Central America 6121 225676615 2008-07-14T21:16:57Z Melissa walls 7476421 {{otheruses|Central America (disambiguation)}} <div style="float: right; margin: 0 0 1em 2em; width: 20em; text-align: right; font-size: 0.86em; font-family: lucida grande, sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><!-- start of floated right section --> <div style="border: 1px solid #ccd2d9; background: #f0f6fa; text-align: left; padding: 0.5em 1em; text-align: center;"><!-- start of slate grey box --> <big>'''Central America'''</big> <div align=center> [[Image:CentAmerica.jpg|200px|Map of Central America]] </div> {| style="background: transparent; text-align: left; table-layout: auto; border-collapse: collapse; padding: 0; font-size: 100%;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" ! style="border-top: solid 1px #ccd2d9; padding: 0.4em 1em 0.4em 0; vertical-align: top; text-align: left;" | Area | style="border-top: solid 1px #ccd2d9; padding: 0.4em 1em 0.4em 0; vertical-align: top" | 523,780 km²<ref name=a /> |- ! style="border-top: solid 1px #ccd2d9; padding: 0.4em 1em 0.4em 0; vertical-align: top; text-align: left;" | Population | style="border-top: solid 1px #ccd2d9; padding: 0.4em 1em 0.4em 0; vertical-align: top" | 40,545,745 (2007 est.)<ref name=a /> |- ! style="border-top: solid 1px #ccd2d9; padding: 0.4em 1em 0.4em 0; vertical-align: top; text-align: left;" | Density | style="border-top: solid 1px #ccd2d9; padding: 0.4em 1em 0.4em 0; vertical-align: top" | 77 per km² |- ! style="border-top: solid 1px #ccd2d9; padding: 0.4em 1em 0.4em 0; vertical-align: top; text-align: left;" | Countries | style="border-top: solid 1px #ccd2d9; padding: 0.4em 1em 0.4em 0; vertical-align: top" | 7 |- ! style="border-top: solid 1px #ccd2d9; padding: 0.4em 1em 0.4em 0; vertical-align: top; text-align: left;" | GDP | style="border-top: solid 1px #ccd2d9; padding: 0.4em 1em 0.4em 0; vertical-align: top" | $107.7 billion ([[exchange rate]]) (2006) <br/> $ 226.3 billion ([[purchasing power parity]]) (2006). |- ! style="border-top: solid 1px #ccd2d9; padding: 0.4em 1em 0.4em 0; vertical-align: top; text-align: left;" | GDP per capita | style="border-top: solid 1px #ccd2d9; padding: 0.4em 1em 0.4em 0; vertical-align: top" | $2,541 ([[exchange rate]]) (2006) <br/> $5,339([[purchasing power parity]]) (2006). |- ! style="border-top: solid 1px #ccd2d9; padding: 0.4em 1em 0.4em 0; vertical-align: top; text-align: left;" | Languages | style="border-top: solid 1px #ccd2d9; padding: 0.4em 1em 0.4em 0; vertical-align: top" | [[Spanish language|Spanish]], [[English language|English]], [[Garifuna language|Garifuna]], [[Belizean Kriol language|Kriol]], [[Mayan languages]], [[European languages]], and [[Mesoamerican languages|many others]] |- ! style="border-top: solid 1px #ccd2d9; padding: 0.4em 1em 0.4em 0; vertical-align: top; text-align: left;" | Time Zones | style="border-top: solid 1px #ccd2d9; padding: 0.4em 1em 0.4em 0; vertical-align: top" | UTC - 6:00, UTC - 5:00 |- ! style="border-top: solid 1px #ccd2d9; padding: 0.4em 1em 0.4em 0; vertical-align: top; text-align: left;" | Largest cities (2002) | style="border-top: solid 1px #ccd2d9; padding: 0.4em 1em 0.4em 0; vertical-align: top" | [[Tegucigalpa]]<br/>[[Managua]]<br/>[[Guatemala City]]<br/>[[San Salvador]]<br/>[[San Pedro Sula]]<br/>[[Panama City]]<br/>[[San José, Costa Rica|San José]], [[Costa Rica]]<br/>[[Santa Ana, El Salvador|Santa Ana]], [[El Salvador]]<br />[[León, Nicaragua|León]]<br />[[San Miguel, El Salvador|San Miguel]]<ref>[http://www.mongabay.com/igapo/Central_American_cities.htm Largest Cities in Central America], Rhett Butler. Accessed on line [[January 10]], [[2008]].</ref> |- |} </div><!-- end of slate grey box --> </div><!-- end of floated right section; article starts here --> '''Central America''' ([[Spanish language|Spanish]]: ''Centroamérica'' or ''América Central'') is a central [[geography|geographic]] [[region]] of the [[Americas]]. It is variably defined either as the southern portion of [[North America]], which connects with [[South America]] on the southeast, or as a region of the American continent in its own right.