Central America- a region of the planet located between North and South America and, from a purely geographical point of view, relating specifically to North America. Nevertheless, historically (if we consider first of all the origin of the peoples inhabiting Central America and the commonality of their cultures), this part of the planet can be considered an ethnically homogeneous and completely independent territory. Having little in common, although gravitating towards the northern neighbor.

If we consider Central America from the standpoint of a geographer, then it consists of only seven countries:

  • Honduras
  • Nicaragua
  • Panama
  • Salvador

Our project, however, considered it possible to unite the countries of Central America proper and the countries (islands) of the West Indies, located in the Caribbean Sea and historically inextricably linked with the mainland.

We emphasize: from a scientific point of view, the West Indies (or the Caribbean) is a separate region that is not included in the concept of Central America.

, (Netherlands), (UK), Virgin Islands (UK), Virgin Islands (US), Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Honduras, Grenada, Dominica, ( Dominican Republic), Cayman Islands, Costa Rica, Cuba, Montserrat, Nicaragua, Panama, Puerto Rico, El Salvador, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Turks and Caicos, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica .

Mountains, lakes, rivers of Central America

Most of the territory of the region is occupied by mountains, there are many active volcanoes. Flat areas are concentrated mainly near the coasts. The following mountain ranges are distinguished: the Guatemalan volcanic highlands (heights from 1000 to 3000 m), the highlands of Honduras and Nicaragua, two mountain ranges (San Blas and Sierra nia de Baudo) in Panama.

  • The volcanoes (4,217 m) and Tacana (4,117 m) in Guatemala have the highest height.

The highest mountains in the West Indies are located on the island of Haiti (Mount Duarte, 3175 m). You can also select mountain systems in Cuba (Sierra Maestra, up to 1956 m) and Jamaica (Blue Mountains, Blue Mountains, up to 2256 m).

  • The largest lake in Central America: Nicaragua (Nicaragua, 8,264 km2), located in the country of the same name. The lake is the second largest in Latin America(Mexico, Central and South America) after the lake and the 20th largest in the world. The depth of this huge freshwater reservoir reaches 70 meters.

It is in Central America that the world's second largest coral reef. The Mesoamerican Reef stretches along the coasts of Belize and Guatemala: almost 1,000 kilometers of "Diver's Happiness".

Most deep lake Central America, located in Guatemala. Its depth reaches 340 meters.

  • The largest river in Central America - Coco or Segovia (Río Coco, Río Segovia) is a border river between Honduras and Nicaragua, its length is 750 km

Climate

The climate in both Central America and the West Indies is tropical, characterized by high average air temperatures and high humidity. Such weather is good for rest and not suitable for hard work.

As a rule, two main seasons are distinguished here: winter (the driest and most even temperature season: November-April) and summer (humid and hot time, a lot of precipitation, strongest tropical hurricanes are not uncommon: May-October).

Spring and autumn, although present in the usual calendar, are rather vague concepts, mainly due to year-round high temperatures.

The climate varies quite a lot along the coasts: the Pacific is characterized by lower temperature and humidity, the Caribbean coast is characterized by tropical showers and heat.

The islands of the West Indies, in terms of rain, can be said to be a little deprived: for comparison, the average rainfall, for example, in Cuba is about 1,400 mm, in Nicaragua it reaches 5,000 mm. It should be borne in mind that approximately ¾ of all precipitation falls in the summer.

The average annual daily air temperatures are + 23-28 ° С on the plains and coastal areas, in highlands falling to average marks + 10-22 ° С (depending on the area: for example, the plateau of Guatemala is characterized by relatively moderate values: + 15-20 degrees, the highlands of Honduras are characterized by sharper jumps: + 10-22 degrees).

There are practically no differences in the temperature of winter and summer: for example, in Costa Rica average temperature January + 23 ° С, and July + 25 ° С.

For many, Central America is the edge of geography and a remote province of the world. No one goes there for gold, and there is no wealth there. These countries are among the poorest countries in the world. The region was rocked by endless civil wars and military coups. Even now, during a period of peaceful calm, tourists rarely drop into the countries of Central America. Dangerous, dirty, uninteresting - we hear from our compatriots. Is it so? Yes and no. Danger can lie in wait for you in Barcelona, ​​and the concept of cleanliness is subjective for everyone.

