Physico-geographical essay. Inland waters
On the prevailing part of the territory of Latin America, a thick and full-flower river network is developed. A layer of middle annual flow - 550 mm - almost twice the average value of the drain from all over the sushi of the globe. The Latin America Square takes more than 15% of the entire land area, however, almost 30% of the entire river flow of the Earth flows from its territory (11,292 km 3). The very long-fashioned River of Latin America and the whole world - Amazon takes at sea about 6 thousand km 3 of water per year, or 193 thousand m 3 / s.
The Rivers of the mainland territory of Latin America belong to the pools of the two oceans - the Atlantic and quiet, the watershed between them passes along the ridges of Cordiller and Andes. The Pacific Pool, to which the short rivers of the steep Western slopes of the Andes, a narrow range of the coast and intergigurine valleys, are 8 times less than the area of \u200b\u200bthe Atlantic basin, represented by large lowlands, plains and medium-grade plateales, which caused the formation of extensive river basins.
The most thick river network is timed to the areas of permanent excessive moistening in the erectional and subtropical southeastern coastal parts of South America, where the largest not only for Latin America are located, but also for the whole Earth, Amazon's pools and La fees. In the areas of alternating moisture to the north and south-west of Amazonia as the duration of the dry season is increasing the thickness of the river network decreases. About 10% of Latin America's area belongs to the territory of insufficient moisture, where the rivers do not convey their scarce waters to the ocean, lost in the sands, salt marshes and faceless lakes. In South America, these territories form the extension belt crossing the mainland from the northwest - from the Pacific Gulf of Guayaquil to the south-east through the Central Highlands to the Atlantic coast of South Pamp and Patagonia. In Mexico, they include the inner plateau of Mexican Highlands. Max, the dimensions of the river flow are observed in the areas of the greatest moisture: on the Western slopes of the Andes of South Chile and Colombia, in the extreme east and in the western part of Amazonia, on the Caribbean coast of Central America, where it exceeds 1500 mm.
In Chile south of 40 ° sh. Stock On the Pacific coast, it significantly exceeds 1500 mm, which contributes, in addition to abundant precipitation, the waterproof of crystalline rocks, a small evaporation and colossal stocks of ice in the supply area of \u200b\u200brivers. On the western slopes of the Andes are developed thick and full-flowered river network. Many rivers taking start in foothill lakes along the eastern slope, breaking the mountain ranges, flow in the West in the Pacific Ocean. In the nutrition of the rivers of both Western and the eastern slopes, thall ice waters predominate, and abundant glacial nutrition, which come for the summer, is traced quite far to the east, within the plain arid part of the Patagonia. The share of the underground nutrition of the Andes South Chile rivers does not exceed 20-25%, but thanks to the set of lakes in the river basins, rivers have a good regulation.
The stock (individual rivers - up to 8000 mm) in the West of Colombia, but rain nutrition and storm summer-autumn floods prevail; Underground stock increases to 40%. The fastest and largest river network - on the Amazonian lowland. Countless sleeves, ducts and amazon tributaries, bizarily pressing, intertwined and merged with each other. Rafting rain nutrition prevails, in the upper reaches of the pool - partially snow and glacier, underground power is about 40%. The southern and northern tributaries of the Amazons have floods at different times of the year: the Southern - from October to March (in the spring and summer of the Southern Hemisphere), the Northern - from April to October (in the spring and summer of the northern hemisphere). This phenomenon, as well as the channel and floodly regulation, smooth water fluctuations in Amazon, and it is almost full for the entire year. During floods, tightened for many months, the rivers flood extensive spaces, forming impassable swamps.
The dimensions of the average annual flow increase in the direction from the southernmost boundaries of the lowland, where it is 400 mm, up to 1000-1500 mm on the northern outskirts. The dimensions of the runoff exceeding 1500 mm are timed to the Delta district and the pools of the left tributaries of Amazon - Rio-Nehru and Zhapura, exciting also the rigor of Orinoco. River stock on most of the Gwianky Plateau is an average of 1000-1500 mm, in the extreme southeast and west, it exceeds 1500 mm. And only in the extreme north of the plateau on the slopes addressed to the Orinoco Valley, it is reduced to 800 mm. On the northern, southern and eastern outskirts of Brazilian plateau, evenly moistened during the year, the average annual stock is 400-600 mm and only in the extreme southeast increases to 700-800 mm. The share of underground flow is 50%. In the inner areas of Brazilian plateau, the stock decreases significantly (up to 500 mm in the northeast) and becomes extremely uneven: Stormy summer floods are replaced by a sharp reduction in water flow in winter. The underground flow is 20-25% of the full river flow.
By the south of Brazilian plateaus, the eastern part of the Laplat lowland is close in the nature of moisturizing - wet Pampa, which, however, is sharply different in the size of the drain. River stock with a sufficient amount of precipitation herein decreases in the direction of the northeast in the southwest of 150 to 50 mm, which is mainly due to lessium soils, which are distinguished by high infiltration and water-retaining properties. Most of the precipitation leaks into the soil or accumulates in the stock of the relief, from which it is then spent mainly to evaporate. It is for these reasons that the river network in PAMPA is poorly developed, with the exception of its southeastern part, isolated by poorly water permeable clay sediments.
For the rivers of the plain areas - Llanos-Orinoco, Grand Charco, Savann Mamor and Pantanal, located in the Hopper PP. Madeira and Paraguay are characterized by a pronounced seasonality of the regime. During the period of high water, which for the Orinoksky tributaries is dedicated to the summer of the northern hemisphere, and for the rivers of the LA card system - by the summer of the southern hemisphere, the rivers are spread and flooded around the surrounding flat spaces, turning them into 7-8 months into extensive swamps. In the fall, drought and rivers are dry so much that even such large, as pilocked and Rio-Bermecho, are converted into disobeds with an increased concentration of salts in water. For 4-5 autumn-winter months, the provision of water resources in these areas is extremely low. The average annual stock in the territory of Llanos-Orinoco decreases from 800 mm in the south-west to 200 mm in the northeast on the plains of the southern half of the mainland drain decreases in the direction from the northeast in the south-west of 500 to 150 mm. The underground flow is 15-30% of the total river flow, the Grand Character is slightly higher, which is caused by the greater the water permeability of the sandy soils common here. Similar, uneven flows of stock (average annual 400-600 mm) and river mode are characteristic of the central part of Brazilian plateaus.
In Central America, on the Islands of the Caribbean Sea and on the Peninsula, Yucatan Stoke is only during the period of summer-autumn rains. In winter, when the whole territory is under the influence of the Passat, rains fall out in rare years. The underground stock, due to which rivers feed in the innocent period, in Central America is very small due to the prevalence of weakly produced breeds. On Yucatan and Islands, due to widespread carstry, the underground flow prevails, but is discharged mainly in the sea, bypassing the river network. The magnitude of the runoff in Central America due to both uneven, but very large precipitation, increasing from the south-west to the coast of the Caribbean to 1500 mm and above (in Costa Rica and Panama). In the north of Nicaragua, it is less than 1000 mm, gradually decreases on the territory of Mexico to the northern tropic to 100-200 mm, and to the borders from the USA - up to 10-20 mm. On Cuba, the average annual stock is about 200 mm, on Jamaica - less than 100 mm.
The minimum in Latin America. The stock is the deserted coastal Pacific lowlands and the dry slopes of the Andes, the tropical Andyian Highlands, the inner depression of the Pampinsky Sierra, adjacent from the West to Pampa, Plateau Patagonia, the Peninsula of the Northern Caribbean coast of South America, the inner plateau of Mexican Highlands and North - The fact of Brazilian plateaus. These areas are obtained about 600 mm of precipitation (on the Pacific desert coast less than 200 mm), but evapoability is several times higher than this amount, so the stock, which is far from everywhere, is carried out mainly due to strong rainfall rains, very rarely. In the most arid areas (the deserts of the Pacific coast), the flow rarely exceeds 5 mm, in more moisturized areas it is no more than 50-100 mm. With a wide distribution in the foothills, on the internal plateau and in intermountable basins of well-permeable rocks, in addition to the rainy, the underground nutrition of the rivers, which is replenished due to rapid infiltration did not have time to evaporate precipitation and melting glacier and snow waters flowing from the Andiy slopes; In places it reaches 50%. In the north-east of Brazilian platea, due to the weak water permeability of the soils and the undergrading of their breeds, the underground flow does not exceed 15%, and during the drought period, all rivers, excluding the transit p. San Francisk, dry up.
The stock of the Andes of the Andes ranges from a few millimeters to several thousand millimeters. Such an amplitude of the flow dimensions is a consequence of a fiber distribution of precipitation caused by, on the one hand, stretching and intensive dissemination of the mountains, and from here - by various orientation of the slopes in relation to the moisturized air masses, on the other hand, with a geographically natural change in moistening with increasing absolute heights. Almost strictly meridional strike of the Andes and the various moisture content in the Atlantic and Pacific air masses, detained by external slopes, create a characteristic asymmetry in moisturizing and, accordingly, in the drain of the Western and Eastern slopes of the Andes. In areas of influence of wet western air masses (south of 30 ° sh.) Stock from Western slopes over 1500 mm, from the east - from 20 to 100 mm. The impact of the wet oriental atlantic masses leads to the fact that the Eastern slope throughout the rest of the Andes has a significant river stock, which gradually increases from the south to north from 100 to 1500 mm, while almost the entire Western slope (excluding Colombian and Ecuadorian Andadi) arise And the stock does not exceed 100-200 mm. In Colombian Andes, both western and eastern slopes flow numerous full-flow rivers, the stock exceeds 1000 mm, in places 1500 mm. In the south of Ecuador, the difference in the sizes of the drain from Western more dry and from the eastern wet slopes is already beginning to appear. The general pattern for the Andes is a small drain in the internal plateau and intermountains, drizzled from the humid air mass of high ridges.
In the nutrition of Andysky rivers predominate water from the summer-autumn rains, which causes the predominant summer-autumn stock. Glacial nutrition plays the main role only in the southern Chilean Andes (south of 46 ° H.), Where over 21 thousand km 2 of 25 thousand km 2 of the whole area of \u200b\u200bLatin America is concentrated, and the glacial nutrition can be pretty far beyond the limits of glaciation in Rivers of Patagonia. North of the Patagonian Andes, separate foci of glaciation do not have a noticeable effect on the nutrition of the rivers. Only in Western Cordillera (between 9 ° and 11 ° H. sh.) The glaciation reaches essential sizes (1000 km 2), and the ice nutrition prevails both for the rivers of the Western slope and for the left tributaries p. Maranyon on the eastern slope.
The features of the structure of the earth's surface of Latin America, mainly the atlantic ocean basin, led to the formation of large river systems. Pools of the five largest rivers: Amazons, La fees, Orinoco, San Francisk and Magdalena occupy an area of \u200b\u200babout 12 million km 2, it means 60% of Latin America Square.
