2

Figure 2.0
Figure 2.0

Overview

Latin America is a region of the world that has gone through a considerable amount of political, social, and economic changes as a result of colonialism, imperialism, and world war. Visitors to the region will want to pay close attention to differences in economic freedoms, while religion and cuisine will be fairly consistent from location to location.

Latin America is a region in the Americas where Romance languages are predominant (except French Canada), and it consists of twenty countries which cover an area that stretches from the northern border of Mexico to the southern tip of South America.  Generally speaking, Latin America consists of Central America and South America.

Central America refers to the seven states south of Mexico: Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama. Panama borders the South American country of Colombia. The Pacific Ocean borders Central America to the west, and the Caribbean Sea borders these countries to the east. While most of the republics have both a Caribbean and a Pacific coastline, Belize has only a Caribbean coast, and El Salvador has only a Pacific coast.

South America is the realm consisting of the southern portion of the New World. This realm includes the entire continent of South America, which is smaller in physical area than North America. As a continent, South America is larger in physical area than Europe, Antarctica, or Australia, but is smaller in physical area than Africa or Asia. The South American continent is located farther east than North America, and is smaller in physical area. Almost the entire landmass of South America lies to the east of the same meridian that runs through Miami, Florida. The Atlantic Ocean borders the continent to the east, and the Pacific Ocean borders the continent on the west. The narrow Isthmus of Panama creates a natural break between the South American continent and its neighbors to the north. The Caribbean Sea creates the northern boundary.

Map of Latin America

Figure 2.1
Figure 2.1

Suggested Research Links for Latin America

In this section you will find website links to additional resources to help enhance your research. Your research for your assignments are not limited to the resources that we provide. Please expand your research above and beyond this list.

CIA World Factbook

Lonely Planet – South America

Nomadic Matt – South America

  • http://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-guides/
  • Nomadic Matt is a travel blog and website that was created by the author of the New York Times best-selling book, How to Travel the World on $50 a Day. This site expresses how to travel on a budget.

Rough Guides – South America

Travel and Leisure Online

  • http://www.travelandleisure.com/
  • This travel site offers world news, travel tips, guides and information on the top destinations of the world. This resource also includes articles, videos, guides to lodging and restaurants.

Weather and Climate

Latin American Music

BBC Online

Wandering Earl – Travel Blog

Eating Around the World

Vagabrothers

Travel Channel

 

License

Globe Trekker Copyright © 2016 by Mike Bobbe, Rachel Haemig-Lehman, Jeffrey Hedlund, Sarah Marier, Jackie Polloway. All Rights Reserved.

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