Latin America
Coach McFarland
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Physical Geography
Mountains of South America
Andes
• World’s longest mountain chain above sea level
• 4,500 miles
• Stretching from Cape Horn to Panama
Guianna Highlands
Brazilian Highlands
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Physical Geography
Mexico consist mostly of a high central
plateau with mountains along each side.
Many areas of this region experience wet
summers and dry winters.
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Physical Geography
3 major river systems drain the eastern side
of South America.
The Amazon River
The Orinoco River
The Parana River
4
Historical Geography
3 great Native American civilizations
Olmecs – 1st people to build religious pyramids
Mayas – considered the most advanced culture
Aztecs – centered around present day Mexico
City
• Warfare and disease brought by Europeans
contributed to the decline of these civilizations.
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Historical Geography
Spanish and Portuguese colonists settled in
Central America.
The French, British, and Dutch acquired
lands the Spanish had not colonized.
Ex. - Smaller islands of the Caribbean, as well
as Jamaica and Haiti.
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Historical Geography
All colonies based on plantation agriculture.
Major crops
• Sugarcane
• Indigo
• Bananas
Slaves provided most of the labor
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Historical Geography
Because there were few women colonists,
Europeans often married Native American
or African women.
Mestizos – people of Native American and
European descent.
Mulattos – people of African and European
descent.
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Economic Geography
Natural resources:
Gold
Silver
Copper
Petroleum
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Economic Geography
Agriculture is divided into 2 categories:
Traditional agricultural systems (large estates,
called haciendas) and subsistance agriculture.
Modern commercial and plantation agriculture.
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Economic Geography
Largest industrial region is between Rio de
Janeiro, Brazil and Buenos Aires,
Argentina.
Tourism is a growing industry, particularly
in the Caribbean Islands.
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Regional Issues
Middle and South America is experiencing
large population growth.
Lack of economic development has
contributed to political instability.
The region has challenges similar to other
parts of the world
Cutting of rain forests.
Growing and trafficking of illegal drugs.
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Mexico
More than ½ of Mexico’s workers are employed in
industrial and service jobs.
Its most rapidly growing industrial centers are the
cities along the U.S. border
American and foreign companies have established
factories in these cities. Products are assembled and
exported to the U.S. and other nations.
This is, in part, due to the North American Free Trade
Agreement (NAFTA).
13
Mexico City
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Mexico
Mexico City, the nation’s capital, is one of the
most populated cities in the world, holding nearly
1/5 of the country’s pop.
Monterrey and Tijuana with San Diego, California
are beginning to merge into a metropolitan area.
The Yucatan peninsula is famous for Cancun and
Cozumel, resort cities on the Caribbean coast.
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Cancun
Cozumel
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Central America
The mountainous isthmus between North
and South America separating the
Caribbean and Pacific Ocean.
Coffee is the primary export.
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Central America
Guatemala
One of the most
populous countries in
Central America.
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Central America
Belize
Visitors here are
attracted by beautiful
coral reefs.
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Central America
Honduras
About 90% of the
people are Mestizos.
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Central America
El Salvador
During much of the
1980’s, the country
was wracked by civil
war.
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Central America
Nicaragua
In 1979, the country
began a period of
dramatic political
change.
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Central America
Costa Rica
Has the highest
standard of living and
literacy rate in Central
America.
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Central America
Panama
The Panama Canal
allows ships and trade
to travel more quickly
and safely between the
two oceans.
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South America
Colombia
Colombia is world
famous for its coffee.
Bogota is the nations
capital and a modern
city.
Much of the country’s
recent violence is
related to a large illegal
drug trade.
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South America
Venezuela
Caracas is the capital.
Rural poverty is wide
spread.
Oil provides about
80% of export income.
Venezuela helped
found OPEC, the
Organization of
Petroleum Exporting
Countries.
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South America
The Guianas
Guyana – Tension between
2 major ethnic groups:
those of South Asian
descent (over ½ the pop.)
and Africans/Mulattos.
Suriname – Violent ethnic
political disputes are
common.
French Guiana – The largest
of France’s overseas
territories.
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South America
Brazil
Largest country in South
America, and covers over
half of the continents land
area.
Sao Paulo and Rio de
Janeiro are major economic
centers.
Brasilia is the nation’s
capital
The Amazon River carries
more water than any other
river in the world.
Destruction of the Amazon
Rain Forest has become a
global issue.
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South America
Argentina
The 2nd largest country in
Middle and South America.
Competes with the U.S.,
Canada, and Australia in
selling beef.
Sheep grazing is a chief
industry.
Buenos Aires is the Capital.
Has claimed the Falkland
Islands for a long time.
However, Britain has ruled
the islands since 1833
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South America
Uruguay
Montevideo is the
business and
government center of
the country.
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South America
Paraguay
A landlocked country.
Hydroelectric projects
make future
development
promising.
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South America
Ecuador
Equator passes directly
through Ecuador.
Quito is the capital.
The Galapagos Islands
served as the
laboratory for Charles
Darwin.
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South America
Peru
Lima is the capital.
Every 5 to 10 years the
country experiences El
Nino, the weather
pattern that warms the
ocean near the coast,
causing fish to flee and
the coast to flood.
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South America
Bolivia
La Paz is the capital,
the highest in the world
at 12,001 feet.
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South America
Chile
Santiago is the capital.
After years of political
turmoil, Chile now has
a stable democratic
government.
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The Caribbean Islands
(West Indies)
Contains 3 major island groups
Greater Antilles
Lesser Antilles
Bahamas
Beautiful beaches and sunny weather have
made tourism the most rapidly growing
industry.
36
Greater Antilles
Cuba
One of the world’s largest
sugar exporter.
90 miles off the coast of
Florida.
1959 Fidel Castro came to
power. (Bro. Raul is now
leader in 2008)
Havana, the capital is the
largest city in the
Caribbean.
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Greater Antilles
Haiti
Occupies the western
1/3 of the island
Hispaniola.
Poorest and most
densely populated
country in the
Americas.
Capital is Port-auPrince
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Greater Antilles
Dominican Republic
Occupies the eastern
part of Hispaniola.
Santo Domingo, the
capital, was the 1st
permanent European
settlement in the
Western Hemisphere.
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Greater Antilles
Puerto Rico
U.S. territory
Citizens can serve in the
military, but cannot vote in
U.S. presidential elections.
There is debate whether the
country should remain a
commonwealth, become
independent, or become a
U.S. state
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Greater Antilles
Jamaica
A huge tourist
attraction.
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Lesser Antilles
Virgin Islands
Politically divided between
the U.S. and the United
Kingdom.
Martinique – French
possession
Guadeloupe – French
possession
Aruba – Dutch territory
Bonaire – Dutch territory
Curacao – Dutch territory
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Lesser Antilles
Barbados
Trinidad
Tobago
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Bahamas
In the Atlantic
Contains more than 700 islands
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