Latin America Geography

Altitudinal Zonation

The division of land into zones based on elevation, which affects climate, vegetation, and human activities.

Convective / Convectional Precipitation

Rainfall caused by the heating of the Earth's surface, leading to the rising and cooling of warm, moist air, which then condenses into precipitation.

Convergent Plate Boundaries

Where two tectonic plates collide, often forming mountains or subduction zones.

Divergent Plate Boundaries

Where two plates move apart, leading to the formation of new crust, such as at mid-ocean ridges.

Transform Plate Boundaries

Where two plates slide past each other, causing earthquakes.

El Niño

A climate pattern characterized by the warming of sea surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean, affecting global weather patterns.

Frontal Precipitation

Rainfall that occurs when warm and cold air masses meet, forcing the warm air to rise and cool, leading to precipitation.

Hadley Cell

A large-scale atmospheric circulation pattern in the tropics that influences climate and weather patterns.

Humboldt Current

A cold ocean current off the west coast of South America that affects regional climate and marine biodiversity.

Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ)

A region near the equator where trade winds converge, often resulting in heavy rainfall and thunderstorms.

Mediterranean Climate

A climate with hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters, found in regions like Chile and southern Europe.

Orographic Precipitation

Rainfall that occurs when moist air is lifted over a mountain range, cooling and condensing into precipitation.

Polar Front

The boundary between cold polar air and warm tropical air, influencing storm development.

Rain Shadow

A dry area on the leeward side of a mountain range due to descending, warming air.

Subduction Zone

A region where one tectonic plate is forced under another, leading to volcanic activity and earthquakes.

Subtropical High (STH)

A belt of high pressure around 30 degrees latitude, leading to arid climates like deserts.

Chinampas

Floating agricultural islands used by the Aztecs to increase arable land.

Colonial Transfer of Wealth

The process by which European colonial powers extracted wealth from colonies through resource exploitation and trade.

Columbian Exchange

The transfer of plants, animals, culture, human populations, and diseases between the Americas and the Old World following European contact.

Criollo

A person of Spanish descent born in the Americas, often forming an elite class in colonial societies.

Demographic Collapse

A significant decline in population due to disease, war, or other factors, such as the impact of European diseases on indigenous populations.

Encomienda

A Spanish colonial system where settlers were granted control over indigenous labor in exchange for Christianizing them.

Haciendas

Large estates in Latin America that focused on agriculture and livestock, often worked by indigenous or enslaved labor.

Hearth Areas

Regions where early human civilizations and agriculture originated.

Latifundia

Large landholdings used for commercial agriculture, often owned by elites and worked by peasants or laborers.

Mestizo

A person of mixed European and indigenous ancestry in Latin America.

Milpa Cycle

A traditional Mesoamerican agricultural system involving crop rotation and fallow periods to maintain soil fertility.

Minifundia

Small-scale farms, often owned by poor rural farmers, producing food for subsistence rather than commercial sale.

Miscegenation

The mixing of different racial groups through marriage, cohabitation, or sexual relations.

Mulatto

A person of mixed African and European ancestry.

Peninsulares

Spanish-born individuals who migrated to the Americas and held high-ranking colonial positions.

Plantations

Large-scale agricultural estates growing cash crops such as sugar, tobacco, and cotton, often using enslaved labor.

Polyculture

An agricultural system where multiple crops are grown together, increasing biodiversity and soil fertility.

Pristine Myth

The misconception that the Americas were largely untouched by humans before European arrival, despite extensive indigenous environmental management.

Repartimiento

A Spanish colonial labor system that replaced the encomienda, requiring indigenous people to work for a set period under colonial authorities.

Swidden (Slash-and-Burn) Agriculture

A method of farming that involves clearing forests by burning vegetation, temporarily enriching the soil.

Terrace Farming

A technique of farming on steep slopes by creating flat terraces to prevent soil erosion and manage water use.

Triangular Trade

A three-part trade system between Europe, Africa, and the Americas, involving slaves, raw materials, and manufactured goods.

Administrative Cities

Cities with roles in governance and administration.

Defensive Cities

Cities with strategic military defenses to protect against invasions.

Extractive Cities

Cities established primarily for resource extraction.

Entrepôt Cities

Cities that serve as trade hubs, facilitating the movement of goods.

Favelas / Barrios / Informal Settlements

Unplanned urban settlements, often characterized by poverty and inadequate infrastructure.

Formal Sector

Officially recognized businesses that contribute to the economy.

Informal Sector

Unregulated economic activities that often happen outside of official recognition.

Inverse Concentric Zone Model

A model of urban structure in Latin America where wealthier populations live near the city center.

Megacity

A city with a population exceeding 10 million people.

Overurbanization

A situation where urban population growth outpaces infrastructure and economic opportunities.

Self-Help Housing

Housing built by residents themselves, often in informal settlements.

Urban Primacy / Primate Cities

A city that is significantly larger and economically dominant than any other in its country.

Urbanization

The process of population migration from rural to urban areas.

Bracero Program

A U.S.-Mexico agreement allowing temporary labor migration from Mexico to the United States.

Demographic Transition

The shift from high birth and death rates to low birth and death rates as a society industrializes.

Indigenous Peoples

The original inhabitants of a region, often marginalized due to colonialism and modernization.

Industrial Revolution

The period of rapid industrial growth in the 18th and 19th centuries, transforming economies and societies.

Machismo

A cultural concept emphasizing male dominance and traditional gender roles.

Medical Revolution

Advances in medical science that have increased life expectancy and reduced mortality rates.

Pardo

A term used in Latin America to describe people of mixed African, European, and indigenous ancestry.

Remittances

Money sent by migrants to their home countries, supporting families and local economies.