GEOGRAPHY 321: GEOGRAPHY OF LATIN AMERICAN

EXAM I STUDY GUIDE

SECTION I: 60 points: Map Questions

SECTION II: 60 points:Locations, definitions, and terms

SECTION III: 80points:Essay (2 questions: 40 points each)

200 TOTAL POINTS

SECTION I: Map of Latin America

Know locations that we have discussed in class, in the articles, and videos, as well as current events locations

SECTION II: Multiple Choice – Concepts, Ideas, Themes, and Terms

I’m not looking for you to memorize definitions, but to be able to apply the terms, concepts, themes, and ideas and recognize examples of these terms, concepts, themes, and ideas

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INTRODUCTION: Physical vs. Cultural (Human) Geography

MYTHS OF LATIN AMERICA

Columbus:

  • Questions of birth, death, who he was
  • Where in the future U.S. did he visit?
  • First Voyage:
  • Origin of name of “West Indies”
  • Landed in Bahamas

Latin America:

  • Meanings of “Latin” and “America”
  • Why called “Latin America?”
  • Problems with defining Latin America
  • Regions:
  • Mexico
  • Middle America vs. Central America
  • South America
  • United States?

Puerto Rico: Possibilities (+’s and –‘s)

  • Commonwealth
  • Independence
  • Statehood
  • U.S. Point of View
  • Why do most Puerto Ricans prefer to maintain a Commonwealth status over the others?

Physical Geography

The “Tropics:” Uruguay?

Regions:

  • Mexico
  • Frontera
  • Arid Northwest
  • Baja
  • Central Mesa
  • Yucatan
  • D.F.
  • Middle America
  • Mainland
  • Rimland

-Coastland

-Isthmus

-Island: Caribbean

  • Greater Antilles
  • Lesser Antilles

Windward Islands

Leeward Islands

  • South America
  • Caribbean
  • Guianas
  • Andean Regions
  • Amazonia
  • Southern Cone

Physical Features:

  • Rio Grande / Rio Bravo
  • Plate Tectonics
  • Volcanoes

-Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt

-Formation of many Caribbean Islands: Montserrat

  • Tectonic Plates:

-Caribbean Plate

-Cocos Plate

-Nazca Plate

-South American Plate

-Pacific Plate

  • Impact on Land:

-Andes Mountains

-Sea of Cortez

-Lake Nicaragua

  • “Ring of Fire”

Hurricanes

  • Major Wind / Ocean Currents
  • Easterlies: Along Equator
  • Westerlies: Mid-Latitudes
  • Gyres

-North Atlantic Gyre (clockwise)

  • Canary Current
  • North Equatorial Current
  • Gulf Stream

-South Pacific Gyre (counter-clockwise)

  • What determines wind / water currents?
  • Horse Latitudes: where and why
  • Doldrums: where and why
  • ITCZ: where and why

-Hurricanes(E) and Chubascos (W)

  • How hurricanes form
  • Tropical Wave
  • Tropical Depression
  • Tropical Storm
  • Categories I thru V
  • Relationship of hurricanes paths with gyres / wind and water currents

CLIMATOLOGY

Climate vs. Weather

El Niño / La Niña

  • ENSO
  • Role of Peruvian / Humboldt Current
  • How El Niño / La Niñaworks
  • Temperatures of Current:
  • Normal
  • During El Niño
  • During La Niña
  • What are the “rules” that define an El Niño or La Niña event?
  • What is happening right now—and how do we know?

ClimatesTypes (Characteristics and Examples)

  • Tropical Rainforest: Definition, location, and examples (Amazon)
  • Emergents
  • Canopy
  • Understory
  • Forest Floor
  • Tropical Savanna: Definition, location, and examples
  • Cerrado
  • Why more threatened than the Amazon?
  • What are the greatest threats to the Cerrado?
  • What is the relationship between decreased deforestation of the Amazon and the increased deforestation of the Cerrado and the price of soybeans?
  • Arid Desert: Definition, location, and examples
  • Rain Shadow
  • Arid Steppe: Definition, location, and examples
  • Humid Subtropical: Definition, location, and examples
  • Mediterranean: Definition and location
  • 40° Latitude
  • Wine industry
  • Marine West Coast:Definition and location
  • >40° Latitude
  • Highland / Alpine: Altiplano
  • Altitudinal / Vertical Zonation: Know changes in climate, plant, and animal varieties)
  • Snowline
  • Tierra Helada
  • Tierra Fria
  • Tierra Templada
  • Tierra Caliente

Coffee

  • Which climate / regions?
  • Brazil: #1 producer
  • Differences: free trade vs. “fair trade” vs. “FairTrade™” vs. farmer direct
  • Pros / Cons / Limitations of each
  • Impacts of consumers on coffee growers

“PRE-HISTORICAL” GEOGRAPHY

Three Historical Periods:

  • Pre-Columbian Period
  • Colonial Period
  • Post-Colonial Period

Theories of Indigenous Arrivals in the Americas

  • Beringia
  • Native Origin Cosmologies or “Mythologies”
  • Pre-Siberian Theories: Thor Heyerdahl

Indigenous Populations pre-1492:

  • Estimate?
  • Issues with choosing any particular estimate

Mesoamerica:

  • Connection between native civilizations and climate
  • Civilizations (who, where, cultural centers)
  • Olmec: San Lorenzo
  • Maya: Chichen Itza, Tulum, Tikal, Copan
  • Teotihuacán:Teotihuacán
  • Zapotec: Monte Albán, Oaxaca
  • Mogollon
  • Aztec: Tenochtitlan (“Altepetl”)
  • Arawak(Taíno) and Carib
  • Inca: Cuzco, Machu Picchu

COLUMBUS DAY

  • What’s the controversy all about?
  • What are the arguments for celebrating Columbus Day?
  • What are the arguments against celebrating Columbus Day?
  • What is your opinion of celebrating Columbus Day—and why do you feel that way?

