Chapter 8 Section 1
1. Geographers divided the large region known as Latin America into three sub-regions. These three regions consist of Middle America, the Caribbean, and South America. Middle America is from Mexico to Panama. The Caribbean consists of the islands in the Caribbean Sea. The largest landmass region of Latin America is the continent South Africa.
2. Latin America is made economically important through several natural resources of both energy resources and minerals. The energy resources consist of: deposits of oils and natural gases that can be found in the valleys or in the offshore regions of the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. It is known not just for its "energy resources",but for its mineral resources such as gold in Venezuela, silver in Peru and Mexico, and emeralds in Colombian mines. Other minerals consisting of copper, bauxite and aluminum.
Chapter 8 Section 2
1. Latin America has diverse climates. It has humid subtropical, tropical wet/dry, Mid latitude and Arid regions. These are the climate regions that are represented in Latin America. An Arid region is mainly found in the Atacama Desert of Peru and Chile. Humid Subtropical regions are mainly in Southeastern South America. Wet and Dry Tropical regions are most common in southern Mexico, northern and central South America. The mid latitude regions are found mostly in the southern parts of South America.
2. Latin America's location and landforms affect the climate within particular regions because of elevation. Elevation varies the types of crops or vegetation that grows in that region. Some of these land forms are tierra helada, puna, tierra fría, tierra templada, and teirra caliente. The tierra helada and puna are both above the timberline and in cold zones below 55 degrees Fahrenheit. They are located at 12,000 to 16,000 feet. The Tierra fría is known as the cold land, at 6,000 to 12,00 feet. It is the highest climate zone in Latin America. The tierra templada is called the temperate land and is located between 2,500 and 6,000 feet. Lastly, the tierra caliente is known as the hot land and lies at the elevations between sea level and 2500 feet, mainly rainforests.
Creative Writings:
Section 1-
The people of Latin America benefit greatly from their water systems. Their waterways transport people and goods to different parts of the region and even the rest of the world. Most of their major water systems are found in the bigger landmass, South America. An example is the Amazon River, it brings the cities of its region hydroelectric power and commercial water routes. Another water system is the
Río de la Plata, also known as the River of Silver, which flows into the Atlantic Ocean to allow oceangoing ships to export goods. One of the major water systems is the Panama Canal, even though it is man made it helped ships travel a shorter route between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans instead of sailing around the southern tip of South America.
Section 2-
October 23rd,2008
Today i began my quest through Latin America starting in Bolivia. I decided today I am going to hike the altiplano. The altiplano is a high plain with hills and a stretch of flatlands. The hike I want to take is from the altiplano to the plateau of Patagonia. I began this hike around 7 am because of the harsh climate. The hike was through a very vast, dry, barren, and windy region of the Andes Mountains. The altiplano has a more arid, desert view. It has sparse vegetation. My hike was tiring and long over the duration of 6 hot days.
