Chapter 5: Latin America | World Regional Geography

At a Glance

Prereqs: Chapter 4 Time: 60 min read + 20 min activities Deliverable: Quiz + Reflection

🎯 Learning Outcomes

Describe: The impact of Altitudinal Zonation on settlement and agriculture.
Analyze: The lasting effects of the Columbian Exchange and colonial land systems.
Explain: The causes and global consequences of Amazon deforestation.
Evaluate: Urban challenges, including primate cities and informal settlements (favelas).
Apply: Geographic concepts to understand the region's vast economic inequality.

🔑 Key Terms

Altitudinal Zonation, Columbian Exchange, Mestizo, Hacienda, Favela, Remittances, Primate City, Treaty of Tordesillas, Informal Economy.

🛑 Stop & Check

Why are cities like Bogotá and Mexico City located at such high elevations?

Reveal Answer

To escape the tropical heat and diseases of the lowlands. The Tierra Templada (Temperate Land) and Tierra Fría (Cold Land) zones offer a mild, spring-like climate year-round.

⚡ Common Misconception

Myth: The Amazon produces 20% of the world's oxygen and is the "lungs of the earth."

Fact: While the Amazon produces massive oxygen, it consumes nearly all of it through respiration and decomposition. Its true global value is as a massive carbon sink (storing CO2) and biodiversity reservoir.

🌴 Regional Snapshot: Middle and South America

Population ~660 Million

Largest Forest The Amazon Basin

Dominant Languages Spanish & Portuguese

Primary Theme Resource Extraction & Inequality

Latin America is a region of vast physical contrasts - from the world's longest continental mountain range (the Andes) to the largest tropical rainforest (the Amazon). Its history is a record of intense cultural fusion and structural inequality born from centuries of extractive colonial rule.

Figure 5.0: Regional Scope. Latin America includes the sub-regions of Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and South America.

🗺️ Interactive Map: The Latin American Realm

Explore the physical spine of the Andes and the vast drainage basin of the Amazon. Click on major megacities like São Paulo and Mexico City to learn about their geographic significance.

Toggle between Physical terrain and Political boundaries. Notice the "Altitudinal Zonation" - how cities in the Andes are often built at high elevations to escape tropical heat.

⛰️ Physical Geography: Andes, Basins, and Plateaus

Latin America encompasses extraordinary physical diversity—from volcanic Caribbean islands to the world's longest mountain chain to vast river basins and coastal plains.

The Andes Mountains

The Andes Mountains form the world's longest continental mountain chain, stretching 7,000 km along South America's western edge from Venezuela to Tierra del Fuego. Key characteristics:

Height: Over 50 peaks exceed 6,000 meters; Aconcagua (6,959 m) is the highest peak outside Asia
Active volcanism: Part of the Pacific "Ring of Fire"—Cotopaxi (Ecuador) is one of the world's highest active volcanoes
Mineral wealth: Gold, silver, copper, tin—mining has been central to Andean economies since the Inca
Isolation: The rugged terrain historically isolated western South America from the interior

🏔️ Altitudinal Zonation

In tropical mountains, climate and agriculture change with elevation rather than latitude. The Andes exhibit classic altitudinal zones:

Tierra Caliente (Hot Land): Sea level–3,000 ft. Tropical crops: bananas, sugarcane, cacao
Tierra Templada (Temperate Land): 3,000–6,000 ft. Coffee zone, most populated
Tierra Fría (Cold Land): 6,000–12,000 ft. Potatoes, wheat, corn—includes major cities like Bogotá, Quito
Tierra Helada (Frozen Land): 12,000–15,000 ft. Grazing animals (llamas, alpacas)
Tierra Nevada (Snowy Land): Above 15,000 ft. Permanent snow and ice

This explains why many Latin American capitals (Bogotá, Quito, La Paz, Mexico City) are located at high elevations—escaping tropical heat and disease.

The Amazon Basin

The Amazon River drains 40% of South America—an area nearly the size of the continental United States. Facts that illustrate its scale:

Discharge: The Amazon carries approximately 20% of all river water that flows into the world's oceans
Width: During rainy season, the river can exceed 160 km (100 miles) wide
Tributaries: More than 1,100 tributaries, 17 of which are longer than the Rhine River
Biodiversity: The Amazon rainforest contains approximately 10% of all species on Earth

No bridges cross the main stem of the Amazon River—its width, seasonal flooding, and remote location make bridge construction impractical.

