Post on 05-Jan-2016
transcript
Physical Geography of Latin/Mesoamerica
Map of Latin America (Central and South America)
Mountains and Highlands
The Andes Mountains Part of a Mountain Range
that runs through the western portion of North, Central, and South America (Rockies in the U.S./Sierra Madre in Mexico)
Many active volcanos Home to the Inca in Peru
Highlands Made up of mountainous or
hilly sections (Guiana Highlands)
Includes Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, Guiana, and Brazil)
Plains Grain and Livestock
Llanos of Columbia and Venezuela Vast plains in Columbia and
Venezuela Grassy, treeless area used for
livestock and farming Similar to Great Plains in U.S.
Plains of Amazon River Basin Expansive plains in Brazil called
“Cerrado” Flat terrain with moderate rainfall Good for farming, but much of it is
undeveloped Pampas of Argentina and
Uruguay Areas of grassland and rich soil in
northern Argentina and Uruguay Main product is cattle and wheat
Rivers
Orinoco River Mainly in Venezuela Flows more than 1,500 miles
along the Columbia-Venezuela border to the Atlantic
Amazon River Flows 4,000 miles from East to
West Starts in Andes and ends in the
Atlantic Fed by 1,000 tributaries Carries more water to the ocean
than any other river in the world Parana River
Flows 3,000 miles from Brazilian Highlands
Ends up as an estuary
Major Islands of the Caribbean
Bahamas Hundreds of islands
between Cuba and Florida Nassau is the capital
Greater Antilles Larger islands including
Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola, and Puerto Rico.
Served as a base of operations for Spanish Conquest
Lesser Antilles Smaller islands southeast
of Puerto Rico
Resources of Latin America
Mineral Resources Gold, silver, iron,
copper, bauxite, tin, lead, and nickel all abundant
Also mine gem stones, titanium and tungsten
One of world’s leading miners of raw material
Energy Resources Oil, coal, natural gas,
uranium and hydroelectric power all plentiful