Latin America

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Latin America

• Chapter 9 Section 1
• Land and Resources

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Mountains and Highlands

• Andes Mountains
• Part of chain that extends from Alaska to Tierra
  del Fuego
• Contains many active volcanoes
• Runs down western edge of South America
• Barrier to movement
• Highlands
• Guiana Highlands
• Brazilian Highlands
• In south-east, also prevented settlement of
  interior

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Nicaraguan volcanoes
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Plains

• Llanos
• Columbia and Venezuela
• Grassy, treeless,
• Used for grazing cattle and farming
• Cerrados
• Brazil
• Suitable for farming, plentiful rainfall,
• Largely undeveloped, settlement encouraged by
  government
• Pampas
• Argentina and Uruguay
• Rich soil
• Produce cattle and wheat
• Gaucho culture similar to western US

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Upper Llanos, Venezuela
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Llanos
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Rivers
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Rivers of Latin America

• Rio Grande is largest in Central America
• South America has 3 major river systems

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Parana wetlands
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Giant otters, Orinoco delta
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Major Caribbean Islands

• Bahamas
• Hundreds of small islands off Florida coast
• Great Antilles
• Larger islands
• Cuba
• Jamaica
• Hispaniola
• Puerto Rico
• Lesser Antilles
• Smaller islands divided into 2 groups
• Windward Islands face the wind
• Leeward islands sheltered from wind

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Leeward and Windward islands
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Resources of Latin America

• Mineral resources
• Gold, silver, iron, copper, tin, lead, nickel,
  and bauxite (aluminum ore)
• Precious gems emeralds, sapphires, rubies
• Leader in mining of raw materials, mostly for
  export
• Energy resources
• Oil, coal, natural gas
• Mexico, Venezuela - major oil reserves
• Hydroelectric power

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Slaves mining gold in Latin America
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Strip mine, South America
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Population Density
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