Geography (Central America)

What affects Central America's climate?

Elevation, air, and ocean currents

Climate: Altitudes above 6,000 feet (1800 m) are cold with frequent frosts

Few crops can be grown here, other than barley and potatoes.

Water Systems:

Nicaragua's Pacific coast has several lakes, the largest of which is Lake Nicaragua. Lake Nicaragua and Lake Managua, another large lake in Nicaragua, both lie in a valley east of the Volcanic Axis.

What makes Central America ideal for the growth of bananas, coffee, and cacao?

Climate and soil conditions

Countries: Costa Rica

Costa Rica's borders are the Pacific Ocean, Nicaragua, the Caribbean Sea, and Panama. Costa Rica is almost as large as the state of West Virginia. Its climate is both tropical and subtropical. It has a rainy season from December to April and a dry season from May to November. It's cooler in the mountain areas. Hurricanes frequently strike the eastern coast, bringing flooding and landslides. The terrain of Costa Rica is rugged. Its coastal plains are interrupted by mountains which include more than one hundred volcanic cones. Costa Rica's natural hazards include both earthquakes and volcanoes.

Countries: Guatemala

Guatemala's borders are Mexico, the Pacific Ocean, El Salvador, Honduras, the Caribbean Sea, and Belize. Guatemala is a bit smaller than the state of Tennessee. Its climate is tropical, being hot and humid in the lowland areas and cooler in the mountains. Hurricanes and tropical storms are frequent visitors. Its landscape is mostly mountainous, with plains in its coastal regions and a central plateau. There are many volcanoes in the mountains of Guatemala. It also occasionally experiences earthquakes.

Countries: Honduras

Honduras is bordered by the Caribbean Sea, Guatemala, the Pacific Ocean, and El Salvador. It's approximately the same size as Guatemala. The lowland climate is subtropical, while the mountain climate is temperate. Hurricanes and floods are frequent problems along the Caribbean coast. Coastal plains border the country; its central region is mountainous. Mild earthquakes are a frequent occurrence here.

What are the borders of Central America?

It is bordered by Mexico to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west, and the Caribbean Sea to the east.

Countries: Panama

The Pacific Ocean, Costa Rica, Colombia, and the Caribbean Sea border Panama. Panama is nearly the size of the state of South Carolina. Its climate is tropical, meaning it's hot, humid, and cloudy. It has an extended rainy season which runs from May to January. Its dry season runs from January to May. Severe storms often strike the area. Panama's landscape ranges from coastal plains and rolling hills to centrally located mountains and upland plains. Forest fires are one of Panama's natural hazards. Panama's geographic location makes it strategically important to world trade. The Isthmus of Panama connects North and South America. Panama is in control of the Panama Canal, which links the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

Countries: El Salvador

The Pacific Ocean, Guatemala, and Honduras border El Salvador. El Salvador is the smallest country in Central America. The climate here is tropical, with two seasons, a rainy season that runs from May to October and a dry season that runs from November to April. Hurricanes are a problem for the country. The landscape of El Salvador is much like that of Honduras, with plains along its coast, a central mountainous region, and an interior plateau. El Salvador is known as the Land of Volcanoes since volcanic eruptions and earthquakes often threaten the country.

Countries: Belize

The borders of Belize are Mexico, Guatemala, and the Caribbean Sea. It is a bit smaller than the state of Massachusetts. Belize has the highest percentage of undeveloped rain forest in Central America. The climate in Belize is tropical, and like most tropical climates, it has two seasons: rainy and dry. The rainy season is from May to November, and the dry season is from November to May. Hurricanes occur frequently, and flooding is often a problem on the southern coast. Most of Belize lies on a flat, swampy plain, with low mountains in the south.

Countries: Nicaragua

The borders of Nicaragua are the Pacific Ocean, Honduras, the Caribbean Sea, and Costa Rica. Nicaragua is a little smaller than the state of New York. Nicaragua's climate is tropical in its lowlands and cooler in its mountains. It's plagued by numerous hurricanes. Wide plains run along Nicaragua's eastern coast, while a narrower area of plains extends along the west coast, broken up by volcanoes. Its central region is mountainous. Natural hazards here include earthquakes, volcanoes, and landslides.

Landforms: Mountain regions

The most distinctive feature of Central America is the mountain chain that runs through the center of the region. Most of the major cities of Central America are here. These mountains of Central America are an extension of the range running through the western portion of North America. These mountains are part of the Volcanic Axis of Central America. They are the site of much seismic activity for earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Central America's highest peak is Tajumulco, a volcano in Guatemala that is approximately 14,000 feet (4,000 m) high. The mountain terrain is rugged, which, because it's difficult to cross, causes serious transportation problems in the region.

Landforms: Coastal plains

The plains that run along the Pacific coast are covered by grassland, which is called savanna in this part of the world.

Landforms: Caribbean lowlands

Thick rain forests cover most of the land that lies between the Caribbean Sea and the inland mountains. The soil here is of poor quality, and this limits the types of crops that can be grown.

What are some of Central America's natural resources?

Timber, fish, petroleum, and hydropower.

volcanic cone

a hill or mountain that builds up around the vent of a volcano.

isthmus

a land bridge connecting two continents.

How big is Central America?

about one-fourth the size of Mexico

subtropical

an area between thirty and forty degrees latitude with temperatures that remain above 32°F (0° C) year round.

What are some on Central America's mineral deposits?

copper, lead, zinc, gold, and silver.

Coasts: Caribbean coast

have a tropical climate, being hot and humid all year long and receiving lots of rainfall—more than eighty inches (203 cm) annually.

Climate: Altitudes between 3,000 and 6,000 feet (900 and 1800 m)

have mild year-round climates. They are frost-free, but still cool enough to grow coffee and corn.

Coasts: Pacific coast

receive rain only during the summer.

How many countries are in Central America?

seven

tropical storm

strong thunderstorms with circular winds of thirty-nine to seventy-three m.p.h.