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But if you want to see the ruins of Mayan cities lost in the jungle; active volcanoes and white sandy beaches of the Caribbean coast; architectural gems of the colonial architecture of Guatemala and Nicaragua; rivers and lakes, seas and forests - then you should come here, as it is insanely interesting.

I invite you to travel with our family in Central America, where we spent 4 months. Let's make some comparative rating and give a general idea about these regions.

Central America is a region located between North and South America. There are already seven countries on this small piece of land: Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama. Six of them are Hispanic, with the exception of Belize, a former British colony. The population of the region is made up of indigenous people: Indians (descendants of the Mayan civilization), as well as the Spaniards who settled Central America during colonization, and the Africans who have remained here since the days of slavery. The main language of the region is Spanish. But let's talk about everything in order.

We have compiled our list of countries in descending order, from best to worst. This is the subjective opinion of our family, who saw Central America this way.

Costa Rica

One of the smallest states in Central America, but a definite favorite. It is located in the narrowest part of the Isthmus of Panama. can be considered one of the most beautiful countries in the region: mountain ranges, emerald volcanic lakes, "cloudy" moist forests, waterfalls, silvery sands of beaches, National parks and nature reserves, occupying a quarter of the country's territory.

The State of Costa Rica, unlike neighboring Central American countries, is a prosperous and peaceful state. The country does not have a paramilitary army, it was disbanded in 1949, and the country's security is ensured by a civil guard of about 10 thousand people. This has a positive effect on the fact that the country is gradually turning into one of the most promising countries in the entire Western Hemisphere in terms of international tourism. This place is especially attractive to American retirees. Well, this can be understood, because Costa Rica is in the international TOP of happiness. And there is nothing surprising. The people of Costa Rica are considered to be among the most happy people on the ground. The International Happiness Index uses many criteria to define happiness, including life expectancy, well-being and the environment, thereby determining general level happiness. The people here are friendly, the rhythm of life is unhurried, the air is clean, and the sky is blue. In Costa Rica, people often greet each other and say goodbye by saying "Pura Vida". But the expression Pura Vida, translated as "pure life," is more than just a figure of speech for Costa Ricans, it's a state of mind. I would say that this is the whole philosophy of this country.

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And of course, don't believe people who say that Costa Rica is too polished and artificial, thanks to infusions of American investors. It miraculously combines originality and comfort, for which you certainly have to pay. Costa Rica is the most expensive country in all of Central America. But such a beauty deserves it. Well, you understand: here we left a piece of ourselves and fell head over heels in love with this country, people and culture.

Panama

Panama gave its name to the isthmus connecting the continents of North and South America. The Republic also includes more than one and a half thousand islands. Panama captivates tourists with its versatility: relatively small in area, it can accommodate 11 national parks, 5 Indian reservations, 2 mountain ranges and endless beaches of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. After all, wherever you stay - the ocean coast is always there!

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Panama impressed us with its contrast: incredible virgin nature (especially its island part) and skyscrapers with slums. We visited the "paradise islands" called Bocas del Toro. The islands have excellent conditions for surfing, deep diving, diving, and boat trips. After what I have seen, I am not afraid to say that Bocas del Toro is a unique treasure of Panama, a pristine archipelago, which includes 9 relatively large islands, 52 small islands and more than 200 tiny islands, almost reefs. There are probably few places on earth left as unique as this.

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Everything here is quite civilized, but from the minuses I will note: the high cost and a certain indifference among the local population. Prices are slightly lower than in Costa Rica, but this does not save the situation. As for the people, we made wonderful acquaintances here, but we were often haunted by a feeling of some kind of indifference of the locals to everything.

Nicaragua

The largest country in Central America. This place is chosen by connoisseurs of ecotourism: climbs to active and extinct volcanoes, travel through the jungle and to the picturesque lagoons. Here is one of natural wonders planets - Lake Nicaragua, over which the island of Ometepe literally rises, formed by two volcanoes of an ideal conical shape: Concepción and Maderas.

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In fact, based on what he saw, Nicaragua is a pearl that is being polished, modified and becoming more attractive and popular among tourist travelers. Here you have the colonial cities: Leon and Granada. Once here, you begin to feel the atmosphere, where the houses are painted in blue, pink and green colors. Strings of horse-drawn carts ride along the rubbed paving stones. In the city center, the houses look as majestic as during the Spanish conquests: suites of columns, patios.

