Sophomore Inquiry / Introduction to Latin American Studies

Word List: The Geographical Context

Physical Geography

Plate tectonics

Natural Resources

Mexico: Baja California

Sierra Madre Occidental

Sierra Madre Oriental

Altiplano

Volcanic axis of Mexico

Southern highlands of Mexico

Yucatan Peninsula

Gulf of California

Gulf of Mexico

Pacific Ocean

Rio Grande del Norte

Central America: Peten

Volcanic axis of C. A.

Mosquitia

Darien Gap

Caribbean: Greater Antilles

Lesser Antilles

South America: Andes

Amazon River and basin

Altiplano

Orinoco River

Paraguay-Parana River

Guiana Shield

Brazilian Shield

Patagonian Shield

Climate and Tropics

Vegetation: Equator

Tropic of Cancer

Tropic of Capricorn

Tropical rain forest

Savanna

Mid-latitude forest

Steppe

Desert

Highland

El Niño

Hurricanes

Environmental Issues

Deforestation

Urban and Industrial pollution

Human Geography

Native population decline

Colombian exchange

Repeopling of the Americas

Language

Religion

Race and Ethnicity