Five Characteristics Of Geography: The Caribbean Group 5, p.8

Location Where is it?

The Caribbean is often explained as the Isolated Proximity –E–Explains the unusual position between North and South America Exact Location: 5° N - 27° N and 98°W - 60°W

PROS Able to sustain cultural diversity Being close to N. America provides international relationships Fosters a strong sense of place and inward orientation by the people Isolation both helps and hinders its successes CONS Limits economic opportunity Being close to N. America creates economic dependence (ex. Dominican workers in the U.S. send more than $1 billion to family in the Dominican Republic who rely on the money)

Place: What is it like there?

Physical Features Warm all year long Lots of rain – Rainy season from July- October Hurricanes begin in July and pick up speed from the coast of West Africa, and typically enter through the Lesser Antilles

Physical Features Much of the Antillean Islands support tropical rainforests Palm Savannas are important biomes – Mostly found in tropical savannas – Palms provide the best soil – Sugarcane and citrus are planted here Semiarid vegetation in some areas – Limited agricultural potential – Goats graze here

Physical Features Much is urban (60%) Cities laid out in a grid with a central plaza House yards are common as a result of lack of space and poverty

Human Features African religions were transferred with salve trade from – Umbanda – Macuba – Candomble – Catholictism – Voodoo, Santeria, Obeah

Human Features European languages are most dominant – Spanish: 24 million (Cuba, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico) – French: 8 million (Haiti; people who speak French are usually higher class, education, or government position) – English: 6 million – Dutch: 500 thousand (numbers are declining) – Papiamento: a blending of African, English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Dutch into one language (ABC Islands)

Human Features Music – Reggae – Calypaso – Merengue – Rumba – Zouk

Human Features Common Ethnicities in the Caribbean – Chinese, Indian, & Indonesian (came as industrialized laborers) – Europeans – Africans (brought as slaves) Became neo-africans Farmers Formed maroon societies (made up of run-away slaves)

Human Features Most popular industries are agriculture and tourism Most states have excellent education – High literacy – High secondary graduation rates People tend to walk, ride bikes, and use public transportation rather than drive cars Women are typically the ones who run street markets

Human Features Caribbean English – Reflects a blend of influences of African, Spanish, French, Hindi, Amerindian – Expressions are unique to regions and are often politically changed (charley-price is very large rat based off of Sir Charles Price who was said to have introduced the first rat) – Patterns of speech distinguish it (repeating certain words adds intensity)

Human/ Environment Interaction: Human/ Environment Interaction: How do people interact with the environment?

Change Deforestation- people clear land for farming and building housing Mangrove swamps are cleared for beach creation Several dams were built on islands to help supply water to the people Built national parks to increase wildlife awareness and create a balance between human and animal fight for land People move into areas were water isn’t abundant creating an even greater shortage and drought

Adapt Farming – Rainfall provides water for crops – Savannas have fertile soil Limestone base in Cuba results in fertile red clay soil Arid zones near mountains are mainly used for grazing Residents of Montserrat had to evacuate at certain times due to volcanic activity

Adapt Because the soil easily eroded and did not provide good harvests, they developed two strategies: – Clear new land and abandon old land – Conserve soil and maintain fertility Abundant rainfall – dams

Regions: Regions: What makes it like other areas?

Physical Regions Antillean Islands – Greater Antilles Cuba Jamacia Hispanolia Puerto Rico – Less Antilles Islands from the Virgin Islands to Trinidad El Yunque Rainforest – In Puerto Rico – Protected by the Spanish

Physical Regions Rimland States – Belize – Guianas – Much timber comes from this area Mangroves – Not well suited for humans; better suited for fish and crustaceans – Usually cleared to create beaches Increases the risk of erosion

Political Regions Caribbean Community and Common Market (CAMICOM) – Created the Caribbean Development Bank to help poorer states Cuba – Communist – Socialist

Political Regions Monroe Doctrine – Claims that the U.S. would not tolerate European military involvement in the western hemisphere – U.S. believed that the Caribbean was within this range Puerto Rico Commonwealth of U.S. – Part of the U.S. and the Caribbean – Depends on the U.S. welfare and investment programs – U.S. food stamps give income to Puerto Rican families Cartoon picture describing the Monroe Doctrine policy.

Cultural Regions Crealization – African and European cultures were mixed – European language adapted to different dialects (French Creole) Neo-Africa – African salves were forced out of houses and moved to the Caribbean and North America

Economic Regions Free Trade of Americas (FTAA) –C–Cuba is not a part because it is communist Total GNI in Millions –D–Dominica to Dominican Republic ( ) Caribbean Community and Common Market –S–Suggested the Caribbean Development Bank to help poorer countries Cuba –C–Communist

Movement: How are people and places connected?

Movement Regional International Movement Created for the economic competitiveness of the Caribbean. The Goal: Improve employment rates within the Caribbean Increase interregional trade Reduce external dependency

Movement Movement of foreign investments in the Caribbean Free Trade Zones(FTZs)- Duty free and tax-exempt industrial parks for foreign corporations. Legalizes the foreign ownership Peruses for direct foreign investments Offers cheap labors Many cities, specially Dominican Republic, offers Free Trade Zones(FTZs).

Movement Tourism in the Caribbean People goes to the Caribbean for: Clear and sparkling turquoise water Enjoy warmth during the cold winter season Entrepreneurs are able to open resort business The Caribbean countries earns a lot of money from tourists visiting them each year.

Movement From Agriculture To>>> Factories and Resorts  Agriculture had once dominated the Caribbean, now it is no longer the main source of income due to: A decline in agreement with foreign importers. The soils are overworked. Now they have a much diversified economy. Coffee Export 11%

Movement Rural to Urban Migration Causes:  Agriculture became mechanized  Offshore industrialization  Rapid population growth of the total Caribbean population is now considered urban.

Movement Rural to Urban Migration(Continued….) Problems Created:  Citied are overcrowded  Informal Sector  Electricity lines are pirated from power lines

Movement Caribbean Emigration- People moving out of a region. Moving from the Caribbean To theFrom the Caribbean Country/Countries Belize, Cuba, Jamaica, Haiti, Dominican Republic, and Porto Rico. Belize, Bahamas, Jamaica, and Guyana. Suriname, Trinidad, and Tobago. French Guyana.

Movement Neo-African Movements in the Americas The Caribbean is comprised of millions of ethnically distinct individuals. In the 16 th century African Diaspora forced Africans to move from their native land. Creolization- Process in which African and European cultures are blended into the Caribbean.

Movement Neo-African Movements in the Americas(Continued…) African Religions were diffused in the Caribbean. Voodoo most widely practiced in the Caribbean. Language: Many languages were brought over by Europeans.

Movement Movement Neo-African Movements in the Americas(Continued…)Music: Many types of music were transferred from Africa with the slave trade Music of Bob Marley reflects Jamaica’s political situation.