overview of latin americawhslgrigg.weebly.com/uploads/1/3/1/5/13158546/physical...physical geography...

Physical

Geography

of Latin

America

Latin America = Mexico to Chile

Middle America =

• Mexico to Panama and

Caribbean Islands

Central America =

• Guatemala to Panama

South America = Colombia to

Chile

Caribbean / West Indies

Effect of landforms on population distribution

Why are there low

population densities in

the colored areas?

General

Pattern of

Landforms

• What physical feature is in the

red circles?

• What physical feature is in the

purple circles?

• What physical feature is in the

yellow circles?

From west to east, what are the

general pattern of landforms in

South America

Formation of the Andes

• What type of plate

boundary forms the

Andes mountains?

Mountains

Grasslands Llanos

Cerrado

Pampas

In what country do you find

the Llanos?

In what country do you find

the Cerrado?

In what country do you find

the Pampas?

Rainforest Biome

The three major island groups of the Caribbean:

Bahamas, GreaterAntilles, Lesser Antilles

Isthmus of Panama/Land bridge/Panama Canal

• What is an isthmus and why does

the term apply to Panama?

• What two oceans does the Panama

Canal connect?

• How does the Panama Canal

shorten shipping distances?

You will need to

know the pattern

of climates /

distribution of

climate zones

(text page 194)

Factors influencing climate: Latitude

• What special line of latitude

is located on the green line?

• What special line of latitudes

are on the yellow and purple

lines?

• How does latitude influence

the climate of Latin America

or anywhere else on the

globe?

Factors influencing climate: Altitude

What physical feature is responsible

for South America’s highland climate?

Factors influencing climate: Prevailing Winds

Locate the red line on the climate map below.

• Why is there a wetter climate just to the northeast and

southeast of the red line. At the same time, there are drier

climates to the northwest and southeast of the line. Your

answer needs to contain the words “prevailing winds” and

“Andes mountains”

Factors influencing climate: Distance from Ocean

• How does distance

from major oceans

influence climate?

Factors influencing climate: Ocean Currents

Using the image to the right,

explain the differences

between the coastal

temperatures of Pacific

Latin America and those of

Atlantic Latin America.

Humbolt Current

• Cold ocean current off Chile and Peru

• Moderates coastal climates

• Keeps coast very dry (cold air = less moisture)

• Helps create the Atacama desert

Humbolt Current

Factors influencing climate:

Great Mt. Barriers/Orographic Effect

• Look back to the Prevailing Winds

slide for a orographic effect recap

El Niño

• Ocean off S. America warmer than normal

• Causes world wide climate change

• About every 4-6 years