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LETS TAKE A TRIP TO
CENTRAL AMERICA!
Central America on a
map
Central America
•
Central America is an isthmus, or land bridge, that unites the two continents of
North and South America.
•
Central America is bordered by Mexico to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the east,
the North Pacific Ocean to the west, and Colombia to the south-east.
•
Central America consists of seven countries:
Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama.
•
The Caribbean Islands are another region that are considered part of the continent
of North America. They are located in the Caribbean Sea to the east of Central
America. The largest four Caribbean Islands are Cuba, Hispaniola, Jamaica, and
Puerto Rico.
•
Central America was home to the Mayan Civilization, one of the great civilizations of
the historic world.
Countries of Central America
Name of
territory,
with flag
Area
(km²)[1]
Population
(July 2013
est.)
Population
density (per
km2)
Capital
Official
Language
Belize
22,966
334,297
13
Belmopan
English
Costa Rica
51,100
4,695,942
82
San José
Spanish
El Salvador
21,040
6,108,590
292
San Salvador
Spanish
Guatemala
108,890
14,373,472
129
Guatemala
City
Spanish
Honduras
112,090
8,448,465
67
Tegucigalpa
Spanish
Nicaragua
130,373
5,788,531
44
Managua
Spanish
78,200
3,559,408
44
Panama City
Spanish
Panama
Countries of the
Caribbean
Anguilla
Antigua and Barbuda
Aruba
Bahamas
Barbados
British Virgin Islands
Cayman Islands
Cuba
Dominica
Dominican Republic
Grenada
Guadeloupe
Haiti
Jamaica
Martinique
Montserrat
Netherlands Antilles
Puerto Rico
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines
Trinidad and Tobago
Turks and Caicos Islands
Virgin Islands
Fast Facts
Area
523,780 km2 (202,233 sq mi)
Percent of Earth’s land
0.10%
Population
43,308,660 (2013 est.)
Density
77 /km2 (200 /sq mi)
Countries
7
Languages
Spanish, English, Mayan languages, Garifuna, Kriol, European languages, and many others
Time Zones
UTC - 6:00, UTC - 5:00
Highest Point
Tajumulco Volcano, Guatemala, 13,845ft (4,220m)
Lowest Point
Caribbean Sea, 0ft (0m)
Geographic Center
The geographic center of Central America is 116 miles northeast of Lake Managua, Nicaragua
Major cities
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Havana, Cuba
Santiago, Dominican Republic
Guatemala City, Republic of Guatemala
San Salvador, El Salvador
Tegucigalpa, Honduras
Managua, Nicaragua
San Pedro Sula, Honduras
Panama City, Panama
San Jose, Costa Rica
Bordering Bodies of Water
Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea, Straits of Florida
Major Geographical Features
Sierra Madre de Chiapas, Cordillera Isabelia Mountains, Sierra Maestra Mountains, Lucayan Archipelago,
Greater Antilles, Lesser Antilles, Isthmus of Panama
Central America – Geography
• No country in Central America is landlocked.
• The geography of Central America is unique due to its interesting combination of
rugged mountains, heavy vegetation, and the influence of two major oceans.
• Central America has many volcanic mountain ranges; the longest are the Sierra
Madre de Chiapas in Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras; the Cordillera Isabelia
in Nicaragua, and the Cordillera de Talamanca running through Costa Rica and
Panama.
• The dominant feature of the northern part of Central America is the Sierra Madre
Range, spreading east from Mexico between the narrow Pacific coastal plain and
the limestone lowland of the Yucatan Peninsula.
• Parallel hill ranges sweep across Honduras and extend south, past the Caribbean
Mosquito Coast to lakes Managua and Nicaragua.
• A highly active volcanic belt runs along the Pacific coast from Mexico to Costa Rica.
• Hurricanes, earthquakes, mudslides, and volcanoes are frequent environmental
hazards in the region. The impact of these abnormal conditions has affected the
economic, political, and social development of the region.
Central America mountain ranges
The Sierra Madres
Cordillera de Talamanca mountain range lies
on the border between Costa Rica & Panama
Cordillera Isabelia or Cordillera Isabella
mountain range in Nicaragua
Central America – Tectonic plates
• The entire region of Central America sits on four massive tectonic plates.
• The boundary between these four plates is called the Middle America Trench.
• Most Central American Volcanoes are located along a stretch known as the Ring of
Fire. Mexico and parts of Central America are more prone to earthquakes due to its
location on the border of two tectonic plates.
• The Middle America Trench is an oceanic trench in the eastern Pacific Ocean off the
southwestern coast of Middle America, stretching from central Mexico to Costa
Rica.
• The trench is 1,700 miles long and is 21,880 feet at its deepest point.
Biodiversity
Central America has 7% of the world’s biodiversity, which
is the diversity, or variety, of plants and animals and other
living things in a particular area or region.