Table 7. Water balance of largest rivers
| Square of the pool, thousand km 2 | Stock, km 3 | |||
| full | surface | underground | ||
| Amazon | 7050 | 5992 | 3602 | 2390 |
| La Plata (with Parana, Uruguay and Paraguay) | 3100 | 983 | 580 | 403 |
| Orinoco | 1000 | 1043 | 742 | 301 |
| San Francisk | 610 | 102 | 63 | 39 |
| Magdalena (with Caucan) | 284 | 306 | 214 | 92 |
No less interesting phenomenon is "false urbanization". Formally urbanization, that is, the increase in cities and the number of city inhabitants. But really these new "citizens" are the same rural residents coming to cities in search of a better life. However, even economically strong cities are not able to provide all the work, so they do not constitute an economically active population and only burden cities. In this regard, the so-called "poverty belts" are formed on the outskirts.
3.5.Things.
The placement of the population of Latin America is very specific. First, it is one of the most unreacted areas of our planet (average density - less than 30 people per square meters. Km). Secondly, the placement is heterogeneous: the greatest density - on the coast of the oceans, is somewhat less - on the plateauxes (the resettlement on the plateaua is also one of the features) and in the valleys of some rivers (Amazon, San Francisk, Parana). The most few populated areas are mountains and, oddly enough, the valleys of many rivers. The reason for this is huge impassable forests, located just in the valleys of rivers. In addition, historically developed that coastal areas were mastered and settled (they mean the coast of the oceans).
Raissed in the XIX century newly created independent states of Latin America Rosges, but the distribution of income was uneven: the descendants of the immigrants were enriched, and the aborigines remained poor. The difference between the rich and the poor increased and reached his peak of 1929 (the period of the global economic crisis). At this time, strikes, civil wars, uprisings, which led to the seizure of power by the military and the establishment of dictatorial regimes of power in almost all countries of Latin America. In recent decades, more and more of these countries elect a democratic path of development, trying to identify their policies to stabilize the situation in society and raising the standard of living of poor layers, which remains rather low.
4. Private conditions and resources.
4.1.Relf.
Features of the relief of Latin America are due to the tectonic structure. The territory on which it is located, consists of an ancient South American platform and relatively young folding. The first corresponds to the plateau, the plateau (Brazilian, Patagonian and Guiangsky) in the places of raising the platform and lowland and the plains (Amazonian, La Plati et al.) In the places of deflection. The second form Cordillera, who in South America are called Andami. This is the world's longest chain of mountain ranges and arrays, stretching at 11,000 km and reaching the height of 6960 m (Mount Akonkagua).
4.2. Folee fossils.
Latin America is rich in mineral raw materials. It accounts for 18% of oil reserves, 30% of black and alloying metals, 25% - non-ferrous metals and 55% - rare and scattered elements of the capitalist world. According to the reserves of some minerals, individual countries of the region occupy the first place among capitalist states: for example, by iron ore, niobium, beryllium and mining crystal - Brazil; on the medium; According to graphite - Mexico; According to antimony and lithium - Bolivia. The presence of promising, but even poorly explored geological structures makes it possible to count in the coming years to new mineral deposits. It is from here that the United States receive up to 70% of the strategic raw materials they need, including more than 90% of tin concentrate and bauxite, about 50% of copper and iron ore. Such their diversity is a consequence of a variety of tectonic structures.
4.3. Extensive resources.
According to water resources, Latin American countries belong to the most water-free in the world.
The Latin American Rivers belong to the pools of the two oceans - the atlantic and quiet, watershed between which the Andes are. The first is mostly plain rivers, including such large water arteries such as Amazon, La Plata, Orinoco, etc., to the second - mostly short mountain rivers. The pool of rivers flowing into the Atlantic Ocean exceeds the pool of the Pacific River Pool 8 times. The most thick river network has the zones of constantly excessive moistening in the equatorial region and the coastal region and the coastal part of the subtropics in the south-east of South America. For shipping, the lowland rivers are mainly suitable. The energy importance of the Latin America's rivers, which have a huge hydropower product. The potential of mountain rivers, plane rivers and constantly wet plains are especially great.
In Latin America there are quite a few lakes of various origin. The biggest is the drying lagun lake Maracaibo. In the desert areas, many lakes turned into salt marshes. Large areas in the area are occupied by swamps and marshy landscapes, mainly timed to the valleys of large rivers, flooded 7-8 months a year.
4.4.Things and animals.
Huge tropical forests are one of the most important wealth of Latin America. Unfortunately, they quickly cut down that, like the extermination of any kinds of plants and animals, threatens a violation of the fragile natural balance. These forests are distinguished by exceptional wealth and variety of flora and fauna. Only in the Amazon basin there are at least 40 thousand species of plants, 1.5 thousand species of birds and 2.5 thousand river fish. Also in rivers are dolphins, electric acne and other amazing creatures. From vegetation, such species like Araucaria Chilean and Brazilian, giant bromelia, xylocarpus (Carap), droplets, fry, chocolate, mahagony, rusty, rosewood trees, launched, and coconut trees, and passionworm, Portulak, "Burning Sword", philodendron. The brightest representatives of the fauna: Alpaca and Vicuni, relatives of Lama (they are valued for fur as chinchillas), Nanda (similar to Bird Ostrich), penguins and seals (living in southern South America), giant ivory turtle. Probably, few know that Latin America is the birthplace of potatoes, so popular in Russia. Also they collect some medicinal plants going abroad. For example, Sarspare River Liana. It is impossible to imagine how difficult the power supply chain here, but you can imagine how fragile the natural and ecological balance is how easy it is to break.
4.5.Full energy resources.
Latin America has significant fuel and energy resources: oil (Venezuela, Mexico, Peru, etc.), gas (Bolivia, Venezuela, etc.), coal, uranium. In recent years, hydropoweroreursurs have begun widely. In particular, the construction of the world's largest hydropower complex "ITAYPU" on the Paran River on the border between Paraguay and Brazil. Work is underway to find and master new energy sources. In a number of countries (for example, Mexico) adopted programs for the development of nuclear energy. The experience of Brazil in the use of ethyl alcohol obtained from sugar cane as liquid fuel is widely known.
4.6.Climat and agroclimatic resources.
Latin America is located in the subtropical, tropical and subequatorial belts of the northern hemisphere; equatorial belt; Sub-screen, tropical, subtropical and moderate belts of the southern hemisphere. A large influence on the climate is an intersection by its equator. Due to the fact that in the area of \u200b\u200bthe equator is a very large territory, Latin America receives a huge amount of solar energy. This makes the growing season of plants almost year-round and allows to engage in agriculture. For most of the region, hot climate types are characteristic, where average monthly temperatures are greater than +20 ° C, and seasonal climate change is manifested mainly in changing the precipitation mode, not temperatures. Seasonal temperature fluctuations are pronounced only in the extreme north and south of Latin America, taking into subtropical and moderate latitudes (in the capital of Chile Santiago, for example, the average temperature of the warm month +20 ° C, the coldest +8 ° C, and on the fiery ground - Accordingly, +11 and +2 ° C), as well as in mountainous areas. However, the temperature, as well as humidity depend not only (and sometimes not so much) from the geographic location, but also from the relief and air mass. So, the wet air from the Atlantic (because there is an eastern transfer of air masses), passing through the Andes, gives moisture (in the form of rains), which returns to the plains (with the waters of the mountain rivers), making the climate wet. On the Pacific slope of Equatorial Andes (in Colombia and Ecuador) and the coast adjacent to it, the annual rate of precipitation reaches 10,000 mm, whereas in the Atakama desert - one of the most innocent on the globe is 1-5 mm. If the rainy season continues on the rain on almost all year round, then in the extreme northeast of Brazil, he does not exceed 3-4 months, and on the Pacific coast of Peru and the north chili rains are not annual. In general, at least 20% of the territory of Latin America include insufficient moisture zones. Agriculture depends on artificial irrigation. The same mountains do not give the cold air into the central parts of Latin America from the Pacific Ocean. But it can freely pass here from high latitudes (because the mountains are located meridional), which periodically happens, but this phenomenon is short-term.
Luxurious beaches, a gracious climate, picturesque landscapes - all this is inherent in main central America and especially the islands of West Indies. In economic relations, Central America and West Indies are known in the world, primarily as a region of developed plantation agriculture, in which sugar cane, coffee, pineapples and bananas are of particular importance. An ideal place for growing coffee is the Pacific Piedmont (Nagina's slope) with its fertile volcanic soils and favorable climatic conditions. In Guatemala, coffee grows in the shadow of specially planted trees, it contributes to the greater accumulation of aromatic substances in the grains compared to solar varieties. Approximately the same area grows sugar cane.
Description of Latin America: a list of countries, capital, city and resorts. Photo and video, oceans and seas, mountains, rivers and lakes Latin America. Tour operators and tours in Latin America.
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Latin American countries
The edge of the mysterious civilizations of the Inca, Maya and Aztecs, the Land of the Skilled Beauty and the Noble Caballers, the main tobacco and coffee regime of the planet, as well as the place of concentration of the mass of original and various traditions and cultures, Latin America is occupied by the lower edge of the North American continent, South America and the whole placer of the islands, attached near their narrowesty.
The term "Latin America" \u200b\u200bappeared as the designation of the dependent territories of European metropolis, whose official languages \u200b\u200bdeveloped from People's Latin - in particular, Spanish, Portuguese, French. Today, the conversion includes a combination of "Indian America" \u200b\u200b(as more politically correct), although the region seems to remain "Latin" for travel agents and tourists.
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In the tourist sense, Latin America is a pedestrous "bouquet" of directions. For what only here is not going - and in order to personally touch the legendary monuments of architecture, and to ride jeeps in national parks and, of course, to relax in coastal hotels. The public visiting Latin American countries is the inquisitive people with money (rest in Latin America is very expensive). They have already treated a lot of light, were repeatedly in the countries of Southeast Asia and are very demanding on living conditions (70% of all tourists are booking five-star hotels). Passive lying on the beach, mostly prefer a cognitive holiday for which in Latin America has everything you need.
Among the most popular Latin American directions are Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Peru, Chile, Venezuela.
Latin America: geographical characteristics
Introduction
Why did Latin America named Latin?
The first inhabitants of this region were immigrants from the Iberian Peninsula, as well as the French, that is, the peoples speaking in Spanish and Portuguese, as well as French, and this is a Latin-Romanesque band. For the first time, such a name suggested the French emperor - Napoleon ???When Inged aggressive plans for the creation of the Latin Empire, which would include the former Spanish colonies. The current name was established in the 30s of the XX century.
There is a belief that the name is due to the fact that the people who won this territory wore the lats, and from this word the name "Latin America" \u200b\u200bwas formed. Also in Latin America, Catholicism prevails, and in this faith pray to clean Latin.
