CENTRAL AMERICA Central America, a part of North America, is a tropical isthmus that connects North America to South America.

It includes (7) countries and many small offshore islands. Overall, the land is fertile and rugged, and dominated through its heart by a string of volcanic mountain ranges that are punctuated by a few active and dangerous volcanos. Positioned in the planet's northern and western hemispheres the Central America isthmus is bordered in the northwest by the country of Mexico, and in the southeast by the country of Colombia. In addition, it's bordered by the Caribbean Sea, Pacific Ocean, and numerous bays, gulfs and inlets.

GDP Total: $107.7 billion (2006) GDP per capita: $5,339 (2006) Major Languages: Spanish, English, Mayan languages and many others Population: (2009 est) Population Density: 77.2 km2 (29.8 sq mi)

Capital Cities: (see map) (by metro population)

Guatemala City: 3,681,309 Managua: 2,105,000 San Jose: 1,715,485 Tegucigalpa: 1,324,000 Panama City: 1,272,672 San Salvador: 540,898 Belmopan: 20,000

Largest Countries: (by population - 2009 est)

Guatemala: Honduras: El Salvador: Nicaragua: Costa Rica: Panama: Belize:

A piece of cloth, usually rectangular, of distinctive color and design, used as a symbol, standard, signal, or emblem of a nation, state, or organization.

Size: 523,780 sq km, 202,000 sq miles Percent of Earth's Land: 0.1% Highest Point: Tajumulco Volcano, Guatemala, 13,845ft (4,220m) Lowest Point: Caribbean Sea, 0ft (0m) Geographic Center: The geographic center of Central America is 116 miles northeast of Lake Managua, Nicaragua Horizontal Width: From Guatemala's southwestern border with Mexico, directly east to the Caribbean Sea border of Honduras and Nicaragua: 595 miles (958 km) (see map) Vertical Length: From Belmopan, Belize directly southeast to Panama City, Panama: 880 miles (1,416 km) (see map) Note: Lengths and widths are point-to-point, straight-line measurements and will vary some using other map projections. Central American Countries: (by LAND AREA)

Nicaragua: 130,373 sq km Honduras: 112,090 sq km Guatemala: 108,890 sq km Panama: 78,200 sq km Costa Rica: 51,100 sq km Belize: 22,966 sq km El Salvador: 21,040 sq km (by POPULATION DENSITY)

El Salvador: 292 per sq km Guatemala: 129 per sq km Costa Rica: 90 per sq km

Honduras: 67 per sq km Nicaragua: 44 per sq km Panama: 44 per sq km Belize: 13 per sq km

Regarding landforms, here we locate and identify the major Central America volcanos, as the istmus is geologically active, with volcanic eruptions and subsequent earthquakes occurring on a somewhat frequent basis. In fact, in modern times, these landforms (volcanos) have devasted many cities and killed hundreds of people in Central America. Central America has many volcanic mountain ranges; the longest are the Sierra Madre de Chiapas in Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras; the Cordillera Isabelia in Nicaragua, and the Cordillera de Talamanca running through Costa Rica and Panama. For addition information on Central America landforms, including mountains, lakes, rivers and more, please follow the individual country links below:

There are hundreds of interesting sites spread across Central America and these are but a few. For additional info and links explore the individual countries on the map.

The Great Blue Hole is a large underwater sinkhole off the coast of Belize. It lies near the center of Lighthouse Reef. It's circular in shape, and over 300 metres (984 ft) across and 124 metres (407 ft) deep.... Gulf of Fonseca stretches inward from the Pacific Ocean for just over 41 miles and covers an estimated area of 700 sq. miles. The fringes of this fertile volcanic landscape are indented by a seemingly endless series of winding lagoons - all covered by mangrove swamp... Lake Izabal is ringed by a tropical rain forest, and home to a rich population of fish. The Maya constructed numerous sites around this beautiful lake - and who could blame them - as the flora and fauna within the surrounding landscape continues to be a magnet for visitors, especially eco-tourism types.... Lake Nicaragua has hundreds of islands, including an archipelago of over 350 tiny islets near the port city of Granada. The lake's largest islands include Ometepe, actually formed by the lava flow of two volcanoes; Conception is still active while Maderas is dormant; beautiful Zapatera Island, and further to the south, the thirty-some islands of the Solentiname archipelago. .... The Panama Canal extends across the Isthmus of Panama from Colon on the Atlantic Ocean (Caribbean Sea) side, to Balboa and the Pacific Ocean. It was built by the... Tikal is one of the largest archaeological sites and urban centres of the pre-Columbian Maya civilization. It is located in the archaeological region of the Petn Basin in what is now northern Guatemala... Volcanoes of Central America are located along the Ring of Fire. The isthmus itself contains many volcanoes; some are clearly dormant with unknown details on their last eruptions, while others are considered potentially active, and a few are currently active and have erupted in.

Definition: A symbol is an idea, abstraction or concept, that has acquired significance as a representation of something else. Symbols are on occasion completely unrelated to the idea they represent.

Coat of Arms Belize

Mayan Bird Guatemala

For more infomation on symbols for each Central America country, use the map links.

Central America Timeline:

1500 BC Maya civilation dominates much of Central America 600 BC Maya migrate from Central America into South America 50 BC Maya introduce a calendar known as the Calendar Round 500 Tikal, Guatemala developes into a major Mayan temple city 1123 Yucatec Maya overthrew the Itza Maya 1487 Aztec send spies to Belize to gain trade information 1492 Columbus expores islands along the Caribbean Sea coastline 1501 Columbus visted and named Costa Rica (Rich Coast) 1502 Spanish explorer Rodrigo de Bastidas visits Panama 1502 Columbus reaches the coastline of Honduras 1513 Vasco Nunez de Balboa reaches the Pacific coast, claims ocean for Spain 1519 Panama City founded by the Spanish 1523 Indigenous Mayan defeated, Guatemala becomes a Spanish colony 1524 Spanish established settlement at Puntarenas, Costa Rica 1525 Spanish begin their conquest of Honduras 1530 Francisco Pizarro sails from Panama to attempt the conquest of Peru 1540 El Salvador becomes a Spanish colony 1561 Juan de Cavallon of Spain established colony in Costa Rica