The Altiplano and Lake Titicaca

The Altiplano ("high plain") is a vast plateau between two Andean ranges, averaging 3,750 meters elevation. Lake Titicaca, straddling Peru and Bolivia, is the world's highest navigable lake and has supported human civilization for over 3,000 years. The lake moderates temperatures, making agriculture possible at this extreme elevation.

Other Major Physical Features

Atacama Desert: The driest place on Earth—some weather stations have never recorded rain. Located in rain shadow of the Andes.
Brazilian Highlands: Ancient plateau region, major agricultural zone for coffee and soybeans
Pampas: Temperate grasslands of Argentina and Uruguay—the "breadbasket" producing wheat, cattle, and wine
Patagonia: Windswept semi-arid region of southern Argentina, sheep ranching and oil extraction
Llanos: Tropical grasslands of Venezuela and Colombia along the Orinoco River

Physical regions of South America — **Figure 5.1:** Physiography. The region is divided between the young Andes, the central lowlands (Amazon/Pampas), and the ancient Brazilian/Guiana Highlands.

Coastal landscape of Rio de Janeiro — **Figure 5.2:** Coastal Geography. Many of Latin America's largest cities are located on the coast, a legacy of the maritime colonial economy.

Middle America: The Caribbean and Central America

The physical geography of Middle America (Mexico, Central America, Caribbean) differs significantly:

Mexican Plateau: High central plateau (altiplano) where most Mexicans live, including Mexico City at 2,240 m
Central American Volcanic Chain: Part of the Ring of Fire, creating fertile volcanic soils but earthquake/eruption hazards
Caribbean Islands: Mix of volcanic islands (Greater and Lesser Antilles) and coral limestone formations (Bahamas)
Isthmus of Panama: The narrow land bridge connecting North and South America—site of the Panama Canal

🔍 Geographic Inquiry

The Amazon rainforest functions as a "carbon sink," absorbing CO2 and regulating global weather patterns. Deforestation for cattle ranching and soy production has accelerated dramatically. If the Amazon passes a "tipping point" and transitions to savanna, what are the potential consequences for global climate? Who bears responsibility for protecting this shared resource?

👤 Important Person

Rigoberta Menchú

Human Rights Activist & Nobel Laureate

A K'iche' Maya woman from Guatemala, Menchú has dedicated her life to advocating for the rights of Indigenous peoples in Latin America. Her work highlights the ongoing geographic struggles over land rights, sovereignty, and environmental stewardship in the face of resource extraction.

Learn about her advocacy →

🏛️ Colonial History: Empires, Conquest, and the Columbian Exchange

Pre-Columbian Civilizations

Before European contact, Latin America was home to sophisticated civilizations:

🏛️ The Maya (300-900 CE Classical Period)

Located in southern Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras
Built magnificent stone cities with pyramids, observatories, ball courts
Developed advanced mathematics (concept of zero), astronomy, and accurate calendars
Descendants still live in the region today—millions speak Mayan languages

🏛️ The Aztec Empire (1428-1521 CE)

Controlled central Mexico from their island capital Tenochtitlán (now Mexico City)
Population estimated at 100,000-250,000—one of the world's largest cities at the time
Collected tribute from subjugated peoples throughout Mesoamerica
Conquered by Hernán Cortés in 1521 with Spanish soldiers, indigenous allies, and epidemic disease

🏛️ The Inca Empire (1438-1533 CE)

Stretched 4,000 km along the Andes from Ecuador to Chile—the largest empire in pre-Columbian Americas
Built remarkable infrastructure: 40,000 km of roads, suspension bridges, terraced agriculture
Capital at Cusco (Peru); Machu Picchu was a royal estate
Conquered by Francisco Pizarro in 1533 after capturing the Inca emperor

The Columbian Exchange

The encounter between Europe and the Americas initiated a massive exchange of plants, animals, diseases, and people that transformed both hemispheres:

