Transcript Slide 1
Physical Geography of Latin America SSWG7b. Describe the location of major physical features and their impact on Latin America. Mountains/Highlands • Major Features: Andes Mountains, Brazilian Highlands, Sierra Madre Occidental, Sierra Madre Oriental • Second highest mountains in the world are the Andes • Andes divided into 3 chains mostly in Chile • Occidental (west)—steep with canyons & varying climates • Oriental (east)—tall, isolated and dry • Brazilian Highlands—made from volcanic lava Mountains/Highlands Andes Mountains Brazilian Highlands Mountains/Highlands Occidental Oriental Plateaus • Major Features: Mato Grasso Plateau, Patagonia • Patagonia semi-arid plateau known for nomadic herding • Mato Grasso Plateau area where a lot of native people live. Plateaus Mato Grasso Patagonia Plains/Basins • Major Features: Amazon Basin, Pampas • Pampas is flat prairie like area mostly in Argentina • Pampas—major economic area for agriculture & herding • Amazon Basin—full of rare plants and possibilities for medications. Plains/Basins Amazon Basin Pampas Rivers • Major Features: Amazon, Paraguay, Parana • Amazon is the longest river in the world with lots of tributaries • Runs through most of Brazil • Paraguay River starts in Mato Grasso Plateau • Mostly used for minor trading Rivers Amazon River Piranha! Seas/Gulfs • Major Features: Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico • Caribbean Sea has many of the islands of the West Indies • Caribbean Sea area’s primary income is tourism • Gulf of Mexico—9th largest body of water in world • Recent ecological damage Seas/Gulfs Caribbean Sea Gulf of Mexico Additional Water Features • Major features: Panama Canal, Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean • Panama Canal built to lessen travel time for goods • Built from 1904 to 1914 • Oceans are part of eco-tourism Additional Water Features Panama Canal Pacific Ocean Deserts • • • • • Major Feature: Atacama Desert Northern Chile between ocean and Andes Almost little vegetation Less than 1 inch of rain per year Rich in minerals Deserts Atacama Desert Additional Features • Major Feature: Baja California, Yucatan Peninsula, Tierra del Fuego, Galapagos Islands, Easter Island • Tierra del Fuego is an archipelago with cold climate • Tierra del Fuego—known for sheep • Galapagos—Darwin & diversity • Easter Island—big statues • Yucatan Peninsula—known for beach vacations • Baja California is actual a part of Mexico Additional Features Baja California Tierra del Fuego Additional Features Galapagos Islands Easter Island