A
Through which seven Latin American countries do the Andes Mountains run?
Physical Features
The Andes Mountains run through the countries of Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina.
Which resource is most abundant in Latin America north of the equator? Which two countries have the most of that resource?
Economic Activity
Petroleum is the most abundant resource in Latin America, north of the equator. Mexico and Venezuela are the two countries with the most petroleum.
Which country in Latin America has all of these climates: highlands, arid, semiarid, Mediterranean, and marine west coast?
Climate Zones
Chile has all five of these climate zones.
What is the most common type of vegetation throughout Latin America? Which country has the most land with that type of vegetation?
Vegetation Zones
Broadleaf evergreen forest is the most common type of vegetation in Latin America. Brazil has the most land with that type of vegetation.
What important physical feature is found near 10°N latitude and 80°W longitude? In which country is it located?
Physical Features
The Isthmus of Panama is located near 10°N latitude and 80°W longitude. It is in the country of Panama.
Which two Latin American countries have the most desert vegetation? Which four countries have the most desert scrub vegetation?
Vegetation Zones
Peru and Chile are the two countries with the most desert vegetation. Mexico, Brazil, Venezuela, and Colombia are the four with the most desert scrub vegetation.
What is Latin America’s most populated city north of the equator? Which are the three most populated cities south of the equator?
Population Density
Mexico City is the most populated city in Latin America north of the equator. Buenos Aires, São Paulo, and Rio de Janeiro are the most populated cities south of the equator.
Which two countries and a neighboring territory have the lowest population density in Latin America?
Population Density
The countries Guyana and Suriname and the territory French Guiana (France) have the lowest overall population density in Latin America.
What is the main climate zone of the two largest islands that lie near 20°N latitude? Which three countries are located on those two islands?
Climate Zones
The main climate zone of the two largest islands that lie just north or south of 20°N latitude is tropical wet and dry. The three countries on these islands are Cuba, Haiti, and Dominican Republic.
Name four Latin American countries where most of the precious metals (gold, silver, copper) are found. What physical feature do these countries have in common that might explain why?
Economic Activity and Physical Features
Most of the precious metals in Latin America are found in Mexico, Peru, Bolivia, and Chile. All of these countries have lots of mountains.
The country of Paraguay has one of the poorest economies of Latin American countries south of the equator. What physical and economic factors might help explain why?
Physical and Economic Activity
Physical and economic factors that help explain why Paraguay has one of the poorest economies of Latin American countries south of the equator include these:
—Nearly half its land has little or no economic activity.
—It has no significant resources.
—It has no direct access to the Atlantic or Pacific oceans.
Which three Latin American countries have the most land for livestock raising? In which of these countries do climate and vegetation make it most suitable for livestock raising? Why?
Climate, Vegetation, and Economic
Brazil, Argentina, and Mexico have the most land devoted to livestock raising. Brazil might be best for livestock raising because it has both tropical grassland vegetation and a tropical wet and dry climate. Argentina has lots of temperate grassland, but like Mexico, much of its climate is arid or semiarid, which means very little water.
How many people live in the urban center of Buenos Aires, Argentina? How do economic activity and climate help explain why so many people live in Buenos Aires?
Climate, Population Density, and Economic Activity
Over 8 million people live in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Buenos Aires is in an area where there is trade and manufacturing, providing lots of jobs. Large areas of commercial farming and livestock raising surround it, so there is plenty of food grown and raised nearby. It has a humid subtropical climate, which is not an extreme climate for people to live in.
Imagine that you are going to start a new business in a city somewhere in Central America. Your business manufactures items made of gold and silver. These items will be shipped to Europe and Asia. You will hire more than 1,000 local people to work in your business.
In which city in Central America would you place your business, and why?
Physical, Population Density, Economic Activity
Havana, Cuba, and Managua, Nicaragua, are two good choices. Both have enough local people to hire as workers. Both have precious metal resources and easy access to the Pacific Ocean for shipping to Asia, and to the Isthmus of Panama and the Panama Canal for access to the Atlantic Ocean and Europe.
In which Latin American country does this person live? Why do you think so?
“My country’s largest city has about 2 million people. Like many people, I work on a commercial farm, but my brother is a fisherman. We don’t have big mountains, but we do have thousands of miles of coastline. If you visit, wear shorts and T-shirts, because the climate is tropical. Fortunately, it’s rainy only part of the year.”
All except vegetation
This person lives in Cuba because Havana, Cuba’s major city, has 1–4 million people. The land in Cuba is primarily used for commercial farming, though there is also commercial fishing off its coastline. Cuba is an island and thus has thousands of miles of coastline. It has no high mountains. The climate in Cuba is tropical wet and dry.