1. Central America and the Caribbean

2. Central America
Located on the continent of North America, Central America is an isthmus that links North America to South America.
Boundaries:
north – Mexico
south – South America
east – Caribbean Sea
west – Pacific Ocean

3. Countries and Capitals of Central America
Belize – Belmopan
Guatemala – Guatemala City
El Salvador – San Salvador
Honduras - Tegucigalpa
Nicaragua – Managua
Costa Rica – San Jose
Panama – Panama City

4. Physical Features of Central America
Central America is very mountainous. They are part of a large horseshoe-shaped band that follows the edge of the Pacific Ocean, called the Ring of Fire.
The faults (weak points) that occur along the Ring of Fire produce earthquakes and active volcanoes.
Much of the area is covered by dense vegetation called a tropical rain forest.

5. Ring of Fire

6. . . . Physical Features (con’t)
Central Highlands (Sierra de Chiapas) – curves like a backbone through inland Central America. It consists of a chain of active volcanic mountains.
Lowlands – coastal plains located on either side of the Central Highlands:
west – Pacific Lowlands
east – Caribbean Lowlands

7. . . . Physical Features (con’t)
The Peten – a low, limestone plateau that covers the northern third of Guatemala and lies in the southern part of the Yucatan Peninsula. Much of the tropical rainforests here have never been cleared.

8. Climate
All of Central America lies in the tropics and elevation effects the climate:
Tierra Caliente – lowland – warm climate
Tierra Templada -middle land –
temperate climate
Tierra Fria – higher land – cool climate
Pacific Coast Lowlands have tropical climate with a long dry season that lasts six months without rain. The other six months are rainy, with short, but often heavy, showers nearly every day.
Caribbean Coast Lowlands have a rainy tropical climate year round with a brief dry season.

9. Natural Resources
Central America’s economy is centered around agricultural products due to the tropical climate and rich soil.
Bananas, sugar cane, coffee, cotton

10. Economy
This region does support light manufacturing, tourism and mining of gold and silver.
Hydroelectric power is produced in some areas.
The 51 mile-long Panama Canal is a big contributor of world trade allowing 12,000 ships to travel through a year.

11. The Panama Canal
1903- The US & Panama signed a treaty to build a canal across Panama and therefore linking the Atlantic & Pacific Oceans.
Building began in 1904 and was completed in 1914.

12. The Caribbean Islands (West Indies)
These Islands are a group of archipelagos separating the Atlantic Ocean from the Caribbean Sea.
These thousands of islands form an arc for more than 2000 miles beginning off the coast of SE Florida to the north coast of Venezuela.

13. People
Carib – Native Americans who first settled the Caribbean Islands
Archbishop Oscar Romero – missionary who was assassinated in 1980 while saying Mass in San Salvador

15. Three Kinds of Islands Continental Islands: Greater Antilles - Cuba,
Hispaniola (Haiti & Dominican
Republic), Jamaica, Puerto Rico;
Trinidad
Volcanic Islands:
Lesser Antilles (smaller islands to the south of Puerto Rico) -Virgin Islands, Leeward and Windward Islands
Limestone Islands:
Bahamas

16. Climate and the Economy
The warm tropical climate supports agriculture and tourism, the two main economic activities of the islands.
Sugar cane is the most important agricultural product. Other important products are bananas, coconuts, mangos, citrus fruits, cacao & coffee.
Trade Winds bring cool air from the Atlantic Ocean.
The islands are threatened often by hurricanes.

17. Bahamas

18. Bahamas from space

19. The Beach

20. Warm Blue Water