L E S S E R A N T I L L E S

GR

EA

TE

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AN T I L L E S L E S S E R A

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I L LES

Puerto Rico(U.S.)

10°N

20°N

30°N

0°

20°N

30°N

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Tropic of Cancer

Equator

90°W 80°W

70°W 60°W

90°W 80°W 70°W 60°W

O C E A NA T L A N T I C

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Gulf ofMexico

Caribbean Sea

GUATEMALA

EL SALVADOR

COSTA RICAPANAMA

HONDURAS

BELIZE

DOMINICANREPUBLICHAITI

JAMAICA

CU

BA

NICARAGUA

TRINIDAD

ANDTOBAGO

BARBADOS

ANTIGUA AND

BARBUDA

GRENADA

BA

HA

MA

S

0 400 Kilometers

0 400 Miles

200

200

N

S

EW

Key

NGWG_GEO_U03_C05_S1.1_M014NGM66 GA6 Central American and Caribbean OutlineFourth Proof06/22/11

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1.1 PH Y S IC AL G E OG R APH Y

Use with Central America & the Caribbean Geography & History, Section 1.1, in your textbook.

Go to Interactive Whiteboard GeoActivities at myNGconnect.com to complete this activity online.

SEC tION G E OG R APH Y

GeoActivity

CeNtral ameriCa & the CaribbeaN resourCesmap economic resourcesRead the passage below to learn more about the economic resources of Central America and the Caribbean Islands. Then complete the map and answer the question.

Physical Geography and the economy The landscape and climate of Central America and the Caribbean Islands are important to this region’s economy. The rich volcanic soil found in the mountains of Nicaragua and El Salvador is ideal for growing coffee, which is one of the largest crops in both countries. Farmers grow bananas and other fruits and vegetables along the warm coastal plains of northern Honduras. Tourists are attracted to Costa Rica’s tropical rain forests and the wildlife found there.

The warm climate, fertile volcanic soil, and and lush coastal plains of the Caribbean Islands allow for sugarcane farming throughout the region. Sugarcane is the largest agricultural product in the Dominican Republic and Jamaica. Tourism also makes up a large part of the region’s economy. Many people visit the beaches of Puerto Rico, the Bahamas, and other islands in the region each year.

1. Complete Maps Create symbols for the resources and label them in the legend. Place them on the map in the main locations stated.

2. Interpret Maps Which symbols on your map would be least likely to appear on a resource map of a cold climate? Which would be more likely to appear?

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