Physical features of latin america

1. Physical Physical
Features of Latin Features of Latin
AmericaAmerica
Mrs. Sample
6
th
Grade Social Studies

2. Latin America is divided into three Latin America is divided into three
regions:regions:
•Mexico and Central
America
•Caribbean
•South America

3. Mexico and Central Mexico and Central
AmericaAmerica
•2,500 miles (about as wide as the US)
•Central Plateau in Mexico
olies between Sierra Madre mountains and makes up
more than half the country’s area
•Central America is an Isthmus.
oisthmus = a narrow strip of land that has water on
both sides and joins two larger bodies of land
oMany Volcanoes in Central America- as a result,
their soil is fertile and many people farm.

4. Mexican PlateauMexican Plateau

5. Gulf of MexicoGulf of Mexico
•bordered by the US
to the north, five
Mexican states to
the south, and Cuba
to the east
•Arm of the Atlantic
Ocean
•Mississippi River &
Rio Grande empty
into the Gulf of
Mexico

6. Sierra Madre MountainsSierra Madre Mountains

7. Sierra Madre MountainsSierra Madre Mountains
•mountain system in Mexico
•three major chains: the Sierra Madre
Occidental in the west, the Sierra
Madre Oriental in the east, and the
Sierra Madre del Sur, which extends
along the southern coast
oThe Sierra Madre range contains
some of the highest mountains and
volcanoes in Mexico.

8. Sierra Madre MountainsSierra Madre Mountains

9. Mexico and Central Mexico and Central
AmericaAmerica

10. Panama CanalPanama Canal

11. Panama CanalPanama Canal
•canal across the isthmus of Panama in Central
America
oallows vessels to travel between the Pacific
and Atlantic oceans
•handles a large volume of world shipping and
enables vessels to avoid traveling around South
America, reducing their voyages by thousands
of miles and many days.
oconsists of artificially created lakes, channels,
and a series of locks, or water-filled chambers,
that raise and lower ships through the
mountainous terrain of central Panama

12. Panama CanalPanama Canal

13. Caribbean SeaCaribbean Sea

14. Caribbean Caribbean
•small islands are made of coral
oskeletons of tiny sea animals, rock-
like substance
•larger islands are tops of underwater
mountains
oexamples: Cuba, Jamaica

15. Caribbean SeaCaribbean Sea
•partially enclosed on the north and
east by the islands of the West Indies,
and bounded on the south by South
America and Panama, and on the
west by Central America
•a major trade route for Latin American
countries
•a popular resort area—noted for its
mild tropical climate and beautiful
waters

16. Caribbean SeaCaribbean Sea

17. Andes MountainsAndes Mountains

18. Andes Mountains Andes Mountains
•Andes Mountains—4,500 miles along west
coast
oThey rise at some points to 20,000 feet—
same height as twenty 100 story buildings
stacked on top of each other
o2
nd
largest mountains; Himalayas are the
1st
•highlands east of the Andes
•Amazon River Basin—contains the largest
tropical rain forest (Amazon Rain Forest) in
the world; covers 1/3 of the continent

19. AndesAndes

20. Atacama DesertAtacama Desert

21. Atacama DesertAtacama Desert
•Atacama Desert (Chile)—one of the
driest places on earth; very little rainfall
obetween the Pacific Ocean and the
Andes Mountains

22. Atacama DesertAtacama Desert

23. Amazon RiverAmazon River

24. Amazon River & Amazon River &
RainforestRainforest
•Amazon River Basin—contains the largest
tropical rain forest (Amazon Rain Forest) in
the world; covers 1/3 of the continent
•Rivers serve as natural highways where it’s
hard to build roads
oprovide food and hydroelectric power
•Amazon River—2
nd
largest river in the world
(1
st
--Nile River)
o4,000 miles from Peru across to Atlantic
Ocean
ocontains 20% of all fresh water in the world

25. Amazon from SpaceAmazon from Space

27. Amazon Rain ForestAmazon Rain Forest