<ref>[http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761574502/Central_America.html Central America], ''MSN Encarta''. Accessed on line [[January 10]], [[2008]].</ref><ref>"Central America", vol. 3, Micropædia, ''The New Encyclopædia Britannica'', Chicago: Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 1990, 15th ed. ISBN 0-85229-511-1.</ref> Most of Central America is considered to be part of the [[Mesoamerica]]n [[biodiversity hotspot]].<ref>[http://www.biodiversityhotspots.org/xp/hotspots/mesoamerica/Pages/default.aspx Mesoamerica], Biodiversity Hotspots, [[Conservation International]]. Accessed on line [[January 10]], [[2008]].</ref> ==Physical geography== [[Image:Tectonic plates Caribbean.png|thumb|left|Central America and the [[Caribbean Plate]].]] [[Physical geography|Physiographically]], Central America is a very narrow [[isthmus]] of southern North America extending from the [[Isthmus of Tehuantepec]] in southern [[Mexico]] southeastward to the [[Isthmus of Panama]] where it connects to the [[Colombia]]n [[Geography of Colombia#Pacific Lowlands|Pacific Lowlands]] in northwestern [[South America]]. Alternatively, the [[Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt]] delimits the region on the north. Central America has an area of some 592,000 [[square kilometre]]s. The [[Pacific Ocean]] lies to the southwest, the [[Caribbean Sea]] lies to the northeast, and the [[Gulf of Mexico]] lies to the north. Most of Central America rests atop the [[Caribbean Plate]]. The region is geologically active, with [[volcanic eruption]]s and [[earthquake]]s occurring from time to time. Managua, the capital of Nicaragua, was devastated by earthquakes in 1931 and 1972, and three earthquakes devastated [[El Salvador]], one in 1986 and two in 2001. Fertile soils from weathered volcanic lavas have made it possible to sustain dense populations in the agriculturally productive highland areas.. ==Human geography== [[Geopolitics|Geopolitically]], Central America has traditionally consisted of the following countries: {| class="wikitable sortable" |- bgcolor="#ECECEC" ! Name of territory,<br>with [[flag]] ! [[List of countries by area|Area]]<br>(km²)<ref name=a>Areas and population estimates taken from the 2008 [[CIA World Factbook]], whose population estimates are as of July 2007.</ref> ! [[List of countries by population|Population]]<br>(July 2007 est.)<ref name=a /> ! [[List of countries by population density|Population density]]<br>(per km²) ! [[Capital]] |- | style="text-align:left;" | {{flag|Belize}} | align="right" | {{nts|22966}} | align="right" | {{nts|294385}} | align="right" | {{nts|13}} | style="text-align:left;" | [[Belmopan]] |- | style="text-align:left;" | {{flag|Costa Rica}} | align="right" | {{nts|51100}} | align="right" | {{nts|4133884}} | align="right" | {{nts|81}} | style="text-align:left;" | [[San José, Costa Rica|San José]] |- | style="text-align:left;" | {{flag|El Salvador}} | align="right" | {{nts|21040}} | align="right" | {{nts|6948073}} | align="right" | {{nts|330}} | style="text-align:left;" | [[San Salvador]] |- | style="text-align:left;" | {{flag|Guatemala}} | align="right" | {{nts|108890}} | align="right" | {{nts|12728111}} | align="right" | {{nts|117}} | style="text-align:left;" | [[Guatemala City]] |- | style="text-align:left;" | {{flag|Honduras}} | align="right" | {{nts|112090}} | align="right" | {{nts|7483763}} | align="right" | {{nts|67}} | style="text-align:left;" | [[Tegucigalpa]] |- | style="text-align:left;" | {{flag|Nicaragua}} | align="right" | {{nts|129494}} | align="right" | {{nts|5675356}} | align="right" | {{nts|44}} | style="text-align:left;" | [[Managua]] |- | style="text-align:left;" | {{flag|Panama}} | align="right" | {{nts|78200}} | align="right" | {{nts|3242173}} | align="right" | {{nts|41}} | style="text-align:left;" | [[Panama City]] |- style=" font-weight:bold; " ! Total | align="right" | {{nts|523780}} | align="right" | {{nts|40545745}} | align="right" | {{nts|77}} | style="text-align:left;" | |} Many modern definitions of Central America include Belize