Chapter 7: Central America and the West Indies

The seven countries that make up Central America are Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama. A chain of volcanic mountains runs through inland Central America with lowlands on both sides. Most of Central America has a tropical climate. Farming, on plantations or subsistence farms, is the major economic activity of this region. The plants and animals of the rain forest are important resources. The Panama Canal provides employment for nearly half of that country's people. Most countries in Central America have a blend of Native American and Spanish cultures.

The West Indies includes three different island groups: the Bahamas, the Greater Antilles, and the Lesser Antilles. Volcanoes formed many of the islands. These islands lie within the tropics and most have a tropical savanna climate. Tourism and farming are the most important economic activities in the West Indies. The cultures of the West Indies mix Native American, European, African, and Asian influences.