Central America

Serving as a land bridge connecting two hemispheres, the isthmus of Central America consists of 7 countries united by their shared legacies of Spanish colonialism, rugged physical beauty and by their importance to the average North American consumer. Consisting of Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama, and bordered by the Northern Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Ocean to the east, the region is home to nearly 40 million. Because Central America is situated on the lip of the Caribbean plate the area is prone to frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, which over eons of time has produced a lush mountainous landscape rich in animal life and vegetation. The eastern portion of Central America generally receives twice as much precipitation as the western side due to its warmer waters. While this also ensures that the eastern region is exposed to more hurricanes and tropical storms, the bulk of the population resides on the western portion of the land mass.

The populace of Central America reflects the region’s diverse history as an important hub of exploration and colonization during the discovery of New World. Among the people that claim Native American descent are many individuals with African or Spanish lineage including those with mixed heritage called mestizos (Spanish background) or mulattoes (African). Reflecting the centuries of western expansion, Roman Catholicism is the most predominant form of worship while Spanish is the official language of the government. Nearly all of the people reside in urban areas with three cities numbering about one million. Per capita the average citizen’s annual income is low with many employed in agriculture; this has in return served to make Central America a primary exporter of cheap food products to the United States and Canada. Socially there have been bouts of political upheaval and rapid social change within many of the nations, with end results being as far ranging as the installation of dictators or the beginnings of a democratic government. The most well-known landmark is undoubtedly the world-famous Panama Canal, a vital shipping link between North and South America.