Regions of Latin America Central America The Caribbean South America South America

The Tropical Hemisphere

Caribbean and Central America! The Caribbean Hundreds of islands in the Caribbean Sea, 40 million people; 27 countries. Caribs were a tribe of Native People Caribs were a tribe of Native People. Central America (from north) Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama. 141 million people.

Gulf of Mexico An oval-shaped body of water connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the southern coast of the US, the east coast of Mexico, and northwest Cuba.

New Orleans, Louisiana lies on the Gulf of Mexico. Summer is a celebration of foods and festivals.

Gulf of Mexico Largest marine oil spill in history, caused by an April 20, 2010, explosion on the Deepwater Horizon oil rig—located in the Gulf of Mexico. About 41 miles of the coast of Louisiana.

A girl watches with disbelief as oil comes ashore

Caribbean Sea The water surrounding the Caribbean Islands. The US is to the north, Venezuela and eastern Colombia to the south; Gulf of Mexico and Central America to the west.

The Caribbean Sea can be a wonderful place to visit and participate in fun water activities.

Panama Canal A 48-mile canal dug by the US, completed in 1914, as a shipping route through Central America. The Canal connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. A 48-mile canal dug by the US, completed in 1914, as a shipping route through Central America. The Canal connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Before the Panama Canal, ships from New York had to sail around the southern tip of South America and all the way north to California, a journey of 13,000 miles. Going through the Panama Canal, the journey is only 5000 miles.

How can the Panama Canal support the economy?

Sierra Madre Three mountain ranges in Mexico. Three mountain ranges in Mexico. Sierra means mountain range. Madre means mother. The eastern range runs along Mexico ’ s east coast near the Gulf of Mexico; the western range runs along the Pacific coast; a third range runs along the southwest Pacific coast. Several peaks are higher than 10,000 feet.

Sierra Madre Occidental Sierra Madre de Sur Sierra Madre Oriental

Three Cultures Native People Europeans African people Native People have been living in the Caribbean and Central America for at least 5,000 years. The first Europeans arrived with Christopher Columbus in The first trans-Atlantic shipment of enslaved African people arrived in the Caribbean in These three cultures--Native, European, and African—created the culture of the region. Native PeopleEuropeans Enslaved Africans

Cuba Ninety miles directly south of Florida is Cuba, an island nation 700 miles long. Its population is 11 million. Ninety miles directly south of Florida is Cuba, an island nation 700 miles long. Its population is 11 million. Cuba means abundant growth in the Native Taino language. Columbus landed here in 1492 and claimed the Taino land for Spain. By 1600, almost all the Native People had died from diseases and enslavement. Africans were enslaved and brought to Cuba to work on sugar plantations.

Panama Spanish cargo was carried 50 miles across Panama from Pacific to Atlantic — by enslaved Africans brought by the Spanish to do the heavy work across the jungle. Connecting Central and South America at Colombia, Panama is a small country with 3.4 million people. Legend claims the word panama means abundant fish. Diverse Native groups lived in Panama before Columbus arrived in Spanish cargo was carried 50 miles across Panama from Pacific to Atlantic — by enslaved Africans brought by the Spanish to do the heavy work across the jungle.

Mexico With 111 million people, Mexico is the leader of Central America. Mextili was the legendary home of the Aztec War God. Huge, complex Native cultures, including the Maya and the Aztec, thrived in this region before the Spanish claimed it as New Spain in Mexico City has nine million inhabitants.

Haiti Haiti is the western third of the island of Hispaniola, just southeast of Cuba. Haiti is the western third of the island of Hispaniola, just southeast of Cuba. Ayiti is the Native Taino word for high mountains. Ten million people live in this country on land that is one-fourth the size of Cuba. Columbus visited Haiti, and it became a French sugar colony in Over 95% of the people of Haiti descend from African slaves. People speak French and Haitian Creole.