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1600's

1624 Spanish silver fleet sailed to Panama 1628 Locust devastated Mayan crops across Belize 1671 Pirate Henry Morgan captures Panama 1677 Spanish fail to control southern Belize 1698 Scotland attempts to establish colony in Panama 1700's

1720-90 British extend their influence over Nicaragua's Caribbean coastline inhabitants 1723 Irazu volcano erupts in Costa Rica, thousands die 1739 British capture Spanish city of Portobello, Panama 1763 Britain and Spain reach agreement for woodcutting rights in Belize 1800's

1821 Guatemala declared its independence from Spain 1823 Congress of Central America declared independence from Spain and Mexico 1838 Central American Federation splits into Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica; all are now independent from Spain 1844-65 Dictator Rafael Carrera ruled Guatemala 1854 Earthquake destroyed San Salvador, El Salvador 1855 US built the Panama railroad 1856 American adventurer, William Walker becomes president of Nicaragua 1860 William Walker is executed in Honduras 1860 British government returns control of Caribbean coastline to Nicaragua 1862 Belize declared British crown colony, consequently named British Honduras 1874 Banana cultivation begins in Costa Rica; later bananas become a significant export 1893 General Jose Santos Zelaya seizes power and establishes dictatorship in Nicaragua 1900's

1903 The USA is granted exclusive control in perpetuity of a ten-mile corridor across Panama, one suitable for the construction of a canal 1904 US takes over control of Panama Canal construction 1909 US troops help to depose Zelaya in Nicaragua 1910 Earthquake detroys Cartago, Costa Rica, 700 killed 1911 US helps to overthrow an unpopular Honduras president, Miguel Devila 1912-25 US established military bases in Nicaragua 1914 Panama Canal completed 1931 Jorge Ubico elected president of Guatemala 1931 Hurricane struck Belize City, thousands died 1932 30,000 killed during peasant uprising in El Salvador 1937 General Somoza elected president of Nicaragua 1951 Colonel Jacobo Arbenz Guzman elected the new president of Guatemala 1956 Nicaragua's General Somoza assassinated 1968 Arenal volcano erupts in Costa Rica, hundreds killed 1970 Belize capital moved to Belmopan 1973 British Honduras name changed to Belize 1972 Managua, Nicaragua devastated by earthquake, thousands died 1974 Hurrican Fifi strikes Honduras, over 5,000 killed 1976 Guatemala earthquake left millions homeless, 27,000 dead 1979-81 Over 30,000 killed in El Salvador by government-sponsored death squads 1981 Belize gains it independence from Britain 1982 US sponsored attacks by Contra rebels (based in Honduras) begin in Nicaragua 1984 Daniel Ortega elected president of Nicaragua 1985 Manuel Antonio Noriega ousted Nicolas Ardito Barletta, the elected president of Panama 1988 US charges Manuel Noriega with drug smuggling; one year later US invades Panama and ousts Noriega 1903 The USA is granted exclusive control of a ten-mile corridor across Panama, one suitable for a canal 1992 Severe earthquake rattles Nicaragua, thousands rendered homeless 1998 Hurricane Mitch caauses massive damage. Thousands killed, and hundreds of thousands left homeless across Honduras and Nicaragua 1998 Human rights activist, Bishop Juan Gerardi, murdered in Guatemala 1999 Over one million tourist visited Costa Rica 1999 Control of the Panama Canal returned to Panama

2000's

2001 El Salvador earthquake kills 1,200, an estimated one million are homeless 2002 Guatemala and Belize settle long-standing border 2004 Panama Canal earns a record $1 billion in revenue 2008 El Salvador is rated the country with the highest murder rate 2008 Laura Chinchilla elected president of Costa Rica 2010 Porfirio Lobo sworn in as president of Honduras

NORTH AMERICA NORTH AMERICA HISTORY: Anthropologists believe that North America's initial inhabitants arrived around 40,000 years ago by traversing the Bering Strait. Some experts feel that by using primitive boats, early man also migrated down the Pacific coast to South America;that debate continues. There is scientific evidence connecting indigenous Americans to Asian peoples, specifically from the eastern Siberian populations. Indigenous peoples of theAmericas have been linked to North Asian populations by linguistic dialects and blood types. After the last glacial period ended some 12,500 years back, a wide variety of prehistoric cultures developed across the continent, north to south. The development of stone tools was one of the

factors instrumental in that successful expansion. Long before the Europeans arrived, small groups developed throughout the Americas.Across the Great Plains hunter-gatherers existed on wild plants and animals, but they were eventually replaced by more sophisticated bands that farmed the land, raised some animals and improved their hunting skills. At about the time of Christ, the brown-skinned Arawak People migrated fromVenezuela to the Lesser Antilles. Small groups settled on many islands in the southeastern Caribbean, eventually reaching the Greater Antilles, creating their largest settlements on the islands of Cuba,Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, and Jamaica In the far-southern reaches of the continent important cultural advances were made by the Maya civilization. They developed written language, as well as far-reaching advances in art, architecture, astronomical systems and mathematics. From the years 250 to 900, they were at the pinnacle of their power. In North America, sophisticated pre-Columbian cultures continued to develop. Across regions of what is now the United States, social organization were building mound complexes, with some supporting sizable communities year-round. Native American societies continued to spread; the Inuit and the Aleut lived in domed-shaped dwellings in the Arctic regions while large groups inhabited the Subarctic parts of Alaska and western Canada. From the Northeast to the Southeast, and from the Plains to the Southwest, the expansion continued unabated. As large groups gained additional knowledge, they began to farm some familiar crops now used around the world, such as tomatoes and squash. Perhaps most importantly they developed

