Fact Box

Central America
Physical Features
Due to the colonisation of
Central America by the
Europeans in the 16th
Volcanoes The Central American Volcanic Arc Century, the dominant
stretches along the western coast of language is Spanish. The
Central America from Guatemala down to most common religious
Panama. Some of these have produced practice is Roman
large explosive eruptions, like the colossal
Catholicism
VEI 6 eruption of the Santa Maria Volcano
in 1902. Many are still active today.  Key Vocabulary
Lake Nicaragua The biggest lake in Central America lies in
southern Nicaragua, close to Costa Rica. A active volcanoes which are erupting or could erupt
river connects the lake to Lake Managua in biodiversity the variety of plant and animal life
the north. It has over 400 islets, 3 islands, canopy uppermost branches of trees in a rainforest
and 2 volcanoes. The San Juan river cash crops bananas, coffee and sugarcane are exported
connects the lake to the Caribbean Sea. countries Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, El Salvador,
Earthquakes Central America is a part of the Pacific Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama make up
Ring of Fire, a horseshoe-shaped area on Central America
the edges of the Pacific Ocean. 90% of all deforestation removal of rainforest for farming / using wood
measured earthquakes on our planet occur dormant a volcano which will not erupt
here. In 2010, due to poorly constructed El Nino an event every 2-5 years where the Pacific
Climate buildings, over 230,000 died in Haiti. Ocean warms, causing more rain in the Americas
The climates of Central America are essentially tropical equator Central America sits just above the equator
although, due to the many mountains and hills, (a line separating the northern and southern
Rainforest The Central American rainforest is located
average temperatures in the highlands are much lower near the equator in the countries of Belize, hemispheres of Earth)
than those in the coastal lowlands. Rainfall occurs Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, isthmus Central America is seen an isthmus - a
primarily during the summer and is heaviest between Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama. Home narrow strip of land that connects two larger
to over two thirds of all species on earth, landmasses and separates two bodies of
May and November. January through March are the
many animals are now endangered. water
driest months. Typical hurricane season for Central
Mestizo / of mixed race, especially one having Spanish
America is usually concentrated in August through to Mestiza and indigenous descent
October. Flooding and mudslides from heavy rainfall Human Features mudslides tropical rain with mountainous landscapes
are big contributors to the large death tolls. Panama Canal This waterway connects the Atlantic and
native people who originally populated an area
Pacific oceans and cuts through a narrow
Largest strip of land in Panama. Before it was
tamales stuffed cornmeal dough served on special occasions
Longest Rivers tropical wet and dry seasons, frost-free with high
Populations built, ships traveling between the east and
temperatures
Coco (Nicaragua) – 750km west coasts of North America had to go all
Guatemala
the way around South America.
(15 million people) Fauna (animals)
Patuca (Honduras) – 500km
Mayan Civilization The Mayans made their home in an area
Motagua (Guatemala) 487km known as Mesoamerica (modern day Mexico &
Central America). The civilisation was well-
Tallest Mountains Honduras established by 1000 B.C., and lasted until
(9 million people) 1697 A.D when cities became deserted and
the Europeans arrived. Examples: – monkeys, Flora (plants)
jaguars, sloths, toucans and sea turtles
(others include parrots, anteaters, crocodiles and tree frogs)

Amerindians Native populations and tribes once

dominated the area. Once European
El Salvador
(significantly Spanish) populations arrived,
(6 million people) many natives died of disease. Spanish
Volcán Tajumulco Volcán Tacaná Acatenango
kapok oak pine cypress maquilishaut mahogany
(Guatemala) (Guatemala) (Guatemala) populations and Native American produced
4202m 4060m 3880m a significant Mestizos (mixed race)
population throughout Central America.