Geography Chapter 8

In the late __________________, Africans and Native Americans began to take actions to free themselves from slavery and European control.

1700s

Cross-cultural influences combine to produce unique ________________ and ________________.

dances music

An important human made waterway is the ______________

Panama Canal

biological diversity in an environment as indicated by numbers of different species of plants and animals

Biodiversity

What negative impact does city growth have on the environment of Central America and the Caribbean?

Air pollution increases due to the number of increasing cars

Write a sentence to describe the difference between an isthmus and an archipelago.

An isthmus is a small strip of land connecting two larger areas of land while an archipelago is a group of islands.

a group or chain of islands

Archipelago

What practical concerns do countries face when they think of conserving rain forests?

Ban the use of rainforest land, sustainable development and reforestation

________ affects climates and ecosystems more than distance from the Equator

Elevation

Why is biodiversity protection so important in Central America?

Biodiversity protection is important because this is a big part of the economy. Some countries in Central America don't have a strong economy so they are very dependent on money they can get. For example in Central America they protect the water supply and production of hydroelectricity supplies Costa Rica's industries which lets them become more competitive in international trade.

Costa Rica and Panama are known as ________ hotspots

biodiversity

The voyages of ________________ to the Americas from 1492 to 1504 set of an era of colonization in the Caribbean and Central America.

Christopher Columbus

Why are the majority of Central America's people concentrated in the Central Highlands?

Cool climate, fertile soil, rainfall

a business that employs workers in their homes

Cottage industry

How can agriculture damage the environment of the region?

In order to produce more agriculture forest regions must be cleared leading to deforestation and loss of fertile soil

local form of a language used in a particular place or by a certain group

Dialect

What economic factors have helped maintain an unequal distribution of wealth in Central America and the Caribbean?

Due to the fact that most of the countries are still considered less developed countries they cannot evenly distribute the wealth. There also isn't much wealth to go around so every area gets little wealth from specific industries or treaties they have going on.

the practice and business of recreational travel based on concern for the environment

Ecotourism

Use your graphic organizer to list the natural resources of Central America and the Caribbean and their importance to the region.

Fish: food and trade Petroleum: Runs things, exports Nickel, Coal, and Iron Ore: Trade Timber: Build stuff Fertile Soil: Agriculture

Other nations that colonized the region included _________________, _______________________, ___________________, and ______________________.

Great Britian France the Netherlands Portugal

What are some effects of cutting down rain forests?

Habitats are lost, resources are threatened, biodiversity shrinks

Think about the physical environment of the state in which you live. In two paragraphs, compare the ways urban populations in Central America and those in your state have modified their physical environments.

In Indiana a lot of the forests are cleared in order to make room for housing. Especially in Bloomington in order to make room for the IU students we have to clear land in order to build apartments. So in both areas land is cleared just for different reasons. Here it is for housing, in Central America it is to farm.

a narrow strip of land connecting two larger land areas

Isthmus

How is the growth of cities a cause of environmental concern in Central America and the Caribbean?

It causes problems such as high amounts of air pollution from factories and cars, lack of sanitary water, deforestation due to increased agriculte and housing, human impact on natural lands, and population pressire

How do growing human needs affect resources and the environment in Central America and the Caribbean?

It exceeds the resources like housing, running water, sewage systems, and electricity. Because the population is so high it forces people that have migrated to the region to live in slums or towards the edge of cities. These people can cause mudslides, floods and natural disasters that can wipe out the community. Also people just living in certain untouched areas can cause natural disasters due to human impact. The rapid population growth also causes pollution and causes higher amounts of greenhouse gases. Runoffs from chemicals from farmers can cause environmental damage to the ocean as well.

How has water been the source of political conflict?

It is a conflict because there have been problems (especially between Costa Rica and Nicaragua) when water projects have been started. Costa Rica took action and called United Nations and had the Nicaragua troops removed.

Write a paragraph describing why the hacienda system was not beneficial to the people of Central America and Caribbean and how it is still practiced in a form today.

It was not beneficial because when other better and higher paying jobs opened up people left and moved to the cities to get those. It is still practiced today on farms called minifundia where they are farms that are meant to support the family that owns the plot of land.

The ______ of Panama connects North and South America and separates the Caribbean Sea from the Gulf of Panama

Ithmus

How does its location in the Tropics affect the climate in Central America and the Caribbean?

Its location has prevailing winds that carry warm, moist air resulting in hot temperatures and year round rain. Central America has a tropical rain forest climate. The Caribbean has a tropical wet/dry climate.

in Latin America, large agricultural estates owned by families or corporations

Latifundia

Describe the relationship between latifundia and minifundia

Latifundia are estates that are owned by corporations that provide food for a town or community. A minidunfia is plots of land used to feed only the family that owns it (family usually doesn't farm the land).

What steps are being taken to help cities in the region?

Limit mugration to the cities, reduce amount of pollution with REDD+, PRODESEC to help out rural families and environmental laws and programs

Nicaraguas capital city is located on the southern shore of Lake _____________.

