latin america resources, climate, hei ch. 9.1-9.3
TRANSCRIPT
LATIN AMERICARESOURCES, CLIMATE, HEICh. 9.1-9.3
RESOURCES
Latin America is home to many natural resources. Mineral resources (gold, silver) Energy resources (oil, natural gas)
The region is also rich in agricultural and forest resources
RESOURCES
Mineral Resources Mining provides Latin America with many resources including
tin, lead, titanium, copper, and nickel
Energy Resources Major oil reserves can be found in Mexico and Venezuela Hydroelectric power is rich in Brazil because of the
Amazon River Trinidad is a major exporter of natural gas
CLIMATE
Latin America has a varied climate for many reasons Latin America spans a great distance on each
side of the equator There are big changes in elevation throughout
Latin America Ocean currents from both the Atlantic and Pacific
affect the climate
TROPICAL CLIMATE ZONES
Rain Forests and grasslands are abundant throughout Latin America Tropical wet: Rain forests (like the Amazon) Tropical wet and dry: savannas and grasslands
with seasonal rain are found in Brazil, Columbia, and Argentina
TROPICAL CLIMATE ZONES
DRY CLIMATE ZONES
Dry climate zones are mainly found in Mexico and various countries in South America
There are not any dry climate zones in Central America nor in the Caribbean
Semiarid: found in Mexico, Uruguay, Brazil, and Argentina
Desert: Parts of northern Mexico and Peru
The Atacama Desert is in northern Chile The Atacama is the driest desert in the world
Patagonia in Argentina also contains a desert
DRY CLIMATE ZONES
MID-LATITUDE CLIMATE ZONES
Most moderate climate zones in Latin America are located south of the equator
Humid Subtropical: varied vegetation, rainy winters and hot, humid summer
Southern Brazil
Paraguay
Uruguay
Northern Argentina
Mediterranean: hot, dry summers and moist winters
Chile
Chaparral vegetation: plant life unique to the Mediterranean climate
MID-LATITUDE CLIMATE ZONES
Marine West Coast Southwestern South America
Highlands Found in the mountains of Mexico and South America
HEI: AGRICULTURE
Native people were the first in the Western Hemisphere to change the environment to grow food. A few tactics were used:
Slash-and-Burn: The slash-and-burn technique was used to clear fields
Farmers cut trees and brush, then burn debris and use the ashes for soil
Sometimes this process can be destructive to surrounding nature
After a few years and slashing, burning, and repeating, the soil is exhausted and the farmers move on to a new location.
This is one reason for the steadily shrinking rain forests
HEI: AGRICULTURE
Terraced Farming: an ancient technique for growing crops on hillsides and slopes
Farmers cut step-like fields into hillsides
Allows steep land to be cultivated
This technique reduces soil erosion because it makes it harder for the soil to be transported along the slopes (steps instead of smooth)
The Inca and the Aztecs used terrace farming
URBANIZATION
People are moving from rural areas to the city throughout Latin America
Today Latin America is as urban as Europe and North America
The most urbanized countries in South America include: Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, and Brazil
Most people move to cities in search of better lives
URBANIZATION
There are multiple push/pull factors at work regarding urbanization
The “push” factors that push people away from the farm/rural areas include
Poor medical care
Poor education
Low-paying jobs
The “pull” factors that bring people into the city include Higher-paying jobs
Better schools
Better medical care
URBANIZATION
Some large cities in Latin America include Rio de Janeiro Sao Paulo Buenos Aires
The largest city in Central America is Mexico City
URBANIZATION
Some of the problems growing cities face include Unemployment
Crime
Environmental problems
Local governments cannot afford to handle the population growth in many of these cities
This problem strains the infrastructure including sewers, electricity, transportation, and housing