farming techniques for one of the planet's major foods, maize (corn). The Vikings were seafaring north Germanic people who raided, traded, explored, and settled in wide areas of Europe, Asia, and the North Atlantic islands from the late 8th to the mid-11th centuries. Using sturdy wooden longships they traveled as far west asIceland, Greenland, and Newfoundland. Leif Eriksson is believed to have reached the Island of Newfoundland, Canada - circa 1000 AD In the 13th century, central Mexico was the center of the Aztec civilization. The Mayan culture was fading and the Aztec Empire now stretched across most of Mesoamerica, fromMexico to Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador,Honduras, Nicaragua, and northern Costa Rica. In 1492, after proposing a voyage of discovery to the then mostly-imagined New World, Christopher Columbus left Spain on an epic journey, financed by Isabella I and Ferdinand II, Queen and King of Spain. Within a few months he reached land in the Bahamas, and North America would change forever. After Columbus made his initial voyage to this New World, word of its potential riches spread across Europe and explorers and settlers by the thousands would eventually step ashore along the Atlantic Ocean coastline of North America. John Cabot explored the east coast of what would become Canada in 1497. Giovanni da Verrazzano explored the East Coast of North America from Florida to eastern Canada in 1524, and Jacques Cartier made a series of voyages on behalf of the French crown in 1534 and penetrated the St. Lawrence River. In 1500, the Spanish made their move to colonize parts of the New World. The city of Nueva Cdiz was founded on the Venezuela island of Cubaqua. In 1510 they established Santa Mara la Antigua del Darien near the border of Colombia andPanama: these were the first European settlements in the Americas. The first mainland Spanish explorations were a series of inland expeditions that led to the conquest of Mexico and the Yucatan Peninsula. In 1513, Vasco Nunez de Balboa crossed the Isthmus of Panama to find gold, but instead led the first European expedition to the Pacific

Ocean and the west coast of the New World. Balboa then claimed the Pacific Ocean and all the lands adjoining it for the Spanish Crown. Hernan Cortes and his conquistadors came ashore at present day Veracruz, Mexico on April 22, 1519, and it marked the beginning of 300 years of dominate Spanish influence over most of Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. In 1539, Hernando de Soto landed at Tampa Bay in what is now the US State of Florida. With 600 soldiers in tow, his goal was to find gold for the Spanish Crown. At that same time natives on the continent lived without fear as they were ignorant of the outside world. Soon their innocence disappeared, as Europeans began to stake their claims, frequently in brutal ways. As a result of European exploration the Native American population declined substantially, primarily due to the introduction of European diseases to which the Native Americans lacked

immunity, as well as from violent conflicts where they were no match for European fire power. Not to be outdone, Britain and France (as well as Spain) were beginning to establish extensive territories in the northern reaches of the continent. Even lesser-powers like the Netherlands and Sweden laid claim to smaller parts. The first French settlements were established at Port Royal (1604) and Quebec City (1608) in what is now Nova Scotia and Quebec, Canada. In 1607, the first successful English settlement was built at Jamestown, Virgina, followed by thePlymouth, Massachusetts colony in 1620. Near the end of the 17th century the colonialism of North America was at full speed, and inevitable disagreements and greed were the genesis for a series of regional wars, and some of the European territories changed hands multiple times. In fact, the Caribbean island of Tobago changed hands 33 times.

In the middle of the 18th century, independence movements were on the front-burner across the continent. An American Revolution was brewing within the English colonies, Spain's hold on Mexico was weakening and slave revolts were common in the Caribbean. By the end of the century, a handful of independence movements came to fruition across the North America continent. The 13 original British Colonies declared independence in 1776, and after the American Revolutionary War ended in 1783, they became the United States of America.Canada was formed from the unification of northern territories once controlled byBritain and France. The new country of America's 1803 Louisiana Purchase from France almost doubled its size overnight. This massive transfer of land included all of presentday Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa; most ofColorado, South Dakota, Montana and Wyoming, as well as significant parts ofNorth Dakota, Minnesota, Texas and Louisiana. New Spain, a territory that stretched from the southwestern modern-day U.S. through Central America declared independence in 1810, becoming the First Mexican Empire. Guatemala, then part of that Mexican Empire, became the first independent state in Central America.

For many reasons, including the possibility of America's interest in annexing Canada, the War of 1812 began when the United Statesdeclared war on the British. The 32-month military conflict (fought on many fronts) resulted in no territorial change between the British Empire and the USA, but a resolution of many issues which remained from the American War of Independence. With space too limited here to detail, we highlight a series of important land agreements and compromises that occurred in North America through the end of the 19th century. They include: The Republic of Texas formed as an independent sovereign nation in 1836; the Rebellions of 1837 in Lower and Upper Canada; the creation of the Mexican Empire, with the support of Napoleon III of France in 1864, and the creation of the Dominion of Canada in 1867. Arguably, the two most devastating events on the North America continent were the American Civil War (from 1861 to 1865), a conflict that led to the end of slavery in the United States, but it brought destruction to most of the South, and a tremendous loss of life. It was followed by the

United States government fighting numerous Indian Wars against the Native Americans for land acquisition; tens of thousands died as a result. Following the Civil War, America's intervention into Latin America and elsewhere expanded. The 1867 Alaska Purchase was the acquisition of what is now the US State of Alaska from the Russian Empire. During the SpanishAmerican War of 1898, the US seized several colonies from Spain including Cuba and Puerto Rico.

In 1914, the Panama Canal opened. the 48-mile (77.1 km) ship canal in Panama connecting the Atlantic Ocean (via the Caribbean Sea) to the Pacific Ocean enabled ships to avoid the lengthy Cape Horn route around the southernmost tip of South America. At the end of World War I (fought from 1914 to 1918 in Europe) the early 20th century brought an age of great prosperity to the United States, and to a lesser degree Canada. But the Stock Market Crash of 1929 was the most devastating stock market crash in the history of the United States, and that crash affected all Western industrialized countries and did not end in the United States until the onset of American mobilization for World War II in 1941. In Mexico, from 1936 to 1949, there was a popular uprising against the anti-Catholic government. In the Caribbean, many islands witnessed the beginnings of decolonization, while on the island of Cuba, the Cuban Revolution introduced the Soviet Union (now Russia) into Latin America. World War II was a global conflict that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's nationsincluding all of the great powers, including Canada and the US. The destruction of Europe wrought by the war vaulted all North American countries to more important roles in world affairs, and the United States emerged as a "superpower." Mexico also experienced an era of huge economic growth after World War II, a heavy industrialization process and a growth of its middle class, a period known in Mexican history as the "El Milagro Mexicano" (Mexican miracle). In 1960,Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua banded together to find a common economic bond. In 1962, Guatemala, and Trinadad and Tobago became politically independent. This event ushered in a period of formal decolonization of the English-speaking Caribbean. Since 1962, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago were joined by Antigua,the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, St. Lucia and St. Vincent. The early Cold War era saw the United States as the most powerful nation in a Western coalition of which Mexico and Canada were also a part. At home, the United States witnessed violent change especially in the area of race relations. In Canada this was mirrored by the Quiet Revolution and the emergence of Quebec nationalism. During this time the United States became involved in the Vietnam War. That war would later prove to be highly divisive in American society, and American troops were withdrawn. Canada during this era was dominated by the leadership of Pierre Elliot Trudeau. Eventually in 1982 at the end of his tenure, Canada had a new constitution.

