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Physical Physical Features of Features of
Latin AmericaLatin AmericaMrs. Sample
6th Grade Social Studies
Latin America is divided into three Latin America is divided into three
regions:regions:
• Mexico and Central America
• Caribbean• South America
Mexico and Central Mexico and Central AmericaAmerica
• 2,500 miles (about as wide as the US)• Central Plateau in Mexico
o lies between Sierra Madre mountains and makes up more than half the country’s area
• Central America is an Isthmus.o isthmus = a narrow strip of land that has water
on both sides and joins two larger bodies of lando Many Volcanoes in Central America- as a result,
their soil is fertile and many people farm.
Mexican PlateauMexican Plateau
Gulf of MexicoGulf of Mexico• bordered by the US
to the north, five Mexican states to the south, and Cuba to the east
• Arm of the Atlantic Ocean
• Mississippi River & Rio Grande empty into the Gulf of Mexico
Sierra Madre Sierra Madre MountainsMountains
Sierra Madre Sierra Madre MountainsMountains
• mountain system in Mexico• three major chains: the Sierra Madre
Occidental in the west, the Sierra Madre Oriental in the east, and the Sierra Madre del Sur, which extends along the southern coastoThe Sierra Madre range contains
some of the highest mountains and volcanoes in Mexico.
Sierra Madre Sierra Madre MountainsMountains
Mexico and Central Mexico and Central AmericaAmerica
Panama CanalPanama Canal
Panama CanalPanama Canal• canal across the isthmus of Panama in Central
Americao allows vessels to travel between the Pacific
and Atlantic oceans• handles a large volume of world shipping and
enables vessels to avoid traveling around South America, reducing their voyages by thousands of miles and many days. o consists of artificially created lakes,
channels, and a series of locks, or water-filled chambers, that raise and lower ships through the mountainous terrain of central Panama
Panama Panama CanalCanal
Caribbean SeaCaribbean Sea
Caribbean Caribbean • small islands are made of coraloskeletons of tiny sea animals, rock-
like substance• larger islands are tops of underwater
mountains oexamples: Cuba, Jamaica
Caribbean SeaCaribbean Sea• partially enclosed on the north and
east by the islands of the West Indies, and bounded on the south by South America and Panama, and on the west by Central America
• a major trade route for Latin American countries
• a popular resort area—noted for its mild tropical climate and beautiful waters
Caribbean SeaCaribbean Sea
Andes MountainsAndes Mountains
Andes Mountains Andes Mountains • Andes Mountains—4,500 miles along west
coasto They rise at some points to 20,000 feet
—same height as twenty 100 story buildings stacked on top of each other
o 2nd largest mountains; Himalayas are the 1st
• highlands east of the Andes• Amazon River Basin—contains the largest
tropical rain forest (Amazon Rain Forest) in the world; covers 1/3 of the continent
AndesAndes
Atacama DesertAtacama Desert
Atacama DesertAtacama Desert• Atacama Desert (Chile)—one of the
driest places on earth; very little rainfallobetween the Pacific Ocean and the
Andes Mountains
Atacama DesertAtacama Desert
Amazon RiverAmazon River
Amazon River & Amazon River & RainforestRainforest
• Amazon River Basin—contains the largest tropical rain forest (Amazon Rain Forest) in the world; covers 1/3 of the continent
• Rivers serve as natural highways where it’s hard to build roadso provide food and hydroelectric power
• Amazon River—2nd largest river in the world (1st--Nile River)o 4,000 miles from Peru across to Atlantic
Oceano contains 20% of all fresh water in the
world
Amazon from SpaceAmazon from Space
Amazon Rain ForestAmazon Rain Forest