Exam 2 Notes International Travel Culture HFT2716 Central America Chapter 7 1 24 12 1 31 12 Questions o Visit Atlantic for peaceful vacation o Central America has to offer Ecotourism Beautiful beaches Barrier Reef in Belize Panama Canal Archeological sites Native Inhabitants Primarily Cuna Indians in Panama o Negatives Natural disasters Volcanoes Hurricanes Political Instability 7 countries o Belize Little is known about Belize prior to the 1500s Spanish ignored Belize Shipwrecked British sailors established first settlement in 1638 Called British Honduras until 1973 Became independent in 1981 Second largest barrier reef in World key destination 2 largest Cayes islands are Caulker and Ambergris there are more than 200 San Pedro most important access point for dive sites Bel Maupon new capital Northern La Ruta Maya begins north of Belize City Altun Ha extensively excavated o Head of the Sun God carved in Jade national symbol Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary Western Myans abandoned this area because of drought Mostly a savanna gives way to Maya Mountains Central America s largest cave system San Ignacio the district s center and base for exploration o Chiquibul Caves o March to May is dry season Terrible rains Southern Considered as the place to visit Exam 2 Notes International Travel Culture HFT2716 Dangriga area s largest town Inhabitants are descendants of black Caribs who fled Honduras after a failed revolt November 19th is Gariufua Day o Guatemala Guatemala City capital and largest city Old capital was Antigua One of the most beautiful countries in S America Antigua is center of weaving industry Also Language schools Two places to visit Tikal Beaches Lake Atitlan mile high lake in crater of volcano Along Pacific Dark sand volcanic Civil war where many left country Many structures hidden in the forest o Honduras Known as the Banana Republic Banana plantations Tegucigalpa capital The Mosquito Coast northeast mostly swamps Named after Moskito Indians Popular destination o El Salvador Smallest and most densely populated No coastline in Caribbean Civil war kept people away Gang warfare San Salvador capital Not safe to go there Rely on banking and light manufacturing to keep county going Use American dollar as currency o Nicaragua Managua capital largest city Most sparsely populated county in the region Government is very close in relation to Cuba 1972 country and capital was destroyed by an earthquake Slightly larger than New York 90 of Managua destroyed Samoa Family controlled politics 1936 79 o Father and 2 sons o Kept all international earthquake relief for themselves o Caused a revolt and family fled to Paraguy Exam 2 Notes International Travel Culture HFT2716 o Costa Rica Linked to ecotourism in the 1970s One of the world s best systems of national parks 25 of the area is protected Best educational system in the area Best medical system in the area Between Panama Nicaragua Most of the population is in central Costa Rica Jan Jose Costa Rica means Rich City Call themselves Ticos 120 130 volcanic formations 3 main cities Puntarenas principal Pacific Port Puerto Caldera in the south is primary cruise ship port Jan Jose Capital founded 1737 o Largest city in the country o Mixture of colonial and modern architecture o Center of country o Coffee o Known for nightlife o Base for butterfly farms coffee plantations Spanish founded oxcart Not a large Native American population when Spanish came o Had to do much agriculture Parks Volcan Poas o Most visited bubbling vents Monteverde Cloud Forrest Preserve o Western Tortuguero National Park o Important for turtles Pacific coast is popular for fishing and surfing Nicoya Peninsula many new hotels Liberia is the area s principal town Daily flights to San Jose The Crossroads of the World Caribbean is to the north Pacific to the South Ecotourism Size of S Carolina 1 3 is tropical rain forest Much is protected by government o Panama Exam 2 Notes International Travel Culture HFT2716 o Soberania National Park borders the Panama Canal Key American retirement destination Panama canal area is second largest duty free trade area in world 1 3 of economy comes from Panama Canal 2 Billion on 2008 Previously controlled by Colombia 1878 Columbian government awarded contract to build canal to French Ferdinand Lesseps builder of the Suez Canal Colombia wouldn t agree to U S to finish the canal 1903 U S pushed for Panama to revolt against Colombia Panama became independent U S could build Building of Panama Canal French started Enter canal in Northwest and head Southeast Thousands died Malaria Yellow Fever Teddy Roosevelt finished Completed 1914 Started 1904 Canal 51 miles Ten years to build 352 million 5 609 lives U S control ended in 1999 o Trained Marines during cold war 8 10 hours to cross Where canal is now used to be a road Where Spanish ships carrying gold and treasures would be loaded Cities Colon in the Caribbean Panama City in Pacific capital Darien Gap links central and south America Only break in Pan American Highway Cuna Indians San Blas Islands Cruise ships are beginning to visit Have own language but speak Spanish Self governing and live according to ancient ways English Speaking o Belize Spanish South America Chapter Exam 2 Notes International Travel Culture HFT2716 2 2 12 2 7 12 MAP o Largest tropical rainforest o Andes Longest mountain range highest in western hemisphere Aconcagua between Argentina and Chile o Largest river o Lake Titicaca o Highest waterfall o Tierra del Fuego only 700 miles from Antarctica People o Immigration from Africa Europe East India o Native American cultures Incas very powerful rich in culture o Except for Brazil Guianas most of S America was colonized by Brought an end to native cultures dating back more then 2000 traditions Spain yrs o Quechua was language of Incas o Great Royal Highway Colombia to Chile o Francisco Pizarro found Inca empire o Cuzco is still most traveled city Languages o Guarani o Quechua o Aymara Brazil o Almost half the continent Larger than U S if we exclude Alaska o Portuguese o Rio De Janeiro Most popular Carnival Trade transportation tourist center o San Paulo country s largest city Inland o Iguazu Falls o Amazon river Lungs of the world More water than Mississippi Nile and Yangtze Chinese combined Fresh water 50 miles into ocean Cruises on river Gold mining releases mercury in river o Borders every country but Chile and Ecuador French Guiana Colony o Capital Cayenne o Space Center in
View Full Document