Chapter Introduction
Section 1: Physical
Features
Section 2: Climate Regions
Visual Summary
Movement Latin America
stretches from Mexico in North
America to the southernmost tip of
South America. The region has a
great variety of physical contrasts.
Steamy tropical forests, thundering
waterfalls, cold mountain peaks,
and peaceful island beaches make
up Latin America. How might a
wide variety of physical features
affect transportation and
communications within a
region?
Section 1:
Physical Features
Geographic factors
influence where people
settle. In Latin America, vast
river systems provide
transportation and support
fishing. The region’s rugged
mountains and thick forests,
however, have been
obstacles to transportation
and trade.
Section 2:
Climate Regions
The physical environment
affects how people live.
Latin America’s vast expanse
of rain forest is the largest in
the world and contains
valuable resources. In
mountainous areas, climate
and vegetation are affected
more by altitude than by
latitude.
Geographic factors influence where
people settle.
Content Vocabulary
• subregion
• tributary
• isthmus
• estuary
• archipelago
• gasohol
• escarpment
• Llanos
• Pampas
Academic Vocabulary
• transport
• reside
How do you farm when there is no
flat land? The Inca, an advanced
civilization that existed hundreds of
years ago in Peru, used a method
called terracing. They carved layered
fields, like wide steps, into the
mountainsides. Today, descendants
of the Inca still use this method to
raise crops at high altitudes. To learn
how the physical landscape has
affected other human
activities, read
Section 1.
Does your town you live in have
many mountains?
A. Yes
B. No
A. A
B. B
0%
A
0%
B
Before the construction of the Panama Canal, a ship
sailing from New York City to San Francisco had to go
around South America—a trip of 13,165 miles (21,187
km). The Canal route is 5,300 miles (8,529 km)—a
shortcut of 7,865 miles (12,657 km).
Landforms
Mountains are prominent
features in many parts of
Latin America.
Landforms (cont.)
• Geographers divide the region of Latin
America into three subregions: Middle
America, the Caribbean, and South
America.
• Middle America is made up of Mexico and
Central America. Central America is an
isthmus, or a narrow piece of land that
links North America and South America.
Landforms (cont.)
• Mountain ranges run along Mexico’s
eastern and western coasts with a high
plateau between.
• Central America has mountains and
lowlands along its coasts.
• Thick forests, rugged mountains, and
coastal marshes make it difficult to
transport goods in that country.
Landforms (cont.)
• The islands of the Caribbean Sea, also
known as the West Indies, are divided into
the Greater Antilles, the Lesser Antilles,
and the Bahamas.
• The Greater Antilles include the largest
islands—Cuba, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico,
and Jamaica.
Landforms (cont.)
• The Lesser Antilles is an archipelago, or
group of islands, curving from the Virgin
Islands to Trinidad.
• The third group is the Bahamas, another
archipelago.
Landforms (cont.)
• Cuba has about half of the Caribbean’s
land area.
• Some islands are low-lying, but others,
formed by volcanoes, have rugged
mountains.
• Some volcanoes are still active and can be
damaging, but the fertile volcanic soil is
good for growing sugarcane and tobacco.
Landforms (cont.)
• The Andes mountain ranges and the vast
Amazon Basin are South America’s major
landforms.
• The Andes, the world’s longest mountain
system, are a cordillera and stretch along
the Pacific coast of South America for
about 5,500 miles (8,851 km).
• Between the mountain chains lie plateaus
and valleys, where most people live
and farm.
Landforms (cont.)
• The Amazon Basin is a low-lying area
formed the Amazon River and covering 2.7
million square miles (7.0 million sq. km).
• Highlands to the north and south border
the basin.
• The Brazilian Highlands end in an
escarpment, a series of steep cliffs that
drop down to the Atlantic coastal plain.
Landforms (cont.)
• Tropical grasslands known as the Llanos
stretch through eastern Colombia and
Venezuela.
• Another well-known plain, the Pampas,
covers much of Argentina and Uruguay
and provides grazing land for beef cattle
and fertile soil for growing grains.
How many tectonic plates do Mexico
and Central America lie on?
