CHAPTER 11CENTRAL AMERICA

& THECARIBBEAN

SECTION1

NATURAL

ENVIRONMENTS

BR #1 (PG.240)

1A)What type of landform is Central America & what does it connect B) What is its east & west boundary?

2)Where are the West Indies located & what are its 2 major island groups?

3A)What are the Greater Antilles? B) Define: Hispaniola & the Bahamas?

4)What are the Lesser Antilles?

5)List the 7 Central American countries.

ANSWERS TO BR #1

Q: 1A)What type of landform is Central America & what does it connect

B) What is its east & west boundary?

A:1A) Isthmus linking North & South America

B) West- bounded by the Pacific Ocean, East- By the Caribbean Sea & the West Indies (group of islands)

ANSWERS CONTINUED

Q: 2)Where are the West Indies located & what are its 2 major island groups?

A: 2)They extend in an arc from just south of Florida to Venezuela- (Greater & Lesser Antilles)

ANSWERS CONTINUED

• 3A)What are the Greater Antilles? B) Define: Hispaniola & the Bahamas?

3) Cuba, Hispaniola (Includes the countries of Haiti & the Dominican

Republic), Jamaica, Puerto Rico & the Bahamas B) Over 700 islands northeast of Cuba all in the Atlantic Ocean

ANSWERS CONTINUED

Q: 4)What are the Lesser Antilles?

A: 4) 20 small island countries & territories

ANSWERS CONTINUED

Q: 5)List the 7 Central American countries.

A: 5) Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, & Panama

PLACE THE FOLLOWING COUNTRIES(FROM BOTH

CENTRAL AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN) ON THE MAP

PROVIDED:

• CENTRAL AMERICA- Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, & Panama

• CARIBBEAN- Jamaica, Cuba, Bahamas, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico & the Lesser Antilles

FACTS ABOUT THE REGION

•1)Tectonic processes have shaped the region creating mountains throughout C.A. (The tops of these mountains are some islands in the Lesser Antilles & volcanoes formed some islands like Martinique)

Facts continued

• 2)Climate is tropical wet & dry with some variation based on terrain (Examples-Elevation & rain shadow)

• 3)Tourism is the area’s greatest natural resource (warm & sunny climate)

• 4)Mineral resources have contributed greatly to the area’s economy

• 5)This area has some of the most beautiful natural landscapes in the world

• 6)Natural hazards, unfortunately, abound in the region, including earthquakes, volcanic eruptions,& hurricanes (area’s location is along the most active hurricane path in the world)

HW #1 (PGS.240-242)• 1)Name the region’s 4 tectonic

plates?

• 2)What was the geologic evolution of the Cayman islands?

• 3)Define:Mangrove (List its benefits)

• 4)Define: Bauxite

• 5)List the primary mineral resource of each country listed below. A) Jamaica B) Cuba & Dominican Republic C) Trinidad

HW #1 (PGS.240-242)• 1)Name the region’s 4 tectonic

plates?

• 1)Caribbean, Cocos, North & South American plates

• 2)What was the geologic evolution of the Cayman islands?

• 2)Began as coral reefs then evolved into limestone islands

• 3)Define:Mangrove (List its benefits)

• 3)Trees whose roots grow in salt water-shrimp & dozen of kinds of fish live among the roots

• 4)Define: Bauxite

• 4)The ore from which aluminum is made

• 5)List the primary mineral resource of each country listed below. A) Jamaica B) Cuba & Dominican Republic C) Trinidad

• 5A)Bauxite B) Nickel C) Oil

ANSWERS TO HW #1