SSWG7b Describe the location of major physical features and their impact on Latin America MountainsHighlands Major Features Andes Mountains Brazilian Highlands Sierra Madre Occidental Sierra Madre Oriental ID: 552534
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Slide1
Physical Geography of Latin America
SSWG7b
. Describe the location of major physical features and their impact on Latin America. Slide2
Mountains/Highlands
Major Features: Andes Mountains, Brazilian Highlands, Sierra Madre Occidental, Sierra Madre Oriental
Second highest mountains in the world are the Andes
Andes divided into 3 chains mostly in Chile
Occidental (west)—steep with canyons & varying climates
Oriental (east)—tall, isolated and dry
Brazilian Highlands—made from volcanic lavaSlide3
Mountains/Highlands
Andes Mountains
Brazilian Highlands Slide4
Mountains/Highlands
Occidental
OrientalSlide5
Plateaus
Major Features: Mato Grasso Plateau, Patagonia
Patagonia semi-arid plateau known for nomadic herding
Mato Grasso Plateau area where a lot of native people live.Slide6
Plateaus
Mato Grasso
PatagoniaSlide7
Plains/Basins
Major Features: Amazon Basin, Pampas
Pampas is flat prairie like area mostly in Argentina
Pampas—major economic area for agriculture & herding
Amazon Basin—full of rare plants and possibilities for medications.Slide8
Plains/Basins
Amazon Basin
PampasSlide9
Rivers
Major Features: Amazon, Paraguay, Parana
Amazon is the
largest river
in the world with lots of tributaries
Runs through most of Brazil
Paraguay River starts in Mato Grasso Plateau
Mostly used for minor tradingSlide10
Rivers
Amazon River
Piranha!Slide11
Seas/Gulfs
Major Features: Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico
Caribbean Sea has many of the islands of
the
West Indies
Caribbean Sea area’s primary income is tourism
Gulf of Mexico—9
th
largest body of water in world
Recent ecological damageSlide12
Seas/Gulfs
Caribbean Sea
Gulf of MexicoSlide13
Additional Water Features
Major features: Panama Canal, Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean
Panama Canal built to lessen travel time for goods
Essentially connects the Atlantic & Pacific (through the Caribbean Sea)
Built from 1904 to 1914
Oceans are part of eco-tourismSlide14
Additional Water Features
Panama Canal
Pacific OceanSlide15
Deserts
Major Feature: Atacama Desert
Northern Chile between ocean and Andes
Almost little vegetation
Less than 1 inch of rain per year
Rich in mineralsSlide16
Deserts
Atacama DesertSlide17
Additional Features
Major Feature: Baja California, Yucatan Peninsula, Tierra del Fuego, Galapagos Islands, Easter Island
Tierra del Fuego is an archipelago
with cold climate
Tierra del Fuego—known for sheep
Galapagos—Darwin & diversity
Easter Island—big statues
Yucatan Peninsula—known for beach vacations
Baja California is actual a part of MexicoSlide18
Additional Features
Baja California
Tierra del FuegoSlide19
Additional Features
Galapagos Islands
Easter Island