Major changes continued into the 21st century: Mexico experienced a strong economic recession in the 1980s, the Canada-United States Free Trade Agreement was reached in January 1989, and on January 1, 1994, Canada, Mexico and theUnited States of America signed the North American Free Trade Agreement, creating the world's largest free trade area. Those major economic events were followed by the 9/11 attacks on the United States, and the subsequent war in Afghanistan - participated in by Canada and the US. In 2006, the violent drug war spread from Central America to Canada, and that human tragedy reached a deadly peak in Mexico in the last few years. In 2008, a financial crisis that began the United States eventually triggered a worldwide recession, an economic slowdown that has now wained some. Surviving powerful earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, contentious imigration issues and isolated terroism attacks, the twenty-three countries and the dozens of possessions and territories within North America have found ways to (for the most part) co-exist in peace, and to economically benefit by working together. Today the diverse and massive continent of North America present a bright potential future for all of its people, and for that matter, much of the modern world. NORTH AMERICA MAP: North America, the planets 3rd largest continent, includes (23) countries and dozens of possessions and territories. It contains all Caribbean and Central America countries, Bermuda, Canada, Mexico, the United States of America, as well as Greenland - the worlds largest island. Positioned in the planet's northern and western hemispheres, it's bordered in the north by the Arctic Ocean, in the east by the Atlantic Ocean, in the southeast by the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico, and in the west by the Pacific Ocean. Additional North American countries (not shown on this map) include: Antigua and Barbuda,Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Haiti, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines and Trinidad & Tobago.

NORTH AMERICA GEOGRAPHY NOTES: Two of North America's most interesting geographical features are the Great Plains and the Mississippi River System; both impressive in so many ways. Great Plains: The Great Plains of North America slope east from the Rockies and extend to the edge of the Canadian Shield and the western edges of the Appalachians. The land is generally smooth with large treeless areas and shallow river valleys. Minor hills and mountains are found in the Ozark Plateau of Missouri, and in the Boston Mountains and Ouachita Mountains of northwestern Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma. Sandhills and buttes cover parts of the north central U.S. in Nebraska. Mississippi River System: It is the major river of North America and the United States at (2,339 miles) (3,765 km) in length. It flows from northwestern Minnesota south to the Gulf of Mexico, just below the city of New Orleans. It is a significant transportation artery and when combined with its major tributaries (the Missouri and Ohio rivers) it becomes the third largest river system in the world at (3,877 miles) (6,236 km) in length.

NORTH AMERICA GEOGRAPHY FACTS:

Percent of Earth's Land: 16.5% Highest Point: Mt McKinley in Alaska, 20,322ft (6,194m) (see map) Lowest Point: Death Valley in California, -282 ft (-86m) below sea level (see map) Geographic Center: The United States Geographical Survey states that the geographic center of North America is "6 miles west of Balta, Pierce County, North Dakota" at approximately 48 10 N 100 10 W. (see map) Horizontal Width: From San Francisco, California, east to New York City, NY: 2,582 miles (4,156 km) (see map) Vertical Length: From Barrow, Alaska, directly southeast to Panama City, Panama: 5,347 miles (8,605 km) (see map) Note: Lengths and widths are point-to-point, straight-line measurements and will vary some using other map projections.

NORTH AMERICA TOPOGRAPHICAL MAP

A typical topographic-type map highlights hills, mountains and valleys of a specific land area by exaggerated shading rather than by using contour lines. It also includes major bodies of water, and some rivers. This topo map clearly shows how the Rocky Mountains and it various ranges dominate the western-third of the continent (see below). In addition, it also highlights the Appalachian Mountains in the eastern U.S., a range of about 1,500 miles in length, that extends from central Alabama through the New England states and the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Quebec. NORTH AMERICA COUNTRIES This list does not include the island dependencies and overseas territories in the Caribbean.

Antigua and Barbuda Bahamas Barbados Belize Canada Costa Rica Cuba Dominica Dominican Republic El Salvador Grenada Guatemala

Haiti Honduras Jamaica Mexico Nicaragua Panama Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Trinidad and Tobago United States

ROCKY MOUNTAINS

This is a slice of the large topographical (or relief) map shown above, one that highlights the Rocky Mountains, aruably the most dramatic landform is all of North America. Additional features clearly visable include some of the larger rivers on the continent and one of the most interesting geography features of the United States. Note the depression to the north of Death Valley and west of the Sierra Nevada. This is both the San Joaguin Valley (south), and the Sacramento Valley (north), one of the most fertile farming areas in the country. For additional details on many of the geography features of North America, this page will help

NORTH AMERICA SATELLITE VIEW MAP

This NASA satellite view of North America can be useful in many applications, including

agriculture, geology, forestry, meteorology, intelligence and warfare. In addition, it's a great education tool as it provides an overview of the snow covered lands of the far north, and the Great Plains that slope east from the Rockies and extend to the edge of the Canadian Shield and the western edges of the Appalachians. That land is generally flat with large treeless areas and shallow river valleys.

