Latin America Additional Notes
Jan 02, 2016
Factors Controlling Climate
1. Latitude
2.Altitude, or elevation1. Temperature 2. Orographic effect
3. Proximity to water4. Prevailing wind direction5. Cool or warm ocean
currents
Elevation and ClimateSee Chart Page 208
• Environments in the Andes change with elevation– Tierra Caliente
• Lower than 3,000 ft.– Tierra Templada
• 3,000 to 6,000 ft.– Tierra Fria
• 6,000 to 10,000 ft.– Paramo
• 10,000 to 16,000 ft.– Tierra Helada
• Above 16,000 ft.
• Tierra Templada– Temperate land– Many people live in this
zone– Staple crops
• Coffee, corn, wheat, cotton, potatoes, tobacco
• Some tropical crops
• Tierra Fria– Cool Land– Cool forests and
grasslands– Staple Crops
• Potatoes, wheat, oats, barley, beans, corn, rye
• Paramo– Above the tree line– Frost may occur any
night of the year– Altiplano– Hardy crops and herding
• Potatoes, grasslands• Sheep, Llamas, Alpacas
Issues of Development• Developing countries
1. Traditional2. Rural (high % in
agriculture)3. Subsistence agriculture
and nomadic herding• w/hunting and gathering
4. Simple technology5. Muscle power
6. Localized (dual) economy• cash crops and minerals• gray economy
• Developed countries1. Modern2. Urban (less than 10% in
agriculture)3. Commercial agriculture,
fishing, grazing, forestry
4. Complex technology5. Machine power &
manufacturing6. Global economy
More Comparisons• Developing countries
1. Low GNP/GDP2. Low life expectancy3. High infant mortality rate4. Substandard education
and literacy5. Poor infrastructure and
communications6. Shortage of capital7. Unstable, ineffective
government systems8. High Population Growth
rates
• Developed countries1. High GNP/GDP2. Life expectancies above
65 years3. Low infant mortality4. Highly developed
education systems5. Extensive transportation
and communications 6. Large financial sectors7. Democratic government
systems8. Stable Population
Barriers to development in Latin America
• Shortage of capital to develop resources and industry– High overseas debt
• Low literacy rates due to fewer children actively pursuing their education at the elementary and older age groups
• Many people trapped in cycle of poverty• Unstable, often ineffective or corrupt
governments• Exploding population
Tourism
Pros• Revenue is generated from
the money tourists spend for hotels, meals, transportation and other entertainment
• This revenue creates job for the host country
• For some countries tourism may be the only chance for true development
Cons• Can cause overcrowding• Much of the revenue may flow
out of the country– to travel agents– construction companies
• It can disrupt cultures– Cheap trinkets vs. real
handcrafts– Shell necklaces in Polynesian
Islands• More people may mean more
pollution and other negative impact on the environment