Chapter 8: Central America & the CaribbeanVocabulary Terms

Vocabulary Terms• Isthmus- a narrow strip of land that

connects two larger land areas• Caribbean Sea- a sea, which

separates North and South America• Archipelago- a large group of

islands • Greater Antilles- the four large

islands of Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola, and Puerto Rico

Vocabulary Terms • Lesser Antilles- many small islands that

stretch from the Virgin Islands to Trinidad and Tobago.• Cloud Forest- a moist, high elevation

tropical forest where low clouds are common• Ecotourism- the practice of using an

area’s natural environment to attract tourists• Civil War- a conflict between two or

more groups within a country

Vocabulary Terms

• Panama Canal- provides a link between the Pacific Ocean, the Caribbean Sea, and the Atlantic Ocean. • Dialect- a regional variety

of a language• Commonwealth- a self-

governing territory associated with another country

Vocabulary Terms • Refugee- someone who flees to another country,

usually for political or economic reasons• Havana- the capital of Cuba • Cooperative- an organization owned by its

members and operated for their mutual benefit.