1. Formation of a political map of Latin America
All states of Latin America are the former colonies of European countries. Most of them have achieved independence from their metropolis in the first half of the twentieth century. After the opening of America, Christopher Columbus at the end of the 20th century, Spain began to own a large territory, and the territory of the current Brazil - Portugal. With xv ?? the century began its colonial seizures of Latin America (in 1833 England seized the Argentine Malvinian (Falkland) Islands and since then they own), France, the Netherlands. But their possessions were small. At the end of H. ?X century, young sovereign states of Latin America fell into financial dependence on the United States. Because of this, Mexico, after a long war with the United States, lost most of its land, and some island countries became US colonies. In modern boundaries, Latin American countries exist since the 40s of the twentieth century.
1 Distribution of the territory in x? Xhhhhhhhh
The first raised the uprising and proclaimed the Independent Republic in 1804 the French colony on the island of Haiti. Venezuela, Colombia and Ecuador were formed on the spot created by Bolivar "Great Columbia". The Federation of United States of Central America broke up into 5 states: Guatemala, Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica. Argentina and Uruguay stood out of the United Provinces of La Plata. The Portuguese Colonia Brazil received independence relative to the "peaceful" way: Lisbon was forced to recognize the independence of the Brazilian Empire proclaimed in 1822 led by the Son of the Portuguese King. The Republic of Brazil became only in 1889. After the collapse of the Spanish Empire, part of the territory was conquered by England and the United States. In 1833, England seized the Argentine Malvinian (Falkland) Islands and since then they own. The United States as a result of the war of 1845-1848 and a different kind of "acquisitions" seized more than half of the territory of Mexico. In 1898, the US colony actually became Puerto Rico, and in 1902 the Cuba was declared the US protectory. In 1903, the United States for the help of Panama in the struggle for the separation from Colombia received in the "eternal rental" zones of the Panama Canal. In 1959, a revolution turned on Cuba to turn into a republic. In the 60-70s of the twentieth century, independence has achieved the largest colonies of Great Britain:
year - Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago; 1966 - Guyana and Barbados; 1973 - Bahamas; 1974 - Grenada Island; 1978 - Dominica; 1979 - Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
France has announced its own ownership of "overseas departments" and formally equalized from the rights with departments of the metropolis. The Netherlands in 1975 provided independence to Surinam.
2. Basic information about the region as a whole
Latin America is a region located in the Western Hemisphere between the southern border of the United States in the north and Antarctica in the south (through the Strait of Drake). It includes the southern part of the mainland North America, Central America, Islands of West Indies (Large, Antilles, as well as the Bahamas) and mainland South America. From the west is washed by the Pacific Ocean, from the East - Atlantic.
Political division - in Latin America allocate several subregions - this is secondary America (Mexico, Central America and West Indies), Andornyh (Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile), La Basin countries (Paraguay, Uruguay, Argentina, Brazil).
On the modern political map of the region, there are 46 countries and dependent territories, of which 33 are sovereign states, 6 dependent territories owned by Great Britain (Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Montserrat, Turks and Caicos and Falkland Islands), 6 Dutch Territories (Aruba , Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, Sint Martin and Sint-Eustatius), 2 United States (American Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico), as well as 5 dependent territories of France (Guadeloupe, Martinique, Saint-Bartelmi, Saint-Martin, French Guiana ). latin America Political Population
Area - the total area of \u200b\u200bthe region is 21069500 \u200b\u200bkm ², this is 14.1% of the surface area of \u200b\u200bthe Earth (the smallest area - Bahamas - 3.9 km 2, the largest - Brazil - 8.5 million km2)
The population is 523 million people, it is 8.4% of the population of the Earth (the largest population in Brazil - 182 million people, the smallest in Dominica - 69.7 thousand people). The average population is 25.5 people / km 2 (The largest in Barbados -597,67 people / km 2, smallest in Suriname - 3,21 people / km2 ).
In terms of economic development, the leading countries of Latin America (Brazil, Mexico and Argentina) are the average developing countries of the new industrialization (Venezuela, Colombia and Chile are approaching to them), they account for 2/3 of regional GDP, therefore they are decisive effect on the dynamics of regional Macroeconomic indicators. Cuba is the only country of centralized (planned) economy. Means of medium-sized (developing), which have a significant potential for economic growth, are Paraguay, Bolivia, the country of the isthmus. The group of less developed countries in the region includes only Haiti - the poorest state of all Western Hemisphere, here 85% of the population live on the verge of poverty, and more than 60% of citizens are unemployed and unscrew.
The average GDP of Latin America countries is $ 10,654 (the poorest country is Haiti, where the GDP per capita is $ 1.339, the richest - Argentina, GDP in which $ 8810 per capita).
According to the form of government, most of the Latin American countries are republics: Argentina, Brazil, Venezuela, Haiti, Guyana, Guatemala, Honduras, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Salvador, Trinidad and Tobago, Chile, Ecuador. Countries such as Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Grenada, Saint Vincent and Grenadines, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia and Jamaica are part of the British Commonwealth and are constitutional monarchies.
According to the administrative and territorial device, most countries are unitary, federative only four - Argentina (22 provinces), Brazil (24 states), Venezuela (20 states), and Mexico (31 states).
3. Basic information about individual countries
1 capital
Antigua and Barbuda - Saint-Jones
Bahamas - Nassau.
Barbados - Bridgetown.
Belize - Belmopan
Bolivia - Sucre
Venezuela - Caracas
Haiti - Port-O-Prince
Guyana - Georgetown.
Guatemala - Guatemala
Honduras - Tegusigalpa
Grenada - Saint George
Dominica - Rose
Dominican Republic - Santa Domingo
Colombia - Santa Fee de Bogota
Costa Rica - San Jose
Cuba - Havana
Nicaragua - Managua
Panama - Panama
Paraguay - Asuncion.
Peru - Lima
Salvador - San Salvador
Saint Vincent and Grenadines - Kingstown
Saint Kitts and Nevis - Baster
Saint Lucia - Castry
Suriname - Paramaribo.
Trinidad and Tobago - Port-of-Spain
Uruguay - Montevideo
Chile - Santiago
Ecuador - Quito
Jamaica - Kingston
2 Argentina
Full name - Argentine Republic
Region - Southern South America
President - Fernando de la Rua
Capital - Buenos Aires
Area - 2760990 km2 8 in the world
Population - 40519000 people., 32 in the world
Population growth - 425450 people. per year, 1.05%, 112 in the world
The average life expectancy is 76.4 (husband. 72.6, wives. 80.2) years, 45 in the world The population density - 14.68 people / km2 169 in the world
GDP per capita - 8810 $
Official language - Spanish
Currency - Pesoe
International Area Code - 54
Zone in the Internet - AR
Time Zone - UTC-3
Borders on land - Bolivia, Paraguay, Brazil, Uruguay, Chile
3 Brazil
Full name - Federal Republic of Brazil
Region - South America
Form of Board - Federal Republic
President - Fernando Enrique Cardozo
Capital - Brazilia
Area - 8547000 km2 , 5 in the world
Population - 193467000 people, 5 in the world
Population growth - 2321604 people. per year, 1.20%, 98 in the world
The average life expectancy is 72.8 (husband. 69, wives. 76.5) years, 84 in the world
Population density - 22.64 people / km2 153 in the world
GDP per capita - $ 3280
Official language - Portuguese
Currency - Real
International Area Code - 55
Zone in the Internet - Br
Time Zones - UTC-4 - UTC-2
Borders on land - Peru, Columbia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, Uruguay, Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia
Restaurant and Oceans - Atlantic Ocean
4 Mexico
Full name - Mexican United States
Region - Northern Central America
Form of Board - Federal Republic
Capital - Mexico City
Area - 1972550 km2 , 14 in the world
Population - 108396000 people, 11 in the world
Population growth - 1224875 people. per year, 1.13%, 106 in the world
The average life expectancy is 76 (husband. 73.1, wives 78.8) years, 49 in the world
Population density - 54.95 people / km2 118 in the world
GDP per capita - 5040 $
Official language - Spanish
Currency - new peso
International Area Code - 52
Zone in the Internet - MX
Time zones - UTC-8 -UTC-6
International organizations in which - APEC
Borders on land - United States, Guatemala, Belize
Exit to the seas and oceans - Pacific Ocean, Caribbean Sea, Mexican Bay
4. Symbols of Latin America
1 Brazil
The coat of arms of Brazil was approved in 1889, 4 days after Brazil became a republic. The coat of arms consists of the central emblem framed by the branches of the coffee tree on the left side and tobacco with the right, these are important agricultural cultures of Brazil. In the blue circle, the center of the South Cross is depicted in the center (the smallest of the Sky Constellation Square). 27 stars near it mean 26 states of Brazil and the Federal District. Blue ribbon contains the full official name of the state ( República Federativa Do Brasil - Federal Republic of Brazil) in the first row. The second indicates the date of the foundation of the Federal Republic (November 15, 1889).
The Brazil flag is a rectangular green cloth with a yellow horizontal rhombus in the center. Inside the rhombus is a dark blue circle with the 27-dimensional 5-end stars of 5-dimensions (the stars correspond to 26 states of Brazil and the federal district), grouped into 9 constellations - large and small dogs, hydra, virgin, keel, octant, scorpion , Southern Cross and Southern Triangle. The circle is crossed with a bent up white ribbon with the national motto of Brazil, written by green letters, - "Ordem E Progresso" (port "order and progress").
Constellations are shown on the flag as if they had seen in the sky over the city of Rio de Janeiro Observer at 8 o'clock 30 minutes in the morning (12 hours of starving) on \u200b\u200bNovember 15, 1889 - on the day of Brazil to the Republic. Authors - Ramundu Teixeira Mendis, Miguel Lemush, Manuel Perira Reis, Desio Vilanets
Green and yellow - Brazil's national colors.
The angry color comes from the color of the Brazil dynasty, to which she belonged to the first emperor Brazil Pedro I, Golden - from the Black and Golden Dynastic Colors of the Habsburgs, of which his spouse had occurred - Empress Maria Leopoldin Habsburg.
september 1822 Emperor Pedro I threw a portuguese blue-white cocardium from his headland (a special metallic or intimate headdress) and said: "From now on, we want another cocardium - green and yellow. It will be national colors." On September 18 of the same year, he signed a decree on the installation of a new national cokard, and said: "Brazilian national cokard consists of symbolic colors: a green, personifying spring, and yellow - symbolizing gold."
According to another version, green color symbolizes the forest wealth of Amazonia, and yellow - gold reserves. Since in the XVI-XIX centuries in Brazil was the world's largest gold mining mines.
The motto "Ordem E Progresso" (port. "Order and Progress") comes from the position of positivism, formulated by its founder - the French philosopher and sociologist Auguste - " L. amour Pour Principe et l ordre Pour Base; Le Progrès Pour But "(FR." Love, as a principle; order as a basis; Progress as a goal! ").
Anthem Brazil. The modern text of the anthem was approved on September 6, 1922, on the eve of the hundredth anniversary of the proclamation of the independence of Brazil. Original language - Portuguese. Melody wrote Francisk Manuel Yes Silva (1795-1865), Text - Joquim Ozar Ostrada Duke (1879-1927)
Original text of the Brazilian anthem
Ouviram Do Ipiranga As Margens Plá cidas.
