World Geography - Unit 3- Latin America

Petroleum

- 2007, Mexico was the sixth leading producer of petroleum in the world, but now declining production in recent years - largest oil fields under Mexican control are found offshore in the Gulf of Mexico. - second-largest producer of petroleum in Latin America is Venezuela. - Venezuela produces less petroleum than Mexico, but is able to export much more than it consumes, making it the fifth leading exporter of oil in the world - OPEC (Organization of Oil Exporting Countries) - Off the shore of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, a large oil reserve was discovered in 2007. As it reaches full production around 2020, it will allow Brazil to export petroleum, bringing needed money into its economy.

Tropical rainforest

- A large portion of Latin America's tropical region is tropical rainforest. - The largest rainforest in the world -Amazon Rainforest. - Located within the Amazon basin, covers over 2 million square miles, extends into nine different South American countries. - The largest portion is in Brazil. - Amazon River receives over 80 inches of rain each year, most between January and June. - Amazon Rainforest is important for its variety of plants and wildlife. over 75,000 different kinds of trees! - Amazon River, home of over 3,000 species of fish. Piranhas, anaconda, vampire bats, macaws, and jaguars - Included in the diverse plant life of the Amazon Rainforest are broad-leafed evergreen trees. trees have thick canopy that blocks much Sun light. plants growing on the forest floor must be able to thrive in low light.

Whites

- A very large portion of the population of Latin America is considered white. most of European descent. - In Brazil, most of the whites are of Portuguese descent. - Following the colonial period, and continuing on into modern times, many other Europeans emigrated to Latin America. Chief among these groups were the British, the French, and Germans. Argentina's population has a particularly high percentage of people of European descent

copper

- Chile is the number one producer of copper in the world, most found in the Atacama Desert - copper is mined in large, open pits - Copper is also mined in Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, and Cuba.

Asians

- Latin America has the largest Japanese population in the world outside of Japan. - Most of the Japanese who live in Latin America reside in Brazil. - Peru has a large population of Chinese and Japanese. . - While Japanese descendants have suffered discrimination in Brazil, the Japanese Peruvians have exercised no small influence in their adopted land. - A primary example is the presidency of Alberto Fujimori. Fujimori governed Peru from 1990 to 2000.

about dry climates

- Northern Mexico and the Atacama Desert are considered to have desert climates. - receive little rainfall. - Atacama Desert is so dry that some parts have never had a drop of rain recorded! - next to no vegetation exists in Atacama Desert. - In the northern Mexico desert of Chihuahua, vegetation includes various cacti, wildflowers, grass, and shrubs.

Religion

- One third of all Roman Catholics live in Latin America - Many of the Africans, brought over as slaves, were also converted to Roman Catholicism - many people of African descent practice forms of voodoo and spiritualism - Native-American people groups practice ancient forms of pantheism - Evangelicalism emphasizes the authority of the Bible and a personal relationship and salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. - the number of evangelicals has grown. In Brazil, the number of evangelicals is approaching the number of Roman Catholics.

Gold and Silver

- Since the 16th century, Latin America has been an abundant producer of metals. - gold and silver deposits were initially mined by Native Americans - By the 18th century, precious metals and non-precious metals were being mined for European profit. It was not until the 20th century that Latin American countries gained a large hold of the profits from their natural resources. - Gold was one of the primary reasons that Europeans colonized Latin America. - major gold production occurs in Mexico, Venezuela, Colombia, Bolivia, Guyana, Honduras, and Brazil. - Deposits also found in other countries, such as Argentina. But slow development and financial investments have hindered production. - Mexico and Peru are the top producers of silver in the world.

Tropical Savanna

- The Caribbean islands, parts of Middle America, and northern South America are considered tropical savannas. - have a large amount of yearly rainfall. - have a longer dry season. which limits the growth of certain kinds of vegetation. - cannot support the same type of vegetation that grows in the tropical rainforests of the region. - An example: Llanos of Colombia and Venezuela. The dominant vegetation is grass. However, woody shrubs and trees also grow in this climate.

Lake Nicaragua

- The largest lake in Middle America - located in the country of Nicaragua - covers over 3,000 square miles and is connected to the Caribbean Sea by the San Juan River - contains sharks and sawfish—species usually only found in saltwater - has over 400 islands. Ometepe is the largest and was formed by volcanic activity.