If you want to visit the Pacific Ocean, then Popoyo is definitely the place for surfing and yoga. There is a special atmosphere here: carefree and free young people with no plans for tomorrow, just HERE and NOW. Yes, the ocean is not always an element for relaxing with a child, but here's how to look: sand, a huge beach, an atmosphere of peace and goodness. And what sunsets!

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Keep in mind that there are more and more people who want to see this pristine beauty. So hurry up, because in Nicaragua there is definitely something to do with and without children. In short, this place deserves your attention.

Guatemala

The most colorful country in all of Central America, where they carefully keep their customs and traditions. The bulk of the local population are Indians and they are dressed in national costumes. Main value in life, family and relatives are here, and much less attention, emotions and strength are spent on everything else.

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Locals treat foreign tourists with great restraint and curiosity. We also met aggression, but this is more an exception than the rule. Guatemala is a powerful center of agricultural production (the prices for fruits and vegetables here are the lowest of all Central America). Here is a gastronomic paradise: fruits, vegetables, spices, nuts and much more, the name of which we do not know. There are no problems with snacks either: an abundance of food from fast food to a full-fledged chicken with rice and salad. In general, even somewhat reminiscent of Asia.

Here everyone can find their own: see the Atlantic and Pacific coasts; to appreciate the fantastic volcanic landscapes (there are 33 volcanoes in Guatemala, of which 4 are active) and Lake Atitlan surrounded by three volcanoes, one of the deepest and most beautiful in the world at an altitude of 1500m above sea level; connoisseurs of antiquity here are waiting for the archaeological treasures of the Mayan civilization with colonial architecture.

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The city of Antigua is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Such a “white ghetto” and “gringoland” (Americans, Canadians, a few French, Germans, Swedes, Swiss and even groups of Japanese with a guide). Here, for the first time during our entire trip to Central America, we met such a huge crowd of white tourists. The spirit of liberty hovers here, and the baroque monuments dilapidated by the earthquake turn the city into a museum of colonial Spanish architecture.

The city of Quetzaltenango is a piece of Europe, located at an altitude of 2333 meters above sea level and attracts travelers with beautiful architecture, fabric factories and the opportunity to climb a volcano.

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Subjectively: Guatemala is insanely colorful! What are the trips on buses worth: the pulse and heartbeat accelerates, which is far from always comfortable and cozy. But in any case, it is an entertaining and interesting experience.

Salvador

The most populous country in Central America: 21 thousand square meters. km accounts for about 6 million people. The size is not larger than the Lviv region. Unlike its neighbors, the tourism industry in El Salvador is poorly developed: after a bloody civil war at the end of the 20th century and a major earthquake in the early 2000s, the country's economy and infrastructure are reviving very slowly. El Salvador is often called the country of lakes and volcanoes - its main part is volcanic highlands among two chains of volcanoes, one of which is active.

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We remember El Salvador as a sincere, colorful and safe country. Here we met amazing people, walked around the city of Santa Ana, gawking at examples of colonial architecture and walking in local parks. Particularly memorable at the entrance to the park were signs indicating that no entry with knives was allowed.

Honduras

According to scientists, here is the most striking evidence of the existence of the Mayan civilization - ancient city Copan. If you want to go back many centuries, wander through the jungle and be impressed by the rock paintings, inventing theories about how it was all created without special technology, then you must see it. He is such a kopan - it strikes the imagination and makes you remember it for a long time. Believe me, you did not dream about Honduras (and who dreams about it?) for only one simple reason - you did not know about the existence of the city of Copan. The ruins of the ancient city of the Mayan Indians were discovered only in the middle of the 19th century, after which researchers and archaeologists began to gather in these places. As a result, an ancient city was discovered with pyramids, statues, temples, platforms and a stadium.