De Um Povo Heróico O Brado Retumbante,
E O SOL DA LIBERDADE, EM RAIOS FULGIDOS,
Brilhou No Céu Da Pátria Nesse Instante.
SE O PENHOR DESSA IGUALDADE
CONSEGUIMOS CONQUISTAR COM BRAçO FORTE,
Em TEU SEIO, ó LIBERDADE, ESAFIA O NOSSO PEITO A Própria Morte!
Ó Pátria Amada, Idolatrada, Salve! Salve!
Reclining forever in the luxurious cradle
Under the rocks of the sea and in the light of the deep sky,
You sparkle, about Brazil, America decoration,
Sun-starved new world!
In your beautiful and joyful fields
More colors than in the most beautiful of the lands;
"In our groves more than life,
and in our life, in your lap, more love. "
Oh, Motherland Favorite, Bentworked, I want to sing!
2 Argentina
The coat of arms of the Republic of Argentina was officially adopted in 1944 and is based on the symbols present in the history of Argentina from the beginning of the XIX century.
The shield is crossed with lazuries and silver flowers. On top of all the red Frigian cap on a natural color, covered in silver two arising hands of a natural color connected in the handshake.
The shield is framed by a green wreath of laurel branches, connected by silver with a Lazorus border ribbon. From above the shield overlooking the golden sun.
Frigian cap on the staff is a famous symbol of the struggle for freedom. The same semantic load carries salt de mayo (May Sun). Handshake symbolizes the consent between the subjects of the Argentina Federation. The laurel wreath means victory of Argentina in the struggle for independence.
The modern flag of Argentina became state in 1812. His author is Manuel Belgrano. The flag consisted of three equal horizontal bands in the width - extreme painted in light blue, central - white. In 1818, a yellow "May sun" was placed in the center of the flag, symbolizing the Incan God of the Sun and named so in honor of the May Revolution.
The full version of the flag, including the image of the sun, is referred to as the "official ceremonial flag", the flag without the Sun is a "festive flag." Both variants of the national flag are considered full.
According to the most common interpretation of the flag value, it personifies the sky, clouds and sun. Nevertheless, there are several folk legends explaining the value of the flag colors in a different way. According to one of them, blue color symbolizes the La Plata River ("Silver River"), and white - silver. There is also the opinion that the coloring of the flag is based on the traditional colors of the Bourbon surname. According to another option, blue and white - the colors of the devices of the Virgin Mary. Every year, on June 20, the Flag Day is celebrated in Argentina.
In cinema, the Argentine flag appeared in 1897, when the film "Argentine flag" was shot, which is also considered the first film in the history of Argentine Cinema.
Anthem Argentina was approved in 1813. Music wrote to Him Blas Parera in 1812, words in Spanish - Vicente Lopez and-Planes in the same year.
Original text of the Argentine hymn
Oíd, Mortales, El Grito Sagrado:
"¡Libertad, Libertad, Libertad! "
Oíd El Ruido de Rotas Cadenas, Ved en Trono a la noble igualdad.
Ya Su Trono Dignísimo Abrieron Lasunidas Del Sud Y Los Lires Del Mundo Responden:
"
"Al Gran Pueblo Argentino, ¡Salud! "LOS LIBRES DEL MUNDO RESPONDEN:
"Al Gran Pueblo Argentino, ¡Salud! "
Listen, mortals, sacred cry:
Freedom, freedom, freedom!
Listen to the crackling chains:
See the throne noble equality.
Already his decent throne opened
United Provinces of the South!
And the free world answer:
Great people Argentina Salute!
Great people Argentina Salute! (three times)
3 Mexico
The coat of arms of Mexico is an important symbol of Mexican policies and culture for centuries. He is depicting the mexican Berkut sitting on the cactus, devouring the snake. Aztec images had deep religious values.
The bird on the coat of arms is a symbol of freedom and independence of the country, the victory of the forces of good over the forces of evil and destruction, the snake on the coat of arms - a green romper widespread in Mexico, a symbol of evil. Lake Tesclocco with island depicted on the coat of arms in the traditional, very conditional, Aztec artistic style. The branch of evergreen stone oak symbolizes the republic, and the branch of Laurea is the glory and the immortality of her heroes. Branches are bound by ribbon national colors. As for flowers, now it is believed that green symbolizes hope and independence, white - peace and purity of thoughts, red - unity of the Mexican people.
Flag of Mexico was adopted on September 16, 1968, his author is Francisco Eppence Elger. It is a rectangular cloth, consisting of three isometric vertical stripes - green, white and red. In the center of the white stripe - the image of the arms of Mexico. The green flag color indicates hope, as well as the abundance of good soil Mexico. White symbolizes purity, red - blood, spilled for the independence of the country. According to the Aztec legend, the God of Witilopochatley predicted the Aztecs who were looking for land to live, that they should find an eagle sitting on a rocky place on the top of the cactus and a devouring snake. When they found this eagle, they settled and erected there the first temple in honor of His patron of the patron of Witsylopochatley. This eagle is depicted in the middle of the flag.
Hymn Mexico was adopted in 1943. The words of the hymn were written in 1853 by Francisco Gonzalez Bluegra. A year later, Jayema \u200b\u200bNuno Roca composed for music for the poem.
Original text of Mexican hymn
Ciña ¡Oh Patria! Tus Sienes de Oliva
de La Paz El Arcángel Divino, En El Cielo Tu Eterno Destino
por El Dedo de Dios Se Escribió. si Osare Un Extra ño Enemigocon SU Planta Tu Suelo,
piensa ¡Oh Patria Querida! Que El Cielo. soldado en Cada Hijo Te Dioguerra, Guerra Sin Tregua Al Que Intenela Patria Manchar Los Blasones!
¡Guerra, Guerra! Los Patrios Pendoneslas Olas De Sangre EmpaPad.
¡Guerra, Guerra! EN El Monte, En El Valle
Los Cañones Horrísonos Truenen, Los Ecos Sonoros Resuenen
CON LAS VOCES DE ¡Unión! ¡Libertad!
Copies, about the homeland, your olive whiskey
The world is the divine Archangel
Who in the sky your eternal fate
I draw my finger.
But if the alien enemy dares
Desecrate your point your soil
Think about my homeland dear, that the sky
Soldier in every son gave you.
In bloody battles you get them
Your love with all my heart feeling
Meet the face to face Shrapnel calmly
Death Il Immorter Nice to look for.
After all, the memory of brave ancestors
Your children ignites the mind
Victories of your appearance of your appearance
Immortal in your decoration.
5. Economic-geographical position
The main features of the economic and geographical Latin America are the neighborhood of the United States (in the north of Latin America there is the Caribbean Sea and the Mexican Bay, on which it interacts with the United States - the most developed country of the world, which is also the chief partner of the countries of the organization of American states), but from other major regions of the world. However, this adverse circumstance is partly overcome thanks to the "attraction" of many international transit routes to the Panaman Canal, which connects the Pacific Ocean with the Atlantic. In addition, all countries of the region, with the exception of Bolivia and Paraguay, or has a wide access to the oceans and seas, or are island. Thus, the economic and geographical position of Latin America is very favorable, despite its certain isolation from other regions.
Most of the Latin American countries enter a politically peaceful organization of non-aligned movement, as well as take part in the robot of economic groups: the Latin American Integration Association (JIAAI), the organization of the Central American countries, the Latin American Economic System. The inter-American free trade zone is formed, which will unite the US and Canada markets with the Latin American domestic market. A number of countries are members of organizations - oil exporters (OPEC), copper ores (Sipek), Boxitites (IBA).
6. Natural resources
Interestingly, is there a region about which could not be said that his resources are rich and diverse? Nevertheless, these words accurately characterize the situation with resources in Latin America. It has truly enormous natural resources - both non-renewable and renewable. From individual countries of Latin America, the first place for wealth and diversity of minerals belongs to Brazil, then Mexico, Chile, Peru, Colombia are coming.
1 Mineral resources
Latin America is provided by almost all known species of mineral raw materials.
In many of them, it stands out among other regions of the world. Here are the most unusual combinations of minerals on relatively small territories. It accounts for 18% of oil reserves, 30% of black and alloying metals, 25%-color metals and 55% of rare and scattered elements of the capitalist world. According to the reserves of some minerals, individual countries of the region occupy the first place among capitalist states. For example, by iron ore, niobium, beryllium and mining crystal - Brazil; on the medium; According to graphite - Mexico; According to antimony and lithium - Bolivia (such a variety is a consequence of the diversity of tectonic structures). The presence of promising, but even poorly explored geological structures makes it possible to calculate in the coming years of new mineral deposits.
6.2 ore fossils
The main wealth of Latin America is high quality copper ores. About 40% of world copper reserves are concentrated here. Their deposits located in Andes form the so-called "copper belt". It is stretched by a continuous band from Columbia to the southern areas of Chile (2/3 of all reserves falls on Chile). Large copper deposits made chili one of the richest countries of the world. The olty wealth of the region also includes tin (according to tin reserves, Bolivia and Brazil is especially allocated), silver, gold (Colombia and Mexico), tungsten, lead-zinc (Mexico and Peru), manganese and mercury (Mexico), Beryllium (Brazil, Argentina , Brazil), Lithium (Chile, Brazil, Argentina), Zirconia (Brazil and Uruguay), Bismuth and Cadmium (Peru and Mexico) ore. Boxitov deposits in the north of South America are almost a quarter of world reserves (Jamaica, Dominican Republic). Niobium, Lithium, Nickel (Cuba), Molybdenum, Uranus, Iron Ore - no less valuable minerals. The largest bauxilone province is stretched through the territory of Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, Guiana, Brazil. The largest deposits of iron ore (and moreover with a large content of iron) are located in Brazil, Venezuela and Bolivia. Manganese ores are rich in Brazil and Venezuela. Latin America is rich in aluminum ores, Jamaica, Suriname, Guyana, Dominican Republic, are rich in the world in their exports. Rudes of non-ferrous metals are mainly focused on the Belt of Folding Cordiller - Andes.
3 Nonmetallic fossils
The Andean belt is also rich in some non-metallic minerals. So, Mexico is a major exporter of homemade sulfur, graphite, arsenic, fluorite. Chile - potash and sodium nitrate. Brazil - diamonds, mountain crystal, mica. Colombia - Sapphires. And Venezuela and Guyana - diamonds.
4 Fuel resources
Latin America has huge oil and natural gas reserves. The main amount of oil production falls on land (1/2 of oil reserves falls on Venezuela), but it is more and more mined on the shelf. It is focused mainly on the shores of the Caribbean and the Mexican Gulf. Their stocks are timed to sedimentary rocks in the defaults of the Patagonian platform, as well as to the intermore deflection of the prekordiller and the Andes. The main fields of oil are located on the outskirts of the Andes, in their regional or intergigurgy deflection. Almost all over the Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela to the North-West Argentina, oil-bent fields are common along the eastern advanced deflection of the Andes. Investigated, and even more so mastered, not all promising areas.
