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Central
America, narrow, southernmost region (c.202,200
sq mi/523,698 sq km) of North America, linked
to South America at Colombia. It separates the
Caribbean from the Pacific. Historically, geographers
considered it to extend from the natural boundary
of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, S Mexico, to that
of the Isthmus of Panama. Generally, it is considered
to consist of the seven republics (1990 est. pop.
29,000,000) of Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, El
Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama. The
mountains of N Central America are an extension
of the mountain system of W North America and
are related to the islands of the West Indies.
The middle portion of Central America is an active
zone of volcanoes and earthquakes; it contains
the Nicaragua Depression, which includes the huge
lakes Nicaragua and Managua. The ranges of S Central
America are outliers of the Andes Mts. of South
America. Tajumulco (13,846 ft/4,210 m high), a
volcano in Guatemala, is the region's highest
peak. Central America's climate varies with altitude
from tropical to cool. The eastern side of the
region receives heavy rainfall. Bananas, coffee,
and cacao are the chief crops of Central America,
and gold and silver are mined there. The economies
of the countries in the region are becoming increasingly
diversified. Though agriculture is still the largest
employer, more technical positions are being produced
as the industrial and service sectors develop.
The Inter-American Highway traverses W Central
America.
Countries
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Belize |
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An adventurer's paradise, Belize is your peaceful,
English-speaking neighbor only two hours away
from 3 major U.S. Gateways. With a diversity
of adventure opportunities unmatched by any
other country, the Belize people have protected
40% of the country as parks and natural reserves.
Belize is on the Caribbean coast, nestled
between Mexico and Guatemala and offers
an intriguing mix of tropical forests rich
with wildlife, majestic 3,675 foot mountains,
mysterious Maya temples, and diving and
fishing experiences beyond compare.In a
single day you can go from tropical forest
to the longest barrier reef in the Western
Hemisphere.
And the people are as warm and friendly
as the climate. |
   
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Guatemala |
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Guatemala is located in Central America and
shares borders to the north and west with
Mexico, to the southeast with El Salvador
and Honduras, to the northeast with Belize
and the Caribbean sea and to the south with
the Pacific ocean. The landscape is predominantly
mountainous and heavily forested. A string
of volcanoes rises above the southern highlands
along the Pacific, three of which are still
active. Within this volcanic area are basins
of varying sizes which hold the majority of
the country’s population. The region is drained
by rivers flowing into both the Pacific and
the Caribbean. One basin west of the capital
has no river outlet and thus has formed Lake
Atitlán, which is ringed by volcanoes.
To the northwest, bordering on Belize and
Mexico, lies the low undulating tableland
of El Petén, 36,300 sq km (14,000 sq
miles) of almost inaccessible wilderness covered
with dense hardwood forest. This area covers
approximately one-third of the national territory,
yet contains only 40,000 people. |
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El
Salvador |
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The Republic of El Salvador (Spanish for "The
Savior") is a country in Central America
with a population of approximately 6.7 million
people. It is the most densely populated nation
on the American mainland. The capitol is San
Salvador.
El Salvador achieved independence from
Spain in 1821 and from the Central American
Federation in 1839. A 12-year civil war,
which cost about 75,000 lives, was brought
to a close in 1992 when the government and
leftist rebels signed a treaty that provided
for military and political reforms.
The country has 307 km of coastline. Climate
is tropical on coast and temperate in uplands.
The rainy season is May to October and the
dry season is November to April. The terrain
is mostly mountains with narrow coastal
belt and central plateau. El Salvador is
the smallest Central American country and
only one without a coastline on Caribbean
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Honduras |
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When it comes
to a country with as much natural and cultural
diversity as Honduras, it can be hard to decide
what to see and where to start. The Honduran
Institute of Tourism has identified six separate
areas of tourism, described as follows:
a) NATURE
AND ADVENTURE
Honduras
hosts 15 national parks, 2 biosphere reserves,
and 10 biological reserves protecting over
200 indigenous bird species, and more than
20 large forest dwelling mammals. Among the
most unexplored and extraordinary national
parks is Pico Bonito– located just 3-kilometers
from the Caribbean coastal town of La Ceiba.
Class V white-water rafting/kayaking on the
Cangrejal River and jungle trekking surrounded
by primeval jungles and rare fauna, are among
the adventure-filled possibilities awaiting
the fearless voyager at Pico Bonito National
Park.
b) ARCHAEOLOGY
Honduras
is world-famous for its archaeology, particularly
the Maya Copán near the Guatemala border.