Belize

Belize is the only English-speaking country in Central America, which until 1973 was called British Honduras. Historically, it so happened that with the advent of the conquistadors, and these were English settlers, the bulk of the “residents” were pirates and colonists from the island of Jamaica, who brought black slaves with them to work in logging and plantations. Therefore, there is an insane amount of Africans who speak Creole-English (like English, but you only get the meaning), the streets are so teeming with homeless people that you want to run across to the other side. The women here are fat and languid. A large number of glassy-eyed beggars who try to talk about their miserable life, while others, more enterprising, sell a wooden stick, a spoon, or some other “value” of dubious quality. And it “smells” of sewerage here, but kind people brighten up all this (although you can find different things), music in the style of Bob Marley and the ubiquitous aroma of marijuana.

If we briefly describe our feelings from Belize, then they are definitely trash: a poor country with insane prices. So, accommodation in a guesthouse costs $40. Here you have a shower over the push and a hole in the field. They do not want to bargain and are surprised if you do it. The country does not produce anything (they grow bananas, oranges, sugarcane), it survives on tourism. But the level of tourism is very doubtful and suspicious. In the country itself, and especially with a child, there is really nothing to do. Nature - yes, nice, but passing through the bus window.

We haven't checked, but yours will tell you: Belize is famous for its barrier reef and islands, where people come for diving and snorkeling (snorkelling). And also the famous blue hole”(Eng. Great Blue Hole) - a large blue hole with a diameter of 305 meters, going to a depth of 120 meters. This place became famous thanks to the French explorer Jacques-Yves Cousteau, who included it in the list of 10 the best places in the world for diving. This concludes my story about Belize.

At the end of my story, I want to say one thing: Central America is amazing, interesting, full of adventure and discovery. But better come here yourself and see for yourself!

At the end of the 15th century, a new, hitherto unknown continent, later called America, opened up to the world. Its area is more than 40 million square meters. km. The discoverers called this continent the New World.

A few words about the continent

October 12, 1492 is officially considered the opening date of the mainland. It was on this day that the sailors of Christopher Columbus noticed the land that turned out to be America. Although the history of this part of the world began long before the discovery. There is a version that the continent got its name from the name of the navigator Amerigo Vespucci (navigator on the expedition of Admiral Alonso de Ojeda).

V modern meaning America - part of the world, which includes two continents (southern and northern) and the islands surrounding them. Previously, they belonged to different continents. is more than 950 million people, according to the 2015 census. For the first time, residents of Asia began to populate its territories. It is because of the numerous migrations of the Eskimos that they are currently considered the indigenous inhabitants of the mainland.

Regional division of the territory

The following regions are distinguished:

  • North America - includes the states: Canada, Mexico, as well as islands located on the side east coast.
  • unites independent countries located on the mainland.
  • Central America is a region that includes states located on the northern mainland south of Mexico.
  • Caribbean (another name for the West Indies) - consists of the islands of the Caribbean Sea.

Separation by language

The territory of America is also classified by division according to linguistic and historical criteria:

  • Latin America (Spanish, Portuguese, French speaking countries);
  • Anglo-America (English-speaking countries).

In total, America includes 36 independent countries and 17 dependent territories.

North America

The third largest continent of the planet is located in the Northern Hemisphere. This is North America. The area of ​​the mainland is more than 20 million square meters. km. With adjacent islands - more than 24 million square meters. km. The largest islands of North America are Greenland, Aleutian, West Indies and Canadian. This region includes the following countries: the USA, Canada, Mexico, as well as Greenland, the Bahamas and Bermuda. The total population of the region is more than 560 million people. The mainland is washed by the waters of three oceans: the Arctic, Atlantic and Pacific. It is connected to South America by the Isthmus of Panama in the south.

Quite varied. In the west, one of the largest mountain systems on the planet, the Cordillera Mountains, stretches, while in the east, plains and low hills predominate. The highest point of the mainland - the city of Denali (formerly McKinley) - 6,193 m.

The climate of the region changes from arctic in the north to subequatorial in the south. This diversity is easily explained by a large area. air masses come to the mainland from the west, and warm trade winds prevail only in the south of the region. The region is rich in precipitation. In the northwest, they can reach 6,000 mm/year. In North America, there is the largest river system on the planet - the river. Mississippi and Missouri, as well as the largest accumulation of fresh water in the Canadian Great Lakes.