Sections of advanced deflection in Ecuador and Peru are little mastered. The western advanced deflection of the Andiy geosyncline region (geosynclinal area is a large, relatively separate geosyncline belt section, passing similar to the last steps of tectonic development more or less simultaneously (or in the same stages) and the final geosyncline stage of its evolution turns into a folded area. Consists of Geosynklinal systems and median arrays) are expressed on land in the form of limited segments of coastal plains in the west of Ecuador and Northern Peru, north and south of Guayaquil. Productive sandstones and sands contain in highly deployed tertiary shallow clays and are at a relatively small depth. The availability of these territories helped to identify oil-bearing wealth here and proceed to their development in the 70s of the 19th century. The largest deposits of oil in Latin America are associated with intergigurine deflection. Such are the famous deposits of the Maracaibo basin and the brave of Magdalen. The same type includes oil fields in the Jurassic and chalk sandstones of Western Argentina's preorder. With the discovery in the 70s of the XX century. The largest oil fields in the states of Chiapas and Tabasco, on the shelf in the area of \u200b\u200bCampeche Bay, Mexico took one of the leading places in the world in stock and oil production. Significant and probable reserves are estimated at 14 billion tons (1990). Mexico is inferior in Latin America only Venezuela (17 billion tons).
The features of the relief of Latin America are determined by the presence in its geological structure of two heterogeneous structural elements: an ancient South American platform and a younger actively developing up to the modern era of the rolling belt Cordiller (called in South America Andami. The first corresponds to the ancient plateau and a plateau - Gwiankoye (not allowed and Almost unexplored), Brazilian (huge covered with savannahs and gentlemen) and Patagonian. As well as the Belt of lowlands and plains - Llanos-Orinoco, Grand Character, Pamppa, and others, occupying the areas of the deflection. Among them is the most extensive on the globe, hard to reach , entrusted with equatorial forests Amazon lowland. It borders with Guiang's plateore and orinotky lowland.
Belt Cordiller - Andes is the world's longest system of ridges and arrays, stretching almost meridional from North America through Mexico, Central America and then along the coast of the Pacific Ocean in South America by 11 thousand km. This system reaches a height of 6960 m (Akonkagua - the highest peak of the Western Hemisphere). It is an obstacle to master the territory, but also a treasury of mineral raw materials. As a field of young population, the cordiliere-and belt belt is characterized by frequent destructive earthquakes and active vulcanism; The last major eruption occurred in Colombia in 1985-1986. (Volcano Ruis).
The complexity of the geological structure and the presence of various age structures in it is determined by the wealth and diversity of minerals of Latin America.
Latin America is located in the subtropical, tropical and subequatorial belts of the northern hemisphere; equatorial belt; Sub-screen, tropical, subtropical and moderate belts in the southern hemisphere. By virtue of its geographical position mainly in low latitudes. Latin America receives a lot of solar heat 120-160 kcal / cm per year. Therefore, for most of the region, hot climate types are characterized, where average monthly temperatures are greater than + 20 ox, and seasonal climate change is manifested mainly in changing the precipitation mode, not temperatures. The Grand Chicago is the absolute maximum temperature of the air in Latin America (+ 48,9 ox in January). The predominance of hot climate creates favorable conditions for year-round vegetation of plants and allows you to cultivate all tropical plantational and consumer agricultural crops. Seasonal temperature fluctuations are pronounced only in the extreme north and south of Latin America, concerned in subtropical and moderate latitudes (in the capital of Chile - Santiago average temperature of the warm month + 20 ° C, the coldest + 8c, and on the fiery ground - respectively +11 and + 2c ), as well as in the mountainous areas mostly tropical belts. Frosts are annual in the north of Mexico, in the Patagonia they are in the summer. Short-term sharp decreases of temperature are observed in the event of an invasion of high latitudes of cold air masses (which contributes predominantly meridional strike of the mountain ranges). For example, cold winds (pampero) can cause frosts in southern South America up to the southern tropic. There are significant differences between the individual areas of Latin America in the amount of precipitation and distribution of seasons. They are caused by the general patterns of the circulation of the atmosphere (the location of the areas of high and low pressure, domination of certain winds), the influence of permanent ocean currents (for example, a warm Brazilian, cold peruvian), the nature of the relief and other reasons. On the Pacific Slope of Equatorial Andes (in Colombia and Ecuador) and the coast adjacent to it, the annual rate of precipitation reaches, for example, 10 thousand mm, whereas in the desert attacks - one of the most innocent on the globe 1-5 mm. If the rainy season continues on the rain on almost all year round, then in the extreme northeast of Brazil, he does not exceed 3-4 months, and on the Pacific coast of Peru and the north chili rains are not annual. In general, at least 20% of the territory of Latin America include insufficient moisture zones. The climatic conditions of Latin America had a significant impact on the process of its settlement and economic development. They still create considerable problems when mastering new territories, such as the Amazon basin.
7 hydrocessions
The region is exclusively rich in water resources. In terms of river flow, Latin America is inferior only asia, the hydropower potential is about 700 million kW. The very largest river of the world - Amazon carries in the ocean of water more than the largest rivers of all other continents, combined. Brazil, in the territory of which Amazon proceeds, has the greatest volume of the river flow coming per capita. And this is only one river! The rivers are one of the most important and few of Latin America's wealth involved in the economic activity. About 60% of the region's area belongs to the basins of the world's largest rivers, and their integrated use requires joint or agreed actions of various states. Amazon's pool (more than 7 million km 2) covers the territory of seven countries; More than 2/3 of him falls on Brazil. Pool of the La Board (more than 4 million km 2) Speakers in the borders of five states. The rivers of this basin are largely proceeding through irrigation zones. Orinoco pool (about 1 million km 2) Located within Venezuela and Colombia. For the provision of water resources, Latin America, having about 1/4 of the world runoff, is in the first place among the five continents in the size of the runoff by 1 km 2 territory and per capita. A little different situation was in Mexico, one of the most significant features of the economic geography of the country affecting many parties of economic life is the separation of water resources from the main areas of their consumption. Over 80% of hydroresources are concentrated in the low-altitude part suffering from excess moisturizing. Inside areas where the bulk of the population lives, a chronic water deficit is experiencing. The hydropower potential of Mexican rivers is estimated at 10 million kW.
The largest potential is the rivers of the tropical part of the coastal areas. Systems of the Atlantic Ocean rivers have the greatest transport value. In the territory of Brazil, fresh water reserves are great. Their largest source - Amazon River. The most intensively used for the hydrostralization of the pool river Parana, giving almost 2/3 of the power of all HPP countries. Of great importance for energy, and for the water supply of the northeast has the San Francis River. The economic hydropotential of the Argentine Rivers is estimated at 30 million kW, most of him falls on the Paranta pool - Uruguay and the Patagonia River. Parana - the second along the length and area of \u200b\u200bthe basin of the South America River; Plays a big role in the economic life of Argentina and as shipping artery, and as a source of electricity and water supply.
Large lakes in Latin America little. Numerous only glacial lakes in the southern Andes. In the central Andes at an altitude of 4000 m lies the largest of the high mountain lakes of the world - the Tectonic lake Titicaca. In Central America, the largest lakes - Nicaragua and Managua, both of them occupy the most of the depressions of Nicaragua. In desert and semi-desert areas are huge salt marshes, and on wet lowlands - extensive swamps.
The main features of the relief and climate determine the nature of the drain, hydraulic and security of water resources of Latin America. Being mostly in low latitudes and open wet winds from the Atlantic, as a whole, they get almost 2 times more precipitation than the average land of the land. The river stock is also almost 2 times higher than the average figure for the globe. But the distribution of the river network of the source in their territories is extremely uneven and is often very unfavorable for economic use. The stock is the highest with steep atmosphere mountain slopes (West Colombian and Patagonian Andes, the eastern slopes of the ridges of Central America and Gwianky Plateau), as well as with flat, but constantly and abundantly secured by Amazonian precipitation. These same areas have the most thick and uniform-free river network with the largest (more than 7 million square meters) of the river pool and the very long-water river of the world - Amazon. There are still very accurately installed and reserves of hydrophurenergoresours. For example, in the energy balance of Brazil (1992) approximately 1/3 falls on hydropower (and its share is growing). If the mountain rivers almost do not have a transport value, then the Amazon itself serves as shipping up to the Andes. Even such large rivers, like Parana, San Francis, Magdalena, shipping only on separate segments. In addition, the regime of these rivers with fluctuations in water flow during the year by 15-20 times is very unfavorable for transport and hydropower. "Amendments" in nature have to be made by the construction of large reservoirs and irrigation channels. Smaller watercourses in the winter drought sharply melted or dry out completely, violently, devastating flooding flooding in the rain period.
Normally small stock from the inner deserted flatbed of Northern Mexico, central Andes, in the Pacific coastal deserts, in the continental regions of North-West Argentina. All these territories are almost devoid of runoff in the ocean, surface watercourses and even drinking water. At the same time, the need for water agriculture and the mining industry is enormous in these areas. Therefore, for example, in Peru, the transfer of water to the West from the Amazon basin is carried out.
8 soil and vegetation
Forest resources of Latin America, where more than half of the forest area of \u200b\u200bthe world are concentrated. The forest science of some countries is very large. For example, more than 80% of Suriname Square is covered with a forest! It can be said that the forest is one of the main wealth of Latin American countries.
Since the territories of equatorial uniform-wet climate occupy a significant area in Latin America, constantly wet evergative equatorial forests are natural in its vegetation. They cover almost all Amazon lowland, most of the Guiangsky and North of Brazilian Highlands. However, solid massifs are distributed only in Western, lowland and constantly wet amazon. In the east and on the adjacent slopes of the Gwiansky and Brazilian Nagrain as a result of dry periods, as well as the characteristics of soils, soils and relief, among them there are quite extensive areas of edging, grass-and-shrub formations, savannah, and in the forests there is a significant admixture of deciduous trees.
For typical guille (wet equatorial forests) is characterized by density, multi-tie, wealth and variety of species composition. They prevail in them in the first place of the family of legumes, then myrtov, rut, palm trees, laurels, and others. Liaans are also represented by the genus of ficuses, and the family of mimosu, cactus and others.
Evergreen equatorial forests are developing in the latitite (soils of equatorial and wet tropical forests, characterized by a low silica content, high content of aluminum and iron, an insignificant alkali content and alkaline ground, an acidic reaction, low cationic and high anionic absorption capacity), often apodulated soils. In the most Amazon Valley, low floods within a few months is under water. It is formed with wetlastic allyuvial soils and flooded, depleted in the composition of the hyiley forests - Igapo. The most magnificent and diverse the vegetation of unproofy territories is "solid lands".
Wet oriental Lokins of the Andes in the equatorial and subequatorial belts, as well as the Western slopes and the lowlands of the Andes of Colombia and the Northern Ecuador are dressed by mountain wet forests in latitite and red soils. Palm trees are dominated by a height of 1000-1500 m, in the second belt (up to 2500-2800 m) palm trees are inferior to the leading role of bamboo. In the "cold" belt (3200-3500 m), highland gyleia develops - evergreen small trees and shrubs from the family of myrtov, heather, minor bamboo and with the inclusions of the tree fern.
