Central America and The Central America and The Caribbean Caribbean

Natural Environments of this area:Natural Environments of this area:

Central Americais a isthmus thatlinks North and South America.

This groups of Islands are known as the West Indies.

The major island groups are the Greater Antilles.The smallerislands are known as the Lesser Antilles.

MexicoMexico

Viva Mexico!Viva Mexico!

Mexico is part of a region we call Middle Mexico is part of a region we call Middle and South America. The region includes and South America. The region includes Central America and the Caribbean Central America and the Caribbean islands as well as South America. Mexico islands as well as South America. Mexico and the region’s other countries share and the region’s other countries share many cultural and historical features.many cultural and historical features.

Let us learn about these features Let us learn about these features together!!!together!!!

Natural Environments…Natural Environments…

Mexico is three times Mexico is three times the size of Texas.the size of Texas.

Most of Mexico is on Most of Mexico is on a plateau called the a plateau called the “Mexican Plateau”“Mexican Plateau”

Political Map of Mexico

The 3 Great Mountain RangesThe 3 Great Mountain Ranges

The Sierra Madre Oriental The Sierra Madre Oriental (east),(east), Occidental Occidental (west)(west) and Sierra Madre del Sur. and Sierra Madre del Sur. (South)(South)

OrientalOccidental

Madre del Sur

Mexico CityMexico City

At theAt the Southern end Southern end of the Mexican of the Mexican PlateauPlateau we have we have Mexico City. Mexico City.

The air is thin and The air is thin and many tourists find many tourists find when they first get when they first get there they have a there they have a shortness of breath shortness of breath and lack of energy.and lack of energy.

Volcanoes south of Mexico CityVolcanoes south of Mexico City

Highest volcano is Highest volcano is Orizaba.Orizaba.

18,700 feet.18,700 feet. This area of the world is This area of the world is

tectonically active so with tectonically active so with volcanoes also come volcanoes also come earthquakes.earthquakes.

20 million people live 20 million people live within 50 miles of this within 50 miles of this active volcano.active volcano.

What is a isthmus?What is a isthmus?

A narrow strip of land A narrow strip of land connecting two larger connecting two larger land areas.land areas.

In the southern partIn the southern part

of Mexico the landof Mexico the land

becomes a isthmus.becomes a isthmus.

The isthmus of Tehuantepec

The Yucatan PeninsulaThe Yucatan Peninsula

The Yucatan….The Yucatan….

Mexico’s flattest region.Mexico’s flattest region. Located in southeastern Located in southeastern

Mexico.Mexico. Limestone lies beneath Limestone lies beneath

the surface making it hard the surface making it hard for this area to retain for this area to retain water.water.

Few riversFew rivers Many caves and Many caves and

sinkholes due to Erosionsinkholes due to Erosion

What is a sink hole?What is a sink hole?

The Weather of MexicoThe Weather of Mexico

Three factors help explain Mexico’s Three factors help explain Mexico’s climate.climate. 1. 1. High-pressureHigh-pressure system creates dry weather system creates dry weather

2. Northeast 2. Northeast tradewindstradewinds (bring humid air from (bring humid air from the ocean)the ocean)

3. 3. ElevationElevation (rain-shadow effects) (rain-shadow effects)

Rain-Shadow EffectRain-Shadow Effect

The Rivers of Mexico…The Rivers of Mexico…

Mexico has no major Mexico has no major rivers.rivers.

Rivers provide Rivers provide country with country with hydroelectric power hydroelectric power and water for and water for irrigation.irrigation.

Mineral ResourcesMineral Resources

Mexico is leads in Mexico is leads in production of silver.production of silver.

Petroleum is Mexico’s Petroleum is Mexico’s most valuable natural most valuable natural resource.resource.

Did you know?Did you know?

Every fall, thousands of monarch Every fall, thousands of monarch butterflies migrate to the mountains of butterflies migrate to the mountains of Mexico. Some of the butterflies travel Mexico. Some of the butterflies travel more than 1,800 miles to their winter more than 1,800 miles to their winter home.home.

La Cueva de villa luzLa Cueva de villa luz

This cave has helped scientists discover This cave has helped scientists discover what life could have been on Mars and the what life could have been on Mars and the ocean floor.ocean floor.

