Geo 5 & 6

Video: The Geography of Central America After watching the video complete the map. 1.Label the countries and capital cities of Central America 2.Label the Islands: Cuba, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Bahama Islands 3.Identify the Greater Antilles and the Lesser Antilles 4.Label the bodies of water: Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea 5.Label the Panama Canal 6.Color the map

5.1.1 Pgs

As you read give details about the physical geography of Cental America and the Caribbean. A. B. C.

Landforms in Central America are mountains, coastal plains, rain forest.

Isthmus: a narrow strip connecting two large land masses.

A. Mountains: support region’s economy; cool climate; rich soil ideal for growing coffee, a key export.

B. Archipelago: chain of island, Caribbean Islands are a curving chain of islands. Lowlands support sugarcane cultivation, tropical climate supports tourism year round.

C. Rain Forest: heavily wooded forest that may receive over 100 inches of rain a year, help support a region’s economy; dense forest lots of rain, contain many resources.

Coffee is grown in the mountains; sugarcane is grown in the coastal plains (lowlands next to the seacoast) in Central America.

5.1.2 pgs

As you read give details of the causes and effects of the following events: A. Movement of tectonic plates B. Location of islands on plates C. Haiti 2010 Earthquake

Central America’s location on top of moving tectonic plates, part of the earth’s crust, (1)causes many earthquakes and volcanoes creating mountains and islands in the region.

Seismic activity and volcano eruptions.

(2) 2010 Haiti Earthquake : movement of plates cased the earthquake; (2) killed 200,000 people; destroyed homes; (3) damaged critical systems; destroyed much of Haiti’s capital. (3) Haitians went without water, electricity, medical help.

(1) 1996 Montserrat Volcano: movement of plates caused the volcano to form; caused much of the population to leave.

Many islands in the Caribbean made from tips of ancient volcanoes.

Rich soil in mountains is a positive effect volcanoes had on the region.

There are more earthquakes on the western side of Central America than on the eastern side because it is closer to the edge of the tectonic plate

5.1.3 pgs

As you read describe details of the importance of the Rain Forest to Central America. A. B. C. D.

Ecosystem a place where plants and animals rely on the environment to survive

Central Americans make most of their money by growing crops (Agriculture) Fertile able to produce plentiful crops. and hosting tourists.

People clear areas for farmland and use trees for wood, this causes deforestation (forest loss) of the rain forests.

Tourism (travel industry) brings high amounts of income to the region so people do not have to destroy the rainforest for farmland.

Rain Forest are important to the economy of Central America. (1)Many species live in rain forest. (2)Tourism helps the economy without damaging the rain forest.

(3) Rain forest land is used for farming ranching and timber. (4) Many commercial uses lead to deforestation, certain farming methods can help prevent damage.

Sea turtle are disappearing (Extinction dying out completely) from Nicaragua.

5.2.1 Pgs

As you read Sequence the events that led to new trade routes and the growth of slavery in the Americas. 1 Columbus lands in the Caribbean in

(1) Columbus lands in Caribbean in 1492.

The Spanish controlled most of Central America in the 1700s, other European nations took over the region to gain riches from (2) growing cash crops.

(3) Spanish Colonist export crops, minerals resources to Spain. They import African Slaves to use as workers.

The original natives of the Caribbean died from European diseases, so Europeans brought Africans to the Americas as slaves to work on plantations.

The trade pattern among the Americas, Europe, and Africa was called triangular trade, it caused trade and competition among European countries.

(4) Europe, Africa, and the Americas were connected by Triangular Trade. In the triangular trade, raw materials came from the Americas.

Global trade in a large scale was the outcome of the events but the trade involved Europeans enslaving people.

(5) Slavery grows in America. Millions were enslaved and this trade in slaves lasted 300 years. Exploit (take advantage)

5.2.4 pgs

As you read compare and contrast Cuba and Puerto Rico:

Both Puerto Rica and Cuba were once Spanish colonies, ideal conditions for growing sugarcane; good natural harbors ruled as colonies from around 1500 to 1900;

Spanish built large sugarcane plantations; native people rebelled several times; controlled by US after Spanish American War.

Cuba won independence as a result of Spanish American war; governed by corrupt governors for 50 years; became a communist country after revolution

government controls the economy though it is loosening a bit; has no trade with US; Castro took control in the 1960s, he established a communist government in Cuba.

Puerto Rico is a United States commonwealth today it has more economic and political freedom than Cuba.

Since 1492, trade has many groups passing through this region.

Europeans, East Indians, and Africans groups from different continents have interacted in this region.

6.1.3 pgs

As you read explain: why did the people want to build a canal if there was a railroad.

Before the Panama Canal opened, ships had to sail around South America from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean, its purpose was to shorten the trip from the Atlantic to the Pacific.

The United States build the first transcontinental railroad in Panama before the canal in Goods and people could now travel by rail across the Isthmus.

People still wanted to build a canal across the isthmus. Shipping goods across the isthmus by canal would be more efficient than by train.

Mosquitoes and rough terrain were the biggest problems in building the Panama Canal.

The Panama Canal 50 miles long.

The country of Panama has controlled the Panama Canal since 1999.

Panama expanded the canal to allow larger ships through, to avoid traffic jams caused by increased trade.

Additional Facts to Know! It took the Caribbean nations a long time to gain independence because other nations wanted to keep control of the region’s resources. Most tourist to the region stay in resorts and cruise ships Jamaican jerk is a blend of spices. Ecotourism helps save the environment and provide jobs for local farmers.