Similar to vegetation and soils of Andiy Mountain Gillets and tropical forests covering the most wet oriental slopes of Brazilian Highlands and North Guiangsky. The main difference is the admixture of deciduous types of vegetation. For the eastern plains and the plane of tropical and sub-screen latitudes of Latin America are characterized by various types of savannah, edging, shrub formations in varnish red, red-brown and red-brown soils.
Large arrays of typical savannah are common in Latin America only in the southwestern, flat and low-lying part of the plains of Orinoco, where they are called Llanos. The articular representative of the trees in them is Mauritius Palma. The red soils of Llanos in the Orinoco in the upper part acquire almost black painting associated with the high content of organic substances as a result of the decomposition of thick herbal cover. Strong dryness and the duration of the period of completely devoid of precipitation in the northeast of Brazilian Highlands led to a special type of tropical deserted parsley, with an abundance of cactus, baobab, milk and barbed and burning shrubs. The cereals and the complex color in the area are almost absent, and the ephemerial impossible cover appears only a few days after the rain. Red-brown and especially the red-brown varnish soils of this area are very low, skeletal and crugs. Often, as a result of erosion and deflation of small particles, dense cemented concrete shells forming iron-born latitite bark are completely naked.
In the high arrays of Brazilian Highlands in the conditions of a cooler and moderately wet climate, evergreen are common, mostly severe forests on mountainous red and yellow-bearing soils. South tropics they replace very light and rare subtropical mixed forests. Power plates of Parana in the subtropical zone are occupied by a loosely sensible grassy formation.
Drointent formations of vegetation and soil types adapted to a long period of drought or flooding, characterize both tropical plains of Chaco. Spiny acacia, mimosa, cacti, mope, sometimes passioned by Lianami are spread on the dry and elevated West on red-brown soils. For interfluve spaces with different types of latheitic red color and gray-brown soils are characterized by dry palpal, plots of steppes or cored forests of Cabracho. Wax palm trees grow on wet colors; Extensive swamps occupy lowland territories in the north, in the foothills of the Andes, in the east of the region in Paraguay and Paran, and in the north of Meternrachia. In the subtropical belt, Spotted vegetation rarely radiates, acquires even more twiser-friendly character and gradually goes into semi-deserts of Western Argentina. On scanty, not rarely saline desert serozes develop only low-spirited deciduous shrubs, not always fixing dunes, cacti. To the east, where the amount of precipitation increases, the semi-desert is replaced by a dry subtropical steppe on gray-brown soils.
Eastern, low and wet Pamppa with fertile black soil and meadow soils were once covered with dense cover of perennial cereals and dysdootilic dispersion. But at present, this natural vegetation of subtropical steppes in the northeastern part is destroyed by grazing animals, and in Western - unnamed. It is still south, in the Patagonia, the serozes are replaced by brown soils. Herbal "background" also make up cereals and dispersion, but the leaves of their very tough and barbeds. Sustainers, mostly evergreen, acquire a pillow-shaped, decent look and are much more similar to Verperamen, rather than with the steppes.
The Central Andyian Highlands is distinguished by the greatest continentality, harshness and dryness of climate in Andagors. Plants adapting to adverse environmental conditions, in its desire to preserve heat and moisture and resist the strong gusts of the wind, acquire a pillow-shaped, pillowing look, pressed against the ground. On a spotted rarefied background of low-grassy grassy, \u200b\u200bdeveloping on low-power serboans, the coronal shrubs are highlighted.
The most desert type of soil and vegetation is timed to the Pacific coast. Among almost bare sands, where only single xerophytes survive, rail tapes from evergreen spiny shrubs, Yves and reeds are distinguished. The northern outskirts of the desert are marked by the sections of dry edge of the transition to the savannahs of Western Ecuador. Due to the rapid increase in the amount of precipitation of forests become more powerful and dense, sent by Lianami. The main component in them is evergreen beats with an admixture of magnolia and coniferous, and in the lower tiers, as in mountain gylys, tree-like fern and bamboo. Under these wet evergreen forests, mining brown soils are developed. The extreme south of chili is characterized by subnatrotic mixed forests, lower, poor and sparse compared to previous, although similar to them in the species composition. Among these forests, spots of peatlands appear more and more often towards the south, but the evergreen flora in Latin America reaches the extreme polar limit of woody vegetation. However, the upper belt of the forests make up beeches with foliage and coniferous foliage. They prevail on the dry eastern slopes of the Anda Patagonia.
9 Ecological and geographical position
Ekogp Latin American countries deteriorates. The negative impact of a person is subject to the environment of Amazonia, where the intensive process of destruction of wet equatorial forests, seaside districts, where the most developed economic activities of countries that border the United States are the most developed. According to the estimates of Latin American scientists over the past third of the century, forests were exterminated than the previous 400 years. Under threat of disappearance there are evergreen forests of Amazonia - "light planets", while maintaining the existing deforestation rates, they will cease their existence by the middle of the XXI century. The area of \u200b\u200bterritories under protection still does not exceed 1% of the region area (in Japan - almost 15%, in the USA - more than 3%). The prevailing methods of land use led to the widespread acceleration of the processes of soil erosion, in particular, in the "Wheat belt" of the Argentine PAPM. They covered at least a quarter of the land, in Mexico - more than 70%. In the late 70s. 17 leading industrial areas of Argentina, Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, Uruguay and Chile were declared ecologically threatening.
7. Animal Mir
The animal world of Latin America is rich and peculiar, no in anywhere there are no longer found sloths, armadors, American ostriches, Lama Guanako. Monkeys, wolves of amusements - all animals of Latin America is simply impossible to even list.
The fauna of the region retained some features of kinship with the animal world of Australia. In Latin America, there are representatives of the pupils characteristic of Australia. But despite this, the fauna of the region developed a long time in the separation from other continents, it retained not only species and childbirth, but also whole families and even squads that are endemic. Many representatives of the animal world of Latin America play an important role in human economic activities (domesticated and wild lines, furny animals, fish and many others).
Latin America's animals adapt to survival in tropical rainfalls and subequatorial forests, in highlands and savannah, next to the person, and away from him. It may be precisely because of this diversity of climatic zones and height drops in Latin America, a truly unique fauna was formed, which humanity must be carefully kept and multiplying.
1 Fauna Andean Mountains
These are more than 900 different amphibians, 600 species of mammals, 1700 species of birds. There are no large mammalian clusters in Andes, animals are separated by dense trees. Among the insects in the forest are often found large, elegant in shape and brightly colored butterflies, great ants. In the thick foliage of the trees a lot of birds nest, especially parrots. Numerous and varied hummingbirds. The animal world of Andes suffered a lot from human activity. Once widely inhabited by Condor (it is depicted on the coat of arms of Colombia) is now found only in two places: in Nude de Pasto and in the Sierra Nevada de Santa-Marta. Condor is the largest flying bird of the west coast with a brilliant, black plumage, with the original white feathers collar around the neck and white camimiles on the wings. Condor females are usually markedly larger than males. Sexual maturity reaches aged 5-6 years, usually nests at an altitude of 3000-5000 m. Above sea level - on hard-to-reach rocky rocks. Masonry usually consists of one or two eggs. This is one of the biggest long-livers in the world among feathers: the duration of his life can reach 50 years. Andean Condor is a national symbol of several Latin American states - Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, he plays an important role in the culture of the peoples of the Andes. In the 20th century, his population decreased significantly, and therefore he was listed in the list of the International Red Book. Currently, in several countries there are programs for the breeding programs in zoos, followed by the spread of them in the wild.
2 Fauna Lake Titicaca
The animal world of Latin America is unique animals not only the mountainy and Lake Titicaca. Such species like loony Chomga and Titicaky whistle are found only there and more anywhere in the world! Like deer, PUD, which you definitely do not meet anywhere else on the globe. Pudi represents an exceptional animal world of Latin America, as it is impossible, it is only 30-40 cm with growth, no longer than 95 cm long, and weighing no more than 10 kg. It is little similar to his relatives: the ears are small and oval, covered with thick wool, short challenges, gray-brown painting with obscure white spots. It dwells in the impassive thickets of shrubs and only at night will leave to open spaces, mainly as shore of the sea, where many algae fuchsi is its main feed. In the summer, it is very careful, but in winter during the snowfalls comes to villages, where dogs often snangle. Previously, PUD was widespread throughout the length of the Andes, Lake Titicaca, Chile and Argentina, but now preserved in a small population only in the seaside areas of southern Chile and on Chosel Island. Listed in the Red Book.
3 wild animals of Latin America
On the Atlantic Coast of Latin America in coastal waters, Peruvian Sea Lion lives - one of the largest animals of the planet. The size of mighty males can reach three meters. The overall color of the sea lion is a brown-gray, while the darker skin on the belly and a characteristic feature is that in adult males on the neck and in the front of the front of the chest, the hair is elongated and form the mane semblance. Hair cover on other parts of the body is rare, hard, without jet hair. These mighty animals are the caring owners of their harem, and every female take care only about her young, recognizing him on a characteristic smell and voice.
One of the most dangerous and revered by local animars of the beast is Jaguar, who remains even in our machine, the iron age with the symbol of power, speed and fearlessness. Jaguar is the largest and most strong representative of the numerous catfish family, usually inhabiting in the forests and in the thickets of shrub. But now it becomes a rarity introduced into the Red Book - too much jaguars was once exterminated for his magnificent skins and the place of his natural habitat was constantly destroyed by a person.
The body of Jaguar is perfection itself. Its gorgeous wool - short, the skin is usually golden yellow with black sockets or torn rings, in a bright center of which small dark specks. Jaguar is a nightly predator, preferring a single hunt, suddenly jumping out of the dark.
In local jungle lives the only sample American - opossum, outwardly resembling a rat of large sizes. Possum growth with a domestic cat, with short paws, sharp, light-coined muzzle and bare ears with pinkish tips.
Overall color usually gray, occasionally come across black animals. The females have developed back the bag. Body length 36-53 cm, tail -25-33 cm, weight 1-7 kg.
Active mainly at night. By the fall, the oxus is strongly fat and in winter it is often for several days in an inaccessible state in their logs. Opossums are almost omnivores. They eat Padal, invertebrates, mice, reptiles, amphibians, mushrooms, many cultural plants, especially corn and grain cereals. This is an ancient miracle of adaptability - modern opossums in search of food are closer even in the peasants and in modern houses.
4 New animal species found
The participants of the expedition, which was conducted by one of the charitable foundations, found 46 new types of animals.
The expedition took place along the Sipalivini rivers and Kutari, located in the jungle of the country of Suriname.
Among the found species are five percentimeter ants, frogs-cowboys with white paws on the hind legs, as well as formerly grasshoppers, spiders, dragonflies and beetles.
