Physical Geography of Latin America拉丁美国的自然地理.pptVIP

Tropical: Rain Forest Hot temps, abundant rainfall year-round Most Rain: January - June Evergreens form a dense canopy, or a continuous layer of leaves Amazon Basin: many species of plants animals Location: S. America (Brazil, Amazon Basin) Tropical: Tropical Savanna Locations: Southwestern Mexico Most Caribbean Islands North-central South America Hot temps, abundant rainfall year-round Difference? DRY SEASON Grasslands (Colombia Venezuela) Mid-Latitude: Humid Subtropics Southeastern South America (Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay) Short mild winters Long, hot humid summers with dry periods Short grasses in the pampas Dry: Desert Steppe Areas Northern Mexico, coastal Peru and Chile, southeastern coast of Argentina Very little rainfall in the desert Atacama Desert: Chile So dry, some places in this desert have never recorded any rainfall!! Cacti, shrubs—not much vegetation Steppes: N Mexico, NE Brazil, South Central South America Hot summers, cool winters, light rainfall Dates to Know: Test Correction Dates (below 75 only!): Today PM: @ 2:40PM Friday AM: 6:45-7:20AM Friday PM: @ 2:40PM Tomorrow: Invisible Children extra credit due Tuesday, 11/11: Latin America map quiz Tentative Latin America Test: Wednesday, 11/19 Physical Geography of Latin America The Three Divisions Geographers divide Latin America into three areas: Middle America: includes Mexico and the 7 countries of Central America South America: the largest land area of Latin America Of S. America’s 13 countries, Brazil is the largest in land area and population Caribbean (aka-West Indies): The Bahamas, the Greater Antilles, and the Lesser Antilles Las Monta?as y Las Mesetas (Mountains Plateaus) Profile: Towering mountains Mountains begin in the Rocky Mountains of North America, name changes as you move south and cross borders Mexico: Sierra Madre Central America: Central Highlands South America: Andes Rugged landscape because much of the area sits along the Pacific Ring of Fire, where pl