Central America

COUNTRIES OF CENTRAL AMERICA

Countries of continental Central America and the Caribbean

Countries of continental Central America and the Caribbean

Physical Features of Central America

• Proximity (_____________) to the equator

Physical Features of Central America

• Proximity (closeness) to the equator

Physical Features of Central America

• Proximity (closeness) to the equator– Low latitudes:

Physical Features of Central America

• Proximity (closeness) to the equator– Low latitudes: 5°N-25°N

Physical Features of Central America

• Proximity (closeness) to the equator– Low latitudes: 5°N-25°N– Temperture:

Physical Features of Central America

• Proximity (closeness) to the equator– Low latitudes: 5°N-25°N– Temperture: VERY HOT

Physical Features of Central America

• Proximity (closeness) to the equator– Low latitudes: 5°N-25°N– Temperture: VERY HOT

• Proximity (closeness) to the ocean

Physical Features of Central America

• Proximity (closeness) to the equator– Low latitudes: 5°N-25°N– Temperture: VERY HOT

• Proximity (closeness) to the ocean– HUMID

Physical Features of Central America

• Proximity (closeness) to the equator– Low latitudes: 5°N-25°N– Temperture: VERY HOT

• Proximity (closeness) to the ocean– HUMID (high amount of water vapor in the air)

Physical Features of Central America

• Proximity (closeness) to the equator– Low latitudes: 5°N-25°N– Temperture: VERY HOT

• Proximity (closeness) to the ocean– HUMID (high amount of water vapor in the air)

• Ecosystem:

Physical Features of Central America

• Proximity (closeness) to the equator– Low latitudes: 5°N-25°N– Temperture: VERY HOT

• Proximity (closeness) to the ocean– HUMID (high amount of water vapor in the air)

• Ecosystem: tropical rainforest (________________)

Physical Features of Central America

• Proximity (closeness) to the equator– Low latitudes: 5°N-25°N– Temperture: VERY HOT

• Proximity (closeness) to the ocean– HUMID (high amount of water vapor in the air)

• Ecosystem: tropical rainforest (hot and humid)

History of Central America

• Ancient Mayans covered the territory of present-day Mexico and Guatemala

Tikal in Guatemala

• ancient Mayan city of Tikal

• ceremonial and civic center • Tikal is the "New York City" of the Maya, its

skyscraper-like pyramids soar up out of the jungle canopy.

History of Central America

History of Central America

• Due to the dense (thick) rainforest, farmers from ancient times through today have used a farming technique called ________________.

History of Central America

• Due to the dense (thick) rainforest, farmers from ancient times through today have used a farming technique called Slash-and-Burn agriculture.

Slash and Burn Agriculture

• A primitive (ancient) farming method that follows the following steps:

1. Chop down an area of rain forest.

Slash and Burn Agriculture

• A primitive (ancient) farming method that follows the following steps:

1. Chop down an area of rain forest.

2. Burn the chopped plants.

Slash and Burn Agriculture

• A primitive farming method that follows the following steps:

1. Chop down an area of rain forest.

2. Burn the chopped plants.

3. The ash fertilizes the soil.

Slash and Burn Agriculture

• A primitive farming method that follows the following steps:

4. Plant crops for a few years in the fertilized soil.

Slash and Burn Agriculture

• A primitive farming method that follows the following steps:

4. Plant crops for a few years in the fertilized soil.

5. Move somewhere else and do it again/repeat the cycle.

History of Central America

History of Central America

• Conquered and Colonized by Europeans (Spanish mostly)

History of Central America

• Conquered and Colonized by Europeans (Spanish mostly)– Exception: Haiti (French)

History of Central America

• Conquered and Colonized by Europeans (Spanish mostly)– Exception: Haiti (French)

• Main Language in Central America =

History of Central America

• Conquered and Colonized by Europeans (Spanish mostly)– Exception: Haiti (French)

• Main Language in Central America = Spanish

History of Central America

• Conquered and Colonized by Europeans (Spanish mostly)– Exception: Haiti (French)

• Main Language in Central America = Spanish

• The Spanish Language links central America together creating a ___________ region.

