Earth Science 7-Central America2

Earth Science 7-Global Regions Index

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Countries in Central America

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1. Belize (Capital, Belmopan)

2. Guatemala (Capital, Guatemala City)

3. Honduras (Capital, Tegucigalpa)

4. Nicaragua (Capital, Managua)

5. Costa Rica (Capital, San Jose)

6. Panama (Capital, Panama City)

7. El Salvador (Capital, San Salvador)

8. Cuba (Capital, La Havana)

9. Puerto Rico (Capital, San Juan)

10. The Lesser of Antilles

Islands in Central America

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1. Turneffe Islands

2. Isla de la Bahia Islands (Bay Islands)

3. Providencia Islands

4. San Andres Islands

5. Maiz Islands

6. Coiba Island

7. Cayos Cocinos (Hog Islands)

8. Swan Islands

9. Ometepe Island

10. Pearl Islands

11. Taboga Islands

12. Cebaco Islands

13. Coiba Islands

14. Barbados

15. Haiti (Capital, Port-au-Prince)

16. Dominican Republic (Capital, Santo Domingo)

17. Jamaica

Main Bodies of Water in and Surrounding Central America

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1. Gulf of Honduras

2. Caribbean Sea

3. Mosquito Gulf

4. Panama Canal

5. Gulf of Panama

6. Gulf of Chiriqul

7. Gulf of Nicaya

8. Pacific Ocean

9. Gulf of Fonseca

10. Lake Managua

11. Lake Nicaragua

12. Lake Izabal

13. Motagua River

Latitude and Longitude

General Knowledge

(17°-5°N) (91°-15°W)

Elevation Range

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The highest point in Central America is the Tajamulco Volcano, which is located in the country of Guatemala. It is 13,845 feet (4,220 meters) above sea level.

The lowest point in Central America is the Carribean Sea, which is 0 feet (0 meters) above sea level.

Topographic Features

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Sierra Madre de Chiapas (Volcano Range)

Cordillera Isabella (Volcano Range)

Cordillera de Talamanca (Volcano Range)

Rainforests

Barrier Reef

The Blue Hole (An opening to a former Ice Age cave and popular dive spot)

Sierra Madre Mountains

The Central Highlands

Carribean Lowlands

Central Mountains

Bocas del Torro (Collection of Islands)

San Blas Archipelagos (Collection of Islands)

Darian Gap (Jungle)

Climate Zones

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The climate in Central America is equatorial monsoonal, and equatorial winter dry. Central America is surrounded by water on either side of it, some of the countries are islands so you can expect proximity to water to control and affect its weather. Central America is above sea level, keeping it cooler than if it was at sea level. There are many volcanoes and mountains that contribute to the climate change, by blocking strong winds or other precipitation. Central America is fairly close to the equator causing it to have a warm climate. Warm ocean currents (S. Equatorial) affect the eastern side of Central America, while the western side is affected by a cold California Current. Wind currents affect the western side of Central America with the North Equatorial Current, and the eastern side is affected by the Gulf Stream Current. The small islands affect the climate zones because they are tropical and their warm humid air moves into the mainland affecting the climate zones.

The Koepper Chart was very helpful with this study of the clinmate zones.

Major Natural Disasters

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1. 1917 Earthquake in Guatemala with 600 fatalities.

2. 1976 Earthquake in Guatemala with 23,000 fatalities.

3. 1998 Hurricane Mitch and flooding throughout all of Central America with 12,000 fatalities.

4. 2001 Earthquake in El Salvador with 850 fatalities

5. 2004 Rains in Haiti and the Dominican Republic with 2,400 fatalities.

6. 2005 Flooding in Central America with 1,400 fatalities, 1,200 of these were in Guatemala.

7. 2005 Tropical Storm Stan and mudslides in Guatemala and El Salvador with at least 225 fatalities.

8. August 2008 Hurricane in Haiti with 500 fatalities.

9. 2009 7.1 Earthquake in Honduras with 6 fatalities and 40 injuries.

9. January 2010 Earthquake in Haiti with 230,000 fatalities.

10. 2010 Hurricane Agatha and local volcanic eruption in Guatemala with over 100 fatalities.

Ocean

Currents

1.) Gulf Stream

      The Gulf stream current is a cool current 

2.) California

      The California current is a warm current

Near Water

1.) Gulf of Tehuantepec

2.) Caribbean Ocean

3.) Pacific Ocean

Salinity of Water

The salinity is around 30 ppt.for Central America.

Ice Cover

It is doubtful that there is any ice in Central America due to it being so near to the equator.

References

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General knowledge

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