A Vast Region
Mountains and Plateaus
• Latin America covers 8 million square
miles of land, from the United StatesMexico border to the southern tip of
Argentina in South America. 
Latin America’s rugged landscape is the
result of its location on the Pacific Ring of
Fire, where plates of the earth’s crust have
collided for millions of years, causing
earthquakes and creating mountains and
volcanoes.
• The name “Latin America” refers to the
languages (Spanish and Portuguese,
derived from Latin) spoken in this
geographic region. 
• Geographers divide Latin America into
three regions: Middle America, the
Caribbean, and South America.
(pages 193–194)
(pages 194–196)
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Section 1-6
Section 1-8
Mountains and Plateaus (cont.)
Mountains and Plateaus (cont.)
• Mountains of Mexico, Central
America, and the Caribbean Mexico’s
Sierra Madre and the Central Highlands
in Central America rise above the
landscape of Middle America. 
• Andes of South America The Andes
mountain ranges run along the western
edge of South America and are the
world’s longest mountain range (4,500
miles). 
• Many Caribbean islands are part of the
Central Highlands mountain range.
• Their parallel ranges, called cordilleras,
are arranged in deep folds. 
• In southern Argentina, hills and lower
flatlands form a plateau known as
Patagonia.
(pages 194–196)
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(pages 194–196)
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Section 1-9
Section 1-10
Mountains and Plateaus (cont.)
Lowlands and Plains
• Highlands of Brazil Much of Brazil
consists of broad plateaus, such as the
Mata Grosso Plateau and the Brazilian
Highlands.
• Narrow coastal lowlands hem the Gulf
of Mexico, the Caribbean Sea, and the
Atlantic and Pacific coasts of South
America.
(pages 194–196)
Section 1-11
(pages 196–197)
Section 1-13
1
Lowlands and Plains (cont.)
Water Systems
• Inland areas of South America hold vast
grasslands that provide wide grazing for
beef cattle.
• Rivers of South America Navigable
rivers, such as the Amazon, serve as
transportation routes and provide
hydroelectric power. 
• Lakes Latin America has few large
lakes. 
• Lake Titicaca in the Andes of Bolivia and
Peru is the world’s highest navigable
lake.
(pages 196–197)
(pages 197–198)
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Section 1-15
Section 1-18
Natural Resources
Natural Resources (cont.)
• Latin America’s significant natural
resources include minerals, forests,
farmlands, and water. 
• Venezuela’s Orinoco River area contains
11 percent of the world’s gold. 
• Brazil is also rich in gold, and Peru
and Mexico are known for their silver
deposits. 
• Major deposits of oil and natural gas
occur along the Gulf of Mexico and
southern Caribbean Sea. 
• Chile is the world’s leading exporter
of copper. 
• Mexico and Venezuela are leading
petroleum producers.
• Geographic inaccessibility, lack of
capital, and social and political divisions
hinder fuller development and distribution
of natural resources in Latin America.
(page 198)
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(page 198)
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Section 1-20
Section 1-21
Checking for Understanding
Checking for Understanding
Define Match each definition in the left column with the
appropriate term in the right column.
Define Match each definition in the left column with the
appropriate term in the right column.
__
B 1. Spanish for “high plain,” a
region in Peru and Bolivia
encircled by the Andes peaks
__
G 6. electrical energy generated by
falling water
__
F 2. the cowhands of Argentina and
Uruguay
A. cordillera
B. altiplano
C. escarpment
D. llano
__
E 7. grassy, treeless plains of
southern South America
D 8. fertile plains in inland areas of
__
Colombia and Venezuela
A. cordillera
B. altiplano
C. escarpment
D. llano
__
C 3. steep cliff or slope between a
higher and lower land surface
E. pampa
__
A 4. parallel chains or ranges of
mountains
G. hydroelectric
power
G. hydroelectric
power
__
H 5. an area where the tide meets a
river current
H. estuary
H. estuary
F.
gaucho
E. pampa
F.
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gaucho
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Section 1-23
Section 1-24
2
Climate and Vegetation Regions
Most of Latin America lies between the
Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of
Capricorn; thus, much of its area has a
tropical climate. However, there is a great
variety of climates in the region. 
• Tropical Regions Mexico, eastern
central America, some Caribbean
islands, and such parts of South America
as the Amazon Basin have a tropical rain
forest climate and vegetation, with hot
temperatures and abundant rainfall
occurring year-round.
(pages 199–202)
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End of Section 1
Section 2-5
Climate and Vegetation Regions (cont.)
Climate and Vegetation Regions (cont.)
• The Rain Forest The Amazon Basin,
with the earth’s largest rain forest, covers
one-third of South America and has trees
that form a dense canopy that soars as
high as 130 feet over the forest floor. 