Amphibians
Birds
Mammals
Reptiles
Vascular
plants
Belize
46
544
147
140
2894
Costa Rica
183
838
232
258
12119
El Salvador
30
434
137
106
2911
Guatemala
133
684
193
236
8681
Honduras
101
699
201
213
5680
Nicaragua
61
632
181
178
7590
Panama
182
904
241
242
9915
Top 10 highest Mountain peaks of Central America
Rank
Mountain Peak
Nation
Province
1
Volcán Tajumulco PB
2
Volcán Tacaná PB
3
Volcán Acatenango PB
Guatemala
4
Alto Cuchumatanes PB
Guatemala
Huehuetenango
Elevation
4220 m
13,845 ft
Guatemala
San Marcos
Guatemala
San Marcos
4067 m
Mexico
Chiapas
Chimaltenango
Sacatepéquez
13,343 ft
3975 m
13,041 ft
3837 m
12,589 ft
3819 m
5
Chirripó Grande PB
Costa Rica
Cartago
Limón
San José
6
Cerro Ventisqueros PB
Costa Rica
San José
7
Volcán Santa María PB
Guatemala
Quetzaltenango
8
Volcán de Fuego PB
Guatemala
9
Volcán de Agua PB
Guatemala
10
Cerro Terbi PB
Costa Rica
12,530 ft
3812 m
12,507 ft
3772 m
12,375 ft
Chimaltenango
3763 m
Escuintla
Sacatepéquez
12,346 ft
Escuintla
3761 m
Sacatepéquez
12,339 ft
Limón
San José
3720 m
12,205 ft
There are sixteen UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Central America, with sites
represented in all seven Central American countries.
Belize Barrier Reef Reserve
System
Talamanca Range-La
Amistad Reserves / La
Amistad National Park
Belize, Stann Creek
and Toledo Districts,
Natural
Belize
San José, Cartago,
Limón and
Puntarenas
Provinces, Costa Natural
Rica; Bocas del Toro
and Chiriquí
Provinces, Panama
Palmar Sur, Costa
Rica
Precolumbian chiefdom
settlements with stone
spheres of the Diquís
Cultural
Cocos Island National Park
Puntarenas Province, Natural:
Costa Rica
Area de Conservación
Guanacaste
Guanacaste and
Alajuela Provinces,
Costa Rica
Joya de Cerén
Archaeological Site
Opico, La Libertad
Department, El
Salvador
Natural
Cultural
Tikal National Park
Archaeological Park and
Ruins of Quiriguá
Antigua Guatemala
Petén Department,
Guatemala
Mixed
Izabal Department,
Guatemala
Cultural
Sacatepéquez
Department,
Guatemala
Cultural
Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve
La Mosquitia,
Honduras
Natural
Copán Department,
Honduras
Maya Site of Copán
Ruins of León Viejo
Cultural
Puerto Momotombo,
Municipality La Paz
Cultural
Centro, Department
of León, Nicaragua
León, Nicaragua
León Cathedral
Fortifications on the
Caribbean Side of Panama:
Portobelo-San Lorenzo
Darien National Park
Cultural
Colón Province,
Panama
Darién Province,
Panama
Cultural
Natural
Coiba National Park and its
Special Zone of Marine
Protection
Archaeological Site of
Panamá Viejo and Historic
District of Panama City
Veraguas and Chiriquí
Provinces, Panama Natural
Panamá District,
Panamá Province,
Panama
Cultural
Belize
Political Map
Flag
Blue with a narrow red stripe along the top and the bottom edges; centered is a
large white disk bearing the coat of arms; the coat of arms features a shield
flanked by two workers in front of a mahogany tree with the related motto SUB
UMBRA FLOREO (I Flourish in the Shade) on a scroll at the bottom, all encircled by
a green garland of 50 mahogany leaves; the colors are those of the two main
political parties: blue for the PUP and red for the UDP; various elements of the
coat of arms - the figures, the tools, the mahogany tree, and the garland of leaves.
General information about Belize
Belize is about the size of Massachusetts.
Location: Central America, Belize is bordered on the north by Mexico, to the south and west by
Guatemala, and to the east by the Caribbean Sea. Only country in Central America without a
coastline on the North Pacific Ocean.
Time Zone: UTC-6
Climate: tropical; very hot and humid; rainy season (May to November); dry season (February to
May)
Terrain: flat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in south
Natural resources: arable land potential, timber, fish, hydropower
Natural hazards: frequent, devastating hurricanes (June to November) and coastal flooding
(especially in south). In fact, after Hurricane Hattie devastated the central coastal area of the country
in the early 1960s, the subsequent destruction of Belize City was the catalyst for the relocation of the
capital to the inland city of Belmopan.
Environment - current issues:
deforestation; water pollution from sewage, industrial effluents, agricultural runoff; solid and sewage
waste disposal
Government Type: parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm
Religion: Almost 80% of the population is Christian. Hindus, Bahais, and Buddhists are some of the
minorities.
National symbol:
National Flower: Black Orchid
National Tree: Mahogany tree
National Bird: Keel Billed Toucan
National Animal: Baird’s Tapir
Economy: agriculture, agro-based industry and merchandising, Tourism and construction
Former name: British Honduras
Capital City: Belmopan (21,000 pop.). Its name derives from the union of two words:
"Belize" and "Mopan"
Belize Population: 334,297 (2013 est.)
Currency: Belizean Dollar (BZD)
Ethnicity: Mestizo 48.7%, Creole 24.9%, Maya 10.6%, Garifuna 6.1%, other 9.7%
GDP total: $2.896 billion (2012 est.)
GDP per capita: $8,400 (2012 est.)