Copán Ruinas offers hotels, restaurants
and a archaeological museum for what is no
doubt one of the Maya World's most beautiful
as well as perhaps the best-preserved and
most-studied archaeological sites.
Talgua Caves
Archaeological and Ecological Park. Several
years ago archaeologists explored the 2-kilometer-long
caves and found ritual offerings and painted
skeletons of almost 200 people dating to 2,500
years ago. The site is eastern Honduras’ first
national archaeological site. “Cave of the
Glowing Skulls Discovered in Honduras” exclaimed
a 1995 New York Times weekend edition. “Enormous
archaeological ruins no doubt lie undiscovered
under North Coast broadleaf forests of La
Moskitia”, says Maya cave specialist James
Brady of George Washington University.
c) CARIBBEAN
Quite rightly,
the reefs are called “the rain forests of
the sea,” home to over 4,000 different types
of fish and thousands of species of plants
and animals. Fully 2 percent of all marine
life depends on coral reefs for survival.
In Honduras, the reefs are pristine, the water
is crystalline, the biodiversity and beauty
of the flora and fauna unsurpassed.
d) COLONIAL
CITIES
More than
300 years of Spanish colonial history have
left their mark in numerous religious, civil
and military buildings in Honduras.
More than
100 churches pay a beautiful tribute to this
colonial past, while their intricately decorated
altars, covered with gold and silver, remind
us of the rich mining history of the old Provincial
de Honduras. Some of the best places to see
this colonial heritage are Comayagua, Yuscarán,
Tegucigalpa, Omoa, Trujillo and Gracias.
e) LIVING
CULTURES
The inter-mixing
of cultures that began during colonial days
has continued in more modern history with
the integration of people from other latitudes
around the globe. Today people from Palestine,
Arabian nations, China, Germany and, more
recently, Japan, call Honduras home.
The country
is also home to eight ethnic groups of Black,
Indian and white heritage. These are located
all around the country and have enriched Honduran
culture with their own handicrafts, folklore
and ways of living in harmony with nature.
Some, like the Garifuna and the Miskitos,
occupy large portions of the country, while
others, like the Tawahka, the Pech and the
Tolupanes, live in very small areas. The Lencas,
the Islanders and the Chorti complete the
country’s indigenous panorama.
f) MODERN
CITIES
There are
four major urban centers in Honduras that
provide visitors with all the comforts of
a major city, plus a fully equipped infrastructure
to accommodate large convention groups. In
order of size, these are:
Tegucigalpa.-
The capital of the republic with more than
one million inhabitants.
San Pedro
Sula.- The industrial capital with more than
600,000 inhabitants.
La Ceiba.-
A Caribbean port city with more than 180,000
inhabitants.
Choluteca.-
An agro-industrial center on the Pacifica
coast with more than 150,000 inhabitants.
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Nicaragua |
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Nicaragua, located in the heart of America,
is the ideal destination for those that seek
something truly different.
There are countless reasons, in addition
to the warmth of its people, that visitors
fall in love with this land: two oceans,
dozens of spectacular volcanoes, enormous
lakes, magical lagoons, fabulous rivers,
myriad plant and animal species, colonial
towns, archeological treasures, natural
wonders, brilliant thinkers, lively music,
intense nights and delicious traditional
cuisine.
There will always be a reason to want to
return to Nicaragua. |
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Costa
Rica |
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The fact that more than one million tourists
visit Costa Rica each year does not happen
by chance. Our country, located in Central
America, is an isthmus where life seems to
have created its roots. Covering only 0.03%
of the surface of our planet, Costa Rica has
approximately 6% of the world's biodiversity.
In addition, Costa Rica is characterized
by an impressive scenic beauty, consolidated
system of protected areas, social and political
stability, high educational levels, and
efficient infrastructure and services. All
these characteristics you can find in a
territory of only 51 thousand square kilometers,
surrounded by both the Pacific and Atlantic
Oceans, only three to four hours away from
each other by land or 45 minutes by air.
The country's strategic position, in the
heart of the western hemisphere, the Government's
positive attitude towards foreign investment,
its infrastructure, access to international
markets, and labor quality and cost, make
Costa Rica an ideal place to establish commercial
operations.
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Panama |
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Panama has a wide range of tropical landscapes
including pristine beaches, rain forests,
cloud forests, over 900 species of birds,
1500 species of trees and over 7000 vascular
plants. Without a doubt, Panama is a real
tropical paradise for nature´s lovers
and outdoor´s adventurers. |
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