Transcript HUMAN GEOGRAPHY Central America and the

Ch. 8: CENTRAL AMERICA
& the CARIBBEAN
PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY Central America and the Caribbean
Let’s Make Some Connections
This region is culturally and biologically diverse. The Caribbean
Islands are made up of twelve independent nations, in addition
to British and French jurisdictions.
• About 13,000 different plant species have been
identified; more than 6,500 are endemic to a single island.
• More than 600 bird species live in the Caribbean.
• Nearly 100 different kinds of mammals make their
homes here, with 40 species being endemic to the islands.
• There are 500 types of reptiles, and nearly 470 are endemic.
• About 13 percent of the Caribbean’s land area is designated
as protected to manage the plethora of biological diversity.
PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY Central America and the Caribbean
Landforms
• Central America has three distinct belts: the
Pacific Lowlands, the Caribbean Lowlands,
and the Central Highlands.
• The Isthmus of Panama is another distinctive
feature of Central America.
• More than 7,000 islands are considered part of
the mainland's Central Highlands.
PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY Central America and the Caribbean
Water Systems
• Inland lakes and waterways are important to
Central America's growth and development,
providing transportation, drinking water,
irrigation, and hydroelectric power.
• One of the world's most important human-made
waterways, the Panama Canal, allows ships to
travel between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans
without having to travel around South America's
Cape Horn.
• Commercial fishing and the use of other
marine resources in the Caribbean Sea have
increased international trade.
PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY Central America and the Caribbean
Climates, Biomes, & Resources
• Much of Central America has a tropical wet
climate with rainforests found in many of the
regions.
• A tropical dry climate is found on many of the
Caribbean islands.
• The climates and ecosystems of some parts of
Central America are affected by elevation,
resulting in vertical climate zones.
• Nickel, iron ore, fish, timber, and petroleum are
important natural resources found and used
throughout Central America.
HUMAN GEOGRAPHY Central America and the Caribbean
European Conquests to
Independence
• Christopher Columbus's voyages from 1492
to 1504 brought Spanish colonization.
• Great Britain, France, the Netherlands, and
Portugal also established colonies, wiping out
much of the Native American population.
• During the 1800s, the fight for independence
from European rulers began, resulting in new
countries.
• Today, many Central Americans have demanded
positive change in an effort to improve their
economies and living conditions.
HUMAN GEOGRAPHY Central America and the Caribbean
Population Patterns
• Populations in this region blend many ethnic
groups.
• Since 1900, the numbers of people migrating away
from this region has risen because of the need to
escape civil wars, poor economies, and instability.
• A majority of the Central America population lives
in highland cities and towns, while the Caribbean
population is highest in Latin America.
• Despite economic difficulties and low life
expectancy, Central America has one of the
highest population growth rates in the world.
HUMAN GEOGRAPHY Central America and the Caribbean
Society and Culture Today
• A blending of language, traditions, and art is
found in Central America and the Caribbean.
• A majority of people are Roman Catholic,
although other religions also exist, such as
Protestant, Hinduism, and Islam.
• The quality of education and health care
varies greatly from country to country and from
urban to rural areas.
• Artwork, music, and dance reflect the history of
both native and European cultures.
HUMAN GEOGRAPHY Central America and the Caribbean
Economic Activities
• Wealth is unevenly distributed in Central
America and the Caribbean, with agriculture
employing many of the workers.
• Many countries in the region are still considered
developing countries.
• Recently, service and technology industries
along with ecotourism have grown rapidly.
PEOPLE & THEIR ENVIRONMENT: Central America & the Caribbean
Managing Resources
• Water shortages, access to freshwater, and legal
issues over waterways continue to strain the
growing population in this region.
• Hydroelectric power supplies increase production
and competitiveness in international trade; however
this type of energy threatens the natural
environment.
• Although Central America has naturally fertile soil,
slash-and-burn cultivation destroys the fertile land.
• Commercial logging contributes to deforestation,
threatening plants and organisms key to medicines.
PEOPLE & THEIR ENVIRONMENT: Central America & the Caribbean
Human Impact
• Central America and Caribbean cities are
experiencing rapid population growth, resulting
in pollution, lack of jobs, inadequate housing, and
strained food and water supplies.
• The growing demand for food has increased
agriculture and has, in turn, eliminated natural
vegetation, leading to soil erosion and the use of
fertilizer for crop growth.
• Increased hotel construction for the tourism
industry, has lead to vegetation loss, soil
erosion, and the livelihood of coral reefs is greatly
threatened.
PEOPLE & THEIR ENVIRONMENT: Central America & the Caribbean
Addressing the Issues
• Solving conflicts over natural resources and natural
disaster preparation are challenges facing this
region.
• Deforestation must be addressed quickly; it is
predicted that rain forests may disappear within 40
years.
• Sustainable development and green businesses
are solutions that can be more environmentallyfriendly while also boosting local economies.
• Governments, international agencies, and grass
roots groups are implementing programs that limit
migration to cities and help to improve cities'
infrastructures.