Language: Spanish 46%, Creole 32.9%, Mayan dialects 8.9%, English 3.9% (official),
Garifuna 3.4% (Carib), German 3.3%, other 1.4%, unknown 0.2%
Largest Cities: (by population) Belize City, San Ignacio, Orange Walk, Belmopan
Coastline: 240 miles (386 km)
Land Area: (TOTAL) 8,867 sq miles (22,966 sq km)
(land) 8,805 sq miles (22,806 sq km)
(water) 62 sq miles (160 sq km)
Land Divisions: 6 districts; including Belize, Cayo, Corozal, Orange Walk, Stann Creek
and Toledo
Horizontal Width: 143 km (89 miles) from San Ignacio, east to Dangriga
Vertical Length: from Corozal, southwest to Punta Gorda 230 km (143 miles)
Bordering Countries: (2) Guatemala, Mexico
Geographic Center: 13km southeast of Belmopan
Highest Point: Doyle's Delight 1,160m (3,805 ft.)
Lowest Point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
Major Rivers in Belize
Belize River, the New River and the Hondo River are the main rivers of Belize.
Longest river: Belize River (290 km)
Largest lake: New River Lagoon
Belize Physical Map
Mountain Ranges
Belize is located on the Caribbean Tectonic Plate.
• The Maya Mountains are a mountain range in Belize and eastern Guatemala.
• Doyle's Delight is the highest peak in Belize (1124 m). It lies in the Cockscomb
Range, a spur of the Maya Mountains in Western Belize.
• Victoria Peak within the Maya Mountains is the second highest mountain in
Belize.
National Parks, Natural Reserves, & Wildlife Sanctuaries of Belize
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Blue Hole National Park
Chiquibul National Park and Caracol
Five Blues Lake National Park
Guanacaste National Park
Payne's Creek National Park
Bacalar Chico
Bird Sanctuaries
Burdon Canal Nature Reserve
Great Blue Hole
Lighthouse Reef
Cockscomb Wildlife Sanctuary
Columbia River Forest Reserve
Community Baboon Sanctuary
Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary
Glover's Reef Marine Reserve
Half Moon Caye Natural Monument
Hol Chan Marine Reserve
Laughing Bird Caye
Marco Gonzales
Mexico Rocks
Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve
Rio Bravo Conservation and Management Area
Shark Ray Alley
Shipstern Nature Reserve
Turneffe Atoll
Costa Rica
Costa Rica Political Map
Flag
Five horizontal bands of blue (top), white, red (double width), white, and blue, with
the coat of arms in a white elliptical disk toward the hoist side of the red band;
Costa Rica retained the earlier blue-white-blue flag of Central America until 1848
when, in response to revolutionary activity in Europe, it was decided to incorporate
the French colors into the national flag and a central red stripe was added; today
the blue color is said to stand for the sky, opportunity, and perseverance, white
denotes peace, happiness, and wisdom, while red represents the blood shed for
freedom, as well as the generosity and vibrancy of the people.
General information about Costa Rica
Costa Rica is slightly smaller than West Virginia.
Costa Rica means "Rich Coast"
Location: Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between
Nicaragua and Panama.
Time Zone: UTC-6
Climate: tropical and subtropical; dry season (December to April); rainy season (May to November);
cooler in highlands
Terrain: coastal plains separated by rugged mountains including over 100 volcanic cones, of which
several are major volcanoes
Natural resources: hydropower
Natural hazards: occasional earthquakes, hurricanes along Atlantic coast; frequent flooding of
lowlands at onset of rainy season and landslides; active volcanoes.
Environment - current issues:
deforestation and land use change, largely a result of the clearing of land for cattle ranching and
agriculture; soil erosion; coastal marine pollution; fisheries protection; solid waste management; air
pollution.
Government Type: democratic republic
Independence: 15 September 1821 (from Spain)
Religion: Roman Catholic 76.3%, Evangelical 13.7%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.3%, other Protestant
0.7%, other 4.8%, none 3.2%
National symbol: clay-colored robin known as Yiguirro
Flower: Guaria Morada
Motto: "Pura Vida" "Pure life"
Tree: Guanacaste
Economy: agriculture, industry and services
Capital City: San Jose (159,535 pop.)
Population: 4,695,942 (2013 est.)
Currency: Costa Rican Colón (CRC)
Ethnicity: White (including mestizo) 94%, black 3%, Amerindian 1%, Chinese 1%,
other 1%
GDP total: $58.6 billion (2012 est.)
GDP per capita: $12,600 (2012 est.)
Language: Spanish (official), English
Largest Cities: (by population) San José, Puerto Limón, San Francisco, Alajuela
Coastline: 802 miles (1290 km)
Land Area: (TOTAL) 19,730 sq miles (51,100 sq km)
(land) 19,560 sq miles (50,660 sq km)
(water) 170 sq miles (440 sq km)
Land Divisions: 7 provinces; including Alajuela, Cartago, Guanacaste, Heredia, Limon,
Puntarenas and San Jose.
Territories: Cocos Island
Horizontal Width: 317 km (197 miles) from Puerto Limón to Santa Rosa
Vertical Length: 301 km (187 miles) from Upala to Golfito
Bordering Countries: (2) Nicaragua, Panama
Geographic Center: 35 miles NE of Ajajuela
Highest Point: Cerro Chirripo - 12,500 ft. (3,810 m)
Lowest Point: Pacific Ocean - 0 ft. (0 m)
Major Rivers in Costa Rica
There are 14 major river systems that originate in Costa Rica's mountains, each draining
into the Caribbean Sea, the Pacific Ocean, the San Juan River or Lake Nicaragua. Two of
these rivers, the Pacuare and Reventazon, produce world-famous whitewater rapids,
while others, such as the Sixaola and San Juan Rivers, provide natural boundaries
between Costa Rica and bordering nations.
