PHYSICAL
FEATURES
OF LATIN
AMERICA
How many
questions can
you answer
correctly?
QUESTION #1

What river cuts through the desert and
forms a border between Mexico and
the United States?
THE RIO GRANDE
RIVER



1,885 mile long river flowing across the
southwestern United States and Mexico
Most of the river is unnavigable due to its
shallow, winding path through steep
canyons
Dams and reservoirs along the Rio
Grande provide water for irrigation and
drinking
QUESTION #2

What mountains in the western
portion of South America run roughly
parallel to the Pacific Coast for more
than 5,000 miles?
ANDES MOUNTAINS



Stretch along the western edge of the
entire continent of South America –
world’s longest contiguous mt range
Peruvian Andes hosts Machu Picchu,
ruins of a sacred site for the Inca
Home to Mt. Aconcagua, the highest mt
of the western hemisphere
Mt.
Aconcagua
QUESTION #3

What is the main mountain range in
western Mexico that runs roughly
parallel to the Pacific Coast?
SIERRA MADRE OCCIDENTAL


The western part of the main
mountain range of Mexico
Extends from Arizona and parallels
the Pacific Coast for about 1,000
miles
QUESTION #4

What is the huge plateau that covers
most of central Mexico and is
surrounded by mountains?
PLATEAU OF MEXICO


700 miles long and 4,000 t0 8,000 ft
high
Enclosed by Sierra Madre Oriental to
the east and the Sierra Madre
Occidental to the west
QUESTION #5

What are the highlands in the
northern portion of South America
that separate Venezuela, Suriname,
and French Guiana from Brazil?
GUIANA HIGHLANDS



Mountainous plateau covered with
dense vegetation
Home to some of the world’s highest
waterfalls
Tropical rainforest covers much of the
highlands
QUESTION #6

What is the large lake in the northern
tip of South America that has a small
opening into the Atlantic Ocean?
LAKE MARACAIBO


Located in northwest Venezuela and
serves as a major transportation
route
Largest lake in South America –
5,100 square miles
QUESTION #7

What is the major river in the
northern portion of South America
that winds from the Guiana Highlands
to the Atlantic Ocean?
ORINOCO RIVER


It passes 1,500 to 1,700 miles through
rainforests and savannas, ending in a
marshy delta where it meets the Atlantic
Ocean
Most of the Orinoco is navigable and is
used for shipping and transport vessels
QUESTION #8

What is the large peninsula in Mexico
that extends into the Gulf of Mexico?
YUCATAN PENINSULA


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Separates the Gulf of Mexico from
the Caribbean Sea
Site of ancient Mayan ruins
Tourist location – Cancun, Cozumel
QUESTION #9

What is the long river in South
America that winds from Peru through
northern Brazil and empties into the
Atlantic Ocean?
AMAZON RIVER



2nd longest river in the world (1st- Nile) –
3,900 miles from Andes Mts to Atlantic
Ocean
World’s largest river - carries more water
than any other river in the world
Passes through the largest rainforest in
the world
QUESTION #10

What is the main mountain range in
eastern Mexico that begins south of the
Rio Grande?
SIERRA MADRE ORIENTAL


The eastern part of the main
mountain range of Mexico
Begins just south of the Rio Grande
near the U.S. border and runs
southeast for 700 miles parallel to
the coast of the Gulf of Mexico
QUESTION #11

What lake is located high in the Andes
Mountains and forms part of the
border between Peru and Bolivia?
LAKE TITICACA


12,500 feet above sea level – one of
the highest large lakes in the world
Legendary birthplace of the Inca
QUESTION #12

What is the plain that extends through
northern Argentina, Paraguay, and
southern Bolivia?
GRAN CHACO



250,000 square miles of lowland
plain
Land is dry, becoming swampy
during the rainy season
Sparsely populated
QUESTION #13

What is the plateau located in
southern Argentina between the Andes
Mountains and the Atlantic Ocean?
PATAGONIA



300,000 square miles, primarily in
southern Argentina
Wide, semi-arid plateau
Principal industry is sheep-raising
for wool
QUESTION #14

What is the plain that covers most of
central Argentina?
PAMPAS

300,000 square miles of wide
grassy plains used for cattle grazing
and agriculture
QUESTION #15

What is the desert located in northern
Chile that is bordered by the Pacific
Ocean to the west and the Andes
Mountains to the east?
ATACAMA DESERT


600 miles long – virtually no
vegetation
Some parts have never received
measurable rainfall
NAZCA LINES



Mysterious ancient lines and geoglyphs in the
desert of Peru – discovered in 1927
Were they made by aliens? Ancient cultures?
Want to learn more? Watch this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5qT8PJu2c
QUESTION #16

What is the vast river basin that covers
most of northern Brazil and parts of
Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, and
Venezuela?
AMAZON BASIN


Huge area (35% of S. Amer) in which
water funnels into the Amazon River
Immense rainforest covers most of
the basin – scientists estimate it
supplies half of the world’s oxygen
QUESTION #17

What is the large lake located in
southwest Nicaragua that drains into
the Caribbean Sea?
LAKE NICARAGUA

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Largest lake in Central America
Was once part of the sea and formed
when the land rose
Contains several small islands and
volcanoes
Fish commonly found only in saltwater,
such as tuna and sharks, adapted to
freshwater of Lake Nicaragua
QUESTION #18

What is the estuary (place where a
river meets the sea) on the southeast
coast of South America formed by the
meeting of the Parana and Uruguay
Rivers?
RIO DE LA PLATA


170 miles long, empties into
Atlantic Ocean
Capital cities of Buenos Aires,
Argentina and Montevideo,
Uruguay are located along the Rio
de la Plata
QUESTION #19

What is the archipelago (chain of
islands) located at the southern tip of
South America and divided between
Chile and Argentina?
TIERRA DEL FUEGO


Separated from the mainland of South
America by the Strait of Magellan
Narrow waterways between the
islands of the archipelago are
treacherous to navigate
QUESTION #20

What is the isthmus (narrow strip of
land) that connects Central and South
America?
ISTHMUS OF PANAMA


Only about 40 miles wide
Hosts the Panama Canal, a
waterway built by the US to
connect the Caribbean Sea and
Pacific Ocean
OTHER NOTABLE FEATURES:

What is the name of the islands west
of Ecuador on the equator? Who owns
them?
GALAPAGO ISLANDS

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
An archipelago of 11 volcanic
islands distributed around the
equator in the Pacific Ocean
Part of Ecuador
Known for their tortoises and
scientific studies of plants and
animals (Darwin)
OTHER NOTABLE FEATURES:

What is the name of the islands east of
southern Argentina? Who owns them?
FALKLAND ISLANDS



An archipelago in the South
Atlantic Ocean
Territory of the United Kingdom
Argentina invaded and tried to
claim but was defeated
OTHER NOTABLE FEATURES:

What is the name of the sea route
immediately south of mainland South
America and north of Tierra del
Fuego?
STRAIT OF MAGELLAN

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
Important natural water passage between Pacific and Atlantic Oceans
First discovered by Portuguese sailor Magellan
Difficult to navigate because of unpredictable winds and currents and
narrowness of passage