South America

The area of ​​​​the mainland is 17.8 million square meters. km takes 4th place among other continents. It is washed by the waters of the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. In the south, it is disconnected from Antarctica, but in the north, a narrow isthmus separates the mainland from North America. The coastline of the continent is smooth and has few bays. The border of South America (namely, the coastline) stretches for more than 30,000 km. The relief of the region is asymmetrical: in the west, half of the mainland is occupied by a high mountain range - the Andes, in the east, plains and lowlands predominate. The highest point is the city of Aconcagua (6,960 m). South America crosses the equator.

Population this region- 387 million people. It is distributed unevenly across the mainland. The most populated regions are the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, where the most big cities continent.

On the political map This mainland has 12 independent states and one colony - the overseas department of France - Guiana. According to the level of development, the states belong to the agrarian-industrial type. That is, these are countries that are developing. Brazil, Argentina and Chile are the most industrialized. In other countries, agriculture and mining dominate.

Central America (description)

The central part is a region of America, conditionally located between the Southern and Northern continents. But territorially belongs to the northern mainland. The region includes 7 small states. Guatemala, Belize, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Panama and Honduras - Central America consists of them. The land area reaches about 2.7 million square meters. km. The majority of the region's population is Hispanic. The total population is 36 million people. Most of them are engaged in agriculture. One more popular name region - "banana republics". It has taken root due to the fact that more than 90% of all banana imports come from these countries.

West Indies

The Caribbean (West Indies) is an island region of America. Includes islands: Caribbean, Bahamas and Antilles. The population of the region is 42 million people. Consists of 5 states: Cuba, Haiti, Jamaica, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.

Almost all large islands have indented coasts and convenient bays. In addition, the region is quite even, warm tropical climate. This makes the West Indies very popular tourist place for relax.

Central America is a region located between North and South America, related geologically and geographically to the North American continent. Historically, Central America can be considered as an independent part of the world.

The dominant language in Central America is Spanish, with the only exception being English-speaking Belize. The population of Central America comes from the indigenous people - Indians, as well as from Europeans and the African slaves they brought.

Either partially intersects or enters entirely into Middle America, depending on the understanding of the latter.

In physical geography

In physical geography, Central America is most often understood as part of the North American continent from the Isthmus of Tehuantepec to the Isthmus of Panama (sometimes the territory is extended beyond both isthmuses for various reasons - for example, the northern border is drawn along the border of the Neotropical zone).

Wooded lowlands, plains and swamps are located along the coast of Central America. The region is crossed by rivers and mountain ranges. Most of Central America is occupied by medium-altitude mountains, included in mountain system Cordillera (Southern Sierra Madre, Sierra Madre de Chiapas, etc.). Highly fragmented mountain ranges predominate, cut by deep gorges of rivers, sometimes with areas of flattened plateaus, alternating with tectonic depressions. From the border of Mexico, where the highest peak of Central America rises - the Tajumulco volcano (height 4217 m), to Western Panama from the Pacific side, the Volcanic Range joins them with many active volcanoes, including those that arose in historical time (Santa Maria, Atitlán, Santa Ana, Cosiguina, Poas, Irazu, etc.). Large lowlands are located only in the north - accumulative Tabasco and Mosquito Coast (Mosquitia) and the Yucatan Peninsula, composed mainly of limestone with a wide development of karst processes and forms.

In the northern part, relatively stable blocks of the Central American Massif and the Yucatan Plate are located, southern part occupied by the Cordillera fold belt. The Central American massif is formed by a complex folded complex of Paleozoic and possibly Precambrian metamorphic rocks (graywackes, siliceous schists, diabases, amphibolites, gneisses), unconformably overlain by Carboniferous-Permian and Triassic-Jurassic continental deposits, as well as Cretaceous limestones. Devonian, Carboniferous and Cretaceous granitoids are widespread. The Yucatan Plate is an Epipaleozoic platform; consists of a folded base composed of metamorphic rocks of Paleozoic and, possibly, Precambrian age, and an almost horizontal cover of sedimentary rocks of the Mesozoic and Cenozoic (up to 6 km thick) discontinuously overlapping it: red-colored Triassic deposits, evaporites and limestones of the Jurassic and Cretaceous, Paleogene-Neogene terrigenous sediments. The fold belt of the Cordillera in a very reduced form continues the structures of the Cordilleras of Mexico; southeast of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, it is separated from the Central American massif by the Chiapas foredeep, filled with Paleogene and Neogene marine and continental deposits. At the base of this belt, a Paleozoic metamorphic folded complex is exposed in places, which is overlain in the territory of Guatemala by the Late Paleozoic molasse. The main place is occupied by the Mesozoic, predominantly Cretaceous carbonate and flysch strata, hosting large bodies of ultramafic rocks. In the southern regions in the Mesozoic, the products of underwater volcanism of the basic composition, which were formed in oceanic conditions, are widely developed. These areas are characterized by the development of salt domes. The main folding refers to the late Cretaceous - early Paleogene. A band of folded Cretaceous and older rocks forms a gentle arc and goes under the waters of the Gulf of Honduras in the northeast. On various older structures, there is a belt of Neogene and modern volcanoes, which stretches from Mexico to the Panama Canal along the Pacific coast, parallel to the Central American Trench. The formation of the Isthmus of Panama, which separated the Caribbean Sea from the Pacific Ocean, is associated with young volcanic and tectonic activity.