From Americas to Europe/Africa/Asia	From Europe/Africa/Asia to Americas
Potatoes, corn (maize), tomatoes	Wheat, rice, sugarcane, coffee
Cacao (chocolate), vanilla, tobacco	Horses, cattle, pigs, sheep
Squash, beans, peppers, peanuts	Smallpox, measles, influenza (devastating)
Rubber, quinine (malaria treatment)	Christianity, Spanish/Portuguese languages

💀 Demographic Catastrophe

European diseases devastated indigenous populations who had no immunity. In Mexico, the population collapsed from an estimated 15-25 million in 1519 to approximately 2.5 million by 1600—a decline of 80-90%. This catastrophic population loss fundamentally reshaped Latin American society and created demand for African slave labor.

Colonial Land Systems

Spanish and Portuguese colonizers established two distinct agricultural systems:

Hacienda (Mainland): Large land grants in the interior, focused on social prestige and self-sufficiency. Indigenous workers remained on the land under a feudal-like system. Less export-oriented.
Plantation (Rimland): Coastal/Caribbean operations focused on export crops (sugar, tobacco, cotton). Required massive labor—first indigenous, then African slaves. Created the African diaspora in the Americas.

The Treaty of Tordesillas (1494)

To prevent conflict between Spain and Portugal, the Pope drew a line dividing the "New World":

West of the line: Spanish territory (most of Latin America)
East of the line: Portuguese territory (Brazil)

This explains why Brazil speaks Portuguese while the rest of Latin America speaks Spanish.

Independence Movements (1810-1830)

Inspired by the American and French Revolutions, Latin American colonies achieved independence:

Simón Bolívar: Liberated Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia
José de San Martín: Liberated Argentina, Chile, Peru
Miguel Hidalgo: Initiated Mexican independence (1810)
Brazil: Uniquely, declared independence peacefully in 1822 when the Portuguese prince declared himself Emperor

👥 Human Geography: Colonial Legacies and Urban Challenges

Ethnic Composition: The Cultural Mosaic

Latin America's population reflects the complex mixing of indigenous, European, and African peoples:

Mestizo: Mixed European and indigenous ancestry—the majority in Mexico, Central America, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador
Mulatto: Mixed European and African ancestry—common in Caribbean and coastal Brazil
Indigenous: Majority or large minority in Bolivia, Peru, Guatemala, parts of Mexico, Ecuador
European: Dominant in Argentina, Uruguay, southern Brazil, Chile (due to 19th-century immigration)
African: Significant populations in Brazil, Caribbean, coastal Colombia/Venezuela

Urbanization and Megacities

Latin America is approximately 81% urbanized—one of the world's most urban regions. Megacities include:

Mexico City: 21+ million—one of the world's largest metropolitan areas, built on the ruins of Tenochtitlán
São Paulo: 22+ million—Brazil's economic engine, financial center
Buenos Aires: 15+ million—cultural capital of the "Southern Cone"
Rio de Janeiro: 13+ million—famous for Carnival, beaches, and stark inequality
Lima: 10+ million—Peru's primate city, contains nearly one-third of the national population

Urban Structure: The Spanish Colonial Model

Spanish colonial cities follow a distinctive pattern still visible today:

Central Plaza: Main square with government buildings, cathedral, elite residences
Commercial Spine: Main commercial street extending from the plaza
Concentric Zones: Wealth decreases with distance from center (reverse of North American pattern)
Informal Settlements: Favelas (Brazil), barrios (Spanish-speaking countries), pueblos jóvenes (Peru) on urban periphery

🏚️ Urban Dualism

Latin American cities display stark spatial inequality. In Rio de Janeiro, luxury high-rises overlook hillside favelas with inadequate water, sewage, and security. This "urban dualism" reflects the region's persistent income inequality—Latin America has the world's highest Gini coefficients (measures of inequality).

Informal housing/favelas in a megacity — **Figure 5.3:** Urban Dualism. In cities like Rio or São Paulo, modern skyscrapers often sit immediately adjacent to **favelas** (informal settlements).

Colonial architecture — **Figure 5.4:** Colonial Imprint. The layout of many Latin American cities still follows the Spanish "Laws of the Indies" with a central plaza and cathedral.