For example, researchers found a spotted cousin cousin who has very unusual protection against enemies: the poison is in his body. The body of the grasshopper is very bright color, like all poisonous animals. One of the main finds was a fish, which externally resembles a catfish, but it is covered with bone plates with spikes. Spikes is protection against piras that in large quantities inhabit rivers.
8. Population
1 Ethnicity
The population of Latin American countries was as a result of a complex mixing of several racial groups. Nevertheless, its composition is distinguished by comparative homogeneity. Representatives of mixed races predominate in countries: metises, mulatys, to a lesser extent - sambo. But nevertheless, some differences between them exist. To countries whose population mainly has European-like features include Mexico, Argentina, Uruguay, Chile. Indian traits are most noticeable in the guise of people inhabiting Bolivia, Colombia, Peru, Haiti and Jamaica - countries in which descendants of immigrants from Africa prevail. The National Minority in Latin American countries turned out to be the indigenous Indian population. Only in Bolivia and Guatemala, the Indian population is more than half of the population.
Numerous peoples and tribes that settled the territory of the current Latin America by the time of the beginning of the European colonization, called the Indians, were very different from each other by external appearance, languages, religion, level of culture (the ancestors of Maya, Aztec and Incs). European migrants (primarily from Spain and Portugal), Indians and Africans - the main racial-ethnic elements, on the basis of which the modern population of Latin America was formed. In the modern ethnic composition of the region, the indigenous Indian population is 15% of the inhabitants, negros - 10%.
Anthropologists allocate 2 large groups of the indigenous population of America: North American and Central American. The latter covers the indigenous inhabitants of Latin America. Central-American Race is quite varied in its composition. It includes six groups of populations: California, Central American, Amazonian, Andean, Patagonian and Fognesel.
But in the 16th century, most Indians were exterminated or died of European diseases. There was also a permanent relocation to the "his" colonies of Spaniards, Portuguese, the British, French and the Dutch. Specific groups of descendants of the Spaniards and Portuguese, most famous under the Spanish name "Creoles" occurred, gradually arose. An intensive interracial mixing occurred, as a result of which methiuses appeared - the faces of European-day-Indian origin, Moutique - European-Negro origin, sambo - Negro-Indian origin.
The share of Negro Blood had a great social importance. In West Indies, even the whole system of terms arose:
Quarteron - Ebony for 1/4, Oktron - Negro on 1/8, Musty - Negro per 1/16, Musthefino - Negro on 1/32.
It is believed that in modern Latin America Indians no more than 15% of the total population. Only in Bolivia and Guatemala Indians are more than 50%, and in Peru and Ecuador about 50%. The share of methots in Latin America is apparently not lower than 55%. In Mexico, they constitute about 80%, and most in some countries of Central and South America. White make up no more than 20% of the population. They prevail in Argentina, Uruguay, Costa Rica, according to some data in Brazil, but this is doubtful. Among the white on 1 place, the people from Spain and Portugal, 2 - Italians, then the Germans and people from Eastern European countries. According to existing estimates, blacks make up 9-10% of Latin America (Haiti, West India). In the first half of the 19th century, workers from India and China were delivered to work on plantations. Now the Indians account for 50% of the population of Guyana, and at least 40% in Trinidad and Tobago. The Chinese live small groups in West Indies and Central America. Such is the whole picture of the ethnic composition of modern Latin America.
General information and position.
The term "Latin America" \u200b\u200bcan be considered as a region, a cultural and geographical world or a group of states with many geographical, political, cultural and other similarities between themselves and at the same time highly different from other states.
Latin America is a region located in the Western hemisphere between the southern border of the United States (Rio-Grande River) in northern and Antarctica in the south. Includes the southern part of North America, Central America, West India Island and Mainland South America. Washed by two oceans: from the West - quiet, from the east - the Atlantic. There are 46 states and dependent territories on a total area of \u200b\u200babout 21 million square meters. km, which is approximately 15% of the total land of land. The boundaries between the mainland countries are mainly in large rivers and mountain ranges. Most countries have access to the oceans and seas or are island. In addition, this region is in relative proximity to a very developed economically state of the United States. Thus, the economic and geographical position of Latin America is very favorable, despite its certain isolation from other regions.
According to the state structure, Latin American countries are the sovereign republics, the states in the Commonwealth, headed by Great Britain, or the ownership of Great Britain, France, the United States, the Netherlands (mainly island in the Atlantic Ocean). Large political or other conflicts are not observed on this territory. This is explained by the following. First, Latin America's states have a lot in common in culture, stories are similar in the level of economic development, so they are actually nothing to share. Second, relief and natural conditions as a whole do not have the development of armed conflicts: many rivers, inhomogeneous relief, etc. As for the dependent territories, they are not complaining about. Owners countries are for them the market sales market (be it mining or manufacturing or agriculture), provide jobs to the population, invest huge capital in order to further develop the economy for more efficient use of natural resources (including tourist centers) .
The geographical position of Latin America is advantageous and favorably favors the development of the economy thanks to three aspects. First, access to the seas and oceans and the presence of the Panaman canal, secondly, the close location of the United States, thirdly, the huge natural resource potential, which has not yet been implemented in many ways due to the historical factor. After all, almost all the local countries in the past were colonies, and some and now remain dependent.
From the history of Latin America.
The territory of Latin America was originally populated by immigrants from Northeast Asia, which later mixed with migration flows and formed numerous Indian tribes and nationalities. The oldest parking lot of primitive people belong to the 20-10th millennium BC. e. By the time of the invasion of European conquerors at the end of 15-16 centuries. Most Indian tribes were at various stages of the primitive-free system, was engaged in collecting, hunting and fishing. Aimar, Aztec, Maya, Inci, and others created early-grade states. After traveling, H. Columbus, who opened the island of the Antilsk archipelago, the coast of Central America and Venezuela (1492-1504), were founded by the first Spanish settlements on the islands of Espanyol (Haiti) and Cuba, who became supporting points of further penetration into the depths of the American mainland. The expeditions of the conquistadors led to the approval of Spanish domination in Mexico, California, Florida, Central America and in the entire South American continent, with the exception of the territory of Brazil, which Portugal, and Guiana, captured by England, Holland and France won. The internecine struggle of the Indian leaders who joined the unions with alien invaders, facilitated the conquest of Latin America by the colonizers. The conquest of America by the Spaniards and the Portuguese, mainly ended in 16-17 centuries. Despite the desperate resistance of the indigenous inhabitants (to which colonialists in many cases answered them by their extermination), Spain and Portugal asked their languages \u200b\u200bhere, their religion (Catholicism) and had a great influence on the formation of the culture of Latin Americans. English, French and Netherlands colonization also influenced the history of Latin America, but significantly less than Spanish and Portuguese.
The development of capitalist relations, peasant and urban uprisings of the 18th century. (The peasant war in Peru 1780-83, the uprising in the new Granada 1781 and others) loosened the colonial system and contributed to the awakening of the national identity of the local population. War for the independence of English colonies in North America 1775-83 and the Great French Revolution accelerated this process. As a result of the uprising of the blackhead slaves, which began in Haiti in 1791, slavery (1801) was canceled against the French colonialists (1801) and the independence of Haiti (1804) was conquered, at the same time the Spanish domination in Santo Domingo (modern Dominican Republic) was undermined. War for the independence of Spanish colonies in America 1810-26 ended with the destruction of the colonial regime. Almost all Spanish colonies have won political independence. Attempts to release Cuba and Puerto Rico failed due to the intervention of the United States and the UK. In the situation of the widespread popular movement in September 1822, the independence of Brazil from Portugal was proclaimed.
The formation of states was the most important prerequisite for accelerating the development of capitalist relations. The preservation of major landlord and the privileges of the church slowed down this process. In the middle of the 19th century A new rise of the revolutionary movement began, expressed in civil wars in Argentina, Colombia, Mexico, Venezuela, Uruguay, Guatemala and forced to conduct important social reforms in Peru, Honduras, Brazil. The pillow from the Indians and the slavery of the Negro (without endowment of the earth) were canceled, the noble titles were destroyed. In 1889, the monarchy was eliminated and the republic was proclaimed in Brazil. After the arrival of socialism and its wreck (except Cuba), the active process of the development of capitalism went.
Population.
General.
The population of Latin America is approximately 470 million people. This is the only region, where in one 20th century the population has grown more than 8 times. This is due to several factors. First, it is a natural increase, but it is not as large (2% per year). Secondly, migrations that have had a significant impact. For a long time, slaves have been tied up, mostly blacks, which make up 0.1 people of Latin America, and finally, the rest of the immigrants came here in search of earnings. A large increase in the population determines the "youth" of the inhabitants of most Latin American states and at the same time creates an additional burden on the able-bodied population, which can directly affect the standard of living.
Ethnic composition and mixing of cultures.
The ethnic composition of Latin America is very pystress, it can be divided into 3 groups.
The first group consists of Indian tribes, which are indigenous residents (currently 15% of the population). Most of the Indians focused in Bolivia (63%) and Guatemala.
The second group is European immigrants, primarily the Spaniards and Portuguese (Creoles), because these 2 maritime powers were previously the rest began to collect expeditions for research and development of endless marine spaces. Among the participants of the Spanish and Portuguese expeditions were Vasco da Gama, Christopher Columbus, Amerigo Vespucci and other famous navigators.
Third Group formed Negros, which were brought here as slaves to work on plantations.
Representatives of any of these groups remained very little. More than half of the residents of Latin America are metis (descendants from the marriages of White and Indians) and Moutique (descendants from white and black marriages). The most homogeneous in ethnicity are such migrating countries as Uruguay, Chile, Argentina (these are the countries of late colonization, their mass settlement began in the second half of the XIX century, in them the most European immigrants). From the former Spanish and Portuguese colonies, Surinames and Guyana are distinguished, where many people from Asia (mostly Indians).
Latin America is also the place of mixing cultures of many races, peoples, ethnic groups and intertwining the traditions and customs of different civilizations. In this regard, the rights of some nations, in particular, the Indians, people of mixed blood, and others, were infringed, from Europeans. This was a serious problem until February 15, 1819. It was then that the Agency Congress was held at the initiative of Bolivar, which adopted a document, proclaimed the equality of all residents of the former colonies. Since then, in Latin America, tolerance reigns to all peoples and religions.
Religious composition.
Despite the Penastic National Ethnic Composition, the religious composition of Latin America is uniform. Here for a long time, Catholicism was planted and was considered the only official religion, other religions and religion were persecuted by the Inquisition, therefore most of the Latin Americans and in our time are confessing Catholicism.
Urbanization.
Latin America is a highly urbanized region, (average indicator - 76%), although most of the components of its states are economically developing or backward. The most urbanized countries are Chile, Uruguay, Argentina and Venezuela (over 80%). Colonial cities were built on a monotonous plan: the area was located, from which streets were diverged in different directions, and at right angles. Now there is an active process of formation of urban agglomerations. The most brightly distinguished Mexico City, the population of which has already exceeded 23 million people.
