Latin America Geography and Environmental Issues

Where in the Latin America?

Mexico• Location: North America• Climate:

– Northern Mexico has a steppe or desert climate. Dry climate with some rain

– home to vast, grass-covered plains or desert shrubs

– Southern Mexico has a Savanna climate.

– The mountainous areas in central Mexico determines the climate based on the elevation. Such as the Sierra Madre Mountains.

Mexico’s Natural Resources

• SILVER! More silver is mined in Mexico than in any other country.

• Mexico also has large deposits of Oil.

• Also mined: Gold, Iron, Copper, Zinc, and Manganese

Venezuela: Climate and Natural Resources

Venezuela

• Location: South America• Climate:

– Northern part has a steppe climate

– Central Venezuela has a Savanna Climate usually hot with seasonal rain

– Southern Venezuela has a tropical climate typically hot and rainy year round

Venezuela’s Natural Resources

• OIL! Venezuela is an oil rich country. Venezuela has easy access to the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean allowing for easy exporting of oil around the world.

• Venezuela also has deposits of natural gas and mines Iron, Gold, and Manganese

• The government gets about half of its money from the oil business.– Even provides oil to Cuba at a reduced price!

Brazil: Climate and Natural Resources

Brazil• Location: South America.

The biggest country in South America.

• Climate:– Northern Brazil has a

tropical climate. – Central Brazil has a Savanna

Climate. – Southern Brazil has a Humid

Subtropical Climate. What is the weather like in a humid Subtropical climate?

Brazil’s Natural Resources • SUGAR!!! Sugar cane is Brazil’s

number one exported natural resource.

• It can easily trade with other countries because of its 7 seaports on the Atlantic coast.

Brazil also has oil, Iron, Tin, Manganese, and aluminum. And plenty of hydroelectric power!• What about the Amazon rain

forest?– 20% of the World’s oxygen comes

from the Amazon rain forest!

Cuba: Climate and Natural Resources

CubaLocation: Caribbean seaClimate:

Savanna: hot with seasonal rainfall

Cuba’s Natural Resources

• Land is used mostly for farming– This is because they have a

large amount of arable land.• What is arable land?• They grow: Fruit and sugar

cane which are the main exports

• The also mine: Copper, Gold, and Nickel. Cuba also has a deposit of oil

On your map, color the most populated areas in one color and the lesspopulated areas in a different color. In thekey indicate, what color represents the most populated areas and the less populatedareas.

Latin America Languages: Must include Spanish, Portuguese, French and English on Key

Map 2Green-Spanish Blue- French

Hint: All countries in Latin America are Spanish except: Brazil, French Guiana, Suriname, Guyana, and Haiti

Latin America: Environmental Issues

Where in the Latin America?

Air Pollution in Mexico City, Mexico

Latin America: Environmental Issues

Air Pollution in Mexico City

• nearly 20 million people live here

• second most populated city in the world--Tokyo is first

• city’s population & location contribute to its bad air pollution problem

• considered to be the most polluted city in the world

Air pollution over Mexico City

Smog underneath the clouds, surrounded by mountains

Causes of Air pollution in Mexico City

1. huge population = lots of cars

2. high elevation--less oxygen so fuels don’t fully burn

--higher level of gases that harm eyes, lungs, & the heart

3. Sierra Madre mountains surround city & trap in polluted air

Mexico City Surrounded by mountains

Effects of Air Pollution

• Air pollution• Increase in

asthma • Acid Rain

Solutions for Air pollution in Mexico City

• To reduce air pollution, the city promotes public transportation (buses, subway).

• The city is also testing buses that run on cleaner burning fuels

• new restrictions on car use• workshops to teach people

about the environment

Amazon Rainforest: Deforestation

Latin America: Environmental Issues

Amazon Rainforest• largest rainforest in the world• most of the rainforest is in Brazil• experiences a hot, humid, &

rainy tropical climate• home to a huge variety of

plants, trees, insects, birds, & animals

• produces 1/5 of the earth’s oxygen (about 20%)

Amazon Rain Forest

Brazil

Destruction of the Amazon Rainforest

• The Brazilian government built a major highway system.

• opened rainforest to loggers

• Brazil’s population has increased

Amazon Rainforest

Before

Amazon Rainforest

After

Results of deforestation• Plants & animals are

losing their homes; many are endangered, and some are becoming extinct.

• Loss of trees increases carbon dioxide, a gas that contributes to global warming.

Clear-cutting, slash and burn, and Mud slide due to erosion

Solutions• The government is

passing laws to limit the number of trees

• Companies are replanting trees and “farming” them until they are mature enough to cut again.

Venezuela: oil-related pollution

Latin America: Environmental Issues

Black Gold in Venezuela• One of the world’s leading

producers of oil• has been producing oil for

about 100 years• Oil production has boosted

economy• Main source of income for many

people• Oil production results in toxic

wastes, air pollution, & oil spills

Results of drilling for oil…

Venezuela

Causes• Unscientific

drilling• Poor

government involvement

• Lack of proper machinery to clean effected areas

The effects• Venezuela’s coast has

become polluted with oil.

• The environment is damaged

• Fishing industry is hurt• Breathing problems for

children and elderly

More effects of oil in Venezuela

• Oil businesses have damaged Lake Maracaibo (largest lake in South America).

• Large amounts of oil have been removed from the area so the land is changing.• eastern shore of the lake is dropping

about three inches a year• government is having to take

precautions to keep water from flooding into nearby towns

Oil Spill

What does this remind you of?

Problems • Money from selling

oil is the country’s main source of income.

• Venezuelans are motivated to keep producing, selling, and burning oil--and polluting

Solutions

• Develop renewable energy sources

• Focus on clean-up and prevention of pollution

• Involve government more• Better training of workers

(investing in human capital)