Across
- 2. A tropical _____ is a broadleaf evergreen forest found in hot and wet regions near the equator.
- 4. one of the most important commercial farming crops in Latin America
- 6. The _____ River is the world's second longest river.
- 7. In an El Nino year, the weather on the Pacific Coast of North and South America gets _____; at the same time, weather on the other side of the Pacific gets drier.
- 10. Depending on where they form, tropical cyclones are called _____, typhoons, or cyclones.
- 11. _____development means finding ways to use resources without using them up.
- 12. Ancient civilizations that developed in Latin America include the Maya, the _____, and the Incas.
- 16. Between the 1500s and 1800, _____ and Portugal took over most of Latin America.
- 19. The curving pattern of wind and ocean currents caused by Earth's rotation is called the _____ effect.
- 21. the scientific study of climate and weather patterns
- 24. a community of all the living things in an area and the environment in which they live
- 25. Hurricanes need _____ ocean water to keep them going.
- 29. a form of tourism that brings people to unique ecosystems while trying to avoid damage to these special places
- 31. type of farming carried out mainly to provide food for farm families, with little surplus for sale to others
- 34. When great destruction or loss of life occurs, and extreme weather event is called a natural _____.
- 35. the variety of plants and animals living in one area, or on Earth
- 36. a narrow strip of land that links two larger landmasses
- 37. Warm air and water tend to rise because they are less _____ than cooler air and water.
- 38. a long, narrow stretch of land that is surrounded by water on three sides
Down
- 1. Many of the mountains that run through Central America are active _____.
- 3. removing or clearing away the trees from a forest; this is often done to clear land for farming or ranching
- 4. The most important crops grown by subsistence farmers in Latin America are _____, potatoes, and beans.
- 5. In general, warm air and water currents flow from the _____ to the poles; cool air and water currents flow from the poles to the equator.
- 8. Rainforests have been called the "_____ of the Earth" because of the important role they play in the carbon-oxygen cycle.
- 9. The wall of water that is pushed ashore by a storm is called storm _____; it is the most destructive feature of a hurricane.
- 10. Weather is caused by interactions among, _____, air, and water.
- 13. the most important industry in the Caribbean islands
- 14. Problems that continue to face Latin Americans countries today include _____, poor schools, and unstable governments.
- 15. The mountains of Costa Rica are home to a rare ecosystem known as a _____ forest.
- 17. The _____ rainforest is the world's largest rainforest and is home to more types of plants and animals than any other place on Earth.
- 18. The main geographic feature of the western coast of South America are the _____ Mountains.
- 20. type of farming that involves raising crops for sale, often on large farms
- 22. The term _____ weather refers to severe or unusual weather conditions, such as hurricanes, tornadoes, or blizzards.
- 23. the calm spot at the center of a hurricane
- 24. a warm ocean current that flows off the west coast of South America every few years; such an event changes weather patterns around the world and may also cause extreme weather in some regions
- 26. The swapping of animals, plants, and diseases between Europe and the Americas is known as the _____ Exchange.
- 27. a bowl-shaped depression, or hollow, in Earth's surface
- 28. This region is called Latin America because most of its people speak Spanish or _____; both are modern languages based on Latin.
- 30. the replanting of trees in a formerly forested area by people or by nature
- 32. The reason that Latin America has so many climates is because it spans a huge range of _____ and has a wide range of altitudes.
- 33. A tropical _____ is the first stage of a hurricane's development.