Central America

Central America is a narrow strip of land that connects North America to South America. It includes seven countries: Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama. The region has tropical rainforests, volcanoes, and beautiful beaches on two oceans.

Land and People

About 50 million people live in Central America. The region has a chain of volcanoes running down its center. Both the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean border Central America. The Panama Canal, which lets ships pass between the two oceans, is one of the most important waterways in the world.

Culture and Fun Facts

The ancient Maya civilization built amazing cities in Central America hundreds of years ago. Spanish is the main language in most countries, except Belize where English is spoken. Central America has incredible wildlife, including toucans, jaguars, and sea turtles. The food includes tortillas, beans, and tropical fruits.

Fun Facts

• The Panama Canal saves ships about 8,000 miles of travel by cutting through Central America.
• Central America has about 7 percent of the world's biodiversity despite being a small region.
• The ancient Maya built the great city of Tikal in what is now Guatemala.

Did You Know?

Central America is home to about 7 percent of all the plant and animal species on Earth. This tiny strip of land has more types of living things per square mile than almost anywhere else.