Home to unique ecosystems.Home to unique ecosystems. There is no light.There is no light.

The CaribbeanThe Caribbean

This part of the world is This part of the world is famous for many reasons:famous for many reasons:

Popular movies filmed here….

Great MusicGreat Music

The Great Bob The Great Bob MarleyMarley

The great sunsetsThe great sunsets……

Scuba diving…Scuba diving…

People are happy when they can scuba dive in the Caribbean.

On to more important On to more important things:things:

(get your pencils ready)(get your pencils ready) History and Culture:History and Culture:

Europeans shaped this Europeans shaped this area of the world.area of the world.

1492 Christopher 1492 Christopher Columbus came to this Columbus came to this group of islands and group of islands and called it the Indies….he called it the Indies….he was wrong, but the was wrong, but the name stuck.name stuck.

This area is known as This area is known as the WEST INDIESthe WEST INDIES

The Great Christopher Columbus

Who came after Who came after Columbus?Columbus?

Spanish settlers Spanish settlers came and settled all came and settled all over the Greater over the Greater Antilles.Antilles.

To help with To help with farming the farming the Europeans brought Europeans brought Africans over…and Africans over…and that is how slavery that is how slavery began in the began in the Americas.Americas.

The Slave Trade TriangleThe Slave Trade Triangle

Who lives in the Who lives in the Caribbean now?Caribbean now?

Slavery ended in Slavery ended in the 1800’s and the 1800’s and slowly each colony slowly each colony in the West Indies in the West Indies was overthrown by was overthrown by the African slaves the African slaves the Europeans the Europeans brought over.brought over.

The happy people of the The happy people of the CaribbeanCaribbean

Most people in this Most people in this area are African.area are African.

The dominate The dominate religions are: Roman religions are: Roman Catholic, Protestant, Catholic, Protestant, voodoo, voodoo,

The official language The official language is:is: Spanish, English, Spanish, English,

French, or Dutch. (it French, or Dutch. (it depends who depends who colonized the country)colonized the country)

What exactly is voodoo?What exactly is voodoo?

Is it really about Is it really about have a doll and have a doll and poking needles into poking needles into it to punish a it to punish a particular person?particular person?

The real story of voodoo… Voodoo is a Haitian Voodoo is a Haitian

version of traditional version of traditional African religious beliefs African religious beliefs that are blended with that are blended with elements of elements of Christianity.Christianity.

Followers believe that Followers believe that good and bad spirits good and bad spirits play an important role play an important role in daily life.in daily life.

The word “voodoo” The word “voodoo” comes from the West comes from the West African word "vodun," African word "vodun," meaning spirit. meaning spirit.

A ceremonial voodoo dance

The Economy of the The Economy of the Caribbean IslandsCaribbean Islands

They have market They have market economies (except economies (except for Cuba)for Cuba)

Tourism is huge in Tourism is huge in this area and this area and brings in large brings in large amounts of money.amounts of money.

Agriculture is a Agriculture is a vital part of the vital part of the economy as well.economy as well.

The CaricornThe Caricorn

Similar to the European Union but Similar to the European Union but located in the Caribbean.located in the Caribbean.

It helps the countries united on It helps the countries united on important issues concerning their important issues concerning their economies and growth.economies and growth.

The only problem is the biggest The only problem is the biggest island, Cuba, refuses to be apart of island, Cuba, refuses to be apart of the union.the union.

The Great Blue HoleThe Great Blue Hole

A cirular limestone sinkhole.A cirular limestone sinkhole. Lies of the coast of BelizeLies of the coast of Belize Many divers come to explore its interesting Many divers come to explore its interesting

formation.formation.

The Blue Hole Ceremonial Dance

In July 29, 1968 Costa Rica’s Arenal In July 29, 1968 Costa Rica’s Arenal Volcano eruptedVolcano erupted..

Killed more than 70 people and destroyed the village of Pueblo Nuevo. Todaythe volcano regularly produces ash and lava. Tourists come and watch the spectacular night time eruptions.

That’s it folks…come visit That’s it folks…come visit the Caribbean!the Caribbean!