The Physical Geography of Latin America
Landforms and Resources
What caused the rugged landscape of Latin America? ______________________________________________
Andes Mountains - _________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
The Andes Mountains have made ________________ along the Pacific
coast more __________________. This is known as the world’s
________________________________________________________.
The Rockies are for North America what the
_______________________ is for South America.
_________________ – made up of the mountainous or hilly sections of a country and are responsible for what?
__________________________________________________________________________________________
What is the Patagonia in Argentina? ________________________________________________
South America has plains that offer what for growing crops and grazing livestock?
__________________________________________________________________________________________
What are the grassy plains called in Colombia & Venezuela? ___________________________
What are the plains called in Brazil? _______________________________
What are the plains called in Argentina & Uruguay? _____________________________
What is considered amongst the world’s finest in Argentina? _________________
Cowboys in Argentina’s Pampas are called ___________________ and known as ____________________ in
the rest of Latin America.
What are the 3 main river systems in South America?
1. ________________ - ______________________________________________________________________
2. ________________ - ______________________________________________________________________
The headwaters for this river can be found in the ____________________________________________.
It is also fed by ________________________________________________________.
3. ________________ - ______________________________________________________________________
The Caribbean Islands (also known as the ________________________ ) consist of three major groups:
1. ____________________________
2. ____________________________ - is made up of the larger islands of _________________,
__________________, ___________________, and _______________________________.
The 2 countries of ___________ and the _______________________ make up the island of Hispaniola.
3. ____________________________ - is made up of the smaller islands southeast of _____________________.
Windward Islands - ___________________________________________________________________
Leeward Islands - _____________________________________________________________________
Natural Resources
What hinders the development and distribution of natural resources? __________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Latin America is rich in what natural resources?
______________________, ____________________, and ___________________
What energy resources has Latin America have access to? ___________________, ___________________,
____________________________, ______________________, and __________________________________.
Hydroelectric power - _______________________________________________________________________
Climate and Vegetation
Why does Latin America of varied climate zones and vegetation?
1. ______________________________________________________________________________________
2. ______________________________________________________________________________________
3. ______________________________________________________________________________________
Tropical Wet:
Where are rainforests found? _______________________________________________________________
Rainforests - _______________________________________________________________________________
Which one is the largest? ______________________________________
What can be found in a rainforest? _____________________________________________________________
Canopy - ___________________________________________________
Dry / Subtropical:
Savanna - ___________________________________________________ such as the ________________,
___________________, and the ____________________.
Where are the deserts found? __________________________________________________________________
Atacama Desert is found in northern ___________________ and is caused by the ________________________
effect from the Andes Mountains.
Humid Subtropical:
Where can you find a humid subtropical climate like Houston?
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Highlands:
Where can you find the highland climates? _______________________________________________________
What happens to the temperature in the higher elevations? __________________________________________
Human Environment Interaction
Slash-and-Burn - ___________________________________________________________________________
Where do you see this clearing technique today in South America? ___________________________________
Terraced Farming - _________________________________________________________________________
Where can you find evidence of this technique of farming today? _____________________________________
Which countries of South America are the most highly urban?
________________________, __________________________, and _______________________________.
Which is the largest city in Latin America? _______________________________________
List some of the push factors causing Latin Americans to move away from the rural areas.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
List some of the pull factors causing Latin Americans to move to the urban cities.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
What are the downfalls of urbanization on a massive scale? __________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
List some pros of Tourism: ___________________________________________________________________
List some cons of Tourism: ___________________________________________________________________