Geography and Politics of Latin America

Definitions and Regional Facts

  • Latin America/Caribbean

    • Size: Roughly the size of North America combined.

    • Population: Approximately two times that of the United States.

    • Definition: Non-Anglo-American region of mainland, predominantly comprised of Spanish and Portuguese speakers.

    • Language Distribution: About 2/3 of the population are Spanish speakers.

    • Historical Context: Region colonized by Spain and Portugal, with its populations largely descended from Iberian colonies.

  • Caribbean Region

    • Population mainly descended from former slaves.

    • Colonial Influence: Distinct colonial past with significant African cultural influences, historically colonized by Spanish, Dutch, British, and later American powers.

Tectonics and Physical Geography

  • Geological Activity: The region is geologically active due to tectonic plate interactions.

  • Fault Types: Major fault types include transform and convergent faults, resulting in various geological formations and activities:

    • Western Mountains: Includes ranges such as the Sierra Madres to the Andes.

    • Volcanic Activity: Significant volcanism present in Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica.

    • Subduction Zones: Major earthquakes have occurred along the west coast due to subduction zones, notably affecting the Antilles Islands.

Major Earthquake Events

  • February 2010 Chile Earthquake

    • Strength: Tied for the 11th strongest recorded earthquake worldwide.

    • Impact: Strongly felt by approximately 80% of Chile's population.

    • Casualties: Resulted in the deaths of 521 individuals.

    • Tsunami Warnings: Issued in 53 countries due to the earthquake's intensity.

    • Economic Impact: Severe economic repercussions observed across the region, particularly affecting countries like Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, and Mexico.

South American Landforms

  • Gondwanaland Remnants: Leftover landmasses from ancient supercontinent Gondwanaland include several geological features:

    • Guianan Shield: Located in northern South America; the Oronoco River drains the highlands into the Caribbean Sea.

    • Brazilian Shield: Forms the eastern lobe of South America, with the Amazon and La Plata river basins that drain towards the north and west.

    • Patagonian Shield: Located in the Southern Cone, characterized by dry plains and highlands.

Mountain Systems

  • Geological Formation:

    • Formed primarily under the action of western subduction zones, affecting continental plates over oceanic plates leading to volcanism and earthquakes.

    • Andes Mountains: Comprised of North, Central, and Southern ranges, rich in volcanism.

    • Sierra Madres: Located west of the Central Mexican Plateau.

    • Volcanic Axis of Central America: Important line of volcanic activity spanning Central America.

River Systems

  • Major River Basins:

    • Amazon River: Encompasses approximately 2.4 million square miles, recognized as the greatest river by volume in the world; has over 200 tributaries.

    • La Plata: The second largest river in the region with major tributaries like the Paraná, Paraguay, and Uruguay rivers.

    • Orinoco River: Drains the Llanos grasslands, has a volume comparable to that of the Mississippi River.

Climate Zones

  • Climatic Diversity: Ranges from tropical, desert, temperate to polar conditions, with notable features:

    • Location Specifics: The Strait of Magellan has polar climate (E).

    • Extremes: Both the wettest (Colombia, Chile) and driest (Atacama Desert) places exist within the region.

  • Altitudinal Zonation: Refers to climate variation caused by elevation.

  • El Niño: An oceanic phenomenon characterized by warmer-than-usual water temperatures in the Pacific, impacting the weather across Latin America significantly.

Atacama Desert

  • Geographical Features & Characteristics:

    • Location: Part of the Altiplano (high plains).

    • Desiccation: The air masses descend and absorb moisture, contributing to extremely low rainfall totals.

    • Record Dryness: Often cited as the driest place on Earth, with some weather stations never recording rain. Average rainfall is estimated at 0.5 inches per year.

    • Scientific Relevance: Its characteristics often simulate conditions similar to Mars or the Moon for scientific studies.

Ecological Problems

  • Deforestation: Rampant removal and exploitation of rainforests, leading to various environmental issues.

    • Grassification: Caused by cattle grazing and irresponsible lumbering practices.

    • Soil Erosion: Compromising the integrity of forest soils while promoting monocropping practices focusing mainly on cash crops like coffee, soy, and oranges.

    • Biodiversity Loss: Significant reduction in biodiversity due to deforestation and monocropping also leads to a decline in carbon sink capacity.

  • Urbanization Issues:

    • Rapid population increase leads to sprawl and shanty towns.

    • Industrialization contributes to waste and pollution, contributing to serious air quality problems in large cities.

Ancient Civilizations

  • Inca Empire (ca. 1450): Highlighted for its significant impact in Peru; notable cities and territories.

  • Mayan Civilization: Centered in modern-day Central America with key cultural hubs.

  • Aztec Empire: Located in modern-day Mexico with extensive influence and territories.

Discoveries and Colonialism**

  • Colonial Powers: Spain and Portugal's conquests fundamentally altered the demographic and cultural landscape of Latin America.

    • Treaty of Tordesillas: Divided the newly discovered lands outside Europe between the Spanish and Portuguese Empires.

US Involvement in Latin America

  • Monroe Doctrine (1823): Established that Latin America falls within the U.S. sphere of influence and laid the groundwork for further interventionist policies.

  • Banana Republics:

    • Term used to describe Central and South American countries under control of U.S. industries during the late 1800s.

    • United Fruit Company: A major player in exploiting cash-crop producers, actively sponsoring coups against elected leaders primarily in Honduras and Guatemala.

  • Operation Condor (1970s): U.S. involvement in inter-governmental cooperation to eliminate leftist subversion in South America during the Cold War.

    • Linked numerous Southern Cone nations in this operation against perceived threats, including Marxists, activists, and student leaders.

  • Modern US Intervention: Various instances of U.S. military and political interference in countries like Nicaragua, Venezuela, Cuba, and others have been documented with severe impacts on local governance and stability.

Economic Overview

  • Economic Status: Many countries in Latin America are classified as middle-income but still developing, with substantial variation within and among nations.

    • Examples: Chile and Argentina have the highest Gross Domestic Product (GDP), while Nicaragua and Bolivia each have significances below $5000.

    • Poverty Metrics: Millions still struggle with extreme poverty, with earnings falling below $2 per day.

Statistical Overview by Country (Various Metrics)

  • GDP per Capita (PPP), Human Development Index (HDI), Poverty Rate, etc., evaluated for several Latin American countries, outlining economic disparities and development levels.

  • Examples Across Data Points:

    • Chile: HDI 0.819, GDP $19,474, with a literacy rate of 99% and life expectancy of 79.

    • Bolivia: HDI 0.675, GDP $5,330, with a literacy rate of 91%.

Maquiladoras Impact**

  • Defined as factories established along the U.S. border that leverage cheaper Mexican labor to manufacture goods, primarily employing women and affecting local economies.

Trade Agreements and Economic Integration

  • NAFTA: Led to increased trade flow between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, with notable impacts on transportation and labor costs.

  • Regional Collaborations: Various agreements exist, including those under the Andean Community of Nations and MERCOSUR.

Urban Geography in Latin America

  • Urbanization Trends: Reflected in the structure and dynamics of mega cities in Latin America, which include areas of disamenity and socio-economic stratification.

Mega Cities

  • Population Sizes:

    • São Paulo: Approximately 21.1 million.

    • Mexico City: Approximately 20.9 million.

    • Buenos Aires: Approximately 13.7 million.

    • Rio de Janeiro: Approximately 12.2 million.

    • Lima: Approximately 11 million.