Amazon River

- The largest river system not only in Latin America but in the entire world - During the wet season, the river can grow in width to over 120 miles wide - also considered the longest river in the Western Hemisphere - has many tributaries. These smaller rivers flow down from the Andes in northern South America and drain the outlying countries.

European Languages

- The most widely spoken language in Latin America is Spanish - Spanish is recognized as the official language of Mexico, Chile, Bolivia, Cuba, Ecuador, and Argentina - Portuguese is the second most spoken language - official language of the largest country in Latin America, Brazil. Portuguese is spoken in Brazil because it was a colony of Portugal. - French is the third most spoken language - spoken on several of the Caribbean islands and French Guiana. Other European languages spoken in Latin America by a substantial portion of the population include English, Italian, and German. - Chinese and Japanese are spoken among immigrant groups in Peru and Brazil, respectively.

Aztecs

- arose around 1300 AD in the Valley of Mexico. - city was Tenochtitlán - built on a large island in the middle of Lake Texcoco. - population reaching nearly 200,000 in the 15th century. - Tenochtitlán was enormous. - believed that their rulers descended from the gods. - most important Aztec gods was Huitzilopochtli, the god of war. The Aztecs conquered many neighboring people. - population of the Aztec civilization reached 4 million. - had sophisticated farming skills. maize was the most important. When the Europeans conquered the Aztecs, they adopted its use immediately.

Blacks

- blacks are largely of African descent. - Africans were forcefully brought to Latin America as slaves by European settlers during the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. - were made to work the large sugar plantations and farms in Brazil and the Caribbean. - Haiti, one of the larger Caribbean countries, has a population that is 94% black.

Diamonds and Emeralds

- considered precious gems - Diamonds are the most precious of gems. - Gems are stones of rare quality - gems were found during the search for gold in Brazil by Portuguese colonists - Today, some of the largest deposits of gems are found in Minas Gerais, Brazil. Diamonds, as well as emeralds and topaz, are mined in Minas Gerais. Significant producers of diamonds also include Guyana and Venezuela. - Some of the finest emeralds in the world have been found in Colombia.

Incas

- empire in the Andes Mountains in what is now Peru. - From the capital city of Cuzco, the emperor controlled his empire. - The Incas built stone temples and palaces. - developed a system of farming to cope with the steep slopes of the Andes. - Terraces were constructed, which prevented the loss of crops and maximized the use of land. - irrigation system was also used by the Incas to bring water to desert areas. - did not have a written language. The history, poems, and religious beliefs of the people were preserved largely through oral tradition. - A system of knot-tying on a device known as a quipu was used to record numbers such as dates and measurements.

Native Americans

- first people to settle in Latin America. - Since the Europeans arrived in the 16th century, their numbers have decreased greatly. - Native Americans are a small minority in Latin America. - Bolivia and Peru do Native Americans make up a majority of the population.

steppe climate

- greater average amount of rainfall - growth of trees and large grassy areas - found in parts of eastern Brazil and southern South America and parts of Mexico

Nitrates

- key component of plant fertilizer and food preservatives. - Atacama Desert is one of the world's leading sources of nitrates - In 2000, Chile produced over 1 million tons of nitrates.

Lake Titicaca

- largest lake in South America - located in between the ranges of the Andes in both Peru and Bolivia. - surface area is 3,232 square miles - 41 islands - surface elevation of 12,507 feet, which is nearly 2.5 miles above sea level. It is arguably the world's highest navigable lake.

The Pampas

- located south of the Tropic of Capricorn - subtropical climate - summer months tend to be hot. Humidity also tends to be high - Winters are mild, and light snowfall is possible - primary vegetation of the Pampas is grass

Maya

- most ancient civilization known to have developed in Latin America. (arose around 250 AD in Central America.) - many cities. The largest and most important city was Tikal. - The Mayas were master mathematicians and astronomers. - made calendar by observing the movement of the stars. the calendar was as accurate as that devised by the Europeans centuries later. - used their math skills to design stone pyramids, palaces, and sport complexes. - had own written language. Many of the symbols or glyphs are so complex, researchers have still not been able to translate them—their meanings remain a mystery. - used the glyphs to record their astronomical observations, history, and religious ideas and practices. - The Mayan civilization collapsed around 900 AD for reasons unknown. However, small Mayan communities exist today. Like their ancestors, the Mayas of today live as farmers.