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SECTION III: Essay (80 points)

Essay questions will include most of or all of the components of twothe following questions

  1. Discuss the physiography (physical geography) of Latin America—particularly the many regions that are susceptible to natural hazards and why.For example, which tectonic plates are the most active in Latin America—and why? What and where are the “Ring of Fire,” the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt, and the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ)? Then, identify the one (1) country in Latin America that you feel is situated in the most precarious situation in terms of ALL three of these natural hazards (hurricanes, earthquakes, and volcanoes). Then, identify the specific causesof why the country you selected is prone to each type of natural hazard (hurricanes, earthquakes, and volcanoes) for the country you chose. Simply stating that this country is located in a place with many hurricanes, earthquakes, and volcanoes is not going to get you the points you want!
  1. The mysteries of El Niño / La Niña still puzzle climatologists; yet some of its elements are understood. Explain what ENSO is and identify and describe the role of the majorocean current involved in the formation of an El Niño / La Niña event. Then describe how the phenomenon of how El Niño / La Niña works. For example, what is the normal general temperature of this major ocean current and how does it change in direction and temperature during both El Niño / La Niña events? Is planet Earth currently experiencing an El Niño or La Niña event, or neither? Explain how one can determine whether or not an El Niño / La Niña event is occurring.
  1. Discuss Puerto Rico’s current political status with the United States. Explain the three (3) predominant views of what Puerto Rico’s status could be in the future including the advantages and disadvantages of each. In your opinion, which option do you feel is best for Puerto Rico and which is best for the United States and why? Support your opinion.
  1. Ocean and wind currents have played and continue to play a pivotal role in defining Latin America’s geography—both climatologically and culturally. For example, how do wind currents relate to the trajectory of hurricanes? Specifically, where do they come from, what currents do they follow for their entire “life” as a hurricane, and what causes them to eventually fade away—even if they never reach landfall? In addition, using the voyage of Columbus as an example, explain how wind and ocean currents impacted his route to the Americas.
  1. We know most of Latin America lies within the tropics. However, not all locations in the tropics of Latin America are “tropical” in terms of their climate. In other words, not all locations in the tropics are hot and humid. First, define what the “tropics” are (NOTE: identifying it as the area on the globe that lies between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn won’t get you the points you’re looking for!). Then, provide three (3) NON-TROPICAL climate types (humid continental, for example) found within the tropics of Latin America, a specific locational example of that climate type (such as Eau Claire within the humid continental climatic zone), and the explanation for how this climate type can exist within the tropics even though its climate is not “tropical.”
  1. As we know, the term “fair trade” is often misunderstood. First, explain the primary differences between “FairTrade™,” “fair trade,” “free trade,” and farmer direct trade and identify two (2) advantages for each method of trade. Now, pretend you are a small coffee farmer in Latin America. Provide three (3) reasons why you, as a small farmer, would prefer one of these systems of trade over all the others. Then, present three (3) reasons why it would be difficult for a small farmer such as yourself to choose the system of trade you selected. Ultimately, do you think the future looks better or worse for small coffee growers in Latin America due to fair trade? Support your opinion.
  1. Quinoa has been a staple food of the Inca for centuries. Yet, ironically, indigenous populations of the Andes are becoming less able to acquire this “superfood.” First, give an example of the “irony” between quinoa, local populations, and its general inaccessibility by these local populations. Related, providethree (3) reasons why natives (and others) in Andean regions of South America are struggling to acquire quinoa. Then provide three (3) explanations for the “allure” of quinoa to non-Andean countries and businesses—such as the United States. Finally, identify and BRIEFLY explain three (3) solutions that could perhaps assist Native communities in providing improved access to quinoa and quickly support your opinion as to which of those options would be the most effective and why.
  1. We have talked about Christopher Columbus throughout the semester. And, we know that Columbus Day is celebrated differently in many parts of the Americas. First, what is the current controversy surrounding the holiday of Columbus Day? Second, why was Columbus Day created—and by what ethnicity? Third, identify three (3) questionable geographic elements (issues of “where”) of Columbus’ life, death, and / or his voyage that cloud who he was and why he should be celebrated—particularly in the U.S. On the other hand, provide two (2) critiques as to why Columbus Day should notbe changed to Indigenous Peoples Day. Then, in your opinion, do you think the U.S. and / or Latin America should celebrate Columbus Day, Indigenous Peoples Day, or something else—why or why not? Support your response.
  1. Explain what LiDAR is and what makes it different from other forms of “remote sensing” technology such as radar, aerial photography, or satellite imagery. Why is LiDAR finding such great usefulness in Latin America (as opposed to the United States, the Sahara desert, etc.), in particular? Identify three (3) advantages and disadvantages for its usage in Latin America. Finally, regarding the use of LiDAR to “discover” ancient indigenous sites to expand knowledge, etc. do you think the use of LiDAR is a “colonial” practice? Provide three (3) reasons why think using LiDAR to study ancient indigenous sites in Latin America is or is not a “colonial” practice. Support your opinion.

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