LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION!

GPS: SS6G3 The student will explain the impact of location, climate, distribution, of

natural resources, and population distribution on Latin America and the

Caribbean

Mexico Venezuela Brazil Cuba

Location •South of U.S. (in Central America)•Coasts on Pacific O., Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea•Very mountainous with large central plateau•Varies from deserts to beaches•Only 12% arable•Earthquakes/ Volcanoes

•NE S.A.•Coasts on Caribbean Sea & Atlantic O.•just n. of equator•mts in n., plains in central, plateaus & low mts in s.•3% arable (pastures more than crops)

•eastern S.A.•coast on Atlantic O.•equator runs through n. part•mostly flat – some plains, hills, mts•largest country in S.A.•7% arable

•Caribbean island 90 mi. s. of Florida•Gulf of Mexico to northwest/ Atlantic O. to northeast•mostly flat – hills & mts in s.e.•largest island in West Indies•28% arable

Mexico Venezuela Brazil Cuba

Climate Dry & warmHottest and rainiest June-Aug.

Mostly hot, tropical, but cooler in mts; rain – 16”/yr on coast; 100”/yr in mts

Mostly hot, tropical, but temperate in south

Tropical; moderated by trade winds; dry season (Nov-Apr)& rainy season (May – Oct.)

Natural Resources

Petroleum, natural gas, silver, copper, gold, lead, zinc, timber

Petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, bauxite, hydropower, diamonds

Bauxite, gold, iron ore, manganese, nickel, phosphates, platinum, tin, uranium, petroleum, hydropower, timber

Cobalt, nickel, iron ore, chromium, copper, salt, timber, silica, petroleum, arable land

Population 111,000,000 28,000,000 191,000,000 11,000,000

Area 760,000 sq. mi. 350,000 sq. mi 3,300,000 sq. mi

43,000 sq. mi

Mexico Venezuela Brazil Cuba

Where People Live

•Urban: 77%•Rural: 23%•20% live in Mexico city•2nd most populous country in L. America•Largest Spanish-speaking country in world

•Urban: 88%•Rural: 12%•Caracas – largest city•Most live in northern highlands on coast

•Urban: 84%•Rural: 16%•Most pop. Country in S.A.•Largest Portuguese-speaking country in world•Most live along coast – 80% w/in 200 mi. of ocean•Most towns/cities are on coast

•Urban: 76%•Rural: 24%•Havana – largest city (20% live there)

Trade

Mexico Venezuela Brazil Cuba

Trade •Mix – old/new industries•7 seaports•Exports: goods, oil, silver, fruits/veg., coffee, cotton•tourism

•90% of $$$ made on exports comes from oil•4 seaports•Exports: oil, bauxite, aluminum, steel, chemicals, food•tourism

•7 seaports•Exports: transport equipment, iron ore, soybeans, footwear, coffee, autos, sugar•U.S. is largest trading partner•tourism

•3 seaports•Exports: sugar, nickel, tobacco, fish, medical products, citrus, coffee•Venezuela is largest trading partner•tourism

Brazil

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FtmM4iTALE&feature=player_embedded#!

Mexico

Cuba

Venezuela