A. 2
B. 3
C. 4
D. 5
0%
A
A.
B.
C.
0%
D.
B
A
B
C
0%
D
C
0%
D
Waterways
Latin America’s waterways
provide important
transportation routes.
Waterways (cont.)
• The Amazon, Latin America’s longest river,
starts in the Andes and flows east about
4,000 miles (6,437 km) to the Atlantic
Ocean.
• Heavy rains and many tributaries, or
small rivers that flow into a larger river,
feed the Amazon.
Waterways (cont.)
• Three other rivers—the Paraná, Paraguay,
and Uruguay—form Latin America’s
second-largest river system.
• These rivers flow into the Rio de la Plata—
a broad estuary, or area where river
currents and ocean tides meet—which
meets the Atlantic Ocean.
Waterways (cont.)
• The Orinoco River flows through
Venezuela to the Caribbean Sea, carrying
fertile soil into the Llanos region.
• Venezuela’s Lake Maracaibo is South
America’s largest lake and contains some
of Venezuela’s oil fields.
Waterways (cont.)
• Lake Titicaca lies between Bolivia
and Peru.
• About 12,500 feet above sea level, it is the
world’s highest lake that can be used by
large ships.
Waterways (cont.)
• The Panama Canal, a human-made
waterway, stretches across the narrow
Isthmus of Panama.
• Ships use the canal to shorten travel time
between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
What is Latin America’s
longest river?
A. Amazon
B. Paraná
C. Paraguay
D. Uruguay
0%
A
A.
B.
C.
0%
D.
B
A
B
C
0%
D
C
0%
D
A Wealth of Natural Resources
Latin America has vast
natural resources, but
political and economic
troubles have kept some
countries from fully using
them.
A Wealth of Natural Resources (cont.)
• Latin America’s largest country, Brazil, is
more than 55 percent forest, including a
large area of tropical rain forests.
– The rain forests provide timber, rubber,
palm oil, and Brazil nuts.
A Wealth of Natural Resources (cont.)
• Brazil has large amounts of bauxite, gold,
and tin but limited oil and natural gas
reserves.
• Its deposits of iron ore and manganese
help support one of the world’s largest iron
and steel industries.
• To reduce its dependence on oil imports,
Brazil uses alcohol produced from
sugarcane and gasoline to produce a fuel
for cars called gasohol.
A Wealth of Natural Resources (cont.)
• Venezuela has the region’s largest oil and
natural gas reserves, and Mexico has
large amounts of oil and natural gas along
the coast of the Gulf of Mexico.
• Both countries use the supplies for their
own energy needs as well as for exports.
• Bolivia and Ecuador also have valuable oil
and natural gas deposits.
A Wealth of Natural Resources (cont.)
• Silver is mined in Mexico and Peru, and
Venezuela has rich iron ore deposits.
• Colombian mines produce the world’s
finest emeralds, while Chile is the world’s
largest exporter of copper.
A Wealth of Natural Resources (cont.)
• The Caribbean islands generally have
relatively few mineral resources, although
Jamaica has large deposits of bauxite.
• Cuba mines nickel, and the Dominican
Republic mines gold and silver.
• The Central American countries of
Nicaragua and Guatemala have rich gold
deposits, but political conflicts and
transportation problems make mining
these deposits difficult.
What is combined with gasoline to
produce gasohol?
A. Iron ore
B. Alcohol from sugarcane
C. Bauxite
D. Alcohol from palm oil
0%
A
A.
B.
C.
0%
D.
B
A
B
C0%
D
C
0%
D
The physical environment affects
how people live.
Content Vocabulary
• Tropics
• canopy
• rain forest
• altitude
Academic Vocabulary
• facilitate
• considerable
These huge, 6-foot-wide water lilies are
found deep in Brazilian rain forests near the
mighty Amazon River. They are so strong
that an average-sized adult could rest his or
her full weight on them! The warm
temperatures and heavy rains of the rain
forest create an ideal growing environment
for many exotic plants. To learn more about
how climate affects the people, vegetation,
and wildlife of Latin America, read Section 2.
Do you know what the El Niño
effect is?
