Central America & the

Caribbean

Chapter 11

Section 1 Objectives

●●Identify the physical Identify the physical processes that have processes that have shaped the landforms of shaped the landforms of Central America and Central America and the Caribbean.the Caribbean.

●●Describe the region’s Describe the region’s climate.climate.

● ●Analyze the natural Analyze the natural resources and resources and environmental hazards environmental hazards found in the region.found in the region.

Natural Environments

Looking at this map, What body of

water touches all of the countries

studied in this chapter?

What particular landform is Central

America?

What 2 island groups make up the West Indies?

Greater Antilles

CubaCuba

HispaniolaHispaniola

JamaicaJamaica

Puerto RicoPuerto Rico

BahamasBahamas

Lesser Antilles

About 20 small island About 20 small island countries.countries.

List the countries of Central America.

From North to SouthFrom North to South

Belize Belize

GuatemalaGuatemala

HondurasHonduras

El SalvadorEl Salvador

NicaraguaNicaragua

Costa RicaCosta Rica

PanamaPanama

What things have been shaped

in this region by tectonic

processes?Mountains Mountains throughout Central America & throughout Central America & east side of the Caribbean plateeast side of the Caribbean plate

Volcanoes Volcanoes formed the Lesser Antilles formed the Lesser Antilles

Coral Reefs Coral Reefs formed the flat limestone formed the flat limestone Cayman IslandCayman Island

What are 3 facts about the

Tropical Wet/Dry climate in this

region?Temperature seldom varies more than 10 Temperature seldom varies more than 10 degrees Fdegrees F

High pressure in the winter makes it dryHigh pressure in the winter makes it dry

Low pressure, from the North, in the summer Low pressure, from the North, in the summer brings rain brings rain

Name some Plants and Animals

that live in the region.Plants

Mangrove Tree – can live in Mangrove Tree – can live in salt watersalt water

Cacao Plant Cacao Plant

Palm TreePalm Tree

Animals

Prawn – BIG shrimpPrawn – BIG shrimp

LlamasLlamas

Tropical birdsTropical birds

What are 3 important natural

resources in the area?Climate Climate attracts tourists from U.S., Canada, attracts tourists from U.S., Canada, and Europeand Europe

Fertile soils Fertile soils increased agriculture increased agriculture

Fishing Grounds Fishing Grounds provide Lobster and Shrimp provide Lobster and Shrimp

What mineral resources are

found in this area & where?

Gold – Gold – throughout throughout Central AmericaCentral America

Bauxite – Bauxite – Jamaica Jamaica (this ore (this ore is used to make is used to make aluminum)aluminum)

Nickel – Cuba & Nickel – Cuba & Dominican Dominican RepublicRepublic

Oil - TrinidadOil - Trinidad

What natural hazards plague this area?

VolcanoesVolcanoes

EarthquakesEarthquakes

HurricanesHurricanes

Mudslides Mudslides – this is due to cutting down forests – this is due to cutting down forests leading to heavy erosionleading to heavy erosion

Section 2 Objectives

●●Explain how Explain how Central America’s Central America’s history shapes history shapes the region today.the region today.

●●Describe the Describe the economic, economic, political, and political, and social conditions social conditions in Central in Central America.America.

Central America

What are indigenous people and how did most of them die?

Indigenous People

These are people who These are people who are native to the land.are native to the land.

The indigenous The indigenous people of the Central people of the Central American region are American region are the Mayansthe Mayans..

How did they die?

Most indigenous Most indigenous people in this region people in this region died from being died from being exposed to small exposed to small pox by Spanish pox by Spanish explorers.explorers.

What influence has the US had on Central America?

Helped build railroads to transport things like Helped build railroads to transport things like coffee and bananascoffee and bananas

The The US built the Panama Canal US built the Panama Canal in the 1900’s, in the 1900’s, provided easy provided easy passage from Caribbean to passage from Caribbean to Pacific OceanPacific Ocean, , and controlled it until 1999and controlled it until 1999

Panama Canal

What languages are spoken in this region?

Spanish – is the most commonly spoken Spanish – is the most commonly spoken language.language.

English – spoken sparsely throughout the English – spoken sparsely throughout the region. Belize is the only country where it is region. Belize is the only country where it is the official language.the official language.

Native Languages – spread out across the Native Languages – spread out across the region based on the population. region based on the population.

Who are the mulattos?

These are people with both These are people with both African and European African and European ancestors.ancestors.

What are some of the

agricultural exports from Central

America?CoffeeCoffee

BananasBananas

SugarSugar

CottonCotton

Cocoa Bean – Cocoa Bean – used to make used to make chocolatechocolate

What is the biggest problem in

Central America & how does it

compare with Mexico?Problem

• Land Reform – Land Reform – restructuring restructuring how ownership how ownership of land was of land was determineddetermined

Comparison

• Central America Central America and Mexico dealt and Mexico dealt with the same with the same problem, due to problem, due to being settled by being settled by the same peoplethe same people

What’s ecotourism & how has it benefited this region?

Ecotourism

• Guided travel Guided travel through through natural areas natural areas and outdoor and outdoor activities activities

Benefits

• It has given It has given some countries some countries another source another source of income to of income to boost the boost the economyeconomy

Section 3 Objectives

• ●●Describe some Describe some important events in important events in the history of the the history of the Caribbean.Caribbean.

• ●●Analyze the Analyze the cultural and cultural and population patterns population patterns found in the region.found in the region.

• ●●Discuss the Discuss the economic activities economic activities of the region.of the region.

The Caribbean

What has shaped both Central

America & the Caribbean’s identity?

• European Colonization – these European Colonization – these areas were settled by similar areas were settled by similar groupsgroups

Who was the 1st explorer to

reach land in the

Caribbean?Christopher Columbus – he believed he was

in India, which is why some islands are

named the “East Indies”

What is a commonwealth and

how does it apply to this region?Definition

• Self governing Self governing territory territory associated with associated with another countryanother country

Application

• Puerto Rico is a Puerto Rico is a common wealth common wealth of USof US

Define the following vocabulary words.• CreoleCreole

• VoodooVoodoo

• SanteriaSanteria

What is Caricom & Why was it created?

Definition

• Caribbean Caribbean community community and common and common marketmarket

Created

• To promote To promote industry and industry and trade among the trade among the nations in this nations in this regionregion

What problems are they encountering with tourism? • Land is being take away from other activities Land is being take away from other activities

• Jobs are seasonalJobs are seasonal

• Pay is lowPay is low

• Tourist dollars are raising the cost of livingTourist dollars are raising the cost of living

• Most of the profit goes to other countriesMost of the profit goes to other countries