• The Humid Subtropics In the humid
subtropical climate of southeastern
South America, the winters are short
and mild, and the summers are long,
hot, and humid.
• Tropical Savanna In the tropical
savanna climate typical of the coast of
southwestern Mexico, most Caribbean
islands, and north-central South America,
the grasslands have hot temperatures,
abundant rainfall, and a dry season
lasting several months.
(pages 199–202)
(pages 199–202)
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Section 2-6
Section 2-7
Climate and Vegetation Regions (cont.)
Elevation and Climate
• Desert and Steppe Areas Parts of
northern Mexico and the southwestern
region of South America have desert
climates and vegetation; in Chile the
rain shadow effect of the Andes has
produced the dry, arid Atacama Desert,
whereas other areas have a steppe
climate, with hot summers, cool winters,
and light rainfall.
• The climates of Latin America depend
more on elevation than on distance from
the Equator. 
• The tierra caliente lies between sea
level and 2,500 feet and has average
annual temperatures from 68F to 91F.
The main crops include bananas, sugar,
rice, and cacao.
(pages 199–202)
(pages 202–203)
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Section 2-8
Section 2-11
3
Elevation and Climate (cont.)
Checking for Understanding
• The tierra templada lies between
2,500 and 6,500 feet and has average
daily temperatures between 60F and
72F. Coffee and corn are the main
crops. 
Define Match each definition in the left column with the
appropriate term in the right column.
• In the tierra fría, frosts are common in
the winter months. Potatoes and barley
grow at these elevations.
(pages 202–203)
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__
D 1. Spanish term for “cold land”; A. canopy
the highest altitude zone of
B. tierra
Latin American highlands
caliente
climates
C.
tierra
__
B 2. Spanish term for “hot land”;
templada
the lowest altitude zone of
Latin American highlands
D. tierra fría
climates
__
A 3. top layer of a rain forest, where the tops of tall
trees form a continuous layer of leaves
__
C 4. Spanish term for “temperate land”; the middle
altitude zone of Latin American highlands
climates
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Section 2-12
Section 2-14
Section 1: The Land (pages 193–198)
Key Points
• Latin America includes Middle America, the
Caribbean, and South America. 
• Latin America’s physical features include high
mountain ranges, less rugged highlands, vast
central plains, and volcanic islands. 
• The water systems of Latin America, especially
the mighty rivers of South America, are key to
human activity in the region. 
• Although the region is rich in natural resources,
geographic, political, and economic obstacles
have kept resources from being developed fully
or shared equally.
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End of Section 2
Section 2: Climate and Vegetation
Key Points
(pages 199–203)
• Much of Latin America lies in the Tropics;
however, landforms and wind patterns give
the region great climatic diversity. 
• Tropical climates such as tropical forest and
tropical savanna are the most common climates
in Latin America. 
• The natural vegetation of Latin America consists
mainly of rain forests and grasslands. 
• The tropical highlands in Latin America include
three vertical climate zones that are based on
latitude and elevation.
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Summary and Study Guide 1
Reviewing Key Terms
Insert the key term that best completes each of the
following sentences.
cordilleras
altiplano
escarpment
llanos
pampas
gaucho
estuary
canopy
tierra caliente
tierra templada
tierra fría
hydroelectric power
1. The Andes consist of parallel mountain ranges,
cordilleras
or ___________________.
2. The high plain encircled by the Andes of Bolivia
and Peru is known as the ___________________.
altiplano
3. The plateau of the Brazilian Highlands plunges
sharply to the Atlantic Ocean, forming a steep cliff
escarpment
called an ___________________.
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Summary and Study Guide 2
Chapter Assessment 1
4
Reviewing Key Terms
Reviewing Key Terms
Insert the key term that best completes each of the
following sentences.
cordilleras
altiplano
escarpment
llanos
pampas
gaucho
estuary
canopy
tierra caliente
tierra templada
tierra fría
hydroelectric power
Insert the key term that best completes each of the
following sentences.
cordilleras
altiplano
escarpment
llanos
pampas
gaucho
estuary
canopy
tierra caliente
tierra templada
tierra fría
hydroelectric power
4. Cattle are raised on the broad grasslands called
llanos
___________________
in Colombia and
Venezuela and ___________________
pampas
in
Argentina and Uruguay.
5. The Río de la Plata is typical of an
estuary
___________________,
an area where the tide
meets a river current.
6. Highlands climates are divided into vertical zones,
tierra caliente
including the hot ___________________,
the
temperate ___________________,
tierra templada
and the cold
___________________.
tierra fría
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Chapter Assessment 2
Chapter Assessment 3
5