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The region begins in Mexico & extends to tip of South
America.
Shared cultural history is a centripetal force for the
region. (remember that term from Ch 1??)
Bound by religious homogeneity (Catholicism) &
common languages (Sp. & Port.)
Deeply impacted by Atlantic Slave trade – LA is one
of world’s most racially mixed regions;
Poised to become a significant part of global trade
(FTAA)http://www.ftaa-alca.org/alca_e.asp STILL NOT
APPROVED!!
Dominated by its MEGACITIES (over 40 cities with
>1,000,000 residents).
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CITIES: the region’s worst environmental
problems are found in its cities.
› Mexico city: located in the Valley of Mexico (former
site of Aztec civilization) >18 million people;
problems include air quality, water stress &
subsidence (its sinking!!) **Its geography is a main
cause of its problems (city is build over for lake sites
& they still draw from underground aquifers for water)
http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/earthgwlandsubside.html
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Living in Mexico City
› Other urban environmental challenges: include air
pollution, water stress, garbage removal, significant
population density; vulnerability to natural hazards;
industrial pollution. Exception = Brazil’s Curitaba –
“Green City” http://www.dac.dk/en/dac-cities/sustainable-cities-2/show-theme/greencity/curitiba-the-green-capital/?bbredirect=true
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DEFORESTATION: This issue is most
associated with the region b/c loss of
tropical rainforest is most critical here. Rain
forests only acct. for 6% of earth’s landmass,
but are home to over 50% of worlds’
species. CAUSES: govts. Have encouraged
settlement; slash & burn agriculture; cattle
ranching (grassification); search for mineral
wealth; logging; coca production. Brazil is
the biggest offender due its rate of rain
forest clearing. Rainforest link
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RESOURCE MANAGEMENT: When compared
to other world regions, LA is not the worst in
terms of resource management. However,
their major concerns are preserving forests
& the biodiversity of the ecosystems within
those forests; preserving water &
maintaining good water quality (especially
in and around the major cities); and
stopping the degradation of farmland while
at the same time modernizing their
agriculture (p. 132)
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THE ANDES: Extending nearly 5,000 miles
the Andes contain 30 peaks that are
above 20,000 feet (highest are in the
South) as well as active volcanoes. They
are also very earthquake prone and
contain many precious metals &
minerals. Today a major economic
activity among countries in the Andean
region is drug production (coca &
marijuana).
Peru Drug Trade
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Paraguay
http://www.whitehouse.gov/ondcp/targeting-cocaine-at-the-source
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AMAZON BASIN – “Basin” is a term used to
describe the entire area through which a river
system flows. The Amazon Basin has the largest
river system in the world by volume (amt. of
water) and the second longest in length.
Rainfall is extreme throughout the Amazon
Basin, which has no dry season. The Amazon
River is not entirely navigable & that’s why
despite its immense size, the Amazon Basin has
never been a great place for settlement OR a
great source of economic profit.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KseAAIsJLQ
Although the entire region is within the
tropical climate zone (generally warm and
adequate rainfall) the geography also
brings into play the concept of…
 ALTITUDINAL ZONATION: this is the
relationship between cooler temps at
higher elevations and the accompanying
changes in elevation.
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The above concepts tracks changes in
temps & rainfall as you ascend to higher
elevations. It lead to the notion of the
ENVIRONMENTAL LAPSE RATE…which
simply is that the higher you go the
colder and drier it becomes.
 Once this concept is understood it
becomes the basis for agricultural
activity within the specific zones.
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The 4 zones are TIERRA HELADA (frozen
land at highest elevations); TIERRA FRIA
(the next highest zone “cold land”);
TIERRA TEMPLADA (temperate land at 3
to 6 thousand feet); and TIERRA CALIENTE
(the hottest, wettest zone from sea level
to 3,000 feet). SEE TEXT P. 140
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El Nino is a weather phenomenon used
to explain changes in the arrival of
warm pacific current that usually comes
to the region’s west coast in December.
Every decade of so this current is larger
(or smaller “La Nina”) and warmer (or
colder) and that causes major changes
in weather around the region & the
globe. El Nino page
El Nino Clip
 Drought – Not really a significant factor in
this region, especially when compared
with sub-Saharan Africa. It is significant
when it occurs because of the impact it
has on agriculture (losses and/or
disruptions in crop production).
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Peru
 Brazil
 Rio
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Forum on Problems in LA cities