LATIN AMERICA

Introduction,relief,drainage,climate, vegetation, soils,resources,and trade.

 Area from Mexico to S America .33 N lat to 56 S and from 35 W to 117 W. Area is 205,21ccc,971 km. Bounded by Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean sea and Gulf of Mexico. Three important lats pass through this region.

Introduction

South America, the planet's 4th largest continent, includes (12) independent countries and (3) major territories; the Falkland Islands, Galapagos Islands and French Guiana.

The continent contains the world's highest waterfall, Angel Falls in Venezuela; the largest river (by volume), the Amazon River; the longest mountain range, theAndes, and the driest place on earth, the Atacama Desert in Chile.

In addition, it includes the largest rainforest, the Amazon Rainforest; the highest capital city, La Paz, Bolivia; the highest commercially navigable lake in the world,Lake Titicaca; and, excluding research stations in Antarctica, the world's southernmost permanently inhabited community, Puerto Toro, Chile.

LATIN AMERICA

LATIN AMERICA included are Brazil, Argentina, Venezuela, Peru, Colombia, Chile, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay,Guyana, Ecuador, Surinam and French Guiana. Falkland islands are under Britain. Mexico, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Belize, El Salvador, and Panama. Cuba, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Trinidad and Tobago.

S AMERICA PHYSICAL

PHYSICAL

FACTS
Namesake: Americo Vespucci, the Italian explorer Major Languages: Portuguese, Spanish, English, Dutch, French, Italian, Arabic, and dozens of indigenous languages Population: 379,500,000 (2009 est) It's the fifth most populous continent, after Asia, Africa, Europe and North America Population Density: 21.4 sq km (56.0 sq mi) Top 10 Largest Cities: (by metro population)Sao Paulo, Brazil: 18,505,100 Buenos Aires, Argentina: 12,923,800 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: 11,246,600 Bogota, Colombia: 7,798,000 Lima, Peru: 7,603,500 Santiago, Chile: 5,636,800 Belo Horizonte, Brazil: 4,413,800 Salvador, Brazil: 3,173,500 Fortaleza, Brazil: 2,976,200 Cali, Colombia: 2,800.600

 3 stages in the development of the region-----Pre-cambrian, there were proto-continental crusts called cratons; Paleozoic era, Gondwanaland and Pangea were formed; during Mesozoic era Gondwanaland and Pangea were broken and Atlantic ocean was formed. Andes were also formed during this period.

GEOLOGICAL HISTORY

Amazon Basin: The Amazon Basin (Amazonia) is covered by the largest tropical rain forest in the world, and running through its heart is the Amazon River and its more than 1,000 tributaries, seven of them more than 1,000 miles in length. Measurable rain falls on an average of 200 days a year here, and total rainfall often approaches 100 inches per year. The basin drains over 2,700,000 sq. miles, and covers about one-third of South America. Rising high in the Andes, the river's network irrigates almost half of the continent, and in terms of volume of water discharged into an ocean... it's the largest in the world.

Andes Mountains: This toothy-edged mountain system, some 4,500 miles (7,240 km) in length, extends from the southern tip of South America all the way to Panama. It's the source of most major rivers on the continent, and its many ranges include dozens of peaks that reach over 20,000 ft; the highest point being Aconcagua in Argentina, at 22,384 ft. (6,960m). It's also home to some of the planet's largest volcanoes, and in the far south along the coast of Chile, large glaciers and ice sheets are commonplace.

Atacama Desert: Sparsely populated and positioned high into the Andes of Chile, this somewhat small desert (or plateau) is a cold place, and one of the few deserts on Earth that doesn't receive any rain. It's approximately 100 miles wide and 625 miles long. The landscape is totally barren and covered with small borax lakes, lava flow remnants and saline deposits.

POPULATION
More City Populations Largest Countries: (by population - 2008 est)Brazil: 193,891,867 Colombia: 45,656,990 Argentina: 40,085,130 Peru: 29,368,000 Venezuela: 29,132,000 Chile: 17,295,000 Ecuador: 14,228,000 Bolivia: 9,182,000 Paraguay: 6,158,000 Uruguay: 3,463,000 Guyana: 751,000 Suriname: 499,000

CLIMATE
South America Climate is predominantly wet and hot. However the large size of the continent makes the climate of South America varied with each region having its own characteristic weather conditions.

 The other factors influencing the climate of South America are the geographical location, ocean currents and winds. South America Climate differs from one region to another. The Amazon river basin has the typical hot wet climate suitable for the growth of rain forests. The temperatures in the Amazon basin 70 to 90 degrees F. The Andes Mountains, on the other hand, remain cold throughout the year. The temperatures of the mountains is always very low.

CLIMATE
The highest temperatures of South America have been recorded in Gran Chaco in Argentina, with temperatures going up to 110 degrees F. The wettest place is Quibdo in Columbia. It receives an annual rainfall of 350 inches(890 centimeters). The four parts of South America which experience heavy rainfall are the Amazon River Basin, coastal parts of French Guiana, Guyana and Suriname, the southwestern parts of Chile and Columbia and Ecuador coasts. A unique feature of South America Climate is the El Nino. Every two to seven years the cold dry Peru Current weakens and warm waters from the south rush along the coast in a southward direction. The El Nion affects the Climate of South America and causes heavy rainfall in the dry parts of South America.

VEGETATION