Central America Belize Guatemala El SalvadorHonduras Nicaragua Costa RicaPanama

Central America What are the 7 countries in Central America?

A) The Land Land bridge for N.A. & S.A. 7 Countries *From biggest to smallest* Nicaragua (#98) Honduras (#103) Guatemala (#107) Panama (#118) Costa Rica (#130) Belize (#152) El Salvador (#153) Most countries have 2 coastlines. Mostly Native American and Spanish Cultural heritage

Central America Central America with the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean.

1) Land Of Central America 1,000 miles long from North to South Exists between Mexico and S. America Caribbean Sea borders on the east of Central America. Pacific Ocean borders on the west of Central America.

2) Landforms Rugged landscape and many active volcanoes. Lots of volcanic mts. Rich, fertile soil Farmers grow coffee, bananas, sugarcane, and other crops for exports. 3 landforms- 1) Central Highlands 2) Pacific Lowlands 3) Caribbean Lowlands

Where would this be grown? You know how to spell it. B-A-N-A-N-A- S

3) The Climate Mostly Tropical Altitude & Location determine climate. Central Highlands has mts., & highland areas, it is dry cool year round. Pacific Lowlands has Tropical Savanna climate, warm and rain in March-Nov. and hot and dry in Dec-Apr. Caribbean Lowlands has Tropical Rainforest climate year round. It has 100 inches of rain a year, also lots of wind. Hurricanes are common in this region.

Hurricanes Hurricanes happen frequently in the Caribbean Sea.

B) The Economy of Central America

B) The Economy Fertile Soil and Rainforests are most important resources. Farming-2 types 1) Plantations- Lots of them in C.A. They grow coffee, bananas, and sugarcane. Export these goods to U.S., Western Europe and other parts of the world. 2) Subsistence Farming-Raise corn, beans, rice and livestock for family reasons

Economy Wouldn’t you like to have this money right now. This is probably enough money to get you an A in Geography class.

2) Rainforest Offer valuable woods (mahogany,balsa, teak) Sapodilla tree- if you tap it you get chicle (vocab word) They use trees and plants for new medicines. Trying to preserve rainforests. Farmers want to destroy rainforest to grow more crops.

Rainforest in Central America Rainforest in Costa Rica

Economic Ranks/Exports/Poverty line Country Rank Main Exports Pop. Below pov.line Belize: #185 (Sugar, Bananas) Pop: 41% Costa Rica: #93 (Bananas, Pineapple) Pop: 25% El Salvador: #99 (Coffee, Sugar, Gold) Pop: 37% Guatemala: #81 (Coffee, Sugar, Petr.) Pop: 54% Honduras: #106 (Coffee, Shrimp, Cigars) Pop: 60% Nicaragua: #117 (Coffee, Beef, Gold) Pop: 43% Panama: #92 (Gold, Bananas,Shrimp) Pop: 26% *Tourism is a main way many of these countries make money as well!

C) The People Of Central America

Influences of the Past The Olmec settled around B.C. Late 1400’s and early 1500’s the Spanish claimed the territory. Native Americans were forced to work on plantations by the Spanish. Eventually, the cultures blended together.

Independence Most countries gained independence by U.S. helped Panama gain independence from Colombia. Belize gained independence from U.K. in 1981.

People/Culture Today About 45 million people live in C.A. Most populated country is Guatemala in C.A. Belize is the least populated country in C.A. Gov’t= 6 of the 7 countries have a federal republic gov’t. Belize has a parliamentary democracy.

People/Culture (con’t) Main Language: Spanish Main Religion: Roman Catholic Life Expectancy: Ranges from 68.4 years (Belize) to 79.0 years (Costa Rica) Literacy Rate: Ranges from 77% (Belize) to 96.5% (Costa Rica)

U.S and the Panama Canal A group of US business executives began working on a canal across Nicaragua in (Ran out of $) During Spanish-American War in 1898, U.S. Navy sent battleship Oregon from S.F. to Cuba (13,000 miles around tip of S.A) With canal trip 4,600 miles US Secretary of State signed a canal treaty with a Colombian representative. Initial payment of 10 million and 250,000 annually. Col. Legislature said no, not enough $. U.S. told Panama to revolt from Colombia (11/3) and did becoming its own country 3 days later.

Panama Canal continued U.S. said it would protect Panama from Colombia if it could build and control the Panama Canal U.S. gov’t took over 1914 the Panama Canal was complete (cost 380 million) U.S. gave Panama an initial payment of $10 million, plus 250,000 annually beginning in Plus we guaranteed their independence as a country Panama now controls it (50% of people work on canal.

D) Countries at a Glance

Belize Territorial disputes between the UK and Guatemala delayed the independence of Belize until Divided into 6 districts Main language- English (Official) and Spanish Main religion- Roman Catholic Population- 347,000 (#178) Life Expectancy years (#162) Gov’t- Parliamentary Democracy

Costa Rica In 1821, Costa Rica became one of several Central American provinces that jointly declared their independence from Spain. Divided into 7 provinces Main language- Spanish (Official), English Main religion- Roman Catholic Population- 4.8 million (#124) Life Expectancy years (#58) Gov’t- Federal Republic

El Salvador A 12-year civil war, which cost about 75,000 lives, was brought to a close in 1992 when the government and leftist rebels signed a treaty that provided for military and political reforms. Divided into 14 departments Main language- Spanish Main religion- Roman Catholic Population- 6,141,350 (#110) Life Expectancy years (#119) Gov’t- Federal Republic

Guatemala During the second half of the 20th century, it experienced a variety of military and civilian governments, as well as a 36-year guerrilla war. In 1996, the government signed a peace agreement formally ending the internal conflict, which had left more than 200,000 people dead and had created, by some estimates, about 1 million refugees. Divided into 22 departments Main language- Spanish Main religion- Roman Catholic Pop.-14,918,999 (#71) Gov’t- Federal Republic Life Expectancy years (#145)

Honduras Once part of Spain's vast empire in the New World, Honduras became an independent nation in The country was devastated by Hurricane Mitch in 1998 Divided into 18 departments Main language- Spanish Main religion- Roman Catholic Pop.-8,746,673 (#94) Gov’t- Federal Republic Life Expectancy- 71 years (#150)

Nicaragua The Pacific coast of Nicaragua was settled as a Spanish colony from Panama in the early 16th century. Independence from Spain was declared in 1821 and the country became an independent republic in Recent elections have been marred by widespread irregularities. Divided into 15 departments & 2 autonomous regions Main language- Spanish Main religion- Roman Catholic Pop.-5,907,881 (#111) Gov’t- Federal Republic Life Expectancy years (#134)

Panama In October 2006, Panamanians approved an ambitious plan (estimated to cost $5.3 billion) to expand the Canal. The project, which began in 2007 and could double the Canal's capacity, is expected to be completed in Divided into 10 provinces & 3 territories Main language- Spanish Main religion- Roman Catholic Pop.-3,657,024 (#130) Gov’t- Federal Republic Life Expectancy years (#56)