No less interesting phenomenon is "false urbanization". Formally urbanization, that is, the increase in cities and the number of city inhabitants. But really these new "citizens" are the same rural residents coming to cities in search of a better life. However, even economically strong cities are not able to provide all the work, so they do not constitute an economically active population and only burden cities. In this regard, the so-called "poverty belts" are formed on the outskirts.
Accommodation.
The placement of the population of Latin America is very specific. First, it is one of the most unreacted areas of our planet (average density - less than 30 people per square meters. Km). Secondly, the placement is heterogeneous: the greatest density - on the coast of the oceans, is somewhat less - on the plateauxes (the resettlement on the plateaua is also one of the features) and in the valleys of some rivers (Amazon, San Francisk, Parana). The most few populated areas are mountains and, oddly enough, the valleys of many rivers. The reason for this is huge impassable forests, located just in the valleys of rivers. In addition, historically developed that coastal areas were mastered and settled (they mean the coast of the oceans).
Raissed in the XIX century newly created independent states of Latin America Rosges, but the distribution of income was uneven: the descendants of the immigrants were enriched, and the aborigines remained poor. The difference between the rich and the poor increased and reached his peak of 1929 (the period of the global economic crisis). At this time, strikes, civil wars, uprisings, which led to the seizure of power by the military and the establishment of dictatorial regimes of power in almost all countries of Latin America. In recent decades, more and more of these countries elect a democratic path of development, trying to identify their policies to stabilize the situation in society and raising the standard of living of poor layers, which remains rather low.
Natural conditions and resources.
Features of the relief of Latin America are due to the tectonic structure. The territory on which it is located, consists of an ancient South American platform and relatively young folding. The first corresponds to the plateau, the plateau (Brazilian, Patagonian and Guiangsky) in the places of raising the platform and lowland and the plains (Amazonian, La Plati et al.) In the places of deflection. The second form Cordillera, who in South America are called Andami. This is the world's longest chain of mountain ranges and arrays, stretching at 11,000 km and reaching the height of 6960 m (Mount Akonkagua).
Minerals.
Latin America is rich in mineral raw materials. It accounts for 18% of oil reserves, 30% of black and alloying metals, 25% - non-ferrous metals and 55% - rare and scattered elements of the capitalist world. According to the reserves of some minerals, individual countries of the region occupy the first place among capitalist states: for example, by iron ore, niobium, beryllium and mining crystal - Brazil; on the medium; According to graphite - Mexico; According to antimony and lithium - Bolivia. The presence of promising, but even poorly explored geological structures makes it possible to count in the coming years to new mineral deposits. It is from here that the United States receive up to 70% of the strategic raw materials they need, including more than 90% of tin concentrate and bauxite, about 50% of copper and iron ore. Such their diversity is a consequence of a variety of tectonic structures.
Water resources.
According to water resources, Latin American countries belong to the most water-free in the world.
The Latin American Rivers belong to the pools of the two oceans - the atlantic and quiet, watershed between which the Andes are. The first is mostly plain rivers, including such large water arteries such as Amazon, La Plata, Orinoco, etc., to the second - mostly short mountain rivers. The pool of rivers flowing into the Atlantic Ocean exceeds the pool of the Pacific River Pool 8 times. The most thick river network has the zones of constantly excessive moistening in the equatorial region and the coastal region and the coastal part of the subtropics in the south-east of South America. For shipping, the lowland rivers are mainly suitable. The energy importance of the Latin America's rivers, which have a huge hydropower product. The potential of mountain rivers, plane rivers and constantly wet plains are especially great.
In Latin America there are quite a few lakes of various origin. The biggest is the drying lagun lake Maracaibo. In the desert areas, many lakes turned into salt marshes. Large areas in the area are occupied by swamps and marshy landscapes, mainly timed to the valleys of large rivers, flooded 7-8 months a year.
Plants and animals.
Huge tropical forests are one of the most important wealth of Latin America. Unfortunately, they quickly cut down that, like the extermination of any kinds of plants and animals, threatens a violation of the fragile natural balance. These forests are distinguished by exceptional wealth and variety of flora and fauna. Only in the Amazon basin there are at least 40 thousand species of plants, 1.5 thousand species of birds and 2.5 thousand river fish. Also in rivers are dolphins, electric acne and other amazing creatures. From vegetation, such species like Araucaria Chilean and Brazilian, giant bromelia, xylocarpus (Carap), droplets, fry, chocolate, mahagony, rusty, rosewood trees, launched, and coconut trees, and passionworm, Portulak, "Burning Sword", philodendron. The brightest representatives of the fauna: Alpaca and Vicuni, relatives of Lama (they are valued for fur as chinchillas), Nanda (similar to Bird Ostrich), penguins and seals (living in southern South America), giant ivory turtle. Probably, few know that Latin America is the birthplace of potatoes, so popular in Russia. Also they collect some medicinal plants going abroad. For example, Sarspare River Liana. It is impossible to imagine how difficult the power supply chain here, but you can imagine how fragile the natural and ecological balance is how easy it is to break.
Fuel and energy resources.
Latin America has significant fuel and energy resources: oil (Venezuela, Mexico, Peru, etc.), gas (Bolivia, Venezuela, etc.), coal, uranium. In recent years, hydropoweroreursurs have begun widely. In particular, the construction of the world's largest hydropower complex "ITAYPU" on the Paran River on the border between Paraguay and Brazil. Work is underway to find and master new energy sources. In a number of countries (for example, Mexico) adopted programs for the development of nuclear energy. The experience of Brazil in the use of ethyl alcohol obtained from sugar cane as liquid fuel is widely known.
Climate and agroclimatic resources.
Latin America is located in the subtropical, tropical and subequatorial belts of the northern hemisphere; equatorial belt; Sub-screen, tropical, subtropical and moderate belts of the southern hemisphere. A large influence on the climate is an intersection by its equator. Due to the fact that in the area of \u200b\u200bthe equator is a very large territory, Latin America receives a huge amount of solar energy. This makes the growing season of plants almost year-round and allows to engage in agriculture. For most of the region, hot climate types are characteristic, where average monthly temperatures are greater than +20 ° C, and seasonal climate change is manifested mainly in changing the precipitation mode, not temperatures. Seasonal temperature fluctuations are pronounced only in the extreme north and south of Latin America, taking into subtropical and moderate latitudes (in the capital of Chile Santiago, for example, the average temperature of the warm month +20 ° C, the coldest +8 ° C, and on the fiery ground - Accordingly, +11 and +2 ° C), as well as in mountainous areas.
However, the temperature, as well as humidity depend not only (and sometimes not so much) from the geographic location, but also from the relief and air mass. So, the wet air from the Atlantic (because there is an eastern transfer of air masses), passing through the Andes, gives moisture (in the form of rains), which returns to the plains (with the waters of the mountain rivers), making the climate wet. On the Pacific slope of Equatorial Andes (in Colombia and Ecuador) and the coast adjacent to it, the annual rate of precipitation reaches 10,000 mm, whereas in the Atakama desert - one of the most innocent on the globe is 1-5 mm. If the rainy season continues on the rain on almost all year round, then in the extreme northeast of Brazil, he does not exceed 3-4 months, and on the Pacific coast of Peru and the north chili rains are not annual. In general, at least 20% of the territory of Latin America include insufficient moisture zones. Agriculture depends on artificial irrigation. The same mountains do not give the cold air into the central parts of Latin America from the Pacific Ocean. But it can freely pass here from high latitudes (because the mountains are located meridional), which periodically happens, but this phenomenon is short-term.
Luxurious beaches, a gracious climate, picturesque landscapes - all this is inherent in main central America and especially the islands of West Indies. In economic relations, Central America and West Indies are known in the world, primarily as a region of developed plantation agriculture, in which sugar cane, coffee, pineapples and bananas are of particular importance. An ideal place for growing coffee is the Pacific Piedmont (Nagina's slope) with its fertile volcanic soils and favorable climatic conditions. In Guatemala, coffee grows in the shadow of specially planted trees, it contributes to the greater accumulation of aromatic substances in the grains compared to solar varieties. Approximately the same area grows sugar cane.
Economy.
General characteristics.
The nature of Latin America has to develop, both agriculture and industrial production. At the beginning of my colonial activity, Europeans used extensive territories only as a metro plantation for cattle breeding, that is, they were engaged in agriculture, producing industry minimal meaning. However, it is then actively developing.
Industry.
Today, the industrial appearance of the region is defined by Argentina, Brazil and Mexico ("Big Troika", it accounts for 2/3 of the industrial production of Latin America and provides for the internal production of more than 90% of industrial products consumed in them), as well as Chile, Venezuela, Colombia And Peru. One of the main industries in the region's economy is mining. In the structure of the cost of its products, about 80% fall on fuel (mainly oil), and the remaining approximately 20% - on mining raw materials. Leading positions in the mining industry are occupied by Mexico, Venezuela, Brazil and Argentina, distinguished by a wide range of produced resources. The manufacturing industry has become the most dynamic industry in most continental countries in the region in the last decades. Moreover, its products have noticeably decreased by the share of traditional industries - textile, food, as well as leather and shoe and sewing while increasing the specific gravity of some basic industries producing production goods.
Chemistry and oil refining, ferrous metallurgy, mechanical engineering, production of building materials developed especially dynamically. Today, new industrial Latin American countries (Argentina, Brazil, Mexico) are known not only in the domestic, but also in the international market with their electronics, cars, products of the chemical industry. The sharp development of these countries is associated with the security of natural and human resources and the skillful attraction of foreign technical experience. As for the countries of Central America and the Caribbean, as well as Bolivia, Paraguay and some others, here in the structure of industrial production still prevail the branches of the traditional industry, primarily the food. By the way, this industry in many countries of Latin America has a pronounced export orientation, so the ports grow greatly. The placement of the industry of Latin America countries is characterized mainly by a monocentric structure, in which one center (Argentina, Uruguay, Mexico, Venezuela, Chile) prevails in the industrial production of the country.
Agriculture.
Despite the emerging decline in the share of agriculture in the economy of Latin America, his role is still great. In a number of countries (primarily Central America and the Caribbean), it remains the main sphere of material production, in which the prevailing part of the working-age population is busy. Using the "Green Revolution" methods, major capitalist farms in these countries managed to ensure a significant increase in agriculture and livestock production. The results achieved in these countries are noticeably allocated against the background of the stagnant position of the agricultural sector in Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, etc. At the same time, the lag of agriculture, burdened by semi-feudal remnants in most countries, is particularly significantly due to the continuing rapid growth of the population . Latin America's leading agriculture industry - crop production. In the sowing areas, grain, mainly wheat and corn are dominated. There is an accelerated increase in sown crops, which is associated with high demand for it from animal husbandry, as well as soy - food and aft culture. The animal husbandry accounts for 1/3 of the region's agricultural production.
Transport.
Latin America's transport system is very weak, and in some areas is not developed at all and is one of the main brakes on the way of socio-economic development. The most common type of transport is automotive. Large importance also have railways and water vehicles (river and marine). As the region is located on a large water distance from other continents, the aviation also plays a huge role.
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