Central America

Central AmericaCentral America is part of the land

bridge that lies between the continents of North and South America

It includes seven countries: Belize Guatemala Honduras El Salvador Nicaragua Costa Rica Panama

They are all very mountainous and have two coastlines – one with the Pacific Ocean, the other with the Caribbean Sea

Place: The LandCentral

America extends more than 1,000 miles and measures 300 miles at it widest point

LandformsVolcanic eruptions are part of

life in Central AmericaThere is rugged landscape and

many active volcanoesA chain of volcanic mountains

called the Central Highlands rises like a backbone along most of the region

The volcanic materials have broken down over the years and left fertile soilFarmers grow coffee,

bananas, sugarcane and other crops

ClimateThe climate is mostly

tropicalThe differences

between countries lies in altitude and the location on the continent Example: Mountains

can block the movement of winds and moisture

ClimateIn the Pacific Lowlands, a

tropical savanna climate prevailsTemperatures are warm and rain

is plentiful from May through November

From December to April, the climate is hot and dry

The Caribbean Lowlands have a hot, tropical rain forest climate year-round Hurricanes are common during

the autumn and summer months Hurricanes = fierce storms with

winds of more than 74 mph

The EconomyFarming

There are two kinds of farmers that form the base of the Central American economy: Owners of plantations – large

farms that grow produce for sale, raise coffee, bananas and sugarcane

Subsistence farmers – mostly raise small crops of corn, beans, rice and livestock to feed families. They will sell extra food at marketplaces

The EconomyRain forests

Dense forests offer valuable woods – mahogany, balsa and teak

Workers also tap the sapodilla tree for chichle – a substance used in chewing gum

Scientists use trees and plants for medical research or to make new medicines

Unusual animals found nowhere else on earth also roam among the rain forest plants and trees

The EconomyRain Forests

In the Caribbean lowlands, farmers have cleared rain forest areas to raise crops

Heavy rains cause the soil to erode and lose nutrients

Many earn their living by raising livestock

Many Central Americans are worried about the rapid clearing of the rainforest Costa Rica now has national parks

of rain forests Other countries are controlling

logging and other harmful practices

The EconomyIndustry

There are only a few small industries in the region

Manufacturing really hasn’t developed in Central America

Guatemala and Costa Rica do send crude (unrefined) oil to overseas markets

Costa Rica also exports bauxite – a mineral used to make aluminum

The PeopleInfluences of the Past

Central America has a mix of cultures – just like Mexico

The Maya settled throughout Central America about 250 to 400 BC

After 800 AD, the Maya mysteriously left their cities and scattered

Today, some of their decedents live in Guatemala as well as Mexico

The PeopleInfluences of the Past

In the late 1400s, the Spanish settled in Central America

In the 1500s, the claimed the territory along the Caribbean coast

For the next 300 years, Native Americans were abused and mistreated by the Spanish, but their cultures eventually blended

The British settled in present-day Belize in the 1600s and it eventually went under British control

The British brought enslaved Africans to the region. Currently, Africans are the largest ethnic

group in Belize

The PeopleIndependence

Most Central American countries gained independence by 1821

Panama won independence from Colombia in 1903

The last colony to gain independence was Belize in 1981

Many of the Central American countries continue to fight for the government that best meets their needs

The PeopleThe Population Today

Nearly 35 million people live in the regionGuatemala is the most heavily populated

country in the region with 11.6 millionBelize is the most sparsely populated country

with 200,000 peopleLanguages spoken are Spanish, English

(Belize) and MayanRural living is common – 50% live on farms and

in small towns

GuatemalaMost Guatemalans live in the southern

Central Highlands areaThe culture comes from both Native

American and Spanish influencesApproximately 40% follow a rural way of life

People live in small villages and their clothing reflects where they are from

Ladinos - Guatemalans speak Spanish and practice European ways Most live in cities and work as laborers and

businesspeople

Costa RicaCosta Rica offers one of the highest

standards of living in the world. It also has the highest literacy ratesMost are of Spanish heritageCosta Rica has enjoyed a good

relationship with its neighbors and is relatively stable

Most Costa Ricans live in the cool Central Highlands

Coffee is a large export for the country

PanamaPanama is one of the major crossroads in the worldAcross the country stretches the Panama CanalThe isthmus of Panama separates the Caribbean Sea

and the Pacific OceanIn 1903, the United States helped Panama win its

independence from Colombia and proposed building a canal to link the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans

The canal was finished in 1914 under the control of the United States

In 2000 Panama was given control of the canal zoneMost of the people in Panama live and work close to the

canal