Namesake: Americo Vespucci, the Italian explorer Major Languages: English, French and Spanish Population: 528,720,588 (2008 est) It's the fourth most populous continent, after Asia, Africa, and Europe Population Density: 22.9 km2 (59.3 sq mi) North America Country Populations: (23 countries - 2010 estimates)

United States: 309,975,000 Mexico: 108,396,211 Canada: 34,207,000 Guatemala: 14,377,000 Cuba: 11,204,000 Dominican Republic: 10,225,000 Haiti: 10,188,000 Honduras: 7,616,000 El Salvador: 6,194,000 Nicaragua: 5,822,000 Costa Rica: 4,640,000 Panama: 3,322,576 Jamaica: 2,730,000 Trinidad & Tobago: 1,344,000 Bahamas: 346,000 Belize: 322,100 Barbados: 257,000 Saint Lucia: 174,000 St. Vincent & the Grenadines:109,000 Grenada: 104,000 Antigua & Barbuda: 89,000 Dominica: 67,000 Saint Kitts & Nevis: 38,960

Continent Size: 24,474,000 sq km, 9,449,460 sq miles It's the third-largest continent in area, following Asia and Africa. Percent of Earth's Land: 16.5% Highest Point: Mt McKinley in Alaska, 20,322ft (6,194m) (see map) Lowest Point: Death Valley in California, -282 ft (-86m) below sea level.

Geographic Center: The United States Geographical Survey states that the geographic center of North America is "6 miles west of Balta, Pierce County, North Dakota" at approximately 48 10 N 100 10 W. (see map) Horizontal Width: From San Francisco, California, east to New York City, NY: 2,582 miles (4,156 km) (see map) Vertical Length: From Barrow, Alaska, directly southeast to Panama City, Panama: 5,347 miles (8,605 km) (see map) Note: Lengths and widths are point-to-point, straight-line measurements and will vary some using other map projections. Largest North American Countries: (by land area)

Canada: 9,984,670 sq km United States: 9,826,630 sq km Mexico: 1,923,040 sq km Nicaragua: 120,254 sq km Honduras: 112,090 sq km Cuba: 110,860 sq km Guatemala: 108,890 sq km Panama: 78,200 sq km Costa Rica: 51,100 sq km Dominican Republic: 48,730 sq km

Alaska Range: Mountains of south-central Alaska that extend from the Alaska Peninsula to the border of the Yukon Territory, Canada. The highest point in North America, Mt. McKinley, 20,320 ft. (6,194 m) is located here. Appalachian Mountains: The Appalachians, about 1,500 miles in length, extend from central Alabama in the U.S. up through the New England states and the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Quebec.

Significant Appalachian ranges include:

The Cumberland Mts. in Tennessee The Blue Ridge Mts. in Virginia The Alleghenies in Pennsylvania The Catskills Mts. in New York The Green Mts. in Vermont The White Mts. of New Hampshire The highest point is Mt. Mitchell in North Carolina at 6,684 ft (2,037 m) Brooks Range: Mountains of northern Alaska. Highest point: Mt. Isto, 9,060 ft. (2,760 m)

North America Timeline:

900 Toltec civilization develops in present day Mexico 981 Eric the Red founds the first Nordic settlement in Greenland 1000 Vikings visited coastline of Newfoundland 1327 Aztecs established Mexico City 1492 Christopher Columbus discovered the Americas 1510 Spain began settlements in Jamaica

1519 Hernando Cortes defeated the Aztecs 1534 Jacques Cartier charts Gulf of St. Lawrence 1565 Spanish founded Saint Augustine, Florida 1577 Sir Francis Drake explores Pacific Ocean coastlines 1585 English colonists settled on Roanoke Island, Virginia 1598 New Mexico claimed by Spanish Explorers 1607 Jamestown, Virginia settlement established 1608 Quebec founded by Samuel de Champlain 1609 Henry Hudson explored New York Bay and Hudson River 1612 French explorers discovered Lake Huron 1616 Smallpox devastates Native Americans 1620 Pilgrims arrived on Mayflower at Plymouth, MA 1600's

1629 English captured Quebec City 1642 Montreal founded by Sieur de Maisonneuve 1663 Louis XIV assumed control of New France 1664 New Amsterdam renamed to New York 1670 Hudson Bay Company chartered by Charles II 1682 LaSalle explored Mississippi River 1700's

1701 Iroquois, French, English signed peace treaty 1741 Vitus Bering claimed Alaska for Russia 1744 King George's War began 1749 Halifax, Nova Scotia founded 1754 French and Indian War began 1768 British troops began occupation of Boston 1773 Boston Tea Party 1775 American Revolution began 1776 USA gained its independence from Britain 1789 George Washington elected first US president 1800's

1814 Washington captured and burned by British 1814 Mexico declared independence from Spain 1819 Florida ceded by Spain to the United States 1823 Guatemala declared independence 1836 Americans defeated at Battle of the Alamo 1845 United States annexed Republic of Texas 1846 -1848 U.S. - Mexican War 1849 California Gold Rush began 1852 Fire destroyed 11,000 homes in Montreal 1861 U.S. Civil War began 1862 Canadian smallpox killed 200,000 Indians 1865 13th amendment abolished slavery in the U.S. 1865 Civil War ends; President Lincoln assassinated 1867 Dominion of Canada created 1867 U.S. bought Alaska from Russia for $7.2 mil 1896 Gold discovered in Yukon Territory 1898 Spain ceded Puerto Rico and Cuba to US 1898 Spain sells Philippines to U.S. for $20 million 1900's

1900 Hurricane kills 6,000+ in Galveston, Texas 1901 President McKinley assassinated 1902 US opens military base at Guantanamo Bay 1903 US granted control of corridor across Panama 1904 Much of Toronto's downtown destroyed by fire 1906 Great San Francisco earthquake killed 500 1907 Race riots within Vancouver's Chinatown

1909 Peary and Henson reach North Pole 1912 Titanic struck iceberg and sunk, 1503 died 1913 President Madero of Mexico assassinated 1914 Panama Canal completed 1914 World War I began in Europe 1915 Lusitania sank, 1100 died 1916 Haiti became US protectorate 1917 Jones Act gave Puerto Ricans US citizenship 1918 World War I ended 1929 Great Depression began 1932 Amelia Earhart flies solo across Atlantic 1937 Amelia Earhart disappears circling the world 1939 World War II, Hitler attacked Poland 1941 Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, Hawaii 1944 Allies launch D-Day offensive 1945 Enola Gay dropped atomic bomb on Hiroshima 1945 World War II ended 1953 Jonas Salk develops polio vaccine 1959 St. Lawrence Seaway opens 1963 U.S. President John F. Kennedy assassinated 1969 First moon landing 1977 Control of Panama Canal given to Panama 1985 Mexico City Earthquake kills thousands 1986 Challenger exploded, 7 astronauts killed 1989 Exxon Valdez wrecks in Prince William Sound 1993 Bomb exploded in World Trade Center 1993 NAFTA enacted, US, Canada and Mexico agree 1995 Mexican banking crisis, US aids in crisis 1996 Serious riots in Quebec City 2000's

