Physical Geography of Latin/Mesoamerica

Map of Latin America (Central and South America)

Mountains and Highlands

The Andes Mountains Part of a Mountain Range

that runs through the western portion of North, Central, and South America (Rockies in the U.S./Sierra Madre in Mexico)

Many active volcanos Home to the Inca in Peru

Highlands Made up of mountainous or

hilly sections (Guiana Highlands)

Includes Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, Guiana, and Brazil)

Plains Grain and Livestock

Llanos of Columbia and Venezuela Vast plains in Columbia and

Venezuela Grassy, treeless area used for

livestock and farming Similar to Great Plains in U.S.

Plains of Amazon River Basin Expansive plains in Brazil called

“Cerrado” Flat terrain with moderate rainfall Good for farming, but much of it is

undeveloped Pampas of Argentina and

Uruguay Areas of grassland and rich soil in

northern Argentina and Uruguay Main product is cattle and wheat

Rivers

Orinoco River Mainly in Venezuela Flows more than 1,500 miles

along the Columbia-Venezuela border to the Atlantic

Amazon River Flows 4,000 miles from East to

West Starts in Andes and ends in the

Atlantic Fed by 1,000 tributaries Carries more water to the ocean

than any other river in the world Parana River

Flows 3,000 miles from Brazilian Highlands

Ends up as an estuary

Major Islands of the Caribbean

Bahamas Hundreds of islands

between Cuba and Florida Nassau is the capital

Greater Antilles Larger islands including

Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola, and Puerto Rico.

Served as a base of operations for Spanish Conquest

Lesser Antilles Smaller islands southeast

of Puerto Rico

Resources of Latin America

Mineral Resources Gold, silver, iron,

copper, bauxite, tin, lead, and nickel all abundant

Also mine gem stones, titanium and tungsten

One of world’s leading miners of raw material

Energy Resources Oil, coal, natural gas,

uranium and hydroelectric power all plentiful