Name: ________________________ Date: ____________ Ntbk #: _____

Study Guide –Geography of Latin America

I. In the box below, label the physical and political features of Latin America.

2

3

645

1

9

8

7

10

BA

ED

C

H

G

FMap Answer Key:Political Features (Numbers):1. Mexico2. Cuba3. Haiti4. Panama5. Venezuela6. Colombia7. Peru8. Bolivia9. Chile10. Brazil

Physical Features (Letters):A. Sierra Madre MountainsB. Gulf of MexicoC. Caribbean SeaD. Panama CanalE. Pacific OceanF. Amazon RiverG. Atacama DesertH. Andes Mountains

Name: ________________________ Date: ____________ Ntbk #: _____

II. Geography of Latin AmericaA. Latin America is made up of what 3 regions?Mexico and Central America, Caribbean Islands, and South AmericaB. Cuba has a large amount of arable land. What is arable land and why is it beneficial?Arable means fertile, which is good for farming and growing crops.C. Where is the Panama Canal located and why is it important?Panama Canal is located through the center of Panama, and it is important because it created a shortcut, making it quicker and easier to travel and ship goods.D. The Amazon rainforest is located mostly in what country?BrazilE. Where do the majority of people in Brazil live? Why?Along the east coast because the Amazon Rainforest takes up a lot of land in the interior of Brazil

III. Environmental Concerns in Latin AmericaA. Explain the major environmental concern in Mexico City:Air pollution due to exhaust from cars and smoke from factories

B. Explain the major environmental concern in Brazil:The deforestation of the Amazon Rainforest

C. Explain the major environmental concern in Venezuela:Oil-related pollution. The people of Venezuela drill for oil because it is very valuable.

D. How does Mexico City’s geography/location contribute to its air pollution?The Sierra Madre Mountains surround the city of Mexico City, trapping the air pollution above the city.

E. If oil is polluting Venezuela, why don’t the people there stop producing and selling it?Because oil is so valuable, many people in Venezuela have jobs that are related to the drilling and production of the oil. The economy of Venezuela also relies on oil.

IV. Brazil, Cuba, Mexico, and VenezuelaBrazil Cuba Mexico Venezuela

Population176,500,000 11,300,000 104,900,000 25,700,000

Language(s)Portuguese Spanish Spanish Spanish

ClimateHot, tropical Hot, tropical Hot, tropical

(colder in the higher altitudes)

Hot, tropical

Natural ResourcesLumber, iron ore, rubber

Sugar cane, coffee, tobacco

Oil, copper, zinc Oil, iron ore, bauxite