Population Density

- much of Latin America is uninhabitable. - Two of the world's largest cities are located in Latin America. - Mexico City, Mexico, is the most populous urban area in the world. - São Paulo, Brazil, is the second most populous city in the world - In earlier centuries, most Latin Americans lived and worked on farms. However, due to increased industrialization, many people have moved to urban areas in the hope of a better life. -Migration to urban areas has resulted in shortages in water and food supplies. An increase in pollution and unemployment has occurred, as well.

Iron Ore

- once refined, it becomes iron. - found in great abundance in Latin America. - Brazil is one of the top producers of iron ore in the world. Venezuela, Peru, and Guatemala also produce iron ore.

Mulatto

- people of mixed European and African ancestry. - In Brazil in particular, a great deal of intermarriage occurred over the centuries between Europeans and African ancestors. This resulted in a large number of descendants in Brazil. - This group of people are second in numbers only to whites in that country. - In the Caribbean, the majority of the populations of the Netherland Antilles, Guadeloupe, and the Dominican Republic are of mixed European and African ancestry.

Mestizos

- people of mixed European and Native-American ancestry. - make up the majority of the population in countries such as Ecuador, Paraguay, Honduras, and Mexico.

Río Bravo (Rio Grande)

-The largest river in Middle America - Originating in Colorado, flows southward and forms the border between Mexico and the state of Texas.

lowest point in the United States

Death Valley, CA

lowest point in South America

Laguna del Carbón, Argentina

evangelicalism

Protestant religious movement that emphasizes the authority of the Bible and God's grace in Jesus Christ as the only means of salvation

the two major lines of latitude within which most of Latin America is located.

Tropic of Capricorn and Tropic of Cancer

arid

dry

manufactured goods

goods made by machinery from raw materials

consumer goods

goods that satisfy human wants or needs

Tierra del Fuego

have a subpolar oceanic climate (Temperatures are mild in summer and remain near freezing in the winter. This prevents the glaciers in the area from melting.)

Nahuatl

is another ancient Native-American language. It was once spoken by the Aztecs. The Aztecs, you will recall, lived in Central America. Nearly 1.5 million Mexicans speak a form of Nahuatl. It is recognized as an official language in those regions of Mexico where it is widely used.

Guaraní

is the most widely spoken Native-American language. It was originally spoken by the people of the Amazon region, Paraguay, and Uruguay. In Paraguay alone it is spoken by over 90% of the population, much of which is not of Native-American descent. The popularity of its use is partially due to the influence of Jesuit priests who worked as Roman Catholic missionaries among the Guarani people. The priests worked to preserve its use due to its elegance and sophistication comparable to Spanish and Portuguese.

grasslands

large areas of flatland covered with grass, flowers, and small plants

wetlands

large areas of land that are either temporarily or permanently covered with water

pampas

large, grassy plains of South America

textile

material usually made of yarn or thread

isthmus

narrow strip of land that connects two larger areas of land

Uruguay River

not only important to the water supply of the countries in which it flows, but it is also an important source of hydroelectric power. The Salto Grande Dam, built along the river, is one of Argentina's most important sources of electricity

drought

period of time when water supplies go below what is necessary to sustain life in an area

mulatto

person of mixed European and African heritage

mestizo

person of mixed Native-American and European heritage

Paraguay River

primary supplier of water to the world's largest wetlands in the world—the Pantanal.

precious metals

rare metals that are highly valued

pantheism

religious belief that God is in nature and is one with it

spiritualism

religious view that holds that the spirits of the dead can be contacted

tributaries

streams or rivers that flow into a larger stream or river

commerce

the buying and selling of goods and services

irrigation

the supply of water to soil for the purpose of plant growth

Pantanal

the world's largest wetland, located in South America

exploit

to use for profit

uninhabitable

unsuitable for human life

Quechua

was spoken by the Incas. It was the official language of their ancient empire. It remains in use today by people of Native American heritage in Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Chile, and Colombia.