • Connects North America and South America • Mexico is a peninsula or piece of land surrounded by water on three sides.

  25. Mexico “Land of the Shaking Earth” • Very rugged landscape • Situated over various plates which caused the formation of mountains and volcanoes. • Earthquakes occur very frequently • Mount Popocatepetl “smoky mountain” • Famous volcano named by Aztec Indians

  26. Mountains and Plateau • Mountain Ranges • Sierra Madre Occidentl (runs north and south along western Mexico near the Pacific Ocean) • Sierra Madre Oriental (runs along the eastern side of Mexico • Sierra Madre del Sur (southwestern Mexico) • Plateau of Mexico (covers 40% of Mexico) • Northern part is desert and grassy plains • Southern part rises in elevation with basins • Basins are broad, flat valleys.

  27. Coastal Lowlands • Stretch along the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico • Rivers flow through the coastal plains • The Rio Grande forms the border with the U.S. and drains in the Gulf of Mexico

  28. Climate • Latitude is the location north or south of the equator • The Tropic of Cancer runs through the center of Mexico • Mexico is usually warm year around

  29. Climate • Altitude zones • Hot Land • Temperate Land • Cold Land

  30. The Economy • Economic Regions • Service industries- is a business that provides services to people instead of making goods. • Three economic regions • Central Mexico • The North • The South

  31. Farming in Mexico • Only 11% of the land is fertile for farming because of the mountains, deserts, and rainforests • Farmers grow: coffee, corn, cotton, oranges, and sugarcane.

  32. Central Mexico • The economic heart of the country • Home to half of Mexico’s population • Has favorable conditions for farming • Cities in Central Mexico • Mexico City • Guadalajara • Leon • Puebla

  33. The North • Includes Baja California and the northern part of the plateau of Mexico • Too dry to farm, but farmers irrigate to grow • Cotton, fruits, cereals, and vegetables • Ranchers raise • Cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs • Vaqueros- cowhands developed the tools to herd, rope and brand cattle.

  34. The North • Cities • Monterrey (steel, copper, lead, and zinc) • Maquiladoras- are factories that assemble parts shipped from other countries • Assemble automobiles, stereo systems, computers, and other electronic devices

  35. The South • Stretches from Mexico City to the Yucatan Peninsula. • Poorest people of Mexico live in this area • Subsistence farm- is a farm that produces only enough to support a family’s needs • Plantations (in the valleys)- large farms that raise a single crop for money. • Rich farmers grow coffee and sugarcane • Tourism is very popular in the South

  36. Economic Challenges • Mexico has become an industrialized country • Describes a country in which industry has replaced farming as the main economic activity • Challenges due to industrialization • Conserving land • Controlling pollution • Creating new jobs • Increasing trade with other countries

  37. Pollution • Mountains surround Mexico City blocking the flow of air leaving smog. • Smog- is fog mixed with smoke and chemicals. • The city sometimes shuts down and people must stay indoors • Thousands of acres of forest are burned to make room for new fields for crops

  38. Population Changes • Mexico’s population is growing twice as fast as the United States • Mexico cannot provide enough jobs • 98 million people live in the southern part of the Plateau of Mexico • Resources are strained with so many people living in this area • Many people move to the U.S. to seek employment

  39. Free Trade • North American Free Trade Agreement • Joint agreement between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico (1993) • Allows money to move freely among these three countries • Has created many new jobs in Mexico

  40. Native Americans • The first people came from Asia • The Maya flourished in Yucatan • Lived during 250 A.D to 900 A.D. • Built cities around towering temples in the rainforest • The Aztecs built the city Tenochtitlan • Mexico City is located in this area • Were fierce warriors, builders and traders • Had marketplaces filled with pottery, baskets, cloth, gold, and silver

  41. The Spanish Heritage • Hernan Cortes- arrived in Mexico in 1519. • Mexico remained a Spanish colony for nearly 300 years • The Spaniards enslaved the Native Americans and had them work the fields and the mines • Mestizo is a person with mixed Native American and European heritage • 60% are mestizos 30% Native American

  42. Modern Mexico • Gained its freedom from Spain in 1821 • Revolution began in 1910 because people were discontent of the way of life especially poor farmers • 1920- Mexico became a federal republic • 31 states share powers • 1990s- people demanded reform • Other parties began to rule and win elections instead of just one political party

  43. City Life • ¾ of the population in Mexico live in cities • Older homes are made of adobe (sun-dried or clay bricks) • Houses in poor areas are made of scrap wood, metal, or whatever material can be found • Most of these homes lack electricity and running water

  44. Country Life • Most Mexican villages are very poor • Homes are built of cement blocks, with a red tiled roof, sheet metal, or clay • Most villages have a marketplace where clothes, food, baskets, and pottery are sold

  45. The Arts and Recreation • Painters and Writers- have created many national treasures • Produced many murals or wall paintings • Music and Dance • Traditional music is played by a Mariachi band (a singer, 2 violinists, 2 guitarists, two horn players, and a bass player) • These musicians wear colorful outfits and sombreros

  46. The Arts and Recreation • Celebrations- fiesta (feast day) • Independence Day (September 15 & 16) • Cinco de Mayo (May 5) • Mexicans also celebrate Christmas • Foods • Sports • Soccer is the most popular sport • Bullfighting is a popular sport for tourists

  47. Sources • http://go.hrw.com/atlas/norm_htm/mexico.htm

  48. Central America

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