This study guide provides information about the geography of Latin America. It includes a map labeling the major physical features like the Sierra Madre Mountains and Amazon River, as well as political features such as Mexico, Brazil, and Panama. The guide then discusses the three regions that make up Latin America and key details about countries like Cuba, Panama, and Brazil. It also examines major environmental concerns in Mexico City, Brazil, and Venezuela related to issues like air pollution, deforestation, and oil drilling. Finally, it compares population sizes, languages, climates, and natural resources of Brazil, Cuba, Mexico, and Venezuela.

1. Name: ________________________ Date: ____________ Ntbk #: _____
Study Guide –Geography of Latin America
I. In the box below, label the physical and political features of Latin America.
1
2
B 3
A
C
D
E
5
4 6
F
Map Answer Key: 7
Political Features (Numbers):
1. Mexico 10
2. Cuba
3. Haiti 8
4. Panama
5. Venezuela
6. Colombia
G
7. Peru
8. Bolivia
9. Chile H
10. Brazil
Physical Features (Letters):
A. Sierra Madre Mountains
B. Gulf of Mexico 9
C. Caribbean Sea
D. Panama Canal
E. Pacific Ocean
F. Amazon River
G. Atacama Desert
H. Andes Mountains

2. Name: ________________________ Date: ____________ Ntbk #: _____
II. Geography of Latin America
A. Latin America is made up of what 3 regions?
Mexico and Central America, Caribbean Islands, and South America
B. Cuba has a large amount of arable land. What is arable land and why is it beneficial?
Arable means fertile, which is good for farming and growing crops.
C. Where is the Panama Canal located and why is it important?
Panama Canal is located through the center of Panama, and it is important because it created a
shortcut, making it quicker and easier to travel and ship goods.
D. The Amazon rainforest is located mostly in what country?
Brazil
E. Where do the majority of people in Brazil live? Why?
Along the east coast because the Amazon Rainforest takes up a lot of land in the interior of Brazil
III. Environmental Concerns in Latin America
A. Explain the major environmental concern in Mexico City:
Air pollution due to exhaust from cars and smoke from factories
B. Explain the major environmental concern in Brazil:
The deforestation of the Amazon Rainforest
C. Explain the major environmental concern in Venezuela:
Oil-related pollution. The people of Venezuela drill for oil because it is very valuable.
D. How does Mexico City’s geography/location contribute to its air pollution?
The Sierra Madre Mountains surround the city of Mexico City, trapping the air pollution above the
city.
E. If oil is polluting Venezuela, why don’t the people there stop producing and selling it?
Because oil is so valuable, many people in Venezuela have jobs that are related to the drilling and
production of the oil. The economy of Venezuela also relies on oil.
IV. Brazil, Cuba, Mexico, and Venezuela
Brazil Cuba Mexico Venezuela
176,500,000 11,300,000 104,900,000 25,700,000
Population
Portuguese Spanish Spanish Spanish
Language(s)
Hot, tropical Hot, tropical Hot, tropical Hot, tropical
Climate (colder in the
higher altitudes)
Lumber, iron ore, Sugar cane, coffee, Oil, copper, zinc Oil, iron ore,
Natural Resources rubber tobacco bauxite