Economic Patterns

Latin American economies share common characteristics shaped by colonial history:

Primary product exports: Heavy dependence on agricultural commodities (coffee, soybeans, beef) and minerals (copper, iron ore, oil)
Import substitution: Mid-20th century attempts to develop domestic manufacturing (largely unsuccessful)
Remittances: Money sent home by migrants—critical income source for Mexico, Central America, Caribbean. Mexico receives $50+ billion annually
Informal economy: Street vendors, unlicensed businesses—estimated at 50%+ of employment in many countries

Regional Economic Blocs

Mercosur: Southern Cone customs union (Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay)
Pacific Alliance: Free trade bloc (Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Chile)—the most economically liberal
CARICOM: Caribbean Community—economic integration among Caribbean nations
USMCA: Includes Mexico with US and Canada (covered in Chapter 4)

A Binational Reality

Texas shares a 1,254-mile border with Mexico, creating a unique geographic "shatterbelt" where cultures and economies fuse. The Tex-Mex cultural landscape is not just about food—it's a geographic reality of shared history, migration, and trade.

Historical Context

Texas was part of New Spain and later Mexico until 1836
Spanish missions (San Antonio), land grants, and ranching culture shaped early Texas
Many Texas cities have Spanish names: San Antonio, El Paso, Corpus Christi, Amarillo
The Tejano culture represents Texans of Mexican descent—a community predating Anglo settlement

Economic Integration

Port of Laredo: Busiest inland port in the United States—primary gateway for US-Mexico trade
Maquiladora supply chains: Texas manufacturers integrated with Mexican assembly plants
Twin cities: El Paso-Juárez, Laredo-Nuevo Laredo, McAllen-Reynosa function as binational metro areas
Remittances: Texas has one of the highest volumes of money transfers to Mexico and Central America

Immigration and Demographics

40% of Texans identify as Hispanic/Latino
Houston has the largest Central American population outside Central America
Texas receives the most asylum seekers from the "Northern Triangle" (Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador)
Climate change and violence in Central America drive migration through Texas

Geographic connection: What happens economically or politically in Mexico and Central America has immediate impacts on Texas communities, trade, and migration patterns.

Case Study

The Panama Canal: A Strategic Chokepoint

The Panama Canal is one of the world's most critical "functional regions." By cutting through the 82-km Isthmus of Panama, it connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, fundamentally altering global trade geography.

Historical Geography

French attempt (1881-1889): Failed due to disease (malaria, yellow fever) and engineering challenges—22,000 workers died
US completion (1904-1914): Success came after understanding mosquito-borne disease transmission
Panamanian control (1999): Canal transferred from US to Panama after 85 years
Expansion (2016): Third set of locks opened, allowing larger "Neopanamax" ships

Geographic Significance

Trade route: Shortens New York to San Francisco voyage by 13,000 km (avoiding Cape Horn)
Global trade: 6% of world trade passes through the canal—40+ ships daily
Revenue: Generates $4+ billion annually for Panama

Climate Challenge

The canal operates on freshwater from Gatún Lake—each ship transit uses 200 million liters. Prolonged droughts linked to climate change have reduced lake levels, forcing draft restrictions that limit the number and size of ships. In 2023, severe drought reduced daily transits from 38 to 22 ships, creating global shipping delays.

Questions to Consider:

How does the "physical geography" of Panama (rainfall, tropical forests, watershed) directly impact the "economic geography" of global trade?
If the canal's capacity is permanently reduced by climate change, which world regions and industries are most affected?
What alternatives exist if the Panama Canal cannot handle growing ship sizes and volumes?