A. Yes
B. No
A. A
B. B
0%
A
0%
B
Two of Latin America’s concerns about climate change
are related to agriculture and health. Because bananas
must have temperatures around 80ºF (27ºC) and plenty
of rainfall, a climate change could destroy this crop.
And a warming climate change could increase the area
of the hot, moist environment of the Anopheles
mosquito—the carrier of the deadly disease malaria.
Hot to Mild Climates
Much of Latin America is
located in the Tropics and has
year-round high temperatures
and heavy rainfall.
Hot to Mild Climates (cont.)
• Most of Latin America lies within the
Tropics—the area between the Tropic of
Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn.
• This area has generally warm
temperatures because it receives the
direct rays of the sun for much of the year.
• However, mountain ranges and
wind patterns create a variety
of climates in the region.
Latin America: Climate Zones
Hot to Mild Climates (cont.)
• A tropical wet climate is found in some
Caribbean islands and much of Central
America and South America.
– This climate is marked by year-round hot
temperatures and heavy rainfall.
– Vast areas of rain forest cover much of
this climate zone.
Latin America: Climate Zones
Hot to Mild Climates (cont.)
• A rain forest is a dense stand of trees and
other plants that receives high amounts of
precipitation.
– Warm temperatures and heavy rains
facilitate the growth of rain forests.
Latin America: Climate Zones
Hot to Mild Climates (cont.)
• South America’s Amazon Basin is home to
the world’s largest rain forest with more
species of plants and animals per square
mile than anywhere else on Earth.
• Trees there grow so close together that
their tops form a dense canopy, an
umbrella-like covering of leaves.
Hot to Mild Climates (cont.)
• From June to November, hurricanes often
strike the Caribbean islands.
– The heavy winds and rain of these
storms can cause considerable damage.
– Still, many Caribbean islands have used
their warm climate and beautiful
beaches to build a strong tourist
industry.
Hot to Mild Climates (cont.)
• Temperate climates are found in the parts
of South America that lie south of the
Tropic of Capricorn.
• A humid subtropical climate dominates
much of southeastern South America, from
southern Brazil to the Pampas of Argentina
and Uruguay.
• This means that winters are short and
mild, and summers are long, hot, and
humid.
Hot to Mild Climates (cont.)
• Central Chile has a Mediterranean climate
that features dry summers and rainy
winters.
– Farther south is a marine coastal climate
zone.
– In this area, rainfall is heavier and falls
throughout the year.
Hot to Mild Climates (cont.)
• Along the Pacific coast of northern Chile
and in the rain shadow of the Andes lies
the Atacama Desert, one of the driest
places on Earth.
• Winds from the Atlantic Ocean bring rain to
the regions east of the Andes, but they
carry no moisture past them.
Hot to Mild Climates (cont.)
• The cold Peru Current in the Pacific Ocean
does not evaporate as much moisture as a
warm current does.
• As a result, only dry air hits the coasts.
Hot to Mild Climates (cont.)
• Weather in South America is strongly
influenced by the El Niño effect.
• This is a set of changes in air pressure,
temperature, and rainfall that begins in the
Pacific Ocean.
Hot to Mild Climates (cont.)
• When El Niño takes place, the Pacific
waters off Peru’s coast are
unusually warm.
• As a result, winds blowing toward land
carry heavy rains that lead to severe
flooding along Peru’s coast.
• El Niño can also bring a long dry season to
northeastern Brazil, causing crop failures.
In what climate zone is most of Latin
America located?
A. Tropics
B. Dry
C. Temperate
D. Desert
0%
A
A.
B.
C.
0%
D.
B
A
B
C
0%
D
C
0%
D
Elevation and Climate
In tropical Latin America,
altitude causes great changes
in climate and vegetation.
Elevation and Climate (cont.)
• Mountains and highlands cover much of
Latin America.
– Altitude, a place’s height above sea
level, affects climate in these rugged
areas.
Altitude Climate Zones
Elevation and Climate (cont.)
– Mountains and highlands cover much of
Latin America.
– The Andes, for example, have four
altitude zones of climate.
Altitude Climate Zones
Elevation and Climate (cont.)
