Political Map: Central America Political Map: Caribbean Islands.
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LATIN AMERICA October 22, 201
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Transcript of Political Map: Central America Political Map: Caribbean Islands.
LATIN AMERICA
October 22, 2013
Political Map: Central America
Political Map: Caribbean Islands
Political Map: South America
Latin America Cont.Oct. 22, 2013
Physical Features,
Climate,
& Natural Disasters
LATIN AMERICAN PHYSICAL FEATURES
Amazon
SierraMadre
Andes Mountains
Physical Geography• Latin America is a VAST land• Nearly 16% of the Earth’s land surface• About 8 million square miles
• Geographers divide the Latin American region into FOUR areas• Mexico, Central America, Caribbean Islands, & South
America
Mountains & Plateaus• One of Latin America’s most distinctive landforms is its
towering mountains. These countless folds and ridges are the evidence of these tectonic plate movements and the giant mountain ranges.
• The mountains begin in North America with the Rocky Mountains and continue all the way to South America’s most southern tip.
• The mountains change names as you move south—in Mexico they are known as the Sierra Madre, in Central America they are known as the Central Highlands, and in South America they are known as the Andes.
Sierra MadreDel Sur
Central
Highlands
Andes Mountains
Mountains & Plateaus: Origin• Latin America has such a rugged landscape because much
of the region sits along the Pacific Ring of Fire.
• This is where plates of the earth’s crust have collided for billions of years.
• These collisions have formed mountains and volcanoes, & have caused tremendous earthquakes.
• They continue to change the landscape today.
Mountains: Mexico• Central Mexico has what is called the MEXICAN
PLATEAU• Mild climate, Fertile volcanic soil, & adequate rainfall• This has attracted human settlement for thousands of years. • Densely populated
• There are two mountain ranges flanking the Mexican Plateau.• Sierra Madre Oriental (“EASTERN”)• Sierra Madre Occidental (“WESTERN”)
• The Sierra Madre del Sur (“of the South”) where the mountain ranges meet near Mexico City
Mountains: Central America• The further south you go into Central America you will find
the HIGHLANDS.
• The central highlands is a chain of volcanic mountains.
• Many of the Caribbean Islands are ALSO part of this volcanic mountain range, it extends across the bed of the Caribbean Sea.
• The islands, interestingly enough, are actually volcanic peaks that rise above sea level. Some of these volcanoes are STILL active, which can make living on these islands very hazardous.
Mountains: South America• None of the other Latin America’s other mountains compare
with the 4,500 mile stretch of the ANDES MOUNTAINS along the western edge of South America.
• It is the world’s LONGEST mountain range, as well as one of the highest—some peaks rise to more than 20, 000 feet above sea level.
• The Andes is made of several mountain ranges that run parallel to one another like deep folds in a carpet…parallel mountain ranges are called CORDILLERAS
Mountains: South America
• Other features…• Altiplano• High Plain that is surrounded by the Andes Mountains• In Peru & Bolivia
• Patagonia• Hills & lower flatlands
forming this plateau• Southern Argentina
Altiplano
Patagonia
Lowlands & Plains
• Lowlands• Coastal lowlands wind along the Gulf of Mexico and the
Caribbean, they also continue along the Pacific & Atlantic coasts of South America• One of the longest lowland strips is in Brazil, nearly 40 miles
wide, and it has been a major place of settlement and economic activity since the 1500s.
• Plains• LLANOS: Vast grasslands in Colombia & Venezuela • PAMPAS: Vast grasslands in Argentina & Uruguay• These plains area provide wide grazing lands for beef cattle, large ranch
estates, has fertile soil, and is also known as one of the world’s major “breadbasket”—producing an abundance of wheat and corn.
LATIN AMERICA CLIMATE
Very diverse climate and vegetation regions!
Climate• Lies between the Tropic of Cancer & Tropic of Capricorn
• Vast area, so many different regions
• Also, many mountain ranges and wind patterns also contribute to a variety of climates and natural vegetation in Latin America.
• Climate Regions• Tropic Regions• Desert/Steppe Areas
Tropical Regions
• Amazon Basin• Rain Forest• Tropical Savanna• Humid Subtropics
Desert & Steppe Regions
• Atacama Desert• Rain shadow Effect
• Steppe Climate
Elevation & Climate
• The varied climates are more affected by elevation than by the distance from the Equator.• Three (major) different vertical climate
zones, they occur as elevation increases.•Each zone has its own characteristic of natural vegetation and crops.
LATIN AMERICA & NATURAL DISASTERS
Comparison with Haiti*Haiti was the 1st independent nation of L. America
2010 Earthquake VS 2012 Hurricane Sandy
Earthquake: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcFVxl8oclY
Hurricane: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWLdsccz2pU
• Summarize the 2010 Haitian Earthquake in two sentences.• Summarize the 2012 event of Hurricane Sandy and its impact in Haiti
—(write two sentences).• How do these two natural disasters mirror each other in their
aftermath? (two sentences)• How do you think the level of development effects Haiti’s progress
after such natural disasters? (two sentences)• How could Haiti better prepare their country (infrastructure, economy,
etc.) in anticipation of another natural disaster? (two sentences)
COLUMBIAN EXCHANGE
The biggest cultural diffusion EVAAAAA!!!!
The Columbian Exchange also known as the Grand Exchange was a dramatically widespread exchange of animals, plants, culture, human populations (including slaves), communicable disease, and ideas between the American and Afro-Eurasian Hemispheres following the voyage to the Americas by Christopher Columbus in 1492
The contact between the two areas circulated a wide variety of new crops and livestock which supported increases in population in both hemispheres
Cultural Diffusion on a VERY, VERY large scale!
Do we still have evidence of this exchange, today?
LATIN AMERICA CONTINUEDMIGRATION & CULTURE
Migration• Migration has been a
major force shaping population patterns in Latin America.
• History of migration from foreign countries (INFLOW)
• History of migration from Latin America to other countries (OUTFLOW)
Migration• OLD VS NEW• Old: Europeans,
Africans, & Asians migrated to Latin America
• New: Korean, Armenian, Lebanese (from Lebanon), and Syrian people migrate to Latin America seeking political & economic freedom
Migrating North• Immigrants to USA primarily
from Mexico, Central America, & Caribbean
Islands• Desire for…• Improved living conditions• Political Freedom• Escape from political unrest
• What do they bring?• Elements of their culture with
them! Name 3 elements of culture!