and Panama, neither of which existed upon the formation of the [[Federal Republic of Central America]], a short-lived union created after most of the region gained independence from [[Spain]] in the 19th century. The territory now occupied by Belize was originally contested by the [[United Kingdom]] and the [[Spanish Empire]] and, later, [[Guatemala]] (which has considered it, wholly or partially, an eastern [[Departments of Guatemala|department]]); it became a [[British overseas territories|British colony]] ([[British Honduras]]) in 1871 and gained independence in 1981. Panama, situated on the [[Isthmus of Panama]], is sometimes regarded as a [[transcontinental country|transcontinental territory]]. Today, it is often considered a part of North America alone; however, for much of its post-Columbian history, Panama has been connected to South America. Panama was a possession of the [[Viceroyalty of New Granada]], and then, following independence, became a part of ''la Gran Colombia'' ([[Greater Colombia]]). Only after independence from Colombia in 1903 did some begin to regard Panama as a North or Central American entity. == History == {{main|History of Central America}} [[Image:Political Evolution of Central America and the Caribbean 1700 and on.gif|thumb|300px|Political Evolution of Central America and the Caribbean from 1700 to present]] In [[pre-Columbian]] times, the north-western areas of modern Central America were part of the [[Mesoamerica]]n civilization. The [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Native American]] societies of Mesoamerica occupied the land ranging from central [[Mexico]] in the north to [[Costa Rica]] in the south. Most notable among these were the [[Maya peoples|Maya]], who had built numerous cities throughout the region, and the [[Aztecs]], who created a vast empire. The pre-Columbian cultures of [[Panama]] traded with both Mesoamerica and [[South America]], and can be considered transitional between those two cultural areas. [[Image:557px-CentralAmerica1860Map a.jpg|thumb|left|Map of the Republic of Central America]] Following [[Christopher Columbus]]'s discovery of the [[Americas]] for [[Spain]], the Spanish sent numerous expeditions to the region, and they began their conquest of [[Maya civilization|Maya]] lands in the 1520s. In 1540, Spain established the [[Captaincy General of Guatemala]], which extended from southern [[Mexico]] to [[Costa Rica]], and thus encompassed most of what is currently known as Central America, with the exception of [[British Honduras]] (present-day [[Belize]]). This lasted nearly three centuries, until a rebellion (which followed closely on the heels of the [[Mexican War of Independence]]) in 1821. After the dissolution of Spanish authority, the former [[Captaincy General]] remained intact as part of the short-lived [[First Mexican Empire]], then turned into the [[Federal Republic of Central America]], which was a [[representative democracy]] with its capital at [[Guatemala City]]. This union consisted of the present day nations of Guatemala (which included the former state of [[Los Altos, Central America|Los Altos]]), Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica (which included a region which is now part of Panama, and the [[Guanacaste Province]] which was once part of [[Nicaragua]]), and [[Soconusco]], a portion of the modern Mexican state of Chiapas. The Republic lasted from 1823 to 1838, when it began to disintegrate due to [[civil war]]s. ==Central American integration== <div style="float: right; margin: 0 0 1em 2em; width: 20em; text-align: right; font-size: 0.86em; font-family: lucida grande, sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><!-- start of floated right section --> <div style="border: 1px solid #aaaaaa; background: #f9f9f9; text-align: left; padding: 0.5em 1em; text-align: center;"><!