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World Geography Latin America

Terms in this set (55)

Amazon River
What is the world's largest river in VOLUME that runs through South America?
Middle America, the Carribean, and South America
What are the three areas geographer's divide Latin America into?
Brazil
What is the largest country in South America and is the center of industry and development?
Andes
What mountain range extends on the western edge of South America and is the longest mountain range in the world?
Pampas
What are the grasslands of Argentina and Uruguay called?
silver
Mexico's natural resource and the reason they were exploited by the Spanish
pampas
grassy, treeless plains of southern South America
Rio de la Plata
Estuary of the Paraná and Uruguay Rivers between Uruguay an Argentina. Literally means "river of solver"
Rio Grande
River in the United States forming part of the boundary between the United States and Mexico
Amazon Basin
The world's largest expanse of tropical rain forest blankets; world's wettest tropical plain
Atacama Desert
is coastal desert so arid that in some places no rainfall has ever been recorded in the last 400 years.
humid subtropic
climate with cool to mild winters and hot summers
tropical dry
climate with high temperatures, abundant rainfall, and an extended dry season
steppe
climate with cool winters, high summers, and light rainfall
Tropical
Much of Latin America is characterized by which type of climate?
Middle America
Mexico and the & countries of Central America (Costa Rica and Mexico)
South America
Largest land area with 13 countries (chili & Brazil)
Sierra Madres
mountains on western and Eastern coast of Mexico
Brazilian Highlands
plateau so large it spans several climate and vegitatioin zones; located in SE Brazil
Lake Titicaca
world's highest large navigable lake
Tierra Caliente
"hot land" sea level to 2,500 ft.
Panama
Which country has a canal that provides a link between the Pacific Ocean, Caribbean Sea, & Atlantic Ocean?
maquiladoras
American factories in Mexico taking advantage of cheap labor
Main reason for Latin American migration to United States
economic opportunity
Mexican cultural influences
Aztec, Maya, and Spanish
Maya
Ancient civilization on the Yucatan Peninsula that is known for their pyramids and calendar.
oligarchy
rule of the few
Favelas
poor slums in Brazil
Haiti
poorest country in Latin America
informal economy
economic activities not tracked by the government
NAFTA
Free trade agreement between USA, Mexico, and Canada
Slash & Burn
agriculture suitable to rainforrest
Panama Canal
an artificial 77 km waterway in Panama that connects the Atlantic Ocean with the Pacific Ocean
Imperialism
a policy of extending a country's power and influence through diplomacy or military force.
Aztec
Ancient Civilization that was in Central Mexico and had a very large city in the middle of a lake. Conquered by the Spanish.
Inca
Ancient civilization that sprung up along the Andes in Peru and Chile. Conquered by the Spanish.
Guiana Highlands
Highland region located in Northern South America
Ring of Fire
Area in the Pacific that is known for active volcanoes.
Hernando Cortes
Conquistador that defeated the Aztecs
Francisco Pizarro
Conquistador that defeated the Inca.
Orinoco River
River in Northern South America. 8th longest river in the world.
Jesuit Priests
Catholic Priests that helped to convert most of the people in Latin America to Catholicism.
Human sacrifice
The Aztecs and Mayans were known for this to observe their religious beliefs.
Machu Pichu
Ancient city of the Inca that was on a mountain top, but is now abandoned.
Hacienda
Large estates or plantations in Latin America that were created by Spanish colonists.
Caudillo
Military dictatorships that were prevalent in Latin America in the 1900s
Junta
A policy of suppressing the locals in Latin America by the Spanish ruling class using military force.
Income gap
Latin America struggles with a small middle class, resulting in large numbers of poor, and a few elite or extremely wealthy.
Street Children
Children in Latin America that are orphaned or abandoned by their parent and left to fend for themselves. They are often killed or exploited for human trafficking.
Urbanization
Latin America is becoming more urban with roughly 80% of their population living in cities.
NIC
Newly Industrialized Country; this is where most Latin American countries are in development
Global warming
A product of deforestation in the Amazon Rain Forest
War on Drugs
A US policy meant to curb the import of illegal drugs from Latin America
Emigration
When people leave their native country for economic, political, or social reasons.
Immigration
When people come into a new country to seek a job or freedom.
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