Minerals

Of the minerals in Central America, gold and silver ores are known, represented by medium (El Rosario in Honduras) and small (Pis Pis, La Luz in Nicaragua) in size hydrothermal deposits confined to Cretaceous intrusions, and placers (Coco in Nicaragua ), as well as small deposits of antimony, mercury. Small deposits of chromites are associated with ultramafic bodies; with Neogene volcanic intrusions - large porphyry copper deposits of Panama (Cerro Colorado and Cerro Petakilla). Oil and gas deposits are confined to the salt domes of the Tehuantepec Isthmus.

Due to abundant precipitation and the mountainous nature of the relief, the annual runoff in Central America usually exceeds 600 mm, reaching 1500 mm or more on the Caribbean slopes of Costa Rica and Panama, only on the southern slopes of the Southern Sierra Madre and in the northwest of the Yucatan Peninsula the runoff layer is less than 100 mm. The river network is dense, with the exception of the Yucatan Peninsula, which is almost devoid of surface watercourses. Short, stormy, rapids predominate; the largest are Motagua, Patuca and Coco. The rivers of the Atlantic Ocean basin are full-flowing throughout the year; rivers flowing into the Pacific Ocean, are characterized by sharp fluctuations in flow and severe summer floods. There are many lakes in tectonic basins, including the largest ones - Nicaragua, Managua, Izabal, Atitlan.

The coast of the Pacific Ocean with a narrow intermittent strip of coastal lowland in the northern part is straight, in the south it is strongly dissected by bays (Fonseca, Nicoya, Chiriqui, Montijo, Panama, etc.), forms a number of peninsulas (Nicoya, Osa, Azueroi, etc.) and is accompanied by mainland islands(Koiba, Sebako, Rei, etc.). The shores of the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf of Campeche) and the Caribbean Sea are predominantly low, lagoonal (the lagoons of Caratasca, Chiriqui, etc.), only in the southeastern part of the base of the Yucatan Peninsula the Gulf of Honduras juts out deeply; the shores are fringed with small, mainly coral islets.

The region is hot and humid, with temperatures rarely falling below 24°C. The climate is hotter on the coast, and cooler in the mountains and plateaus. From June to September, some areas receive more than 300 mm of precipitation per month. Central America lies in the tropical (to the depression of the Republic of Nicaragua) and subequatorial climatic zones. In connection with the situation in low latitudes(7-22 ° N. latitude) it receives a lot of solar heat (radiation balance, over 80 kcal / cm² per year, 1 kcal \u003d 4.19 kJ) and has high temperatures throughout the year (the average temperature of the coldest month in the lowlands is from 22-24 ° C in the north to 26 ° C in the south, the warmest 26-28 ° C; in the mountains at an altitude of 1000-2000 m 5-8 ° C lower ). On the northeastern, windward (in relation to the trade winds from the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea) slopes - a constantly humid climate, precipitation falls from 1500-2000 mm per year in the north to 3000 mm (in some places up to 7000 mm) in the south. On the leeward Pacific slopes, precipitation is associated with summer cyclones in the north and equatorial monsoons in the south, winters are usually dry, with 1000-1800 mm of precipitation per year. The inner basins and the low-lying northwest of the Yucatán peninsula, parallel to the trade winds, receive less than 500 mm of precipitation per year. In the south of Central America, exposure differences are obliterated, and the winter dry season is weakly expressed on the Pacific slope.