2001 On September 11, four passenger aircraft hijacked, two crashed into the World Trade Center, one into the Pentagon and the fourth in a field in Pennsylvania. 3,025 people were killed 2001 Canada became first country in world to legalize medical marijuana 2003 Shuttle Columbia, exploded upon reentry 2003 Massive power failure in NE US and SE Canada 2004 Four hurricanes hit Florida and southern US 2005 Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans 2006 65 miners killed in explosion at coal mine 2007 Heavy rains flood Mexico - 500,000 homeless 2008 Barack Obama elected U.S. President 2009 drug-related killings in Mexico reached 6,500 2010 Explosion aboard oil rig in Gulf of Mexico

A symbol is an idea, abstraction or concept, that has acquired significance as a representation of something else. Symbols are often completely unrelated to the idea they represent.

Scarlet Macaw

Coat of Arms Mexico National Bird of Hondura

South America

South America , the planet's 4th largest continent, includes (12) independent countries and (3) major territories; the Falkland Islands, Galapagos Islands and French Guiana. The continent contains the world's highest waterfall, Angel Falls in Venezuela; the largest river (by volume), the Amazon River; the longest mountain range, the Andes, and the driest place on earth, the Atacama Desert in Chile. In addition, it includes the largest rainforest, the Amazon Rainforest ; the highest capital city, La Paz, Bolivia ; the highest commercially navigable lake in the world,Lake Titicaca ; and, excluding research stations in Antarctica, the world's southernmost permanently inhabited community, Puerto Toro, Chile.

Namesake: Americo Vespucci, the Italian explorer Major Languages: Portuguese, Spanish, English, Dutch, French, Italian, Arabic, and dozens of indigenous languages Population: 379,500,000 (2009 est) It's the fifth most populous continent, after Asia, Africa, Europe and North America Population Density: 21.4 sq km (56.0 sq mi)

Top 10 Largest Cities: (see map) (by metro population)

Sao Paulo, Brazil: 18,505,100 Buenos Aires, Argentina: 12,923,800 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: 11,246,600 Bogota, Colombia: 7,798,000 Lima, Peru: 7,603,500 Santiago, Chile: 5,636,800 Belo Horizonte, Brazil: 4,413,800 Salvador, Brazil: 3,173,500 Fortaleza, Brazil: 2,976,200 Cali, Colombia: 2,800.600 Largest Countries: (by population - 2008 est)

Brazil: 193,891,867 Colombia: 45,656,990 Argentina: 40,085,130 Peru: 29,368,000 Venezuela: 29,132,000 Chile: 17,295,000 Ecuador: 14,228,000 Bolivia: 9,182,000

Paraguay: 6,158,000 Uruguay: 3,463,000 Guyana: 751,000 Suriname: 499,000

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Coat of Arms Brazil

Continent Size: 17,819,000 sq km, 6,879,000 sq miles It's the fourth-largest continent in area, following Asia, Africa and North America Percent of Earth's Land: 12% Highest Pt: Cerro Aconcagua, Andes Mtns, Argentina 22,833ft (6,959m) (see map) Lowest Pt: Peninsula Valdes, Argentina -151 ft (-40m) below sea level Geographic Center: Chapada dos Guimares, in the State of Mato Grosso, Brazil; at 15 27 S 55 44 W. (see map) Horizontal Width: From Lima, Peru, to Fortaleza, Brazil: 2,705 miles (4,353 km) Vertical Length: From Cartagena, Colombia, south to Ushuaia, Argentina: 4,443 miles (7,149 km) (see map) Note: Lengths and widths are point-to-point, straight-line measurements and will vary some using other map projections. Largest South American Countries: (by land area)

Brazil: 8,514,877 sq km Argentina: 2,766,890 sq km Peru: 1,285,220 sq km Colombia: 1,138,910 sq km Bolivia: 1,098,580 sq km Venezuela: 912,050 sq km Chile: 756,950 sq km Paraguay: 406,750 sq km Ecuador: 283,560 sq km Guyana: 214,999 sq km Uruguay: 176,220 sq km Suriname: 163,270 sq km GEOGRAPHY SOUTH AMERICA Amazon Basin: The Amazon Basin (Amazonia) is covered by the largest tropical rain forest in the world, and running through its heart is the Amazon River and its more than 1,000 tributaries, seven of them more than 1,000 miles in length. Measurable rain falls on an average of 200 days a year here, and total rainfall often approaches 100 inches per year.

The basin drains over 2,700,000 sq. miles, and covers about one-third of South America. Rising high in the Andes, the river's network irrigates almost half of the continent, and in terms of volume of water discharged into an ocean... it's the largest in the world. Andes Mountains: This toothy-edged mountain system, some 4,500 miles (7,240 km) in length, extends from the southern tip of South America all the way to Panama. It's the source of most major rivers on the continent, and its many ranges include dozens of peaks that reach over 20,000 ft; the highest point being Aconcagua in Argentina, at 22,384 ft. (6,960m). It's also home to some of the planet's largest volcanoes, and in the far south along the coast of Chile, large glaciers and ice sheets are commonplace. Atacama Desert: Sparsely populated and positioned high into the Andes of Chile, this somewhat small desert (or plateau) is a cold place, and one of the few deserts on Earth that doesn't receive any rain. It's approximately 100 miles wide and 625 miles long. The landscape is totally barren and covered with small borax lakes, lava flow remnants and saline deposits. Brazilian

Highlands: This magnificent landscape of southeastern Brazil is 800 miles in length and contains varied mountain ranges, namely the Serra de Mantiquiera, Serra do Paranapiataba, Serra Geral, and Serra do Mar. The estimated highest point is 7,368 ft (2,245m). Brazilian Shield: The shield is a geologic formation lying south of the Amazon. Hundreds of rivers and streams flow through this area on their way to the Amazon These rivers contain a large number of migratory fish species.