Costa Rica – Major Rivers
River
Length (km) Length (miles) Outflow
Countries in the drainage Costa Rica Province in the
basin
drainage basin
San Juan River
192
120
San Juan Lagoon
Costa Rica, Nicaragua
Heredia
Térraba River
160
99
Pacific Ocean
Costa Rica
Puntarenas, San José
Sixaola River
146
91
Caribbean Sea
Costa Rica, Panama
Limon
Reventazón River 145
90
Caribbean Sea
Costa Rica
Cartago, Limon
Tempisque River 144
89
Gulf of Nicoya
Costa Rica
Guanacaste
Tárcoles River
111
69
Gulf of Nicoya
Costa Rica
Continental Divide
Pacuare River
108
67
Caribbean Sea
Costa Rica
Cartago, Limon
Sarapiquí River
85
53
Confluence with San
Costa Rica
Juan River
Heredia
Costa Rica Physical Map
Costa Rica - Highest Mountains
Costa Rica's geography mainly consists of five towering mountain ranges:
• the Central Mountain Range (Cordillera Central)
• the Talamanca Mountain Range (Cordillera de Talamanca)
• the Tilaran Mountain Range (Cordillera de Tilaran)
• the Guanacaste Mountain Range (Cordillera de Guanacaste)
• the Escazu Hills (Cerros de Escazu)
Mount Chirripo, the highest point in Costa Rica at 12,450 feet above sea level, is
located in the Talamanca Range.
Name
Elevation
Cerro Chirripó
3,842 m
Cerro Ventisqueros
3,812 m
Cerro Kámuk
3,549 m
Cerro de la Muerte
3,451 m
Irazú Volcano
3,432 m
Volcán Turrialba
3,340 m
Cerro Echandi
3,163 m
Volcán Barva
2,906 m
Volcán Poás
2,708 m
Cerro Cedral
2,420 m
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National Parks of Costa Rica
Arenal Volcano National Park
Barbilla National Park
Barra Honda National Park
Braulio Carrillo National Park
Cahuita National Park
Carara National Park
Chirripó National Park
Cocos Island National Park
Corcovado National Park
Diria National Park
Guanacaste National Park
Irazú Volcano National Park
Juan Castro Blanco National Park
La Amistad International Park
La Cangreja National Park
Las Baulas National Marine Park
Manuel Antonio National Park
Maquenque National Park
Palo Verde National Park
Piedras Blancas National Park
Poás Volcano National Park
Rincón de la Vieja Volcano National Park
Santa Rosa National Park
Tapantí National Park
Tenorio Volcano National Park
Tortuguero National Park
Turrialba Volcano National Park
El Salvador
(Republic of El Salvador)
El Salvador Political Map
Flag
Three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue with the national coat
of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms features a round emblem
encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL; the
banner is based on the former blue-white-blue flag of the Federal Republic of
Central America; the blue bands symbolize the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean
Sea, while the white band represents the land between the two bodies of water, as
well as peace and prosperity similar to the flag of Nicaragua, which has a different
coat of arms centered in the white band - it features a triangle encircled by the
words REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom;
also similar to the flag of Honduras, which has five blue stars arranged in an X
pattern centered in the white band.
General information about El Salvador
El Salvador is slightly smaller than Massachusetts.
Location: Central America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Guatemala and Honduras.
Smallest Central American country and only one without a coastline on Caribbean Sea.
Time Zone: UTC-6
Climate: tropical; rainy season (May to October); dry season (November to April); tropical on coast;
temperate in uplands
Terrain: mostly mountains with narrow coastal belt and central plateau
Natural resources: hydropower, geothermal power, petroleum, arable land
Natural hazards: known as the Land of Volcanoes; frequent and sometimes destructive earthquakes
and volcanic activity; extremely susceptible to hurricanes.
Environment - current issues:
deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution; contamination of soils from disposal of toxic wastes.
Government Type: republic
Independence: 15 September 1821 (from Spain)
Religion: Roman Catholic 57.1%, Protestant 21.2%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.9%, Mormon 0.7%, other
religions 2.3%, none 16.8%
National symbol: turquoise-browed motmot (bird)
Economy: agriculture, industry and services
Name: El Salvador translated means "The Savior"
Capital City: San Salvador (540,898 pop.)
Population: 6,108,590 (2013 est.)
Currency: The U.S. Dollar is the official currency
Ethnicity: Mestizo 90%, white 9%, Amerindian 1%
GDP total: $45.98 billion (2012 est.)
GDP per capita: $ 7,700 (2012 est.)
Language: Spanish (official)
Largest Cities: (by population) San Salvador, Soyapango, Santa Ana, San Miguel,
Mejicanos, Nueva San Salvador, Apopa
Coastline: 191 miles (307 km)
Land Area: (TOTAL) 13,074 sq miles (21,040 sq km)
(land) 12,875 sq miles (50,660 sq km)
(water) 199 sq miles (320 sq km)
Land Divisions: 14 departments; including Ahuachapan, Cabanas, Chalatenango,
Cuscatlan, La Libertad, La Paz, La Union, Morazan, San Miguel, San Salvador, San
Vicente, Santa Ana, Sonsonate and Usulutan.
