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Discover the Caribbean's geographic significance as a vital trade hub linking the Gulf of Mexico and the Panama Canal. Learn about the isolated islands, their unique cultures, and the historical impact of European colonization. Explore the climate, weather patterns, and the threat of hurricanes, alongside the region's colonial legacy and its transformation into a modern multicultural society. Despite a difficult past, the Caribbean today is a tapestry of diverse influences, merging history with vibrant contemporary life.
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Where it is… • The Carribean is the name for the group of islands in the Gulf of Mexico. • Important Location for Trade - Caribbean waterways give access to the Gulf of Mexico and the Panama Canal • THE CANAL link Europe with Latin America, the East coast of United States with the West Coast, and Asia, and South America with North America
Geographic Characteristics • Islands are isolated from each other: island nature gives absolute control of each island/ group of islands to one power • islands with limited area led to vulnerability for demographic destruction and forced assimilation by the Europeans (Caribs and Arawaks) • http://caribbean-guide.info/past.and.present/culture/ (Taino example…)
Small Size of Islands • Because the islands are so small, they are the most densely populated region of the Americas • inefficient and expensive to operate individual governments, educational systems, and health and welfare systems (compared to Can. And US) • pollution issues are amplified (sewage, water issues, waste disposal..)
The Antilles • Explorers from Europe wrote stories and legends about the Caribbean, but they called this area The Antilles. • in legend Anatolia was a semi-mythical land located somewhere west of Europe across the Atlantic • On medieval charts the region was often drawn as a continent, or large island and sometimes an archipelago (a series of islands in a shape)
The Antilles • After "discovery" by Columbus, the Spanish term “Antillas” was commonly assigned to the new lands • "Sea of the Antilles" in various European languages is used as ANOTHER NAME for the Caribbean Sea
Columbus’ Big Mistake… • Why did I say “Discovered”? • Christopher Columbus Didn’t REALLY discover AMERICA… he got there by mistake. • He was trying to prove the world was round • He though he was in India.
CLIMATE AND WEATHER PATTERNS (It’s not ALWAYS paradise!)
Climate: It is TOASTY! • Climate is mild and warm – same temperature almost all year round • Cause by the Maritime Tropical air mass: - average annual temperatures are about 26.6 C, and don’t really change between seasons at all.
Precipitation and Trade Winds • Weather patters are controlled by the northeast trade winds • These winds modify the tropical heat and produce most precipitation in the area • Most rain falls in late summer and the fall, with the spring and early summer a drier season
Weather: Why NO SEASONS? • That’s right; there aren’t really the kinds of seasons we’re used to in Canada in the Carribbean • This is because it is basically right ON the equator
HURRICANES! • The region IS nice and DOES have nice weather, but gets hurricanes Hurricanes are A HUGE issue for the Caribbean because… • Easterly trade winds intensify the spin of the hurricane (feed the hurricane) • a continual supply of warm humid air from the ocean (+27c) will keep the convection currents active (feed the hurricane and MAKE IT WORSE!)
How Does This Happen? • The Warm Ocean is the PERFECT place for a severe hurricane.
What Happens Hurricane Irene Animation http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrWqFOjBvMs Hurricane Katrina http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Kou0HBpX4A&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWANMstFfgw Dealiest list: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_deadliest_Atlantic_hurricanes
The Hurricane Season! • The ‘season’ runs from June 1st to Nov 30th • If you are looking for cheap travel, you can get some great vacation deals!!!
Some Examples of How Slaves Were Moved… • A Triangular System
The ‘Legacy’ • Colonialism and the slave trade =destruction of religion =destruction of culture =destruction of life as natives knew it… -Arawaks and Caribs
What it Brought • war/ piracy • disease • domination
A Modern Multicultural Region Despite its ugly past, the Caribbean is now a more modern, multicultural region with peoples from origins such as • English • Dutch • French • Spanish • Portuguese • German • African