Cape Horn: The southernmost tip of South America, remains a maritime legend to this day, as sailing around this remote point and through its violent stretch of chaotic water is one of the most challenging nautical routes on the planet. Guina Highlands: Over 1,000 miles in length, the Highlands stretch from southern Venezuela to the northern border of Brazil. It's a vast plateau, one marked by deep gorges, tropical rain forests, numerous rivers and waterfalls. It's famed for the highest waterfall in the world (Angel Falls) at 3,212 ft (979m) high. The highest point is Mt. Roraima on the borders of Brazil, Guyana and Venezuela at 9,219 ft (2,810m). Llanos: This large and very fertile plain, located in eastern and central Colombia, and central and southern Venezuela, is drained by the Orinoco River and its many tributaries. It's approximately 225,000 sq. miles (582,000 sq. km) in size. Pampas: Famed for its many cattle ranches, this large plain in the southern part of the continent (in central Argentina) extends for almost 1,000 miles (1,600 km), and covers 294,000 sq. miles (761,460 sq km). Pantanal: The Pantanal is the world's largest wetland of any kind. It lies mostly within southwestern Brazil, and covers an area estimated at between 140,000 square kilometers (54,000 sq mi) and 195,000 square kilometers (75,000 sq mi). It contains an astonishing collection of aquatic plants and a wide variety of of animal species. Patagonia: Located between the Andes and the Atlantic Ocean, and about 1,000 miles in length, Patagonia stretches south from the Rio Negro River to Tierra del Fuego and the Strait of Magellan. It's mostly rugged, barren land, famed for its beauty and striking mountain scenery. Tierra Del Fuego: Located at the southern tip of South America, the Tierra Del Fuego archipelago includes one large island (18,571 sq miles, 48,100 sq km) in size, and a series of smaller ones. It was reportedly named by the Portuguese adventurer, Ferdinand Magellan, the first explorer to circumnavigate the globe. His chosen route through the Magellan Strait proved to be the fastest and safest connection between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans for sea-going commerce and exploration.

There are hundreds of interesting sites spread across South America and these are but a few of our favorites. For additional info and links explore the individual countries on the map.

Beagle Channel was traversed by Charles Darwin during his 1831 world voyage. He traveled through this somewhat narrow body of water on his way to the Pacific Ocean. Later named for Darwin's ship, the Beagle, it's one of the most beautiful water passageways on the planet. In modern times, it's the favorite route of cruise ships traveling south to Ushuaia and Antarctica because unlike the often turbulent South Pacific Ocean, it's waters are sheltered and calm. In addition, it's fronted by some of the most impressive glaciers in South America and.... The Devil's Islands archipelago consists of three small islands, located just a few miles off the coast of French Guiana. The group includes Ile du Diable (Devil's Island), Ile Ste-Joseph and Ile Royale. The islands are known throughout the modern world by the brutal history of the 19th century French penal settlement that was located here. It was Ile du Diable (or Devil's Island itself) that perpetuated that story across the planet, especially with the release of a novel and movie called...

Magdalena Island, Chile is positioned in the Strait of Magellan about 27 miles northeast of Punta Arenas. The island is literally covered by Magellanic penguins, and in fact, an estimated 70,000 mated pairs call it home. When their chicks are counted... Rio de Janeiro, Brazil It is without question one of the most magnificent port cities on the planet. It's world famous for many things, but the most significant ones certainly must include Copacabana and Ipanema beaches, an unrivaled Carnival celebration, infectous samba music, some of the best soccer teams to ever play the game, Christ the Redemmer statue high atop Corcovado mountain, enormous granite peaks in all directions, incuding Sugarloaf mountain and... Ushuaia, Argentina is considered the southernmost (city) in the world. It was first the site of a prison established by the Argentine government. In addition to fabulous skiing and other winter sport activities, it's the gateway to Antarctica and... South America Timeline:

5000 BC - 1200 BC The ancient ancestors of the people of South America were believed to have been nomadic Asian hunter-gatherers who crossed over the frozen Bering Strait and into North America. From there they traveled south to the lands of Central and South America. 900 BC 300 BC The Chavn civilization established a trade network and developed agriculture products in the highlands of Peru. 400 BC 800 Along the central coastline of Peru, the Moche, Paracas and Nazca cultures flourished. 600 BC 1200 The Tiahuanaco and Wari empire of central and northern Peru expanded their influence to all of the Andean region. 1000 BC 1450 The Caaris culture of Ecuador, Chimu Empire in Peru, and the Chachapoyas, and the Aymaran kingdoms of Bolivia and southern Peru flourished. 1400 Machu Picchu, Lost City of the Incas was built as an estate for the Inca emperor Pachacuti. It is positioned on a mountain ridge above the Urubamba Valley in Peru. 1400 - 1550 The empire of the Incas covered Peru, Bolivia, northern Argentina, Chile, and Ecuador. It began as a tribe in the Cuzco, Peru area, and from there the Inca state grew to absorb other Andean communities. In 1442, the Incas began a far-reaching expansion across the western edges of the continent. 1498 Christopher Columbus explored the northern coastline of South America, and word of his discovery eventually spread to Europe. Spanish Conquistadores led by Francisco Pizarro arrived in the 1500's intent on finding treasure and conquering this rich land. Over matched by superior weapons and military tactics, the indigenous sovereignty enjoyed by the Incas was lost, but their traditions live on.
1500's

