Central America Belize British Honduras Little is known prior to 1500s when explorers arrived Spanish were preoccupied with gold and silver in Mexico o Ignored Belize Shipwrecked British established first European settlement in 1630 o British Honduras until 1973 Independent in 1981 o British still stuck around o Guatemala still tries to claim Belize Economy tourism o 2million tourists year o Great weather climate Retirement Mayan archeological sites Tropical Rainforest Belize City original capital o Destroyed by hurricane Belmopan new capital Citrus farms Barrier Reef and the Cayes Principle tourist attraction 2nd largest barrier reef in the world Parallel to coast 400 species of tropical fish great biodiversity Diving dive centers operate from San Pedro Threatened by people taking corals and boat damage Ridges called cayes o 200 isles o Caye Caulker largest less developed underwater cave system Northern Belize La Ruta Maya the route of the Maya begins north of Belize City Altun Ha o Most accessible extensively excavated The head of the sun god carved in jade the national symbol was found here Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary o Managed by Audubon Society o Mainly wetlands ideal for birds Southern Belize THE place to visit in Belize Dangriga area s largest town o Inhabitants are the descendents of the black Caribs who fled Honduras after a failed rebellion Cockscomb Wildlife Sanctuary world s only jaguar preserve Western Belize Savanna that gives way to Maya Mountains which are covered by rain forests San Ignacio o District s center o Base or exploring Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve The Maya ruins of Xunantunuch Caracol Rivals Tikal in size Chiquibul Caves Central America s largest cave system o March May less likely to be flooded o Mayans thought caves were sacred Ceremonies and burials Costa Rica The Rich Coast 97 literacy highest in Central America Small native population when Spaniards settled o settlers farmed o Highest amount of European population Peaceful country stable o No army Ecotourism est 1970s o 5 of biodiversity in the world o One of the world s best national parks systems o 25 of territory is protected o 120 volcanoes o Volc n Po s most visited park Steam belching crater fumaroles o Monte Verde Cloud Forest Preserve o Tortuaguero National Park Green turtle nesting site Monkeys and jaguars also inhabit the park West Pacific coast o Surfing sport fishing o Nicoya Peninsula hotels o Liberia principal town flights to San Jose 145mi north of SJ via Pan American Highway o Puntarenas principal Pacific port Most of population live in the middle of country Jan Jose capital o Principal destination o Ok nightlife o Surrounded by coffee trees Caf Britt offee plantation o Butterfly farm o Serpentarium o Sarchi Oxcart carretas factory Coffee and bananas Puerto Caldera cruise liners Guatemala Political instability hinders tourism o Dictatorships civil wars o Little development Crater Lake Antigua o English language academies o Old capital o Colonial city Guatemala City capital and largest city Markets archeology anthropology One of the most beautiful countries in Central America Lake Atitlan o Mile high crater lake o Deep blue caldera surrounded by 3 volcanoes and 12 indian villages Tikal o One of the greatest Mayan cities o Near the border with Belize can fly from Guatemala City o more than 2000 structures hidden in tropical rainforest El Salvador Smallest country in Central America Most densely populated country in Central America Political problems gangs civil wars o Still a current problem o Too violent for tourism Not many parks Only has a Pacific coast Can Calvador capital National currency dollar Honduras Bananas key export Under developed o Poorest country in Central America Slowly developing tourism Tegucigapala capital Most of the country is covered by mountains El Copan o Mayan ruins near Guatemala border Damaged by hurricane Mitch Miskito Indians in the northeast The Mosquito Coast Nicaragua Land of Volcanoes Once ruled by Samosa family o Overthrown by revolution o Currently hold government elections Close to Fidel Castro in Cuba Lake Nicaragua Managua capital and largest city Eco tourism o Once part of the Pacific Specially adapted species freshwater sharks Grenada o Colonial city Political stability and expansion will continue to attract tourists Largest but most sparsely populated country in region Pacific coast o Surfing and fishing Panama Unlike the rest of Central America Panama never belonged to Mexico o Belonged to Columbia o In the 19th century Panama was a part of the Gran Columbia size of South Carolina 1 3 tropical rainforest Key center for trading and commerce banking and retirement English is widely spoken Central American Highway to Columbia has not been completed o Concern about providing route to canal for drug cartels from Columbia Rivers 1600 islands o San Blas Islands Panama s largest archipelago Often visited by cruise ships Cuna Indians native inhabitants Self governing live by ancient ways Speak native language and Spanish 940 recorded bird species o Eco tourism Bocas de Toro During colonial times Spaniards built a road across panama to carry gold from Peru Panama Canal The Big Ditch o 51 miles 8 10 hours to cross instead of 3 4wks to go around South America o Attracts Atlantic vs Pacific tourist activities i e sunrise then sunset diving snorkeling in both etc o 1878 Columbians wanted to build a canal o Enlisted French engineer Ferdinand Lesseps built Suez Canal o Panama has 6 10 month rainy season very wet Hard work Malaria and yellow fever Discovered these were caused by mosquitoes Thousands of dead workers French gave up o Teddy Roosevelt offered to build canal Columbia denied Panamanians revolted in 1903 encouraged by US Gained independence Roosevelt offered again Panamanians accepted 10 years to build canal opened in 1914 cost 352 million American run until 1999 o Enter from Northwest in Caribbean Sea exit Southeast in Pacific Ocean o Country collects taxes from canal use o Colon is the entry city in the Caribbean Panama City capital o Entry city to the Pacific o Big city Darien Gap the jungle in between the canal and Columbia o Links Central and South America o Only gap in the highway South America The Land Longest mountain range in the world Andes Driest desert in the world Atacama Largest rainforest in the world Amazon Highest navigable lake in the world Titicaca Easter Island Galapagos Islands Mountains jungles ancient
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