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

East 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

Money from ___________ is the primary income of people in the

Caribbean Sea area.

A.) Farming

B.) Herding

C.) Tourism

D.) Hunting

Additional Water Features

• Major features: Panama Canal, Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean

• Panama Canal built to lessen travel time for goods

• Essentially connects the Atlantic & Pacific (through the Caribbean Sea)

• 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