加勒比地区英文介绍

Cuba:: 101,000 Km. Sq. Montserrat: 100 km. Sq.
Hispaniola (Haiti and Dominican Republic): 16 million Turks and Caicos: 12,000 pop Spanish: Puerto Rico, Cuba, Dominican Republic French: Haiti, Guadeloupe, Martinique, St. Martin Dutch: ABC, St. Maartin English: Patois: many islands

Plantation economies

Sugar, sugar, sugar Bananas, citrus, coffee, spices

By 1900‘s: US dominates the region politically and economically Other and more recent economic development


Bahamas included even though they are technically in the Atlantic Ocean
Greater Antilles
Lesser Antilles
Lesser Antilles
Why a region?

Commonalities: Cultural and economic history different than Latin America
Environmental Geographies

Geologies, climate and vegetation

Tectonic Plates Tropical, wet climate that supports forests Palm savannas—best soils Mangrove swamps Arid zones (rain shadows) Hurricanes

Lesser Antilles


Netherlands Antilles (ABC islands)

Setting boundaries not easy:

Sometimes Belize/ Guyana's (Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana) Sometimes the ―rimlands‖ of Central American countries
Caribbean Overview

25 countries and dependent territories

Greater Antilles (Cuba, Hispaniola, Jamaica, Puerto Rico)

Large mountains (DR: 10,000‘; Jamaica Blue Mtns. 7000‘, Cuba 6000‘ (refuges for runaway slaves) Fertile farmlands, but fragile Double arc

Reworked landscapes Environmental degradation

Deforestation

Sugarcane fields

Jamaica and DR still have 30% Cuba has 20% (charcoal production for energy needs) Rimlands are much more intact Belize and Guyana had successful environmental initiatives



timber nickel and bauxite, gold tourism Non traditional exports Off shore banking
Caribbean Overview

Contradictions:


―Island Paradise‖ v. impoverishment and dependency ―Isolated proximity‖ Fertility washed away Cyclical migration: migrants returning


Environmental/physical geographies
The Indies, the Spanish Main, Mar del Norte 18th C: first use of the name Caribbean

Names:


Caribbean Diversity

Territorial Size:

Population


Cultural Heritage


Economic and social indicators
Caribbean Overview

Historically: ―proxy‖ battleground for European rivalries

Seas and marine resources

Spanish discoveries

Plantation ecHale Waihona Puke Baidunomies
Jumping off point for exploration and ports for trading from Mexico, CA and SA



Diverse European influence Strong African imprint and slavery Virtually no indigenous legacy Export plantation economy
Grossly uneven distribution of land and resources Environmental impacts