• The tierra caliente, or “hot land,” refers to
the hot and humid elevations near
sea level.
– The average temperature range is
between 75ºF to 80ºF (24ºC to 27ºC).
– There is little change from one month to
another.
Altitude Climate Zones
Elevation and Climate (cont.)
• Higher up the mountains—from 3,000 feet
to 6,000 feet (914 m to 1,829 m)—the air
becomes cooler.
• Abundant rainfall encourages the growth
of forests.
Altitude Climate Zones
Elevation and Climate (cont.)
• This zone of moist, pleasant climates is
called the tierra templada, or
“temperate land.”
• The mild temperatures—between 65ºF
and 75ºF (18ºC and 24ºC)—make it the
most densely populated of the
climate zones.
Altitude Climate Zones
Elevation and Climate (cont.)
• The next zone is the tierra fria or “cold
land.” It begins at 6,000 feet (1,829 m) and
stretches up to 10,000 feet (3,048 m).
– Average yearly temperatures here can
be as low as 55ºF (13ºC).
Altitude Climate Zones
Elevation and Climate (cont.)
– The tierra fria has forested and
grassy areas.
– Farming can take place in this
zone in the warmer summers.
Altitude Climate Zones
Elevation and Climate (cont.)
• The tierra helada, or “frozen land,” is the
zone of highest elevation.
– It lies above 10,000 to 12,000 feet
(3,048 m to 3,658 m).
– Conditions here can be harsh. The
climate is cold, and the temperature can
be as low as 20ºF (–7ºC).
– Relatively few people live
at these heights.
Altitude Climate Zones
What is an important export crop in
the tierra templada zone?
A. Sugarcane
B. Coffee
C. Potatoes
D. Barley
0%
A
A.
B.
C.
0%
D.
B
A
B
C
0%
D
C
0%
D
Landforms
• Geographers divide Latin
America into three
subregions—Middle
America, the Caribbean,
and South America.
• Middle America, which
joins North America and
South America, has
central mountains and
narrow coastal plains.
Landforms
• Caribbean islands can be
lowlying or mountainous.
Many have volcanoes.
• The towering Andes and
the vast Amazon Basin
are South America’s major
landforms.
• Highlands border the
Amazon Basin. Lowland
plains cross parts of
Colombia, Venezuela,
Uruguay, and Argentina.
Waterways
• Latin America’s
waterways provide
food and
transportation.
• The Panama Canal, a
human-made
waterway, links the
Atlantic and Pacific
Oceans.
• Large reserves of oil
are found near
Venezuela’s Lake
Maracaibo.
Resources of Latin America
• Venezuela, Mexico, and
Bolivia export oil and
natural gas.
• Mineral resources from
Latin America include iron
ore, copper, tin, silver, and
emeralds.
• Political conflicts and
transportation difficulties
keep some countries from
fully using their resources.
Climate Regions
• Latin America’s tropical rain
forest and savanna climates
have warm temperatures.
• Rain forests, such as those
in the Amazon Basin, have
a great variety of plant and
animal life.
• The El Niño effect brings heavy rain or drought to
parts of South America.
• Climates tend to be drier and cooler at higher
elevations, even within the Tropics.
subregion
smaller area of a region
isthmus
narrow stretch of land connecting two
larger land areas
archipelago
group of islands
escarpment
steep cliff at the edge of a plateau
with a lowland area below
Llanos
tropical grasslands that stretch
through eastern Colombia and
Venezuela
Pampas
treeless grassland of Argentina and
Uruguay
tributary
small river that flows into a larger river
estuary
an area where river currents and
ocean tide meet
gasohol
human-made fuel produced from
mixing gasoline and alcohol made
from sugarcane
transport
move
reside
live
Tropics
area between the Tropic of Cancer
and the Tropic of Capricorn, which
has generally warm temperatures
because it receives the direct rays of
the sun for much of the year
rain forest
dense stand of trees and other growth
that receives high amounts of
precipitation each year
canopy
umbrella-like covering formed by the
tops of trees in a rain forest
altitude
height above sea level
facilitate
make possible
considerable
much
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