History of Central America

• Conquered and Colonized by Europeans (Spanish mostly)– Exception: Haiti (French)

• Main Language in Central America = Spanish

• The Spanish Language links Central America together creating a cultural region.

History of Central America

History of Central America

• Europeans brought over Africans to work as slaves on the large plantations

History of Central America

• Europeans brought over Africans to work as slaves on the large plantations – Main Crops:

History of Central America

• Europeans brought over Africans to work as slaves on the large plantations – Main Crops: coffee, cocoa, and sugarcane

History of Central America

• Europeans brought over Africans to work as slaves on the large plantations – Main Crops: coffee, cocoa, and sugarcane

• The combination of native people, Africans, and Europeans created a unique new culture.

Panama Canal

• A ship canal that runs through the isthmus of Panama.

Panama Canal

Panama Canal

• A ship canal that runs through the isthmus of Panama.

• It was begun in 1904 under President Teddy Roosevelt. It officially opened in 1914.

Panama Canal

• A ship canal that runs through the isthmus of Panama.

• It was begun in 1904 under President Teddy Roosevelt. It officially opened in 1914.

• (The French tried to dig it first, but failed, losing the lives of about 22,000 workers—mostly to malaria and yellow fever.)

Panama Canal

• How do tropical diseases like malaria and yellow fever spread?

Panama Canal

• MOSQUITOES

Panama Canal

• President Jimmy Carter signed the Panama Canal Treaty in 1977 promising to give control of the canal to the Panamanians by the year 2000

Panama Canal

Panama Canal

Panama Canal

Contemporary Problems in the Rainforest

Contemporary Problems in the Rainforest

• Deforestation –

Contemporary Problems in the Rainforest

• Deforestation – the depletion (_________________) or removal of the rainforest

Contemporary Problems in the Rainforest

• Deforestation – the depletion (serious decrease) or removal of the rainforest

Contemporary Problems in the Rainforest

• Deforestation – the depletion (serious decrease) or removal of the rainforest– Caused by:

Contemporary Problems in the Rainforest

• Deforestation – the depletion (serious decrease) or removal of the rainforest– Caused by: slash-and-burn agriculture, clearing land for

people to live, using the natural resources found in the rainforest

Contemporary Problems in the Rainforest

• Deforestation – the depletion (serious decrease) or removal of the rainforest– Caused by: slash-and-burn agriculture, clearing land for

people to live, using the natural resources found in the rainforest

– Why is it harmful?

Contemporary Problems in the Rainforest

• Deforestation – the depletion (serious decrease) or removal of the rainforest– Caused by: slash-and-burn agriculture, clearing land for

people to live, using the natural resources found in the rainforest

– Why is it harmful? • Running out of natural resources

Contemporary Problems in the Rainforest

• Deforestation – the depletion (serious decrease) or removal of the rainforest– Caused by: slash-and-burn agriculture, clearing land for

people to live, using the natural resources found in the rainforest

– Why is it harmful? • Running out of natural resources• Running out of habitats for animals

Contemporary Problems in the Rainforest

• Deforestation – the depletion (serious decrease) or removal of the rainforest– Caused by: slash-and-burn agriculture, clearing land for

people to live, using the natural resources found in the rainforest

– Why is it harmful? • Running out of natural resources• Running out of habitats for animals• Contributes to global warming and the greenhouse effect

Contemporary Problems in the Rainforest

• Deforestation – the depletion (serious decrease) or removal of the rainforest– Caused by: slash-and-burn agriculture, clearing land for

people to live, using the natural resources found in the rainforest

– Why is it harmful? • Running out of natural resources• Running out of habitats for animals• Contributes to global warming and the greenhouse effect• Affects the water cycle

Economics in Central America

• Agriculture• Tourism!!!!