lecture 16b

Caribbean Tectonic Plates

• The Caribbean region has its own tectonic plate, known as the Caribbean Plate.

  • Not all regions of the Caribbean are located on this plate; its boundary runs through Hispaniola and Cuba.

  • Boundaries between tectonic plates often correlate with geological features such as earthquakes and volcanic activity.

  • The Caribbean plate lies to the north of the South American plate and in proximity to the North American plate.

Geographical Features and Earthquake Activity

• Lesser Antilles: A significant geographical feature located along a backward C-shaped arc.

  • The boundaries of the Caribbean Plate are actively associated with seismic activities, resulting in frequent earthquakes.

  • Earthquake activity has been documented in:

  • Cuba

  • Puerto Rico

  • Haiti

  • Dominican Republic

  • An example includes the devastating earthquake in Haiti in 2010, resulting in substantial structural damage and displacement of residents.

Volcanic Activity in the Lesser Antilles

• The Lesser Antilles are prone to volcanic eruptions, particularly in the inner arc region.

  • Major islands affected include:

  • Montserrat: Experienced significant eruptions and evacuation in the early 1900s, particularly a catastrophic eruption in 1902 that resulted in a substantial loss of life.

  • Guadeloupe and Martinique: Also affected by volcanic activity leading to loss of life and destruction.

  • (Example: 30,000 deaths occurred during the volcanic eruption in Martinique in 1902.)

Hurricane Impact on the Caribbean

• Hurricanes: A primary concern for the Caribbean, with significant historical frequency and destructive power.

  • Hurricanes originating from the Sahara Desert's climatic conditions can develop into tropical storms and hurricanes across the Atlantic Ocean.

  • The Lesser Antilles are typically the first land to be impacted by these storms.

  • As hurricanes traverse warm waters, particularly over the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, they can intensify substantially.

    • Major hurricanes have occurred in Puerto Rico, highlighting their vulnerabilities:

      • Hurricane Hugo (1989): Significant damages recorded.

      • Hurricane George (1998): Disruption of communication resulted in chaos, affected families looking for news.

      • Hurricane Maria (2017): Caused an estimated $94 billion in damages, with power outages lasting months, and resulted in around 3,000 fatalities from the storm and subsequent health crises.

Historical and Political Context of Caribbean Islands

• The United States has significant historical and geopolitical ties to the Caribbean, particularly through:

  • Monroe Doctrine (1823): Established a policy of opposing European colonialism in the Americas, viewing the Caribbean as a sphere of influence under U.S. control.

  • Teddy Roosevelt's Corollary: Affirmed the U.S. right to intervene in Latin American countries, leading to military occupations in various Caribbean nations.

Key Military Interventions by the US:

• Puerto Rico: Became a U.S. possession post-Spanish American War in 1898.

• Haiti: U.S. military occupation from 1915 to 1934.

• Dominican Republic: Military intervention occurred from 1915 to 1924, with an impact on local culture, such as the introduction of baseball.

Colonial History and Independence Movements

• The Caribbean's geopolitical landscape has shifted throughout history, with various islands changing hands among colonial powers.

  • Early Colonial Influences: Dominated by Spain, Britain, France, and the Netherlands.

  • Independence movements resulted in many islands gaining sovereignty in the latter half of the 20th century:

  • Haiti: First to gain independence in 1804.

  • Other Caribbean nations followed suit in the 1960s and late 1970s.

    • Significant independence dates include:

    • Antigua and Barbuda: 1981

    • St. Kitts and Nevis: 1983

    • Dominica: 1978

    • Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent: Both attained independence in 1979.

  • Colonial possessions that remain include the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and several British and Dutch territories.