UNIT 3A Physical Geography, Climate, Natural

Resources, and Economies of Latin America

The Western Hemisphere

Geography I

Mexico juts southward from the United States between Texas and California. Mountain ranges (including the Sierra Madre) rise along Mexico’s eastern and western coasts, and a high plateau lies between them.

Geography of Mexico

Geography of Mexico

States of Mexico

Mountains of Mexico

Mountains of Mexico

Views of Mexico

Geography II

The Caribbean islands, also called the West Indies, are divided into three groups. The Greater Antilles includes the largest islands—Cuba, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, and Jamaica. Some Caribbean islands are low-lying. Others, formed by volcanoes, have rugged mountains and fertile volcanic soil.

Countries of the Caribbean

Caribbean Geography

Tourism in the Caribbean

Puerto Rico

Haiti

Geography III

Central America is an isthmus, or narrow piece of land that links two larger areas of land. It links North and South America. Forested mountains and marshy lowlands are found throughout the seven countries of Central America. Mexico and Central America have active volcanoes and frequent earthquakes.

Central America

Central American Geography

Central American Geography

Mountains of Central America

Central America

Geography IV

Another key waterway in the region is the Panama Canal. This human-made waterway across the Isthmus of Panama provides a shorter route for ships traveling between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

Panama Canal

Geography VThe 5,000 mile-long Andes ranges and the huge

Amazon Basin are major landforms in South America. The Andes run north to south along the west coast of South America through the countries of Peru, Bolivia, and Chile. The Amazon Basin and Brazilian Highlands are found mostly in the large country of Brazil, which takes up most of the eastern portion of South America.

South America

The Countries of South America

The Andes

Brazilian Highlands

Peru

Geography VI

Tropical grasslands called the Llanos cover much of eastern Colombia and Venezuela in the northern part of the South American continent. Another fertile plain called the Pampas stretches through much of Argentina and Uruguay in the far southeast.

The Llanos of Venezuela

The Pampas of Argentina

Geography VII

The longest river in Latin America is the Amazon. It begins in the Andes and flows about 4,000 miles to the Atlantic Ocean. The Amazon is used for shipping, and people also rely on it for fish. The Orinoco River flows north through Venezuela into the Caribbean Sea.

The Amazon River

The Amazon River/Rainforest II

The Orinoco River System

Climate I

The region’s climates and landscapes affect where people live. Areas with extreme temperatures, rain forests, deserts, and mountains are sparsely populated. Most people live in moderate climates along the coasts of South America or in an area stretching from Mexico into Central America. These areas have fertile soil and allow for easy movement of people and goods.

Climate of Mexico

Climate of South America

Climate II

Most of Latin America is located in the Tropics where the temperatures are generally warm. However, mountain ranges and wind patterns contribute to a variety of climates in the region. Some Caribbean islands and much of Central America and South America have a tropical wet climate. Temperatures are hot and rainfall is heavy throughout the year. Much of this climate zone is covered by rain forests.

Tropical Wet (rainforest) Climate

Climate III

The world’s largest rain forest is in South America’s Amazon Basin. Most Caribbean islands, parts of Central America, and north central South America have a tropical dry, or savanna climate. Temperatures are hot, and rainfall is abundant, but this climate zone also has a long dry season.

Tropical Dry (savanna) Climate

Climate IV

A humid subtropical climate—with short, mild winters and long, hot, humid summers—covers southern Brazil and Argentina. Central Chile has a Mediterranean climate, with dry summers and rainy winters. Dry climates are found in some parts of Latin America, such as northern Mexico, coastal Peru and Chile. One of the driest places on Earth is the Atacama Desert along the Pacific coast of northern Chile.

Mediterranean Climate in Chile

Chile’s Atacama Desert

Climate V

The Andes block rain from reaching this desert. In addition, a cold current in the Pacific Ocean brings only dry air to the coast. Weather in South America is subject to the El Nino effect. When El Nino occurs, Pacific winds blowing toward land carry heavy rains that lead to flooding along Peru’s coast.

Brazil I

• Brazil has a mixed economy. Brazil is the largest country in Latin America and has the most natural resources. Rain forests cover more than half of the country and provide timber, rubber, and palm oil. Mineral deposits in Brazil include bauxite, gold, and tin. Brazil is the world’s leading producer of coffee and oranges.

Brazilian Coffee and Oranges

Brazil II

• Agricultural output has grown as more land has been cleared to grow crops. Energy resources include offshore oil deposits and hydroelectric power. Sugarcane is used to make a substitute for gasoline. Booming industries produce machinery, airplanes, cars, and food products. Brazil’s greatest natural resource is the Amazon rain forest, called the Selva.

Brazilian Industry

Brazil’s Selva (Rainforest)

Brazil III

• To promote economic development, the government has encouraged mining, logging, and farming in the rain forest. However, deforestation harms the rain forest’s ecosystem. It also reduces the amount of oxygen released and may affect Earth’s climate patterns. Brazil has agreed to protect some rain forest areas.

Venezuela I

• Venezuela, located along the Caribbean Sea, is a leading producer of oil and natural gas. Venezuela has rich iron ore deposits. Factories make steel, chemicals, and food items. Farmers grow sugarcane and bananas or raise cattle. Yet many Venezuelans are poor

Venezuelan Oil and Natural Gas

Caribbean I

The Caribbean islands have few mineral resources. Cuba, which has a command economy, relies on mining nickel, agriculture, and tourism.

Cuba’s Economy

Mexico I

Mexico has a mixed economy and growing economy. Three distinct economic regions result from the country’s physical geography and climate. The North has dry and rocky land. Farmers must use irrigation to grow cotton, grains, fruits, and vegetables for export. Grasslands support cattle ranches. The North also has deposits of copper, zinc, and silver.

Mexico II

Factories are located near the Mexico−United States border in cities such as Monterrey. Many factories are maquiladoras. These are foreign-owned plants that hire Mexican workers to assemble parts made in other countries. The finished products are then exported. More than half of Mexico’s people live in the Central region. It has a pleasant climate and fertile soil, allowing for productive farming.

Maquiladores

Mexico III

Workers in industrial cities such as Mexico City and Guadalajara make cars, clothing and electronic goods. The country’s energy industry is centered along the Gulf of Mexico, near offshore oil and gas deposits. Mexico’s economy is shifting in priority from agriculture to manufacturing. The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) helped Mexico increase trade with Canada and the United States.

Industry in Mexico

Mexico IV

Economic advances have raised the standard of living, especially in the North. Economic growth also has raised concerns about the environment and dangers to the health and safety of workers. Pollution has increased, and smog often covers Mexico City. Mexico’s population is growing rapidly. Many people move to the crowded cities in search of jobs.

Pollution in Mexico

Scenes from Argentina and Chile