Physical Geography of Latin America and the Caribbean
The Latin American and Caribbean region include much of North America, thousands of islands in the Caribbean Sea, and the entire South American continent. The physical geography of this region is diverse. It contains some of the most extreme geographic features found on Earth. For example, it has the world’s longest above-water mountain range, the world’s driest desert, and the world’s largest tropical rainforest. In this topic, you will explore the physical regions, landforms, and environments of Latin America and the Caribbean.
Essential Question
- What are the major physical and environmental features of Latin America and the Caribbean?
Warm-Up
Most of Latin America and the Caribbean is near the Equator, in a low latitude region known as the Tropics. The Tropics extend 23.5° north and south from the Equator, to the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. Because of this location, tropical climates dominate Latin America and the Caribbean. However, you may be surprised to learn that glaciers are also in the region. Take a moment to view the video, High Altitude Glaciers in the Tropics, from eMediaVASM. This brief video explains how tropical glaciers formed. Take note of how scientists use them to understand global climate change.