Managua

family ruled by a woman such as a mother, grandmother, or aunt

Matriachal

How have migration and rapid growth affected the population of Central America and the Caribbean?

Migration and population rapid growth have lead to some areas in Central America and the Caribbean being some of the most densely populated and people moved for economic opportunities as they were the best in this area of Latin America. It has also caused a population pressure due to trying to fit a lot of people in a small area.

in Latin America, small farms that produce food chiefly for family use

Minifundia

______ are Central Americas most distinctive landforms.

Mountains

The largest lake in Central America is Lake _____________ and the only one in the world that contains oceanic animal life.

Nicaragua

a dialect used in everyday speech that blends elements of several languages

Patois

the sum of factors within a population that reduce the ability of an environment to support the population, therefore resulting in migration or population decline

Population pressure

What is one positive effect of hydroelectric power? What is a negative effect?

Positive: Allows them to become competitive in international trade Negative: It is a threat to the environment in areas where they extract resources

planting young trees or seeds on lands where trees have been cut or destroyed

Reforestation

Use your graphic organizer to list the major religions practiced in Central America.

Religions practiced are in Central America and the Caribbean there is Roman Catholic. There is also protestant, Hinduism, Islam, indigenous and African religions, Christianity and several others.

the action or process of forming or depositing sediment

Sedimentation

What is the significance of sedimentation and reforestation?

Sedimentation is important because it a formation of a deposit of sediment which can destroy coral reefs. Reforestation is important because it can help replenish all of the trees that have been cut down. It is the planting of young trees in areas that have been stripped of trees.

What systems are being set up to protect people from natural disasters in Central America and the Caribbean?

Set up technology and satelittes. Scientists keep a close eye on volcanic action.

What human activities are contributing to deforestation?

Slash and burn cultivation and commercial logging

Use your graphic organizer to describe the threats to coral reefs from development and pollution.

Soil fertility and soil erosion happen due to industrialization. As it rain the soil that is eroded runs into the sea resulting in sedimentation. The sedimentation kills coral beds and can also threatens the safety of animals nearby.

Remote areas of Central America remained outside of _________________ control.

Spanish

How have the traditions and beliefs of indigenous peoples, Africans, and Europeans shaped society and culture in Central America and the Caribbean?

The merging of all of these cultures forms what is present day Central America and the Caribbean. In Central America most of the countries speak Spanish. In the Caribbean each country has its own dialect. Some of their religions come from indigenous and African American heritages. The art is influenced by the arrival of Columbus. There music is also a blend of African and indigenous music. There is a blend of traditions from all the cultures.

Many people in the Caribbean trace their family roots to ____________.

West Africa

What three levels of society are working together to protect the environment?

The regional cooperation, the government, private industries, and grassroot efforts

The islands of the Greater Antilles and the Lesser Antilles are part of an ___________.

archipelago

What is dangerous about the physical location of slums and shantytowns in Central America?

They are located near delicate wetlands. Natural disasters can occur that can wipe out a community. Also very unsanitary so disease can spread easily

What challenge do Central American countries face over resources?

They face their forests being depleted due to deforestation and due to deforestation ecosystems are becoming less diverse. The water sources can be depleted losing access to freshwater. Deforestation can also lead to a higher global warming.

How are Central American rivers and lakes important to the human systems of the area?

They provide transportation, drinking water, drainage, irrigation, and hydroelectric power. They also provide resources to the fishing industry.

______ and earthquakes are common.

Volcanic eruptions

How did colonialism influence the history and government of Central America and the Caribbean?

When the Europeans came over it caused problems and wars happened.

Why is soil erosion and decline such an issue in Central America and the Caribbean?

When the soil is no longer fertile farmers move onto new land hurting the environment because they have to clear the land of trees. When forests are destroyed the fertile soil loses starts to erode and lose fertility. This can eliminate natural vegetation. The construction of buildings also causes soil to rode causing soil erosion. When it rains the eroded soil runs into the seas causing sedimentation destroying coral beds.

Write a paragraph describing how altitude affects the climates and biodiversity of Central America and the Caribbean.

When you reach the timberline the ecosystem changes. There is less wildlife and plant life past it.

Millions of people speak _______________, or local languages; others speak a form of _________________, which are new languages made by blending two or more languages.

dialect patois

In 1823, Central American colonies, struggling for independence from Spain, formed the ___________________.

federation of the United Provinces of Central America

The lava weathers to produce ______ soil.

fertile

In Central America, about 79 percent of the population live in _______________ and _______________.

highland cities towns

Intense _____ strike each year from June to November in the northern Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico

hurricanes

Today, the hacienda system's large farms called ________________ are owned by corporations.

latifundia

Many countries in the region are still considered __________________.

less developed

Most of the region is located in the ________, with high temperatures and abundant rainfall year round

tropics

In Central America, about 60 percent of the people are _______________ and 20 percent are __________________.

mestizos indigenous

Central America has one of the world's highest rates of ________________, although in recent years it has slowed somewhat.

population growth