Chapter 7 provides an overview of the key physical, cultural, political, and economic characteristics of Latin America. The chapter discusses how Latin America shares colonial legacies from Spain and Portugal, as well as languages and independence movements in the 19th century. It then summarizes some of the major environmental, demographic, and development issues facing Latin America, including climate, natural disasters, population growth, urbanization, and economic challenges.

1. World Regions in Global Context: Peoples, Places, and Environments (3 rd Ed.) Sallie A. Marston, Paul L. Knox, & Diana M. Liverman Chapter 7: Latin America Robert M. Arthur

5. Latin America

9. Climate Figure 4.14

11. Altitudinal Zonation

12. Environmental Issues – Overview Figure 4.3 Wood Chips in Chile

17. Topography – River Basins and Lowlands Figure 4.12 Itaipú Dam

31. U.S. Interference

36. Indigenous Populations Communal Lands and Participatory Mapping President Evo Morales of Bolivia

39. Population and Settlement - Urban Primacy - Megalopolis Figure 4.17 São Paulo, Brazil

40. Demographic Indicators Note variation in % urban across the region

41. Urban Form Reflects colonial origins and contemporary growth

53. Regional Organizations - Supranational: Trade Blocks - Subnational: Ethnicity/Ideology

54. Development Strategies Informal Sector in Peru High Tech in Costa Rica

55. Development Strategies (cont’d) Primary Export Dependency Oil Production São Paulo State, Brazil Lake Maracaibo, Venezuela

56. Figure 4.6.1 Figure 4.6.2a Figure 4.6.2b Maquiladora Cities – Contrasts in Wealth and Poverty

57. Insurgencies and Drug Trafficking Colombian National Police

62. Social Development President Bachelet, Chile

63. End of Chapter 7: Latin America World Regions in Global Context: Peoples, Places, and Environments (3 rd Ed.) Sallie A. Marston, Paul L. Knox, & Diana M. Liverman