Latin America
A diverse region-steeped in
the heritage of three
cultures, one language, and
one religion.
Environmental Changes: Pollution
Mexico City has severe
air pollution.
Heavy smog is caused by
overpopulation, a history
of poor emissions and
topography.
one of the most polluted
cities in Latin America as
well as the most
populous.
Language
Hispanic America speaks Spanish
Brazil speaks Portuguese
Why?
Ans: Treaty of Tordesillas. Pope
settled territorial disputes
between Portugal and Spain.
Rain Forests: HumanEnvironment Interaction.
Much of this
region is
dominated by rain
forests.
The world’s rain
forests are in
serious trouble
due to
deforestation
Impact of Physical; elements
The Rio Grande is a natural border.
Latin America: A Region
Three Sub-Regions:
1. Central America
2. South America
3. The Caribbean
Central America
Mexico-Belize-Guatemala
El Salvador-HondurasNicaragua
Costa Rica-Panama (Isthmus)
South America: largest landmass
Colombia-Venezuela-Guyana
Suriname-French Guiana-Ecuador
Peru-Bolivia-Brazil (largest country)
Paraguay-Argentina
Uruguay-Chile
Caribbean
Cuba
Haiti
Jamaica
Dominican Republic
Puerto Rico (U.S.)
(Part of the Greater Antilles)
Physical Characteristics: South
America = largest land area in
region.
Major Mountain Ranges
The Andes
Mountains run
down the west
coast of South
America and are
the longest
mountain range in
the world.
More Mountain Ranges
In Mexico you
have the Sierra
Madre Occidental
in the west, the
Sierra Madre
Oriental in the
east, and the
Sierra Madre del
Sur in the south.
Rainforests
The Amazon The largest
rainforest in the world.
The Atacama Desert
The Atacama
Desert is a
coastal desert
that is on the
leeward side of
the Andes
Mountains.
It is the driest
place on earth –
it hasn’t rained in
400 years!
Reversed seasons south of the equator
They have Summer when we
have winter and vice versa.
Amazon River Basin
The Amazon River
Basin is one of the
largest river
systems in the
world. During the
rainy season the
Amazon river gets
up to 350,000 sq
km (3 times its size
during the dry
season)
Grasslands - Pampas
In the plains of
Argentina and
Uruguay there are
the grassy,
treeless areas
known as
Pampas. The
Pampas have the
rainfall and fertile
soils needed for
producing grain
and grazing cattle
and sheep.
Grasslands - Llanos
People of
Venezuela and
Colombia have
been raising cattle
for hundreds of
years on the large,
fertile plains areas
called llanos
(LAHnohz), which
run along the
Caribbean coast of
South America.
Tropical Climates predominate
Volcanoes and earthquakes
Location: Ring of Fire
Archipelagoes:
Greater and Lesser Antilles
Vertical Climate Zones
Climate and vegetation vary widely,
depending on elevation. The following
vertical climate zones exist the region:
Tierra Caliente: 2,500-3,000 feet
Tierra Templada: 6,000-6,500 feet
Tierra Fria: 10,000-12,000 feet
Tierra Helada: above 15,000 feet
Economic Characteristics:
Diverse economies
Primary levels of economics –
farming, oil
Some tourism – ecotourism: e.g.
rainforests.
Disparity of income distribution
Environmental concerns
NAFTA
Primary Economic Level
Subsistence farming
is farming at a basic
level.
Subsistence farming
is farming to meet
the needs of
yourself and your
family.
Demographics that are typical of
developing countries:
1. Low per capita GDP
2. Low life expectancy
3. High population growth rate
4. High infant mortality
5. Large percentage of the population under
the age of 15
6. Low literacy rates
Plantation Agriculture
Commercial farming,
which is farming for
profit, exists on
plantations.
There are various
cash crops and food
crops but the major
crop is COFFEE.
Slash and Burn Farming
Is a form of
subsistence farming in
which forests are cut
and burned to plant
crops.
This adds to South
America’s
deforestation problem.
Haciendas – large Spanish Plantations
Gauchos: Argentine Cowboys They
work on ranches in the pampas
region.
Deforestation
South America’s
rain forests are
rapidly being
destroyed.
Brazil has some of
the worst
deforestation in the
world.
Oil Resources (nonrenewable)
Venezuela
Ecuador
Mexico
Disparity of Income Distribution
A growing gap between the
rich and the poor
NAFTA
North American
Free Trade
Agreement
(NAFTA).
USA, Canada and
Mexico all signed to
open trade and
improve the
economies of the
three nations.
NAFTA is an example of:
1. How membership in military
and political alliances provide
access to markets.
2. An economic union.
3. Spatial divisions.
4. Cooperation
Diverse mineral resources
Copper in Chile
Iron ore in
Venezuela
Iron ore in Brazil
Cultural Characteristics
Influence of European colonization,
Indian civilizations and African
traditions.
Predominance of Roman Catholic
religion.
Rigid social structure: Spanish
influence
Cultural hearths: Ancient Native Civ.
Indian Civilizations
Maya: in the Yucatan Peninsula
Aztec: near Mexico City
Inca: in the Andean mountains of Peru
African Traditions
Cultural influences came with the
slaves that were imported to work
on the plantations
European Colonization:
1. Spain
2. Portugal
3. England
4. France
Roman Catholic religion
Brought by the Spanish
Mestizos – mixed white
(mostly Spanish) and Indian
Location of settlements
Most people in
South America live
near the coasts.
Why?
Large Megacities
like Rio de Janeiro
occur along the
coasts.
Answer: because of physical
barriers to farming and other
economic development. For
Example: the Andes
Mountains and the Amazon
rain forest.
Impoverished Squatter settlements
arise outside of the Megacities like
this one.
Rapid population growth –
developing. Mexico in 2000
Out Migration
People are leaving,
many going to the U.S.
in search of economic
opportunity.
Cultural heritage
Music – African influences, calypso,
steel drum bands, reggae
Traditional Dances – Tango in
Argentina
Spanish is the dominant language
Portuguese in Brazil (line of
demarcation)
Calypso Music from the
Caribbean (Steel Drums)
Reggae – Jamaica (Caribbean)
Witness the passion of the Tango!
AH, the Latin dance of love!
Cultural Landscape
Pyramids, cathedrals
Haciendas, ejidos (communal land)
Machu Picchu
Tikal
Cultural Lanscape
Hacienda: large Spanish estate.
Machu Picchu – Old Incan City
high in the Andes Mountains.
Tikal – largest known Mayan city
Cities as centers of culture and trade:
Mexico City: Capital of Mexicolocated high on the Mexican
Plateau on the site of the Aztec
Capital.
Rio de Janeiro: Previous capital of
Brazil-coastal port and center of
Brazilian culture-carnival! When
my baby smiles at me, I go to
Rio…..
Mexico City
Rio de Janeiro
Cities continued:
Buenos Aires: Capital of Argentinalocated at the mouth of the Rio de La
Plata as it enters the Atlantic Ocean. A
major South American port. This is
the outlet for major river systems:
Parana, et.al.
Cities continued:
Santiago: Capital of Chile and
a major South American Port
on the West Coast: Pacific.
An Example of a change in a cities
function over time: Moving
Brazil’s capital from Rio de
Janeiro to Brasilia in order to
promote development in the
interior of the country.
Brasilia
THE END