Chapter 2 & Latin America

Surface of the Earth- Hydrosphere- 70% of the earth’s surface is water.- Lithosphere- 30% of the earth’s surface is land.- atmosphere- layer of gases

- Gases: Nitrogen (78%), Oxygen (21%), and Other Gases (~1%)

- biosphere- the part of earth that supports life.

Continental DriftHow?

Constant Motion

Inner Core- Hot, but solid (why?)

Outer Core- Hot, but liquid

Mantle- Liquid Magma and Solid (Rock)

Convection

Crust- Continents and Ocean Basins (tectonic plates)

Internal Forces

Internal plate movement has defined the earth’s surface.

mountains (subduction)

trenches (accretion)

ridges (spreading)

faults (faulting)

External Forces-Erosion: The wearing away of the

earth’s surface.Wind

Glaciers

Water

Earth’s WaterThe total amount of water always remains the same, but it is in constant motion.

Water Cycle:

the catalyst => The SUN

Liquid to Evaporation to Condensation to Liquid

97% of the world’s water is salt water (4 oceans: Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, Arctic)

Also Salt Water: Seas, Gulfs, Bays (partially enclosed by land)

PROBLEM?

SolutionDesalination: refers to the process of removing salt and minerals from salt water.

Problem?

Bodies of Fresh water

3% of water is fresh 1.5% is in glaciers and ice caps

.5% is underground (aquifers)

less than 1% is in rivers, lakes, and streams

Latin AmericaName is derived from Latin languages (Spanish and Portuguese- Line of Demarcation)

Middle America or Central America (Mexico through Panama- 7 countries)

The Caribbean- West Indies

3 chains: Greater Antilles, Lesser Antilles and Bahamas

South American Continent

MountainsSierra Madres and Andes

creates cooler climates

limited cultural diffusion

cultural diffusion: spread of cultural traits from one culture to another.

Rain Shadow:

- Creates Atacama Desert

Atacama Desert

Amazon Riversecond largest river on earth

10X as much water as the Mississippi. During certain seasons, it gets 7 miles wide.

important to shipping and trade (but also an obstacle)

creates Amazon Basin with connecting rivers

Amazon Rainforest- dense cover (canopy)

1/3 of South America

Shelters more species of life than any other habitat on earth

creates problems for economic development, and therefore faces deforestation.

Population

• About 580 Million People (but with high population growth)

• Populated rim- population density is highest along a continent’s coastline.

Primate Cities: an urban area which dominates an entire country’s economic and political affairs.

EXP: Mexico City, Havana, Caracas

Original CivilizationsAztecs: Central Mexico

tenochtitlan

created chinampas- floating islands for planting food.

Incas: Peru

cuzco- capital

quipu- a series of colored knots as a form of accounting

Maya: Mexico and Yucatan Peninsula

Mathematics based on 20 with 0

Chinampas

Mayan Math

Primarily Catholic- Why?

Latifundia is quickly replacing minifundia

Small family owned farms being replaced by big agribusiness.

Farm Land

Obstacles to Industrial Growth

Rain forest and Mountains

Amazon is a catch 22.

political instability