INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL AND CULTURE: Exam 2 Notes/Study Guide/Review/MapsCENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA ONLYCentral America:*Two countries that do not have more than one coast – el Salvador and belizeSan Salvador is one of the most densely populated areasFrom pacific into panama canal you are going NWU.S. built canal, france started it, Roosevelt led it*Belize - used to be called “British Honduras”: National language is English (English were shipwrecked there and more came to rescue so they claimed it)Guatemala – largest most impressive Mayan ruins; dictatorships (not a pretty history)El Salvador – only faces the Pacific*Honduras – old “banana republic” (in the 1800s international companies began to plant bananas there)Nicaragua – largest of all in central america, weird politically because lost to Cuba and Venezuela;Lake Nicaragua - used to be a bay, earthquake locked this bay thousands of years ago, animals that lived there, they adapted, only place in the world where sharks can live in fresh water*Costa rica – hiking, stable tourism, 1948 elections decided what to do with army: only country without an army, only a naval forcePanama – U.S built canal, panama used to belong to Europe, Panamanians now run the canal, many U.S military installations in CanadaBelize – 180 miles, people go to belize for the great climate, great beaches, scuba diving, deep sea fishing, archaeological sites, beautiful resorts, nice people : 350,000 people population, relatively inexpensive;Belize city - used to be the capital (now it is BELMOPAN*); English is the main language, British sailors shipwrecked there stayed on coast and were picked up from English vessels and no one claimed Belize so the British claimed it and called it BRITISH HONDURAS*(wonderful market, great location, a lot of Americans are retiring* there too)Guatemala – because of political instability of country, can’t establish same kind of tourist industry as othersEl Salvador – very small, very difficult place right now, because of narca trafficking, thousands of young men are roaming the streets, formed gangs, no educational training was provided, no trade schools developed Mayan route – Mayan archaeological sites Honduras – became banana republic, miskitos – miskitos coast (native inhabitants of these islands, Miskito Indians on coast of Honduras)*Nicaragua – fresh water sharks in lake*Costa rica – in 1970 made wise decision to formally begin ecotourism*, beautiful country, different from Caribbean and pacific, east coast very little wave action, west is drier and a lot of waves, no army only police force (in constitution of country)Panama – when you come there on a boat you are coming from southeast, 8-10 hours to cross (sometimes have to wait turn to go in), panama once belonged to Colombia, now independent country, close ties to US because of many military bases and panama canal (many Panamanians speak English)BELIZE:2 million people visit belize – climate, 79-89 degrees all year, richest Mayan history traditions (archaeological sites, over 900 locations)Little is known about life in belize prior to the arrival of the explorers in the 1500sThe Spanish ignored belizeShipwrecked british sailors established the first European settlement in **1638**The colony was called **british Honduras**British took overSecond longest barrier reef in the world – popular scuba diving, kayaking, caving*Became independent in 19812/3 of country has been set aside as a national park*Guatemala still claims this territory, British had military base there for years to protect BeliziansBarrier Reef and the Cayes:Barrier reef principal tourist attraction – key destination*Ranks as the world second longestParallel to the coastRidges are called caysMore than 200 islesCaye caulker and ambergris caye – important*Ambergris caye – rent boat, scuba diving, need to go to SAN PEDRO*, most important destinationSan pedro is the most important access point for dive sites *Larger vessels cannot come close to the coastline because of the coral reefs, only smaller boats (tenders)Northern belize:“La ruta maya” begins north of belize city“Altun ha”: extensively excavated, huge carved sun god made of Jade, national symbol found here*Rain is not very hospitableAutoban society a lot of work and funding“Crooked tree wildlife sanctuary” found in northern belize*Western Belize:Mostly a savanna gives way to Maya mountainsSan Ignacio- the districts center and base for exploration of the areaMaya site of caracol* – huge cities abandoned which rivals Tikal, drought, couldn’t cultivate, leftCentral Americas largest cave systemChiquibul caves – largest in area, comparable to DR or PR, travel there in dry season march april may SPRING, underground caves get flooded in wet season, caving in DRBest time to explore the area is from march to maySouthern Belize:Considered by many as THE place to visit in belizeDangriga the areas largest town*The inhabitants are descendants black caribs who fled Honduras after failed revolt, persecuted in Honduras and left November 19th Is garifuna settlement day*Pretty inexpensive, a lot to do, good food, outdoors**, water**COSTA RICA: “rich coast”Costa rica is linked with ecotourism since 1970s, national park systemOne of the worlds best systems of national parks Best educational systems in south and central America, 97% literacyInfrastructure, education system, medical best in area25% of territory protectedParadise, lies between panama and NicaraguaCoasts on the pacific and the CaribbeanMost of the population lives in the central part of the country – san Jose is located hereMcdonalds and burger king deliver hereTikos and tikas – nicknames for each other, family tradition, in smaller towns they carry small machetes, a lot of work they do in open areas require need for the machete, wagons and crates they carry, coffee beans, oxen pullTropical paradise – 130 species of fresh water fish, 850 species of tropical birds, 1000 species of butterflies, 34000 species of insects, 5-6% of biodiversity of the world (rich country in ecosystem and ecology and biosphere), Land of volcanoes – 120-130 volcanic formations that at one point could have been very activeOnly a slightly larger than new hampshire and VermontNatural diversity provides tourists with many experiencesPuntarenas* principal pacific port – key destinationPuerto caldera*, to the south, is where most cruise liners come toSan
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