CH.8 world geography quiz

isthmus

isthmus

narrow strip of land connecting two larger land areas

biodiversity

biological diversity in an environment of different species of plants and animals

patois

a dialect used in everyday speech that blend elements of several languages

latifundia

large agricultural estates owned by families or corporations

ecotourism

the practice and business of recreational travel based on concern for the environment

sedimentation

the action or process of forming or depositing sediment

population pressure

the sum of factors within population that reduce the ability of an environment to support the population resulting in migration or population decline

dialect

local form of a language used in a particular place or by a certain group

minifundia

small farms that produce food cheifly for family use

cottage industry

a business that employs workers n their homes

archepilago

a group or chain of islands

what two bodies of water does the isthmus of Panama separate?

Caribbean sea from the gulf of mexico

how many islands make up the caribbean

7000 separate islands which are very earthquake prone

what do the water systems in Central and Latin America provide

transportation, drinking water, drainage, irrigation, hydroelectric power

what kind of hotspot is Costa Rica and Paname

biodiversity hotspot

WHo mainly colonized Cen. Amer. and the Caribbean

mainly colonized by the Spanish

What did Cen. Amer. and Caribbean countries face

political, social, and economic upheaval

why is Latin America so diverse?

its history includes the merging of indigenous European, african, and asian cultures.

What religion is Cen. Amer. mainly?Caribbean?

it is mainly Roman Catholic. Variety of catholics, protestants, hinduism, islam

what are some economic activities in this region?

latifundia, minifundia, cottage industry, and ecotourism

How does Cen. AMer. and Caribbean manage their resources?

protecting and damaging wetlands, hydroelectric power, slash and burn farming( deforestation vs. Reforestation)

what do water shortages in cen. amer. cause?

disputes among other countries

how have floods created by dams changing the environment of cen. amer.?

they have altered habitats and destroyed fish populations

what has the geography made the land vulnerable to?

earthquakes/hurricanes/floods

addressing the issue

-trees are cut down➡ reforestation

-rain reduces the soil’s fertility by washing away nutrients +many people living in unsanitary conditions➡ addressing problems to preserve biodiversity and improve living conditions