Exploring Latin America

From Mexico to the tip of South America, Latin America features varied scenery, including deserts, grasslands, plains, and mountains. Some are extreme: The Andes is the world's longest mountain range, and the Atacama Desert has not had rain for over 400 years! Latin America's remarkable landscape is an essential factor in its surprisingly different climatic zones. This insightful volume offers a comprehensive tour of the many vibrant countries of this fascinating region, highlighting its most striking areas in vivid photographs. It is also an inviting exploration of geography, natural resources, and climate, components of the national social studies curriculum standards.

This book authoritatively recounts the main events in the history of Latin America and highlights the men and women who played key roles in the establishment and growth of the region. Though long inhabited only by various Amerindian tribes, Latin America was transformed by the arrival of Europeans, who built colonial empires across the region beginning in the sixteenth century. Much of Latin America secured its independence in the early nineteenth century, but the new countries were plagued by political and economic instability, some of which continues today. Readers will get a full picture of Latin America?s complex history and an understanding of how it affects the present-day region.

This book covers the major drivers of the Latin American region's economy, including exports of agricultural products, petroleum and minerals, and manufactured goods, along with the service and tourism industries. Despite recent improvements, the Latin American economy remains dependent on commodity exports to the West, presenting a challenge to the region's long-term future. When used in the classroom, this resource provides readers with the tools they need to analyze concepts in economics and how they affect the countries of Latin America.

"This title covers the major drivers of the Latin American regions economy, including exports of agricultural products, petroleum and minerals, and manufactured goods, along with the service and tourism industries"--Amazon.com.

Explores the cultures and people of countries in Latin American, from Mexico to the tip of South America.

"Latin America's population is estimated to be well over half a billion people, almost one-tenth of the world's population, living in thirty-three different countries and territories. This engrossing book explores the people of South America, Central America, Mexico, and the West Indies and provides extensive detail on their diverse cultures. An authoritative overview of the varied and rich traditions of each of these regions is presented, as well as a thorough discussion of the religions, languages, and ethnicities of Latin Americans.".

Looks at the history of Latin America.

Examines the climates of Latin American countries from Mexico to the tip of South America, including deserts, grasslands, plains, and mountains.