Questions and Answers
What is the Caribbean Sea?
What does the Baja Peninsula extend from?
Mexico's northwestern border with the United States
What separates Baja California from the mainland of Mexico?
Gulf of California
What are the two major ranges that make up the Sierra Madre?
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What is the Mexican Plateau?
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What is the Gulf of Mexico?
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What geographical feature divides the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico?
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What are the Greater Antilles?
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What is the Lesser Antilles?
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What does the Isthmus of Panama connect?
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What is Cape Horn known for?
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What are the Falkland Islands?
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What mountain system extends along the Pacific coast of South America?
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What region extends from eastern Venezuela across Northern Brazil?
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What is the Brazilian Highlands known for?
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What is the Mato Grosso Plateau?
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What is Patagonia?
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What is the Orinoco River primarily located?
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What is the Amazon River known for?
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What river forms the natural boundary between Argentina and Uruguay?
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What is the Rio de la Plata known for?
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What is the Parana River's origin?
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What river rises in the Bolivian hills and empties into the Parana River?
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What is Lake Maracaibo known for?
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What is Lake Titicaca known for?
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What is Lake Nicaragua known for?
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What is the Atacama Desert known for?
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What are the Llanos?
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What is the Gran Chaco?
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What are the Pampas?
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What is Campeche Bay?
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What is the Gulf of Honduras?
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Study Notes
Caribbean Geography
- Caribbean Sea: Part of the Atlantic Ocean, bordered by the West Indies, South America, and Central America.
- Gulf of Mexico: A large body of warm saltwater that borders the southeastern United States and eastern Mexico.
Peninsula and Bay Features
- Baja Peninsula: A long, narrow peninsula extending south from Mexico's northwestern border with the United States.
- Campeche Bay: Located along the curve of Mexico and the Yucatan Peninsula.
- Gulf of California: Body of water situated between Baja California and mainland Mexico.
- Gulf of Honduras: Gulf positioned directly north of Honduras.
Mountain Ranges and Plateaus
- Sierra Madre: Mountain ranges in Mexico, consisting of the Oriental (Eastern) and Occidental (Western) Ranges, merging into the Sierra Madre del Sur.
- Mexican Plateau: A large, flat region located at the center of Mexico.
- Guiana Highlands: A region of plains, high plateaus, and low mountains spanning eastern Venezuela to northern Brazil and surrounding countries.
- Brazilian Highlands: Highlands covering half of Brazil, rich in farmland, particularly for coffee cultivation.
- Mato Grosso Plateau: A plateau in central Brazil, part of the Brazilian Highlands.
Major Landforms in South America
- Andes Mountains: A mountain system over 5,000 miles long along the Pacific coast of western South America.
- Patagonia: An arid region located between the Andes and the South Atlantic, primarily in Argentina.
Rivers of Significance
- Amazon River: The second longest river globally, running about 4,000 miles from west to east and emptying into the Atlantic Ocean.
- **Orinoco River:**Flows primarily in Venezuela, extending over 1,500 miles north to the Atlantic.
- Parana River: A major river system in central South America, originating in southern Brazil and traveling around 3,000 miles.
- Uruguay River: Forms a natural boundary between Argentina and Uruguay.
- Rio de la Plata: A river that creates the border between Uruguay and Argentina, serving as a key shipping route.
- Paraguay River: Rises in the Bolivian hills and drains into the Parana River.
Lakes of Note
- Lake Maracaibo: The largest lake in South America, located in Venezuela, known for its rich oil deposits.
- Lake Titicaca: Situated between Bolivia and Peru, it is the highest navigable lake in the world.
- Lake Nicaragua: The largest lake in Central America, home to the world's only freshwater shark and swordfish.
Deserts and Plains
- Atacama Desert: Recognized as one of the driest regions in the world, located in northern Chile.
- Llanos: Fertile plains found in the inland areas of Colombia and Venezuela.
- Gran Chaco: A dry plain extending across Argentina, Paraguay, and Bolivia, characterized by jungle and swamps.
- Pampas: Vast grassy plains located in northern Argentina.
Island Groups
- Greater Antilles: The larger islands of the West Indies, including Cuba, Hispaniola, Jamaica, and Puerto Rico.
- Lesser Antilles: A chain of islands extending from east of Puerto Rico to the coast of South America, featuring numerous small islands and cays.
Notable Locations
- Yucatan Peninsula: A broad lowland that separates the Caribbean Sea from the Gulf of Mexico.
- Cape Horn: The southernmost point of South America.
- Falkland Islands: A British territory consisting of over 100 islands, previously subject to a conflict between Argentina and Britain in 1982.
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Description
Test your knowledge on the geographical features of the Caribbean and Mexico. This quiz covers important bodies of water, peninsulas, bays, and mountain ranges within these regions. See how well you understand the landscapes that shape these vibrant areas.
