Gulf
of
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G
ul
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f^ F
on
seca
G
ol
fo
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N
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(^) Gulf of
Darien
Mosquito
Gulf
Gulf
of Panama
Golfo
de Chiriquí
Bahía
de Coronado
Golfo^ DulceGolfo de
Papagayo
P A C I F I C O C E A N
Caribbean
Sea
Isla
del Rey
Archipiélago
de las Perlas
Isla de Coiba
Isla
Cébaco
Isla de
Ometepe
Cayos
Miskitos
Isl
as
de
la
Ba
hía^
(^) Rí
o S
an (^) Juan
Panama Canal
Bel
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Río^
Mo
tagu
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R
ío^CholutecaRíoCoco^R
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atuca(^) Rí
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sum
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Lago Gatún
Lago Bayano
Lago de
Nicaragua
Lago de
Izabal
Laguna
de Chiriquí
Laguna de Perlas
Laguna de Caratasca
Lago de Managua
C
O
L
O
M
B
I
A
MEXICO
BELIZE
HONDURAS
COSTA RICA
EL SALVADOR
PANAMA
NICARAGUA
GUATEMALA
Volcán Barú 11,401ft (3475m)Cerro Chirripó
Grande
12,530ft
(3819m)(^) C
or
dil
ler
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e
Ta
la
ma
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Península
de Nicoya
Cord
illera^ de^ San (^) Bla
s
Istmo de Panamá
(^)
Se
rr
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ía
(^)
Cordillera Central
Península de
Azuero
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ou
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Ma
ya^
Guarumal Las Tablas JaquéOcúGarachinéEl Real YavizaLa Palma
PenonoméPuerto
Obaldía
Chimán
CapiraBoquetePalmar SurCortésBuenos AiresAligandíAlmiranteCristóbalQueposGuabitoNicoya Portobelo El PorvenirFiladelfia CañasPuerto
Bagaces ViejoUpalaSan Juan
La Cruz del NorteBelénPunta
GordaBoaco El RamaMuy MuySébacoBarra de
La Sirena Río Grande
SomotilloCondegaOcotal
SomotoSiuna
JalapaBonanzaYablis
Puerto
CabezasTuapiLa EsperanzaGuaimacaCampamento BocayWaspamCatacamasSan MarcosLa Unión Gualaco
Rabinal Salamá GualánYoroPuerto LempiraLos AmatesSan Esteban
NebajChajulMoralesSaváTocoaJacaltenangoBrus
LagunaChisecLimónIriona
Trujillo
Punta GordaSan Antonio
San LuisRoatánMonkey River
Town
SayaxchéDoloresLa LibertadSan BenitoSanta ElenaCarmelitaHill
BankIndian ChurchSan PedroCaledoniaSantiago ChitréLa ConcepciónCartagoAlajuelaQuesadaLiberiaRivasNandaimeJinotepeJuigalpa BluefieldsSan CarlosCorintoJinotega
EstelíCholutecaSan JoséDanlíChalatenangoJutiapa
MetapánSiguatepeque Juticalpa
ChiquimulaSanta Rosa
de CopánZacapaSanta Cruz del QuichéHuehuetenangoCobánBarillas TelaFlores DangrigaSan IgnacioBelize CityOrange WalkCorozalAguadulceSiquirresTipitapaPrinzapolkaCiudad DaríoMatagalpaPuerto CortésBalboaHerediaPuerto BarriosPuntarenas
Granada
Masaya
Chinandega
Usulután
Sonsonate
Escuintla
Quezaltenango
El Progreso
San Vicente
Ahuachapán
Comayagua
David
San Miguelito
León
San Miguel
Santa Ana
San Pedro
SulaColón
Limón
La Ceiba
MANAGUA
TEGUCIGALPA
SAN SALVADOR
GUATEMALA CITY
PANAMA
CITYBELMOPAN
SAN JOSÉ
B C D
D
E
E
F
F
G
G
H
H
I
I
2 3 4 5 6 7
Volcanoes, earthquakes, and hurricanes
threaten the livelihoods of people in the
seven countries of Central America. People
here have also struggled with poverty and
civil war. In more recent years, however,
peace and economic recovery have offered
hope, and education is now free in all
countries. Remains of the ancient Mayan
civilization that flourished until the
16th century, when the Spanish invaded,
can be seen throughout the region.
Large numbers of the native
population died after the
invasion, mostly from disease.
Today, Spanish is the main
language of the region.
FAUNA AND FLORA
Ecotourism, which encourages visitors
but aims to protect and preserve the
environment, is increasingly important
in the region. In Belize, tourists can dive in
the clear, warm waters off the world’s second
largest barrier reef, and there are wildlife treks
to many forest areas. Animals include jaguars,
howler monkeys, and butterflies.
TEMPLE PYRAMIDS
Between 250–900 ce, the Maya
designed ceremonial centers filled
with temples, courts, and plazas.
Without metal, they shaped
tools from the solid lava
of volcanoes to carve the
limestone buildings. One
of the largest sites is at
Tikal (left), in Guatemala,
where temple remains
lie in a huge area of
tropical rainforest.
Lake Nicaragua
is the only
freshwater lake
in the world
that contains
sharks.
Pyramid with nine
sloping terraces
Steps leading up
to the temple at
the top
VOLCANIC REGION
Central America is an unstable area because
it lies along the meeting point of two of
Earth’s tectonic plates. There are at least
14 active volcanoes here, including Volcán
de Pacaya (right). Although this makes it a
dangerous place to live, the volcanic
soil is very fertile and good for crops.
Central America
DECORATED CHURCHES
The Spanish colonizers of the 1500s,
and the missionaries who came with
them, converted the native population and
established Roman Catholicism throughout
Central America. They also built many
fabulously decorated churches.
The one shown here, El Merced,
is built in a low, squat style to
resist the ever-present threat
of earthquakes. The majority
of people still follow the
Roman Catholic faith.
0 miles 50 100 150 2000 km 50 100 150 200North America
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