Territories: Cocos Island
Horizontal Width: 190km (118 miles) from Cerro Verde National Park to La Union
Vertical Length: 112 km (70 miles) from La Herradura to Cerro El Pital
Bordering Countries: (2) Honduras, Guatemala
Geographic Center: 35 km (22 miles) NE of San Salvador
Highest Point: Cerro El Pital - 8,957 ft. (2,730 m)
Lowest Point: Pacific Ocean - 0 ft. (0 m)
Rivers & Lakes in El Salvador
Rivers & Lakes in El Salvador
• El Salvador contains hundreds of tiny lakes and a few larger ones.
• Ilopango (Lago de Ilopango) largest lake, lies just east of San Salvador and
contains emerald-blue water in the caldera of an inactive volcano.
• Lake Coatepeque, is smaller in surface area but it is so deep, its lowest point is
unknown. It is located in Cerro Verde National Park, located due north of Lago de
Ilopango.
• Lake Guija, lies in the northwest region on the border with Guatemala.
• Jocotal Lagoon (Laguna del Jocotal) is really a permanent freshwater lake.
• The Lempa River (Río Lemopa) is the longest river in El Salvador. It is also the only
navigable river in the country. The Lempa originates in Guatemala, flowing for a
short distance through Honduras before entering El Salvador. It empties into the
Pacific Ocean. The area around the mouth of the Lempa is known as Montecristo
Island.
• The Río Grande de San Miguel flows in the eastern part of the country, originating
north of San Francisco. It joins a tributary that flows from Lake Olomega, and the
two combined waterways empties into the Pacific Ocean.
• Other rivers are generally short and drain the Pacific lowlands or flow from the
central plateau through gaps in the southern mountain range to the Pacific. These
include the Goascorán, Jiboa, Torola, Paz and the Río Grande de San Miguel.
El Salvador Physical Map
El Salvador is divided into three geographic regions: the hot, narrow Pacific
coastal belt; the central plateau; and the northern lowlands.
El Salvador is one of the most seismically active, earthquake-vulnerable areas in
the Western Hemisphere. The country lies between two areas of active tectonic
plate movement.
MOUNTAINS AND VOLCANOES
Highest Mountains
• El Salvador lies along the Pacific Ring of Fire, and is thus subject to significant
tectonic activity, including frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity.
• El Salvador's southern border is the Pacific Ocean. Off the coast lies a deep ocean
valley, called the Middle America Trench, which was created by movement of the
Cocos Tectonic Plate.
• Most of the land of El Salvador is covered with mountains. There are two mountain
ranges in El Salvador, which runs parallel to each other from east to west of the
country. There is also central plateau in between the mountain ranges. The left
over portion of the landscape of El Salvador is covered with plains, which are
known as Pacific Lowlands.
• The northern Sierra Madre range is a continuous chain.
• The southern coastal range is a discontinuous chain composed of more than
twenty volcanoes in five clusters.
Name
Santa Ana Volcano
Volcán de San Vicente
Volcán de San Miguel
Volcán de Izalco
Volcán de San Salvador
Volcán Chingo
Volcán de Usulután
Volcán de Guazapa
Montaña El Tigre
Cerro Peña Pinta
Elevation
2,381 m
2,182 m
2,130 m
1,950 m
1,893 m
1,775 m
1,449 m
1,438 m
692 m
648 m
National Parks of El Salvador
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Bosque Conchagua
Cerro Verde
El Boquerón
El Imposible
Montecristo
Guatemala
(Republic of Guatemala)
Guatemala Political Map
Flag
Three equal vertical bands of light blue (hoist side), white, and light blue, with the
coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms includes a green and red
quetzal (the national bird) representing liberty and a scroll bearing the inscription
LIBERTAD 15 DE SEPTIEMBRE DE 1821 (the original date of independence from
Spain) all superimposed on a pair of crossed rifles signifying Guatemala's
willingness to defend itself and a pair of crossed swords representing honor and
framed by a laurel wreath symbolizing victory; the blue bands represent the Pacific
Ocean and Caribbean Sea; the white band denotes peace and purity.
General information about Guatemala
Guatemala is slightly less than the state of Tennessee.
Location: Central America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between El Salvador and Mexico, and
bordering the Gulf of Honduras (Caribbean Sea) between Honduras and Belize.
Time Zone: UTC-6
Climate: tropical; hot, humid in lowlands; cooler in highlands
Terrain: mostly mountains with narrow coastal plains and rolling limestone plateau
Natural resources: petroleum, nickel, rare woods, fish, chicle, hydropower
Natural hazards: numerous volcanoes in mountains, with occasional violent earthquakes; Caribbean
coast extremely susceptible to hurricanes and other tropical storms.
Environment - current issues:
deforestation in the Peten rainforest; soil erosion; water pollution.
Government Type: constitutional democratic republic
Independence: 15 September 1821 (from Spain)
Religion: Roman Catholic, Protestant, indigenous Mayan beliefs
Ethnicity: Mestizo (mixed Amerindian-Spanish - in local Spanish called Ladino) and European 59.4%,
K'iche 9.1%, Kaqchikel 8.4%, Mam 7.9%, Q'eqchi 6.3%, other Mayan 8.6%
National symbol: quetzal (bird)
Economy: agriculture, industry and services
Name: The origin of the name Guatemala is Indian.
