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CHAPTER 9
LATIN AMERICA: PHYSICAL GEOGRPAHY
SECTION 9-2
Humans and the Physical
Environment
Text Summary
Many parts of Latin America have a tropical wet climate with hot, humid, and
rainy weather all year round. Other parts
of Latin America, including most of the
Caribbean, have a tropical wet and dry
climate. The weather is hot, but the rainy
season does not last all year. From June
to November, the Caribbean is often hit
with fierce hurricanes, which are a part
of life for the people who live there.
Much of Argentina, Uruguay, and
Paraguay has a humid subtropical climate with hot, wet summers and cool
winters. Farmers in these areas can raise
crops, such as wheat and apples, that
need a cold season to grow well. Farther
south, on the plains of Patagonia, the climate is colder and drier. Farmers raise
sheep in this area.
Factors that affect climate include
elevation, or the
height of land above
THE B I G IDEA
sea level. The higher
Latin America’s
the elevation, the coolclimate varies
er the temperature.
greatly and affects
Nearness
to
the
how people live in
Equator also affects
the region.
climate. Regions close
to the Equator are generally warmer than regions farther away.
Wind patterns affect climate, too.
Graphic Summary
Varied Physical Environments
Andes Mountains
• At higher elevations, plants must withstand cooler temperatures, chill winds, and irregular rainfall.
• People cannot live permanently above 10,000 feet (3,048m),
where temperature may remain below freezing.
© Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Prentice Hall.
Climate affects
both natural
vegetation and
human life.
Caribbean islands
• Hurricane winds create massive waves.
• Storms tear roofs off houses, shatter windows, and yank trees
from the ground.
Amazonian rain forest
• Thousands of plant species thrive in the consistently hot,
humid, and rainy weather.
Climate in Latin America can vary greatly even within each country.
Review Questions
1. Name three factors that influence climate in Latin America.
2. Diagram Skills How does elevation affect the climate and people of the Andes?
World Explorer: People, Places, and Cultures
Guide to the Essentials ■ 37