Latin American Geography - General Locations, Landmarks, terms, etc.
Rio de la Plata
Estuary of the Paraná and Uruguay Rivers between Uruguay an Argentina
NAFTA
Free trade agreement between USA, Mexico, and Canada
4,000 miles
How long is the Amazon River?
Brazil
Largest country in South America and has the largest population
South America
Largest land area with 13 countries (chili & Brazil)
Greater Antilles
Made up of four larger islands - Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola, & Puerto Rico.
pyramids
Maya cultural landscape
humid subtropic
climate with cool to mild winters and hot summers
steppe
climate with cool winters, high summers, and light rainfall
tropical dry
climate with high temperatures, abundant rainfall, and an extended dry season
Tierra templada crops
coffee and corn
Much of Latin America is characterized by which type of climate?
tropical
Central Highlands
volcanic mountains that rise like a backbone across Central America
Lake Titicaca
world's highest large navigable lake
informal economy
economic activities not tracked by the government
Main reason for Latin American migration to United States
economic opportunity
Which factor has the greatest influence on Latin America's climate?
elevation
llano
fertile grassland in inland areas of Colombia and Venezuela
Carnival
festival in Brazil
Amazon River
flows east to the Atlantic Ocean, largest river system in the world, and is the most important river in South America
pampas
grassy, treeless plains of southern South America
Venezuela
has the most oil in Latin America
Patagonia
hills and low flatland form a plateau in southern Argentina
Amazon Rain Forest
hot, humid area with dense vegetation; the largest rain forest in the world, located in South America
Atacama Desert
is coastal desert so arid that in some places no rainfall has ever been recorded
Lake Maracaibo
largest lake in the region; 5,217 sq. miles. contains oil fields foe Venezuela.
mestizo
mixed European and native american ancestry
What have mountains caused in the past?
mountains have blocked movement and trade isolated regions and people
Sierra Madre Oriental
mountains on eastern side of Mexico
Sierra Madre Occidental
mountains on western coast of Mexico
Rio Grande
only major river in Middle America; form part of the border between the US and Mexico
Favelas
poor slums in Brazil
Haiti
poorest country in Latin America
Mountains
the most dominant landforms in Latin America
Tierra Caliente
"hot land" sea level to 2,500 ft.
Caribbean Sea
Area of water that borders the NORTH coast of South America
Malaria
A disease caused by a plasmodium parasite, transmitted by the bite of infected mosquitoes.
Brazilian Highlands
A large region in the eastern part of South America that has hilly land that is good for growing and ranching
Tundra
A region where temperatures are always cool or cold and only specialized plants can grow
maquiladoras
American factories in Mexico taking advantage of cheap labor
Theodore Roosevelt
American statesman, author, explorer, soldier, and naturalist, who served as the 26th President of the United States from 1901 to 1909.
Grassland
An area where animals can graze (ranching)
Lesser Antilles
Smaller islands that stretch from the Virgin Islands to Trinidad/Tobago.
Llanos & Pampas
South Americans inland grassland
altiplano
Spanish for "high plain," a region in Peru and Bolivia encircled by the Andes peaks; a high plateau encircled by mountains
Amazon Basin
The home of the world's largest tropical rainforests, runs along the largest river in the world on the continent of South America.
Andes Mountains
The world's longest mountain chain, stretching along the west coast of South America.
Highland
along the Sierras in Mexico and the Andes Mtns.
Tropical Savanna
along the coast of SW Central America and most of the Caribbean islands
Panama Canal
an artificial 77 km waterway in Panama that connects the Atlantic Ocean with the Pacific Ocean
Mexico and Venezuela
are among the world leaders in oil production.
rio de la plata
as the three rivers flow near the Atlantic Ocean, they spread out and form a broad estuary
Latin America Divided into 3 Areas
-Middle America -West Indies -South America
Mexican cultural influences
Aztec, Maya, and Spanish
Which 3 regions is Latin America divided into?
Caribbean, south america, and middle america
Great Antillies
Cuba and Jamaca
Middle America
Mexico and the & countries of Central America (Costa Rica and Mexico)
Oil, silver
Mexico natural resource?
Three areas of Latin America.
Middle America, South America, & the West Indies.
isthmus
Narrow strip of land that connects two larger land areas.
Atlantic Ocean
Ocean that borders the EAST coast of South America
Pacific Ocean
Ocean that borders the WEST coast of South America
Which country has a canal that provides a link between the Pacific Ocean, Caribbean Sea, & Atlantic Ocean?
Panama
Where does the Amazon River travel from and to?
Travels from the Andes to the Atlantic Ocean
Lesser Antillies
Trinidad and Tobago
oil, gold
Venezuela natural resource?
Pampas
What are the grasslands of Argentina and Uruguay called?
Llanos
What are the grasslands of Columbia and Venezuela called?
Middle America, the Carribean, and South America
What are the three areas geographer's divide Latin America into?
Bahamas, the Greater Antilles, and the Lesser Antilles
What are the three groups of the Caribbean islands?
Andes
What mountain range extends on the western edge of South America and is the longest mountain range in the world?
West Indies
What's another name for the Caribbean islands?
Maya come from
Yucatan Peninsula
Imperialism
a policy of extending a country's power and influence through diplomacy or military force.
Slash & Burn
agriculture suitable to rainforrest
Tierra Caliente crops
bananas, sugar, rice, and cacao