Altitudinal Zonation: The relationship between higher elevation, cooler temperatures, and distinct vegetation/crop zones in tropical mountains. Explains why many Latin American capitals are at high elevations.
Columbian Exchange: The massive transfer of plants, animals, diseases, people, and ideas between the Americas and Europe/Africa following 1492. Transformed both hemispheres.
Treaty of Tordesillas (1494): Papal decree dividing the "New World" between Spain (west) and Portugal (east), explaining why Brazil speaks Portuguese.
Mestizo: A person of mixed European and indigenous American ancestry—the majority ethnic category in much of Latin America.
Hacienda: Large Spanish colonial land grant in the interior, focused on social prestige and self-sufficiency rather than export production. Indigenous workers lived on the land.
Plantation: Colonial agricultural enterprise focused on single cash crops (sugar, tobacco, cotton) for export. Required massive labor—first indigenous, then African slaves.
Favela: Brazilian term for an informal urban settlement or shantytown, typically on hillsides or urban periphery, lacking adequate infrastructure.
Barrio: Spanish term for neighborhood, often referring to low-income or informal settlements in Latin American cities.
Remittances: Money sent by migrants to their families in home countries. Critical income source for Mexico, Central America, and Caribbean—Mexico receives $50+ billion annually.
Primate City: A city that dominates a country's urban hierarchy, typically 2-3 times larger than the second city. Examples: Mexico City, Lima, Buenos Aires.
Maquiladora: A foreign-owned factory in Mexico that imports components duty-free, assembles products, and exports to the US. Concentrated along the border.
Informal Economy: Economic activity outside government regulation or taxation—street vendors, unlicensed businesses. Estimated at 50%+ of employment in some Latin American countries.
Altiplano: Spanish for "high plain"—the elevated plateau between Andean ranges in Peru and Bolivia, including Lake Titicaca. Average elevation 3,750 meters.
Land Bridge: A narrow strip of land connecting two larger landmasses. The Isthmus of Panama connects North and South America and is the site of the Panama Canal.
Chokepoint: A narrow passage through which shipping must pass, creating strategic and economic significance. Panama Canal and Strait of Magellan are Latin American examples.

Physical extremes define the region: The Andes (world's longest mountain chain), the Amazon (world's largest rainforest), the Atacama (driest desert), and the Pampas (agricultural heartland) create extraordinary environmental diversity.
Altitudinal zonation matters: In tropical latitudes, elevation determines climate and agricultural potential. Major cities like Bogotá, Quito, and Mexico City are located at high elevations to escape tropical heat.
Pre-Columbian civilizations were sophisticated: The Maya, Aztec, and Inca built advanced societies with remarkable achievements in mathematics, astronomy, engineering, and governance.
Colonialism reshaped everything: The Columbian Exchange, demographic catastrophe from disease, African slave trade, and extractive economic systems created lasting patterns of inequality.
The Treaty of Tordesillas explains the linguistic divide: Spanish dominates most of Latin America; Portuguese dominates Brazil—a legacy of papal division in 1494.
Extreme urbanization with stark inequality: Latin America is 81% urban, but cities display "urban dualism"—modern development adjacent to informal settlements lacking basic services.
Export dependence continues: Economies remain heavily dependent on primary products (coffee, soybeans, minerals, oil), making them vulnerable to commodity price swings.
Remittances are economically critical: Money sent home by migrants provides essential income for families and communities, particularly in Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean.
The Panama Canal is a global chokepoint: 6% of world trade passes through this narrow isthmus—and climate change threatens its operations.
Environmental challenges mount: Amazon deforestation, water scarcity, and climate vulnerability threaten both regional and global systems.

✅ Knowledge Check

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📊 Curriculum Standards Alignment

This chapter aligns with the following National and State geography standards.

🇺🇸 National Geography Standards

Element II.6 The Uses of Geography: Perception of Places (Indigenous vs. Colonial).

Element V.14 Human Modification: Environmental consequences (Amazon Deforestation).

Element IV.12 Human Settlements: Functions and patterns (Mega-cities, Favelas).

🤠 Texas Core (GEOG 1303)

SLO 1 Define "region" (Latin cultural realm).

SLO 2 Locate significant geographic features (Andes, Amazon, Panama Canal).

SLO 3 Globalization (Colonial legacy, impact on Texas).

☀️ Florida Sunshine State (SS.912.G)

SS.912.G.2.1 Identify physical characteristics of places (Altitudinal Zonation).

SS.912.G.4.1 Interpret population growth and distribution (Urbanization patterns).

SS.912.G.5.2 Analyze how humans impact the physical environment (Deforestation).

Latin America: Biodiversity and Inequality