Questions & Answers: Geography - Central and South America

Briefly describe the geographic realm of South America.
The geographic realm of South America is made up of four regions: Brazil, the Northeastern countries, the West, and the Southern Cone.
South America and Central America are often collectively referred to as Latin America, due to the enduring cultural and social influences of former Spanish and Portuguese colonial presences in these areas. These influences are most visible in the languages, architecture, music, and visual arts of the peoples of South America. Roman Catholicism and traditional systems relating to land ownership, also transmitted from European countries, continue to be major factors in the evolution of South American societies. In addition, the cultural practices and beliefs of Native Americans have been and continue to be vital shaping forces in the realm.

Briefly describe the geographic realm of Central America.
The geographic realm of Central America, which is sometimes referred to as Middle America, covers the territory between southern North America and the boundary between Panama and Colombia. The exact demarcations of the realm vary from source to source; however, the economic subregion recognized by the United Nations includes all mainland states of North America south of the U.S.-Mexico border in the realm. Basically, this definition counts Mexico and Belize as members of the Central America realm, while other definitions assign these countries to the North American realm. Due to the influence of Spanish and Portuguese colonialism in Central America, this realm and South America are often jointly referred to as Latin America. Central America is divided into four regions: Mexico, the seven states of Central America (Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama), the larger islands of the Caribbean (the Greater Antilles), and the smaller islands of the Caribbean (the Lesser Antilles).

Describe the general economic geography of South America.
The economic geography of South America is characterized by high levels of regional disparity. In many of the realm’s countries (such as Brazil, Bolivia, and Venezuela), the richest 20% of the population may control over 60% of the nation’s wealth, while the poorest 20% may own less than 5% of that wealth. Although several South American nations have become involved in the mining of oil, coal, and valuable minerals in high amounts, the realm’s main economic focus is agriculture. The South American realm is unusual, because subsistence farming and commercial farming exist side by side; generally, a geographic realm is dominated by one or the other. Commercial farmers in this area tend to be involved in cattle ranching, wheat farming, grain farming (in a “Corn Belt” zone similar to that in the United States), or plantation-type agriculture. Commercial agricultural endeavors tend to be located near the coasts of the South American continent, with small pockets of activity in the interior. Subsistence-level farming takes place on all other arable land.

Describe the general economic geography of Central America.
The economic geography of Central America includes the least developed territories in the Americas, with the exception of Mexico. Under the Mainland-Rimland framework, Central America is divided into a Euro-Amerindian Mainland (made up of mainland Middle America from Mexico to Panama, excluding parts of the Caribbean coast) and a Euro-African rimland (consisting of the coastal zone and the Caribbean islands). Economic activity on the Mainland has historically been oriented around haciendas (privately-owned estates maintained more for prestige and self-sufficiency than maximum production), and is therefore less dependent on trade with other nations. Governmental and social pressures have led to the forced specialization of productive activity in or the parceling out of haciendas in this area. The Rimland’s economy has traditionally focused on plantation production, characterized by efficient production of one crop specifically for export and the importation of labor. The Rimland’s economy is thus more dependent on the fluctuating global market. Plantation systems, like hacienda systems, continue to metamorphose under internal and external pressures; still, their effects remain visible in the region.