Central & South America Study Guide – Test 2CENTRAL AMERICABelize• Two countries have coastlines facing one ocean – Belize and El Salvador• The capital is Belmopano Moved from Belize City after a hurricane destroyed it• 2nd largest coral reef off coast• English is the official language here• Inexpensive medical treatment• Little is known about life in Belize prior to the arrival of the explorers in the 1500’s• The Spanish ignored Belize• Shipwrecked British sailors established the first European settlement in 1638• The colony was originally called British Honduras until 1973• Became independent in 1981• Barrier Reef and the Cayeso Barrier Reef Principal Tourist Attractiono Ranks as the world’s second longesto Reef runs parallel to the coasto The ridges are called cayeso More than 200 isleso The two largest are Caye Caulker and Ambergris Cayeo San Pedro the most important access point for dive sites• Northern Belizeo La Ruta Maya begins north of Belize Cityo Altun Ha the extensively excavatedo The head of the sun god carved in jade - the national symbol, was found hereo Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary found in northern Belize• Western Belizeo Mostly a savanna gives way to Maya mountains o San Ignacio the district’s center and base for exploration of the areao Maya site of Caracol which rivals Tikalo Central Americas largest cave systemo Chiquibul Caveso Best time to explore the area is from March to May• Southern Belizeo Considered by many as the place to visit in Belizeo Dangriga the area’s largest towno The inhabitants are descendants black Caribs who fled Honduras after failed revolto November 19th is Garifuna Settlement DayCosta Rica• Costa Rica is linked with ecotourism• “The Rich Coast”• Tico’s – nickname for Costa Ricans• 97% literacy rate• 1000 species of butterflies, 800 species of birds• One of the world’s best systems of national parks• 25% of its territory is protected• Lies between Panama and Nicaragua• Coasts on the Pacific and the Caribbean• Most of the population lives in the central part of the county – San Jose is located here• Only a slightly larger than New Hampshire and Vermont combined• Natural diversity provides tourists with many experiences• Puntarenas principal Pacific port• Puerto Caldera, to the south, is where most cruise liners come to• San Jose, the capital was founded in 1737• Located in the agricultural center of the country• Coffee trees surround the city• Known for its nightlife• May be the base for visits to other partso Butterfly farm, coffee plantation, oxcart factory “carretas”• Parks and Biological Reserves• Volcan Poas – the most visited park – steam belching crater, fumaroles (bubbling vents in the earth’s crust)• Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve in western Costa Rica• Tortuaguero National Park in the north eastern part of the country – important nesting site for green turtles and other species like monkeys, jaguars, also inhabit the park• The Pacific Coast resorts are popular for sport fishing and surfing• Nicoya Peninsula site for many new hotels• Liberia is the area’s principal town• Airport has daily flights to San Jose• Approximately 145 miles north of San Jose on the Pan American highwayPanama• The Crossroads of the World• Caribbean Sea to the North and the Pacific to the South• Approximately the size of South Carolina• 1/3 of the country is tropical rain forest• Much of it is protected by the government• Soberania national park borders the Panama Canal• The country has many rivers and more than 1,600 islands• More than 940 recorded bird species• Panama attracts many eco-tourists• During colonial times the Spaniards built a road across Panama to carry gold from Peru• In the 19th century Panama was part of the Gran Colombia• 1878 Colombian government awarded a contract to build a canal to a French diplomat Ferdinand Lesseps – builder of the Suez Canal• Tropical diseases (malaria, yellow fever, etc.) prevented the French from building the canal• Theodore Roosevelt wanted to take over the project• Colombia would not agree to his terms• In 1903 the United States pushed Panama to revolt against Colombia• Panama became an independent country and allowed the United States to build the canal• The canal is called “The Big Ditch”• Built across the narrowest point between the Atlantic and the Pacific• The canal extends for 51 miles• Took ten years to build at a cost of $352 million and 5,609 lives• It opened in 1914• U.S. control of the canal ended in 1999• The average ship takes 8 to 10 hours to cross the canal• Currently expanding the canal for larger cruises• Each year the canal brings in $2 billion from fees• A ship traveling from the Atlantic to the Pacific sails from the northwest to the southeast• Darien – The jungleo This is the only break on the Pan American highway• San Blas Islands Panama’s largest archipelagoo Often visited by cruise shipso The Cuna Indians live on the Islando They are self governing and live according to ancient wayso They have their own language but speak SpanishGuatemala• Guatemala City is the capital and largest city• Shares borders with Honduras, El Salvador, Mexico and Belize• It is one of the most beautiful countries in Central America• Antigua is a colonial city center of weaving industryo Old capital, destroyed by volcano• Lake Atitlan is a mile high lake• A deep blue caldera surrounded by three volcanoes and twelve Indian villages• Tikal – one of the greatest Mayan cities near the border with Belize• You may fly from Guatemala City• More than 2,000 Mayan structures are hidden in the tropical rainforestHonduras• Honduras lies between Nicaragua, Guatemala and El Salvador• Tegucigalpa is the capital• Most of the territory is covered by mountains• “The Mosquito Coast” located in the northeast – mostly uninhabitedo The name comes from the Miskito Indians• El Copan are Mayan ruins near the border with Guatemala• Major exporter of bananas• Most southern area of the Mayans• 1998 – Hurricane Mitch destroyed much of the tourist infrastructureEl Salvador• It is the smallest and the most densely populated country in Central America• Does not have a coast line in the Caribbean• San Salvador is the capitalNicaragua• Located between Honduras and Costa Rica• Managua is the
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