Notes from Lecture when looking at map Belize Language English o Only country in Central America whose official language is not Spanish No coast line to pacific only to Caribbean Capital Belmopan Used to be named British Honduras One of the largest cave systems similar to Puerto Rico o Great place if you love to go caving never during rainy season Mayans used the cities as burial grounds because they believe it is the access to the underworld Guatemala Most of country rain forest Archeological tourism is key component for Mayan ruins Capital No coast line on Caribbean only pacific Capital San Salvadoro El Salvador Honduras Capital Tegucigalpa Caribbean coast called Mosquito Coast Line The original Banana Republic Poor infrastructure o More than half of roads and bridges not repaired from hurricane years ago Nicaragua Lago de Nicaragua fresh water lake o Only place in world where you kind find fresh water sharks Evolved over time as lake evolved from salt water to fresh Political instability is up and down water Costa Rica Top ecotourism destinations in world Constitution does not allow Army o There is a police force o Funds went to health care and education instead Illegal immigration is a problem o If problem in Nicaragua people flee to Costa Rica Beautiful Country 95 literacy rate huge for central America Great beaches Great surfing Most of population lives around capital and coffee plantations 5 of worlds biodiversity is here o over 130 species of fresh water fish o about 850 species of birds o over 1000 species of butterflies Green era of Costa Rica began around 1970 71 Panama Close to US historically FSU has had a program here since the 1950s due to large amounts of military located there Panama canal was built in middle of rainforest o Thousands people died during building from yellow fever and malaria o Colombia backing the French to build French want to stop so Teddy Roosevelt contacted Colombia Colombia denied US originally Panama received backing from US and revolted against Colombia Panama gained independence and accepted US support to build Canal took about ten years with precautions taken to build without more death from disease You can go in the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Ocean in one day Scuba Diving o From coast to coast is about 80 miles Panama is the size of South Carolina In 1970s Congress decided to do something important with Panama and the Canal Panamanian gov t wont allow Darien gap to be filled due to fright of illegal transportation of drugs and other goods through the area Colombia Mexico Started to build a canal in Panama These countries originally belonged to Mexico o From US all the way to Panama Costa Rica and Belize medical great The name Pacific pacifico translates to Peaceful Central America s Cons Poor infrastructure roads bridges lack of hotels Political instability Natural Disasters TYPED FROM SLIDESHOW Belize Little is known about life in Belize prior to the arrival of the explorers in the 1500s The Spanish ignored Belize Shipwrecked British Sailors established the first European settlement in 1638 o British asked who owned it no one came forward so they claimed the The colony was called British Honduras until 1973 Became independent in 1981 o The British had to leave behind their army because Guatemala tried to land claim Belize Teacher thinks the quarrel is past and Belize is safe without British army now Climate o 70 80 degrees year round Premier destination for cheaper retirement by day for Americans About 2 million visitors a year Religious groups settled going back to 1950s 60s o Settled in areas pertaining to agriculture Barrier Reef and the Cayes Barrier reef principal tourist attraction Ranks as the world s second longest Reef runs parallel to the coast The ridges are called the cayes More than 200 isles The two largest are Caye Caulker and Ambergris Caye San Pedro the most important access point for dive sites Northern Belize La Ruta Maya begins north of Belize City Altun Ha the extensively excavated The head of the sun god carved in jade the national symbol was found here Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary found in northern Belize o Autobahn Society help maintain Western Belize Mostly a savanna gives way to Maya mountains Maya site of Caracol which rivals Tikal San Ignacio the district s center and base for exploration of the area o Caracol means sea shell o Tikal is in Guatemala Central Americas largest cave system Chiquibul Caves Best time to explore the area is from March to May Southern Belize Considered by many as the place to visit in Belize Dangriga the area s largest town The inhabitants are descendants of black Caribs who fled Honduras after failed revolt Nov 19th is Garifuna Settlement Day Costa Rica Costa Rica is linked with ecotourism One of the world s best systems of national parks 25 of its territory is protected Coasts on the Pacific and the Caribbean Most of the population lives in the central part of the country San Jose is Lies between Panama and Nicaragua located here People called Ticos Only a slightly larger than New Hampshire and Vermont combined Natural diversity provides tourists with many experiences Puntarenas principal Pacific port o Fishing industry is BIG Puerto Caldera to the south is where most cruise liners come to San Jose the capital was founded in 1737 o Located in the agricultural center of the country o Coffee trees surround the city o Known for its nightlife May be the base for visits to other parts o Butterfly farm coffee plantations oxcart factory carretas symbol for country Parks and Biological Reserves o Volcan Poas the most visited park steam belching crater fumaroles bubbling vents in the earth s crust o Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve in western Costa Rica o 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 o Airport has daily flights to San Jose o Approximately 145 miles north of San Jose on the Pan American Pan American Hwy stops in Colombian Panama rainforest Highway PANAMA The Crossroads of the World Caribbean Sea is 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 protected by the government The country has many rivers and more than
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