Central America has the richest forests, where trees of valuable hardwoods such as mahogany grow. But in some places, like Costa Rica, deforestation is unusually intensive. National parks have been established to preserve the surviving forests. Jaguars, monkeys, snakes, caimans, iguanas, many types of birds, as well as different kinds Butterflies and other insects are endangered due to deforestation.

On the lowlands and northeastern windward slopes up to a height of 800 m (the tierra caliente belt), humid tropical evergreen forests dominate on red-yellow lateritic, mainly ferrallitic soils; they have a lot of palms, trees with valuable colored wood, lianas, epiphytes. Significant areas, especially in the lowlands of Tabasco, are swampy; The banks are lined with mangroves. Near the coasts - plantations of bananas, cocoa, pineapples and other tropical crops; in the arid northwest of the Yucatan Peninsula, where xerophilic forests and shrubs grow, there are plantations of agave (heneken). In the mountains, altitudinal zonality is clearly expressed. Up to a height of 1700 m, there is a tierra templada belt, where heat-loving species disappear and tree-like ferns predominate; from a height of 1700 m (tierra fria belt) - mixed forests from evergreen deciduous (oaks, magnolias, etc.) and conifers (pines, Guatemalan fir, Lusitanian cypress, yew, etc.); above 3200 m fragments occur alpine meadows, in the south - high-altitude equatorial meadows of paramos. On the highlands, on mountainous red and brown-red laterized soils, coniferous-hard-leaved, in some places purely pine forests are common; Pasture cattle breeding is developed here, corn, potatoes, legumes are grown. On the Pacific slopes - predominantly deciduous (during the time of drought) tropical forests (ceiba, kokkoloba, etc.) on mountain red ferrallitic soils, changing lower, in the driest regions and in internal basins, with thorny woodlands, shrubs, cactus thickets and secondary savannahs on brown-red soils; plantations of coffee (at an altitude of 600-900 m), tobacco, sugar cane and cotton. The floristic composition is characterized by the predominance of North American species north of the Nicaragua depression and South American species south of it.

There are broad-nosed monkeys, peccaries, tapirs, armadillos, jaguars, blood-sucking the bats, many birds, reptiles and insects. Representatives of North America are also characteristic in the northern part - lynxes, raccoons, many rodents (ground squirrels, hares, squirrels, shrews, saccular rats, etc.). Among tapirs, rodents, bats and birds, there are endemic species.

Agriculture

Most of the population is engaged in agriculture. Cattle are bred in the highlands, bananas, sugar cane, and cotton are grown for export. Central America provides about a tenth of the world's coffee production. Chewing gum is made from the milky sap of the chicle tree, or bootsolla. A rich crop of cocoa beans is harvested here - the raw material for making chocolate. Corn, beans and rice grown in the region are staples of the local population.

The industry is poorly developed, it is still based on small factories producing clothes, shoes and other everyday goods. Handicraft pottery, woolen carpets, leather goods and hats are sold to tourists.

Most of the modern population of Central America is of mixed, predominantly Indian-Spanish origin. In El Salvador, Nicaragua, Honduras, Panama, this is the vast majority of residents. In Guatemala, about half of the population are Indians who speak their own languages. In Costa Rica, the descendants of the Spanish colonists almost did not mix with the local Indians. Panama is characterized a large share the Negro population (12-15%). In the 16th century, these lands were conquered by the Spaniards, who were looking for gold here. Prior to that, they were inhabited by various Indian tribes, including the Maya, who dominated here from 300 to 900. The first European settlers bought African slaves, whose descendants still live in Nicaragua, Belize and Panama. Spanish is spoken throughout the region, although in Belize official language is English. Many people also speak local Indian languages.

Religion

The majority of the inhabitants are Roman Catholic, but their religious holidays often have a national connotation. For example, All Saints Day (November 1) is celebrated in Guatemala with noisy horse races.