Capital City: Guatemala City (1,104,890 pop.)
Population: 14,373,472 (2013 est.)
Currency: Quetzal (GTQ), US dollar (USD)
GDP total: $78.42 billion (2012 est.)
GDP per capita: $ 5,200 (2012 est.)
Language: Spanish (official), Amerindian
Largest Cities: (by population) Guatemala City, Mixco, Villa Nueva, Petapa, San Juan
Sacatepequez
Coastline: 249 miles (400 km)
Land Area: (TOTAL) 42,043 sq miles (108,890 sq km)
(land) 41,865 sq miles (108,430 sq km)
(water) 178 sq miles (460 sq km)
Land Divisions: 22 departments; including Alta Verapaz, Baja Verapaz, Chimaltenango,
Chiquimula, El Progreso, Escuintla, Guatemala, Huehuetenango, Izabal, Jalapa, Jutiapa,
Peten, Quetzaltenango, Quiche, Retalhuleu, Sacatepequez, San Marcos, Santa Rosa,
Solola, Suchitepequez, Totonicapan and Zacapa.
Horizontal Width: 232 miles (373 km) from Champerico, northeast to Puerto Barrios
Vertical Length: 280 miles (460 km) from San José, directly north to the border with
Mexico
Bordering Countries: (4) Honduras, Mexico, Belize, El Salvador
Geographic Center: 71 miles (114 km) NNE of Guatemala City
Highest Point: Volcan Tajumulco - 13,816 ft. (4,211 m)
Lowest Point: Pacific Ocean - 0 ft. (0 m)
Rivers & Lakes in Guatemala
Rivers & Lakes in Guatemala
• There are two important lakes of volcanic origin in the Sierra Madre highlands.
• Lake Atitlán is said to be one of the most beautiful lakes in the world. The lake is
over 304 meters (1,000 feet) deep in places.
• Lake Izabal, the largest lake in the country. The outlet of Lake Izabal is the Dulce
River, which flows into Amatique Bay.
• Lake Petén Itzá is in the north.
• Guatemala's eighteen principal rivers, which flow from the mountains to the
Pacific Ocean, are relatively short.
• The Motagua River serves as part of the boundary between Guatemala and
Honduras.
• The Sarstún River, to the south, serves as the boundary between Belize and
Guatemala and links the El Petén region with the coast.
• The Usumacinta River flows northeast along the Mexican border before
continuing into that country.
• The Belize River and the Azul River both rise in El Petén and empty into the
Caribbean.
Guatemala Physical Map
MOUNTAINS AND VOLCANOES
Highest Mountains
• Guatemala is a mountainous country of rolling hills, plateaus, deep river valleys,
and numerous volcanoes - some active
• Major regions include the Central Highlands that separate the Cuchumatanes
Mountains of the northwest from the volcanic ranges of the Sierra Madre
Mountains of the south and east.
• Peten, a limestone plateau covered by grasslands and tropical rainforest that
blankets most of the northern third of the country.
• Atlantic Lowlands that front the swampy edges of the Gulf of Honduras, and the
grassy farmland, volcanic sand beaches and rivers of the Pacific Lowlands.
• The Sierra Madre system extends from Mexico, through Guatemala, to El Salvador
and Honduras; it includes several active volcanoes.
• The Sierra de Chuacús branches due east from the Sierra Madre in the central part
of the country.
• To the east lie the Sierra de Chama and the Sierra de Santa Cruz.
Name
Volcán Tajumulco
Volcán de Acatenango
Volcán Santa María
Volcán de Fuego
Volcán de Agua
Volcán Santo Tomás
Volcán Atitlán
Volcán Siete Orejas
Volcán Tolimán
Volcán San Pedro
Elevation
4,220 m
3,976 m
3,772 m
3,763 m
3,760 m
3,542 m
3,535 m
3,370 m
3,158 m
3,020 m
National Parks of Guatemala
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Cerro El Baúl in Quetzaltenango
Cerro Miramundo in Zacapa
Cerro El Reformador in El Progreso
Cuevas del Silvino in Izabal
El Rosario in El Petén
Grutas de Lanquín in Alta Verapaz
Laguna Lachuá in Alta Verapaz
Laguna del Tigre in El Petén
Laguna El Pino in Santa Rosa
Las Victorias in Alta Verapaz
Los Aposentos in Chimaltenango
Mirador Río Azul in El Petén
Naciones Unidas in Guatemala
(department)
Tikal in El Petén
Riscos de Momostenango in Totonicapán
Río Dulce in Izabal
San José la Colonia in Alta Verapaz
Sipacate-Naranjo in Escuintla
Sierra del Lacandón in El Petén
Pacaya in Escuintla
Yaxhá-Nakúm-Naranjo in El Petén
Nicaragua
(Republic of Nicaragua)
Nicaragua Political Map
Flag
Three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue with the national coat
of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms features a triangle encircled
by the words REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on the top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the
bottom; the banner is based on the former blue-white-blue flag of the Federal
Republic of Central America; the blue bands symbolize the Pacific Ocean and the
Caribbean Sea, while the white band represents the land between the two bodies
of water similar to the flag of El Salvador, which features a round emblem encircled
by the words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL centered in
the white band; also similar to the flag of Honduras, which has five blue stars
arranged in an X pattern centered in the white band.
