Gulf
of
H
on
du
ra
s^
G
ul
f^ o
f^ F
on
seca
G
ol
fo
d
e^
N
ic
o
y
a
(^) 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
iz
e^
Río^
Mo
tagu
a^
R
ío^CholutecaRíoCoco^R
íoP
atuca(^) Rí
o U
sum
aci
nta
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
a (^) d
e
Ta
la
ma
nc
a
Península
de Nicoya
Cord
illera^ de^ San (^) Bla
s
Istmo de Panamá
(^)
Se
rr
an
ía
(^)
Cordillera Central
Península de
Azuero
M
o
s
q
u
it
o
C
o
a
s
t
Península de Osa
S
ie
rr
a
M
ad
re
de
l (^) D
ar
ién
M
ou
nta
ins
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
NebajChajulMoralesSaváTocoaJacaltenango
Brus
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
H
H
I
I
J
J
K
K
L
L
M
M
N
N
O
O
P
P
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Markets selling fresh fruit
and vegetables
FOOD MARKETS
Coffee, bananas, and sugar
cane are all key exports from
here to the food markets of
the world. Most are cultivated
on large plantations. However,
food for the local population,
such as potatoes, avocados,
rice, and corn, is grown
on small farms and sold at
local markets.
NATIVE PEOPLES
These Cuna Indians of Panama wear
traditional embroidered clothes.
Native Indians and mestizos
(people of mixed heritage) form
a small minority in the region,
although the ethnic mix varies
from country to country.
In Guatemala, more than
half the people are direct
descendants of the
Maya Indians.
BANANA INDUSTRY
The hot, wet climate of Honduras is perfect
for cultivating fruit, such as bananas. These
are often grown on huge plantations,
which employ local people who may
work long hours for very little pay.
Once cut down, the bananas are
washed, inspected, and packed into
boxes to be sent abroad. Bananas
are a major export for Honduras.
COFFEE BEANS
Costa Rica was the first
country in Central America
to grow coffee and today
produces more than
165,000 tons each
year. Coffee is harvested
from the fruit of the
coffee bush. Once
picked, the beans are
left to dry in the sun.
This worker is raking
the beans as they dry.
PANAMA CANAL
Forming a vital link
between the Atlantic
and Pacific Oceans,
the Panama Canal
is one of the world’s
busiest waterways. After
sharing the canal with
the US, Panama took full
control in 1999. Over the
years, trade has made Panama
City a major financial center.
As bananas grow,
they begin to point
upward.
0 miles 50 100 150 2000 km 50 100 150 200Central America
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