LATIN AMERICARESOURCES, CLIMATE, HEICh. 9.1-9.3

RESOURCES

Latin America is home to many natural resources. Mineral resources (gold, silver) Energy resources (oil, natural gas)

The region is also rich in agricultural and forest resources

RESOURCES

Mineral Resources Mining provides Latin America with many resources including

tin, lead, titanium, copper, and nickel

Energy Resources Major oil reserves can be found in Mexico and Venezuela Hydroelectric power is rich in Brazil because of the

Amazon River Trinidad is a major exporter of natural gas

CLIMATE

Latin America has a varied climate for many reasons Latin America spans a great distance on each

side of the equator There are big changes in elevation throughout

Latin America Ocean currents from both the Atlantic and Pacific

affect the climate

TROPICAL CLIMATE ZONES

Rain Forests and grasslands are abundant throughout Latin America Tropical wet: Rain forests (like the Amazon) Tropical wet and dry: savannas and grasslands

with seasonal rain are found in Brazil, Columbia, and Argentina

TROPICAL CLIMATE ZONES

DRY CLIMATE ZONES

Dry climate zones are mainly found in Mexico and various countries in South America

There are not any dry climate zones in Central America nor in the Caribbean

Semiarid: found in Mexico, Uruguay, Brazil, and Argentina

Desert: Parts of northern Mexico and Peru

The Atacama Desert is in northern Chile The Atacama is the driest desert in the world

Patagonia in Argentina also contains a desert

DRY CLIMATE ZONES

MID-LATITUDE CLIMATE ZONES

Most moderate climate zones in Latin America are located south of the equator

Humid Subtropical: varied vegetation, rainy winters and hot, humid summer

Southern Brazil

Paraguay

Uruguay

Northern Argentina

Mediterranean: hot, dry summers and moist winters

Chile

Chaparral vegetation: plant life unique to the Mediterranean climate

MID-LATITUDE CLIMATE ZONES

Marine West Coast Southwestern South America

Highlands Found in the mountains of Mexico and South America

HEI: AGRICULTURE

Native people were the first in the Western Hemisphere to change the environment to grow food. A few tactics were used:

Slash-and-Burn: The slash-and-burn technique was used to clear fields

Farmers cut trees and brush, then burn debris and use the ashes for soil

Sometimes this process can be destructive to surrounding nature

After a few years and slashing, burning, and repeating, the soil is exhausted and the farmers move on to a new location.

This is one reason for the steadily shrinking rain forests

HEI: AGRICULTURE

Terraced Farming: an ancient technique for growing crops on hillsides and slopes

Farmers cut step-like fields into hillsides

Allows steep land to be cultivated

This technique reduces soil erosion because it makes it harder for the soil to be transported along the slopes (steps instead of smooth)

The Inca and the Aztecs used terrace farming

URBANIZATION

People are moving from rural areas to the city throughout Latin America

Today Latin America is as urban as Europe and North America

The most urbanized countries in South America include: Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, and Brazil

Most people move to cities in search of better lives

URBANIZATION

There are multiple push/pull factors at work regarding urbanization

The “push” factors that push people away from the farm/rural areas include

Poor medical care

Poor education

Low-paying jobs

The “pull” factors that bring people into the city include Higher-paying jobs

Better schools

Better medical care

URBANIZATION

Some large cities in Latin America include Rio de Janeiro Sao Paulo Buenos Aires

The largest city in Central America is Mexico City

URBANIZATION

Some of the problems growing cities face include Unemployment

Crime

Environmental problems

Local governments cannot afford to handle the population growth in many of these cities

This problem strains the infrastructure including sewers, electricity, transportation, and housing