General information about Nicaragua
Nicaragua is slightly bigger in area than New York State. Largest country in Central America; contains
the largest freshwater body in Central America, Lago de Nicaragua.
Location: Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between
Costa Rica and Honduras.
Time Zone: UTC-6
Climate: tropical in lowlands, cooler in highlands
Terrain: extensive Atlantic coastal plains rising to central interior mountains; narrow Pacific coastal
plain interrupted by volcanoes
Natural resources: gold, silver, copper, tungsten, lead, zinc, timber, fish
Natural hazards: destructive earthquakes; volcanoes; landslides; extremely susceptible to hurricanes.
Environment - current issues:
deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution.
Government Type: republic
Independence: 15 September 1821 (from Spain)
Religion: Catholic (73%), Evangelical (15%), Moravian (1.5%), others
Ethnicity: Mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 69%, white 17%, black 9%, Amerindian 5%
National symbol: turquoise-browed motmot (bird)
Economy: agriculture, industry and exports
Capital City: Managua (1,800,000 pop.)
Population: 5,788,531 (2013 est.)
Currency: Nicaragua Cordoba Oro (NIO)
GDP total: $20.04 billion (2012 est.)
GDP per capita: $ 3,300 (2012 est.)
Language: Spanish 97.5% (official), Miskito 1.7%, other 0.8%
Largest Cities: (by population) Managua, Leon, Chinandega, Masaya
Coastline: 565 miles (910 km)
Land Area: (TOTAL) 49,998 sq miles (129,494 sq km)
(land) 43,430 sq miles (120,254 sq km)
(water) 3,568 sq miles (9,240 sq km)
Land Divisions: 15 departments and two autonomous regions; the departments are:
Boaco, Carazo, Chinandega, Chontales, Esteli, Granada, Jinotega, Leon, Madriz,
Managua, Masaya, Matagalpa, Nueva Segovia, Rio San Juan and Rivas. The
autonomous regions: Atlantico Norte and Atlantico Sur.
Horizontal Width: 352 km (219 miles) from Puerto Sandino to El Bluff
Vertical Length: 354 km (227 miles) from San Carlos to the northern border with
Honduras
Bordering Countries: (2) Costa Rica, Honduras
Geographic Center: 88 km (55 miles) NE of Managua, Nicaragua
Highest Point: Mogoton - 7,999 ft. (2,438 m)
Lowest Point: Pacific Ocean - 0 ft. (0 m)
Rivers & Lakes in Nicaragua
Islands, Rivers & Lakes in Nicaragua
• Lake Nicaragua (Lago de Nicaragua) is the largest freshwater lake in Central and
South America.
• Lake Managua connects to Lake Nicaragua by the Tipitapa River.
• Coco River, Nicaragua's longest river (680 km/423 miles), flows from the
northwest highlands to the Caribbean Sea, forming Nicaragua's border with
Honduras.
• San Juan River (180 km/110 miles) carries the largest volume of water, it flows
from the southeast corner of Lake Nicaragua east to the Caribbean Sea.
Nicaragua Physical Map
Topography & Mountains
• The land naturally divides into three topographic zones: the Pacific Lowlands, the
Central Highlands, and the Atlantic Lowlands.
• Nicaragua is situated on the Caribbean Tectonic Plate, but just off the country's
Pacific coast is the Cocos Tectonic Plate. Frequent earthquakes and volcanic
eruptions result from action of the Caribbean and Cocos plates.
Highest Mountains
• Nicaragua has three inland mountain ranges and a chain of volcanoes.
• Cordillera Isabella runs southwest to northeast, toward the Honduran border.
• Cordillera Dariense runs nearly west to east, defining the southern edge of the
triangular Central Highlands.
• Cordillera Los Maribios is the chain of volcanoes, which originates in the northwest.
• A chain of seventeen volcanoes runs along the Pacific Coast.
• Masaya, near Managua, is one of only four volcanoes on earth with a constant pool
of lava that neither increases nor recedes.
Name
Elevation
Mogotón
2,107 m
Volcán San Cristóbal
1,745 m
Volcán Concepción
1,610 m
Cerro La Montaña
1,349 m
Volcán Cosigüina
872 m
Volcán Cerro Negro
728 m
Volcán Masaya
635 m
Cerro El Menco
147 m
National Parks of Nicaragua
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Indio-Maìz Biological Reserve
Los Guatuzos Wildlife Refuge
Mombacho Cloud Forest Reserve
Chocoyero Nature Reserve
La Flor Wildlife Refuge
Isla Juan Venado Nature Reserve
Montibelli Nature Reserve
Selva Negra Cloud Forest Reserve
El Jaguar Cloud Forest Reserve
Panama
(Republic of Panama)
Panama Political Map
Flag
Divided into four, equal rectangles; the top quadrants are white (hoist side) with a
blue five-pointed star in the center and plain red; the bottom quadrants are plain
blue (hoist side) and white with a red five-pointed star in the center; the blue and
red colors are those of the main political parties (Conservatives and Liberals
respectively) and the white denotes peace between them; the blue star stands for
the civic virtues of purity and honesty, the red star signifies authority and law.
General information about Panama
Panama is slightly smaller than South Carolina.
Location: Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between
Colombia and Costa Rica. Strategic location on eastern end of isthmus forming land bridge
connecting North and South America; controls Panama Canal that links North Atlantic Ocean via
Caribbean Sea with North Pacific Ocean.
