Central America is seven republics, Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama. Between Mexico and South America, the Atlantic and the Pacific, they are all tropical, heavily forested and, except Panama and Belize, mountainous. The Atlantic coast is generally swampy and poorly settled.
Natives such as the Maya fared better here than in most of America but the culture is primarily European. Agriculture, mainly fruit and coffee, light industry and mining are economic mainstays. English-speaking Belize is a former British colony but the rest of Central America speaks Spanish and was once part of Mexico.
Costa Rica, the most prosperous Central American country, is the most often visited. Pleasant seaside and mountain resorts invite the tourist. Travellers can tour impressive Mayan ruins in Guatemala, Belize and Honduras. Panama's famous canal is an attraction, along with sportfishing there and in Costa Rica and Belize. |
