Physical Physical Geography Geography

of Latin of Latin AmericaAmerica

Andes MountainsAndes Mountains

• 7,000 miles long• Longest mountain

range in the world

Island Groups of the Island Groups of the CaribbeanCaribbean

• Greater Antilles – large islands (Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola, & Puerto Rico)

• Lesser Antilles – smaller islands southeast of Puerto Rico

Amazon RiverAmazon River • 2nd longest river in the

world

Tropical ClimatesTropical Climates• Tropical

Rainforest and tropical savanna are the most common climates in Latin America.

• Ex.) The Amazon

Tropical Climates … Tropical Climates … continued …continued …• DeforestationDeforestation = the cutting down

and clearing away of trees in the rain forest

Slash & BurnSlash & Burn •Slash-and-burn farmingSlash-and-burn farming = traditionally used by migrant farmers, they cut down all the plants and strip any trees of bark. After the plants and trees have dried out, they are set on fire, the ash helps the soil, but the soil is only good for 2-3 years, when this happens the farmer moves on and the process repeats itself.

Vertical Climate ZonesVertical Climate Zones

• Highland climates are commonly arranged vertically by altitude into 4 major zones

Vertical Climate Zones … Vertical Climate Zones … continued continued ……

(draw your own vertical climate chart (like the one (draw your own vertical climate chart (like the one on the last slide) and put the information on this on the last slide) and put the information on this

page with your picture)page with your picture)• Tierra Helada • Mountain tundra• 15,000ft +

• Tierra Fria• Cloud Forest (forest

near mountain peaks with constant cloud cover)

• 10,000 – 12,000 ft

• Tierra Templada• Wet Forest • 6,000 – 6,500 ft.

• Tierra Caliente • Dry Forest

• 2,500 – 3000 ft.

Question???Question???• Can you travel to the equator and go

scuba diving in the morning and snowboarding in the afternoon?

YES YOU CAN!!!!!!! Because of Vertical Climate Zones

Comparing Climate Regions Comparing Climate Regions Buenos Aires, Argentina

34*S/ 58*W

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J F M A M J J A S O N D

Dallas Texas 33*N/ 97*W

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J F M A M J J A S O N D

What is the major difference you can see from the two climate charts?What is the major difference you can see from the two climate charts?

The two charts are opposite to each other – This is because Dallas is in the Northern Hemisphere and Buenos Aires is in the Southern Hemisphere. Our

winter is their summer, and our summer is their winter.

VegetationVegetation

• The natural vegetation of Latin America varies according to climate and ranges from lush tropical rainforest evergreens to desert cacti.

• canopy = the tops of tall trees that come together to form a dense covering.

*Super Cool *Super Cool Geofacts of Geofacts of

Latin America*Latin America*

Angel Falls Angel Falls

► Eastern VenezuelaEastern Venezuela► World’s tallest World’s tallest

waterfallwaterfall► 3,212ft 3,212ft

Colca CanyonColca Canyon Deepest Canyon on the surface of the Deepest Canyon on the surface of the

EarthEarth► twice the depth of twice the depth of

the Grand Canyonthe Grand Canyon► in the Andes in Peruin the Andes in Peru► 10,500 feet deep10,500 feet deep

Colca CanyonColca Canyon … …continuedcontinued……

► Accessible only by boatAccessible only by boat► One of the worlds great One of the worlds great

natural challenges – the natural challenges – the 11stst expedition was in expedition was in 1981. 1981.

► Rafters have to navigate Rafters have to navigate extreme white-waterextreme white-water

► A breakneck plunge of A breakneck plunge of the river drops 3,000 feet the river drops 3,000 feet over 50 milesover 50 miles

► So dangerous this canyon So dangerous this canyon has only been seen by a has only been seen by a handful of people. handful of people.

Iguacu Falls, BrazilIguacu Falls, Brazil

► Has 270 waterfallsHas 270 waterfalls► the boarder the boarder

between Brazil and between Brazil and ArgentinaArgentina

► Garganta del DiabloGarganta del Diablo (Devil’s Throat) – a (Devil’s Throat) – a U shaped 490 by U shaped 490 by 2300 foot cliff 2300 foot cliff (pictured at left) (pictured at left)

Panama Canal Panama Canal

► Canal system that Canal system that splits the country of splits the country of Panama in half, Panama in half, allowing boat traffic to allowing boat traffic to pass through the pass through the isthmus of Panama and isthmus of Panama and not have to go all the not have to go all the way around South way around South America to have access America to have access between the Atlantic between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. and Pacific oceans.

Trans-Andean Highway, PeruTrans-Andean Highway, Peru

► Connects Lima Connects Lima (capital of Peru) to (capital of Peru) to Chile through the Chile through the AndesAndes

► ExtremelyExtremely curvy to curvy to compensate for the compensate for the extreme uphill and extreme uphill and downhill. downhill.