Time Zone: UTC-5
Climate: tropical maritime; hot, humid, cloudy; prolonged rainy season (May to January), short dry
season (January to May)
Terrain: interior mostly steep, rugged mountains and dissected, upland plains; coastal areas largely
plains and rolling hills
Natural resources: copper, mahogany forests, shrimp, hydropower
Natural hazards: occasional severe storms and forest fires in the Darien area.
Environment - current issues:
water pollution from agricultural runoff threatens fishery resources; deforestation of tropical rain
forest; land degradation and soil erosion threatens siltation of Panama Canal; air pollution in urban
areas; mining threatens natural resources.
Government Type: constitutional democracy
Independence: 3 November 1903
Religion: Catholic (85%), Protestant (15%)
Ethnicity: Mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 70%, Amerindian and mixed (West Indian) 14%,
white 10%, Amerindian 6%
National symbol: harpy eagle
Economy: agriculture, industry and exports
Capital City: Panama City (880,691 pop.)
Population: 3,559,408 (2013 est.)
Currency: Panama Balboa (PAB)
GDP total: $56.83 billion (2012 est.)
GDP per capita: $ 15,300 (2012 est.)
Language: Spanish (official), English
Largest Cities: (by population) Panama City, San Miguelito, Tocumen, David, Arraijan,
Colon, Las Cumbres, La Chorrera
Coastline: 1,547 miles (2,490 km)
Land Area: (TOTAL) 30,193 sq miles (78,200 sq km)
(land) 29,340 sq miles (75,990 sq km)
(water) 853 sq miles (2,210 sq km)
Land Divisions: 9 provinces and 1 territory; the provinces include Bocas del Toro,
Chiriqui, Cocle, Colon, Darien, Herrera, Los Santos, Panama and Veraguas; the territory
is San Blas (Kuna Yala).
Horizontal Width: 598 km (334 miles) from the eastern border with Costa Rica to the
western border with Colombia
Vertical Length: 190 km (101 miles) from Tonosi to the Gulf of Mosquitos
Bordering Countries: (2) Costa Rica, Columbia
Geographic Center: Penonome, Panama
Highest Point: Volcan Baru - 11,401 ft. (3,475 m)
Lowest Point: Pacific Ocean - 0 ft. (0 m)
Rivers & Lakes in Panama
Rivers & Lakes in Panama
• Gatún Lake is Panama's largest lake.
• Gatún Lake and Lake Alajuela (also known as Lake Madden) are supplied by
rainwater and provide the water for the Panama Canal and the drinking water for
Panama City.
• Lake Chepo is another large reservoir in central Panama.
• Panama has more than five hundred rivers, most of which are quite short.
• The Chucunaque and the Chepo are of equal length (215 km/134 miles) and longest
rivers of Panama flow into the Pacific Ocean.
• Other rivers with Pacific outlets - Santa Maria (168 km/104 miles), Chiriquí Viejo
(161 km/100 miles), and the Tuira (127 km/79 miles).
• More than 150 rivers draining into the Caribbean, including the Chagres (125 km/78
miles), Changuinola (110 km/68 miles), Indio (92 km/ 57 miles), and Cricamola (62
km/38 miles).
Panama Canal
• The canal channel is 82 kilometers (51 miles) long, with entrances at Limón Bay on
the Atlantic side and the Bay of Panama on the Pacific side.
• It takes about eight to ten hours for a ship to complete its passage through the
canal.
• A number of dams have been constructed in order to regulate the flow of water
through and around the canal.
Panama Physical Map
Topography, Mountains and Islands
• Panama, an S-shaped isthmus, divides the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. The
country's narrowest point is just 48 kilometers (30 miles) across, and its widest is
185 kilometers (115 miles).
• Two parallel mountain ranges traverse Panama; between the mountains are valleys
and plains. The highest lands are toward the Costa Rican border; the interior of the
country, where the Panama Canal is found, has the lowest elevation.
• Panama is seated on the Caribbean Tectonic Plate.
• On the Caribbean side, the 366-island San Blas Archipelago.
• The Bocas del Toro Archipelago extends along the west of Panama to the border of
Costa Rica.
• The Pearl Islands, Isla Del Ray, and Contadora Island in the Gulf of Panama.
• Coiba, Jicarón Island, Cébaco Island, Parida Island in the Gulf of Chiriquí.
• A spine of mountains formed by an undersea volcanic chain divides Panama into its
Pacific and Caribbean (Atlantic) regions. These two main ranges are the Serrianía
de Tabasará in Panama's west and the Cordillera de San Blas in the east.
• A third mountain system, Cordillera Talamanca on the Costa Rican border, contains
Volcán Barú. It is the highest point in Panama at 3,475 meters.
• In the east, there are three other smaller mountain ranges. The Majé Mountains
run parallel to the Gulf of Panama shore. Entering Panama from Colombia along
the Pacific and Caribbean coasts, respectively, are the Sapo Mountains and the
Darien Mountains.
National Parks of Panama
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Altos de Campana National Park
Barro Colorado Island
Cerro Hoya National Park
Chagres National Park
Coiba National Park
Darién National Park
Omar Torrijos "El Cope" National Park
Golfo de Chiriquí National Park
Isla Bastimentos National Marine Park
La Amistad International Park
Las Cruces Trail National Park
Metropolitan National Park
Portobelo National Park
Sarigua National Park
Soberanía National Park
Volcan Baru National Park
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