-- start of slate grey box --> '''Sistema de Integración Centroamericana'''<br> ''[[Central American Integration System]]'' <div align=center> [[Image:SICA ZP.svg|100px]] Motto: ''«God, Union and Liberty»''<br> Anthem: ''La Granadera''<br> <br> </div> {| style="background: transparent; text-align: left; table-layout: auto; border-collapse: collapse; padding: 0; font-size: 100%;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" ! style="border-top: solid 1px #ccd2d9; padding: 0.4em 1em 0.4em 0; vertical-align: top; text-align: left;" | Area | style="border-top: solid 1px #ccd2d9; padding: 0.4em 1em 0.4em 0; vertical-align: top" | 560,988 km² |- ! style="border-top: solid 1px #ccd2d9; padding: 0.4em 1em 0.4em 0; vertical-align: top; text-align: left;" | Population | style="border-top: solid 1px #ccd2d9; padding: 0.4em 1em 0.4em 0; vertical-align: top" | 41,753,000 hab. |- ! style="border-top: solid 1px #ccd2d9; padding: 0.4em 1em 0.4em 0; vertical-align: top; text-align: left;" | Countries | style="border-top: solid 1px #ccd2d9; padding: 0.4em 1em 0.4em 0; vertical-align: top" | {{BLZ}}<br/> {{CRI}}<br/> {{GUA}}<br/> {{HND}}<br/> {{NIC}}<br/> {{PAN}}<br/>{{SLV}}<br/>{{DOM}} |- |} </div><!-- fin de la tabla flotante gris --> </div><!-- la sección inicia a partir de aquí --> [[Image:Sica.png|thumb|left|Countries part of the SICA]] {{see also|Puebla-Panama Plan|Mesoamerican region}} Central America is going through a process of political, economic and cultural transformation that started in 1907 with the creation of the [[Central American Court of Justice]]. In 1951 the integration process continued with the signature of the San Salvador Treaty that created the ODECA, the Organization of Central American States. Unfortunately, the ODECA was not completely successful due to internal conflicts between several states of the region. It was until 1991 that the integration agenda was completed with the creation of the SICA, ''Sistema para la Integración Centroamericana'' or System for the Central American Integration. The SICA provided a clear legal base to avoid discrepancies between the member states. The SICA membership includes the 7 nations of Central America plus the [[Dominican Republic]], a state that is part of the [[Caribbean]]. Central America already has several supranational institutions such as the [[Central American Parliament]], the [[Central American Bank for Economic Integration]] and the [[Central American Common Market]]. == Foreign relations == Until recently all Central American countries have maintained diplomatic relations with the [[Republic of China|Republic of China (Taiwan)]] instead of the [[People's Republic of China]].<ref>[http://www.mofa.gov.tw/webapp/ct.asp?xItem=11624&CtNode=1143&mp=1 Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of China]</ref>. President Oscar Arias of Costa Rica, however, established diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China in 2007, severing formal diplomatic ties with the Republic of China (Taiwan). ==Usage== "Central America" may mean different things to different people in the world according to the context: * In English, Central America is considered a region of the North American [[continent]].<ref>"[http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/Central%20America Central America]." ''[[Merriam-Webster|Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary]]''.</ref> Geopolitically, it usually comprises seven countries – Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama.<ref name="Central_America-Britannica">"[http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9110092/Central-America Central America]". ''[[Encyclopædia Britannica]]''. 2006. Chicago: Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc.</ref> [[Mexico]], in whole or in part, is occasionally included.<ref>Burchfield, R. W. 2004. "America". ''[[Fowler's Modern English Usage]]'' (ISBN 0-19-861021-1) New York: Oxford University Press, p. 48.</ref> Some geographers include the [[Political divisions of Mexico|five states]] of [[Campeche]], [[Chiapas]], [[Tabasco]], [[Quintana Roo]], and [[Yucatán]],<ref name="Central_America-Britannica"/> together representing 12.1% of the country's total area. * In [[Latin America]], [[Iberian Peninsula|Iberia]], and some other parts of [[Europe]], the Americas are considered to be a single continent, and Central America is considered a region of this continent. In [[Ibero-America]], the region is defined as seven nations – Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama – and may occasionally include Mexico's southernmost region.