1. Central America

3. Physical Mountains – Active volcanoes and part Central American Plateau Lowlands – Rain forests on Eastern side Coastal Plain – Pacific side, volcanic soil

4. Climate Mountains – Two climate zones based on elevation Year-round spring and cold Lowlands – Hot and humid with heavy rain Coastal Plain – Rain in summer, wet and dry climate (seasonal) – Savanna vegetation

5. Lake Nicaragua Freshwater fish – Swordfish and sharks – Islands – Volcanoes closed it off from the ocean

6. People and Cash Crops Similar to Mexico – Natives, Spanish and mestizos, Africans Bananas, coffee, sugar cane, cotton and the Panama Canal Honduras and Guatemala – Farming employs more than 50%

7. Review Describe one of the regions of Central America

8. Conflict Nicaragua Somozas and corruption 1979, Sandistas and the Iran-Contra Affair – Communism Hurricane Mitch 1998 El Salvador Landlessness and the Wealthy “Death Squads” Civil War 1992

9. Guatemala Caudillos=Dictators Civil War – 150,000 killed and “disappeared” 1999 Democratic elections Coffee, sugar and bananas Maya history and tourism

10. Caribbean Islands

12. Islands Greater Antilles, Lesser Antilles and Bahamas Archipelago – Coral islands, volcanoes and soil Tourism

13. Countries Africa and Asia – Workers United States and United Kingdom France and Netherlands

14. Economics Cuba and migration to major cities Tourism and Agriculture Money sent home from the US and other countries

15. Review Describe the economic situation in the Caribbean