There are 47 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the region, 31 of which are in Mexico. This list includes both natural and man-made objects, which include not only individual buildings and quarters, but also entire cities of the pre-Hispanic era.

natural objects

  • Lake Nicaragua (Nicaragua) - the largest fresh water Central America and the only freshwater lake in the world that is inhabited by sharks.
  • The reefs of Belize are the second largest barrier reef in the world.

architectural objects

  • Antigua (Guatemala) - built in the 16th century during the colonial era, it was the capital of Guatemala, but in 1773 it was badly damaged by an earthquake.
  • Statue of Liberty is located in North America

intangible objects

  • Folk dances (Guatemala)

National parks

  • La Amistad International Park is located on both sides of the Panamanian-Costa Rican border. The park includes two bordering biosphere reserve. One of them is in Costa Rica, the other is in Panama. Both reserves are called the same - La Amistad, which means "friendship" in Spanish.
  • Corcovado National Park (Costa Rica) - located on the Osa Peninsula, on the Pacific coast. The area of ​​the park is 54,000 hectares. The magnificence of the nature of this remote, almost untouched forest in Central America, the diversity of its flora and fauna attracts the attention of people.
  • Monteverde National Reserve (Costa Rica) - in the 1960s, a group of scientists and local residents founded the Cloud Forest Reserve in Monteverde, which eventually included the watershed zone. Since then, the reserve has been expanded several times, and now it covers approximately 10,500 hectares.

In political geography, Central America consists of the following states:

  • Belize
  • Guatemala
  • Honduras
  • Costa Rica
  • Nicaragua
  • Panama
  • Salvador

History of Central America

Territory settlement

Central America was already inhabited by representatives of various cultures even before the arrival of Europeans. It is believed that man began to populate the region with the advent of North America from Asia or the Polynesian islands about 15 thousand years ago.

Olmecs (1150-800 BC)

The ancient Mexican Olmec culture, centered on La Venta, flourished in what is now the states of Veracruz and Tabasco. The Olmecs invented their own writing and counting, created a primitive calendar. Colossal stone heads were found at La Venta, apparently depicting leaders. Each head had its own helmet, and in pre-Columbian America, a headdress indicated a person's status.

Development of the Maya civilization

The Maya, living in what is now Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, and western Central America, had a hieroglyphic script, only partially deciphered, a complex and accurate calendar, which has been found to be fully comparable with the Gregorian calendar; they are the heirs of the Olmec culture, the heyday of civilization which dates back to 1200 BC. The most ancient traces of the Maya civilization date back to 200-300 BC. BC.; then the military expansion of Teotihuacan begins, and for a long time there is no mention of Maya; then the Maya reappear, and, apparently, despite the extremely unfavorable geophysical conditions of the rainforest, their culture reaches enough high level. By 750 AD the Maya already have four large urban centers (Tikal, Copan, Palenque and Calakmul), around which many small villages and towns are emerging; however, the existence of a centralized Maya state during this period is unlikely. For some reason, among which the invasion and religious strife can be considered the most plausible, between 800 and 900 years. the inhabitants left the cities, leaving these magnificent monuments to the jungle. After such a catastrophe, the Mayan culture concentrated on the Yucatan Peninsula, where between 900 and 1200. AD many urban centers emerged. One of them, Chichen Itza, most likely, was conquered by the Toltecs from Tollan (the predecessors of the Aztecs), and became one of the centers from where the Toltecs carried out their raids.

Toltecs (900-1200)

Warlike tribes standing at the barbarian stage of development. However, after the death of Teotihuacan, they, having inherited the culture of the city, built their own - Tollan (Tula). They were skilled craftsmen, painters and created intricate sculptures. The main deity of the Toltecs was Quetzalcoatl.

Aztecs (1428-1521)

The Aztecs came from the northwest and built their capital in the Valley of Mexico City - Tenochtitlan - a huge city that amazed with the splendor of palaces and temples. They created one of the most developed cultures in Central America. Religion touched every aspect of their lives. They worshiped over 120 gods. especially revered was the god Huitzilopochtli, to whom thousands of people were sacrificed every year.

Colonization

After the discoveries of Columbus, Spanish adventurers headed to America. In 1519, Hernan Cortes entered the Aztec capital and destroyed it. One of the richest countries in the world, hitherto unknown to Europe, became a province of Spain.

Republican era

In the XIX century, there was a state of the United Provinces of Central America, which included the territories of modern Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Costa Rica (which then included part of Panama) and part of the modern Mexican state of Chiapas

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