<ref>[http://mx.encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761574502/Centroam%C3%A9rica.html Centroamérica (Mexican version)]"/[http://es.encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761574502/Centroam%C3%A9rica.html Centroamérica (Spaniard version)]. ''Encarta Online Encyclopedia.''</ref> Geopolitically, Mexico is not considered part of the region. * The [[United Nations geoscheme|UN geoscheme]] defines the region as all states of North America south of the [[United States]]; conversely, the [[European Union]] excludes Belize and Mexico from its definition of the region.<ref>[http://millenniumindicators.un.org/unsd/methods/m49/m49regin.htm Standard Country and Area Codes Classifications (M49)]. United Nations Statistics Division.</ref><ref>[http://ec.europa.eu/external_relations/ca/index.htm The EU's relations with Central America], European Commission. Accessed on line [[October 17]], [[2007]].</ref> ==See also== * [[Central American Parliament]] * [[Ethnic groups in Central America]] * [[North America]] * [[South America]] * [[Americas (terminology)]] * [[Middle America (Americas)|Middle America]] * [[Rail transport in Central America]] ==References== <!--See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Footnotes for an explanation of how to generate footnotes using the <ref(erences/)> tags--> {{reflist}} <!-- Please inline these citations --> {{refbegin}} * Sebastian Huhn: Discourses on Violence in Costa Rica, El Salvador and Nicaragua: Social Perceptions in Everyday Life [http://www.giga-hamburg.de/dl/download.php?d=/content/publikationen/pdf/wp81_huhn.pdf] * "[http://www.bartleby.com/65/ce/CentrAm.html Central America]". ''[http://www.bartleby.com/65/ The Columbia Encyclopedia]'', 6th ed. 2001-6. New York: Columbia University Press. * "[http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761574502/Central_America.html Central America]". ''[[Encarta|MSN Encarta Online Encyclopedia 2006]].'' * [http://www.bartleby.com/61/8/C0200800.html American Heritage Dictionaries, Central America]. * [http://wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=central+america WordNet Princeton University: Central America]. * "Central America". ''[http://www.columbiagazetteer.org/ The Columbia Gazetteer of the World Online]''. 2006. New York: Columbia University Press. {{refend}} ==External links== * [http://www.flickr.com/photos/billbevan/sets/72157601786821717/ Photos of Central America] {{Regions of the world}} [[Category:Central America| ]] [[ar:أمريكا الوسطى]] [[an:America Zentral]] [[frp:Amèrica centrâla]] [[ast:América Central]] [[az:Mərkəzi Amerika]] [[zh-min-nan:Tiong Bí-chiu]] [[bg:Централна Америка]] [[ca:Amèrica Central]] [[cs:Střední Amerika]] [[da:Mellemamerika]] [[de:Zentralamerika]] [[dsb:Srjejźna Amerika]] [[et:Kesk-Ameerika]] [[el:Κεντρική Αμερική]] [[es:América Central]] [[eo:Centra Ameriko]] [[eu:Erdialdeko Amerika]] [[fa:آمریکای مرکزی]] [[fo:Miðamerika]] [[fr:Amérique centrale]] [[fur:Americhe centrâl]] [[gv:Yn Americkey Veanagh]] [[gd:Aimearaga Mheadhanach]] [[gl:América Central]] [[ko:중앙아메리카]] [[hr:Srednja Amerika]] [[id:Amerika Tengah]] [[ia:America central]] [[it:America centrale]] [[he:אמריקה המרכזית]] [[jv:Amérika Tengah]] [[kn:ಮಧ್ಯ ಅಮೇರಿಕ]] [[ka:ცენტრალური ამერიკა]] [[sw:Amerika ya Kati]] [[lt:Centrinė Amerika]] [[mk:Средна Америка]] [[ms:Amerika Tengah]] [[nl:Centraal-Amerika]] [[ja:中央アメリカ]] [[no:Mellom-Amerika]] [[nds:Middelamerika]] [[pl:Ameryka Centralna]] [[pt:América Central]] [[ro:America Centrală]] [[ru:Центральная Америка]] [[scn:Amèrica cintrali]] [[simple:Central America]] [[sk:Stredná Amerika]] [[sl:Srednja Amerika]] [[sr:Средња Америка]] [[fi:Keski-Amerikka]] [[sv:Centralamerika]] [[ta:நடு அமெரிக்கா]] [[th:อเมริกากลาง]] [[tr:Orta Amerika]] [[uk:Центральна Америка]] [[wo:Diggu Aamerig]] [[bat-smg:Centrėnė Amerėka]] [[zh:中美洲]]