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Discovering Latin America: Geography and Biodiversity

Explore the vast region of Latin America, from the Rio Grande to Cape Horn, encompassing diverse landscapes such as the Amazon Rainforest, Andes Mountains, and Atacama Desert. Learn about the unique ecosystems, natural resources, and cultural heritage of the region.

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Discovering Latin America: Geography and Biodiversity

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  1. Latin America Geography

  2. A Vast Region • Stretching from the Rio Grande River in southern Texas • To the tip of Cape Horn • 5,500 miles

  3. Middle America • Mexico + 7 Central American nations +13 island nations +Puerto Rico Central America Mexico Caribbean

  4. South America • 12 nations + Falkland Is. + French Guiana • Home to the largest rainforest in the world= Amazon

  5. Landforms • La Cordillera (the “spine”)- a continuation of the Rocky Mountains • The Sierra Madre West and East in Mexico • The Andes Mountains in South America • 2nd only to the Himalayas in height • Highlands in Brazil

  6. Machu Picchu • Ancient Inca city in Peru • Built in 1400’s • Abandoned in 1500’s • Rediscovered in 1911 • UNESCO Heritage Site

  7. Desert • In Mexico- The Sonoran Desert • Rainshadow along west coast of South America from Andes Mountains • Chile extremely dry • Atacama Desert • Isolation of cultures from Chile, Equador, and Peru

  8. Pampas • Lowlands/coastal plains of South America • Argentina to Uruguay • Cattle ranching • #2 beef producer in world • Productive farming region: wheat!

  9. What is the dark spot? • The Amazon Rainforest!

  10. Amazon Rainforest • Beginning in the snowy Andes Mts • Amazon River flows to Brazil • 1,100 tributaries • So deep and wide cargo ships can sail inland for 1,000 miles • Up until 1950’s few settlements: humid, prone to flooding • Natural resources: lumber & minerals

  11. Deforestation • Land clearing for pastureland* • Hydroelectric projects have flooded vast areas of Amazon rainforest • Commercial mining: Gold and Bauxite • Amazon known as “Lungs of the World”

  12. Tropics • Along coastline from Caribbean to Southern Brazil • Tourism is the main industry • Sand is a major export to the USA • Bananas, coconuts, cinnamon, sugar • Bauxite, Natural Gas, Cement …

  13. Hurricanes • The angry god Hurakan • 12 to 16 named tropical storms a year • 6 to 9 are expected to become hurricanes of Category 3+ • Hurricane season begins June 1st • First one of the season to be named Arthur • Impact primarily on Caribbean+ Central America

  14. Earthquakes 1960 Chilean earthquake proved Japanese tsunami theory

  15. Last geography TTK(Tidbits-to-know) • Amazon covers 40% of S. America- 20% world’s oxygen • 75% Latin America has tropical rainforest-home to most biodiversity in world • E. Coast S. America/irregular coastline+ • W. Coast S. America/smooth coastline- • Mexico/Venezuela=oil • Many nations rely on cash crops for export • Cocoa, pineapple, banana…vulnerable to weather • Tourism and Ecotourism very important for economy and preservation of the rainforests

  16. Cool species from rainforest

  17. Map Test on Friday • All nations • All capitals and marked cities • Gulf of Mexico • Caribbean • Pacific/Atlantic • Sierra Madres • Andes Mountains • Panama Canal • Amazon River • Amazon Basin • Atacama Desert/Sonoran Desert • Pampas • Brazilian Highlands • Falkland Islands and Galapagos Islands

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