1500 Portuguese explorer Alvares Cabra lands in Brazil 1516 Juan Solis discovers the Rio de la Plata 1520 Ferdinand Magellan sails through Tierra del Fuego 1521 Cortez defeats the Aztecs; conquers their capital 1526 The Spaniards establish Santa Marta, Colombia 1532 Francisco Pizarro conquers Ecuador 1533 Spanish Conquistadors led by Francisco Pizarro, conquered much of the existing Inca territory including the Inca capital of Cuzco 1533 Cartagena founded by the Spanish 1535 Lima, Peru is founded 1536 Buenos Aires, Argentina established 1537 Asuncion, Paraguay founded 1540 Chile explored by Valdivia 1541 Buenos Aires, Argentina abandoned 1545 Silver discovered in Potosi, Bolivia 1548 La Paz, Bolivia established by the Spanish 1550 African slaves arrive in Brazil 1552 Cattle imported into Argentina and Paraguay 1555 Smallpox epidemic along coastal Brazil 1567 Caracas, Venezuela founded 1571 Inca leader Tupac Amaru beheaded 1555 British pirates pillage Valparaiso, Chile 1580 Buenos Aires re-established

1600's

1613 Serious smallpox outbreak sacks Brazil 1616 Dutch explorer Schouten sails around Cape Horn 1621 Dutch West India Company invades Guyana 1629 Dutch troops conquer Pernambuco, Brazil 1647 Strong earthquake strikes Santiago 1693 Gold discovered in Brazil 1697 Pirates raid Cartagena, Colombia

1700's

1711 War of the Mascates begins in Brazil 1720 Spain ends its repressive labor practices 1711 Easter Island discovered 1729 Montevideo, Uruguay established 1711 Diamonds discovered in Brazil 1743 University founded in Santiago 1759 Spanish expelled Jesuits from Brazil 1777 Venezuela established administrative divisions 1783 Indio rebellion is defeated in Peru 1791 Chile forbids forced labor of indigenous people 1797 British raid and conquer Trinidad 1799 Brazil's populations exceeds three million

1800's

1800 Peru's population in sharp decline 1806 Rio de Janeiro largest city in Brazil 1800 Britain takes Buenos Aires from Spain 1807 Locals expel Britain from Buenos Aires 1808 After Napoleon invaded Portugal, The King of Portugal (Dom Joao) moved his capital city to Brazil 1811 Brazil signs exclusive trade deal with Britain 1813 Simon Bolivar invades Venezuela from Bogota 1814 Bernardo O'Higgins leads Chilean rebels 1814 Bolivar defeated, expelled from Venezuela; O'Higgins is defeated and flees to Argentina 1818 Colombia abolishes slavery by law 1818 Chile declares its independence from Spain 1819 Gran Colombia (Colombia, Panama, Venezuela, Ecuador) is established, Simon Bolivar is president 1820 Civil war all but destroys Argentina 1820 Dom Joao returns to Portugal, Pedro (his son) appointed governor of Brazil 1821 Peru declares its independence 1823 Simon Bolivar arrives in Lima 1820 Portugal & USA recognize independent Brazil 1832 Ecuador claims Galapagos Islands 1833 Britain invades Falkland Islands 1832 Ecuador claims Galapagos Islands 1834 Civil War breaks out in Peru 1838 Brazil imports thousands of African slaves 1841 Jose Ballivian appointed president of Bolivia 1851-52 Cattle is now Argentina's largest export 1852 Slavery abolished in Uruguay 1860 Peru enacts a new constitution 1862 Ecuador declares war on Colombia 1864 Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay attack Paraguay 1869 Argentina population approaches two million 1876 Peru population approaches three million 1882 Maximo Santos elected President of Uruguay 1888 Chile annexes Easter Island 1888 Slavery abolished in Brazil 1888 Ecuador claims Galapagos Islands

1900's

1902 Uruguay's population exceeds one million 1903 Jose Battle y Ordonez elected President of Uruguay; the first civilian president of Uruguay 1905 Riots over high prices in Santiago, Chile 1910 Hermes da Fonseca elected President of Brazil 1912 After many years of construction the subway opens in Buenos Aires, Argentina 1917 Oil discovered in western Venezuela 1925 With its new president installed, Chile has now had over 120 different governments since 1892 1929 Venezuela is now the world's second largest producer of oil 1931 The President of Chile resigns under fire 1937 Exports in Chile triple in five years 1940 Peru's population now exceeds seven million 1945 First open and free election held in Peru 1946 Venezuela holds first free elections

1949 Josef Mengele, the Nazi war criminal, secretly arrived in Argentina 1949 Juan Peron, President of Argentina, stifles free speech and other personal freedoms 1950-55 European immigrants by the tens of thousands continue to arrive in South America countries 1950 Brazil population now exceeds 50 million 1952 Eva Peron, the First Lady of Argentina dies, millions mourn her passing 1957 Students riot in Chile over college costs 1960 9.5 magnitude earthquake strikes Chile 1960 Nazi Adolf Eichmann arrested in Argentina 1970 Brazil population now exceeds 90 million 1971 Chile's Pablo Neruda awarded Nobel Peace Prize 1973 Chile general, Augusto Pinochet, begins his long, brutal dictatorship 1976 Chile's population now exceeds 11 million 1979 A subway opens in Rio de Janeiro 1981 Ecuador's president dies in an plane crash 1983 Bolivia holds its first free elections 1987 Colombia's drug cartels terrorize the country; thousands would die over the next few years 1988 Pinochet resigns, his dictatorship over 1990 Argentina's inflation exceeds 8,000%; the economy falls into a rapid decline 1992 Venezuela survives a coup by Hugo Chavez 1993 The world's most famous drug lord, Pablo Escobar, is killed by police in Colombia 1996-98 FARC kills dozens of Colombian soldiers 1998 Hugo Chavez elected President of Venezuela

2000's

2000 Brazil's population exceeds 170 million 2000 The economy of Argentina totally collapses 2002 Brazil wins soccer world cup for the fifth time 2002 Luiz Inacio Lula elected in Brazil 2003 Bolivian landslide kills hundreds 2004 Fire in Paraguay mall, hundreds dead 2005 Ecuador's President flees the country 2006 Evo Morals, the President of Bolivia, launches a controversial nationalization plan 2007 Drug lord Diego Montoya arrested in Colombia 2007 Cristina Fernandez elected President of Argentina 2008 Ecuador has a new constitution 2010 Argentina approves same-sex marriages 2010 An 8.8 magnitude earthquake strikes Chile, hundreds die 2010 After weeks of planning, Chile finally rescues 33 miners trapped deep underground for 69 days 2010 Dilma Rousseff elected President of Brazil