Transcript Middle America

Middle America
Central America and the Caribbean
Middle America – region that includes Central
America and the Caribbean Islands.
There are 7 countries in Central America:
Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador,
Nicaragua, Costa Rica & Panama.
Caribbean describes the region and
islands around the Caribbean Sea
Many physical processes (nature) change the
landscape of this region.
Physical processes like volcanoes have
created islands, fertile soil, and affects where
and how people live.
Hurricanes, a storm with violent winds,
often happen in the Caribbean
Image: Hurricane Sandy 2012
Hurricane Dean did major damage to
Kingston Jamaica in 2007.
Wind and water erode (wear away) the soil,
rock, or land.
When humans change the landscape of a place, it
is called Human processes. (ex: building houses;
cutting down trees)
Many economies in the region depend on
money from tourism (traveling for enjoyment).
Panama
Panama is located on the narrowest part of the
isthmus between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
Pros and cons of Panama’s
location.
Panama’s location has
advantages and
disadvantages
trade
between South America
and North America
Advantage:
flora and
fauna (animals and plants)
which carried diseases
Disadvantage:
Panama Canal

Built in 1898

Is a transportation
corridor

Helps with international
trade

Key factor in the world’s
economic
interdependence
Panama Canal
•
One of the largest and
most difficult engineering
projects ever
•
the first attempt to
construct a canal began in
1880 under French
leadership.
•
attempt failed and 21,900
workers died
•
The United States took over
the project.
Panama Canal
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President Theodore “Teddy”
Roosevelt of the United States
gave the order to build the canal
•
Attempted and completed by the
United States in the early 1900s
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Opened in 1914.
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Cost the United States around
$375,000,000
•
plagued by problems, including
disease (particularly malaria and
yellow fever) and landslides.
•
Yellow fever – infectious tropical
disease spread by mosquitoes
•
a total of 27,500 workmen are
estimated to have died in the
French and American efforts.
Panama Canal
Problems Panama faces
today with the canal:
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The canal is reaching
maximum capacity
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Ships are getting too big
•
Competition from the
Suez Canal (Egypt)