Editing Central America (section)

== Geography ==
{{See also|Geography of Belize|Geography of Costa Rica|Geography of El Salvador|Geography of Guatemala|Geography of Honduras|Geography of Nicaragua|Geography of Panama|l1=Geography of Belize|l2=Costa Rica|l3=El Salvador|l4=Guatemala|l5=Honduras|l6=Nicaragua|l7=Panama|List of islands of Central America|List of mountain peaks of Central America}}
[[File:Map of Central America.png|thumb|The seven countries of Central America and their capitals]]

Central America is a part of [[North America]] consisting of a tapering isthmus running from the southern extent of Mexico to the northwestern portion of [[South America]]. Central America has the [[Gulf of Mexico]], a body of water within the [[Atlantic Ocean]], to the north; the Caribbean Sea, also part of the Atlantic Ocean, to the northeast; and the Pacific Ocean to the southwest. Some [[Physical geography|physiographists]] define the [[Isthmus of Tehuantepec]] as the northern geographic border of Central America,<ref name=MW /> while others use the northwestern borders of Belize and Guatemala. From there, the Central American land mass extends southeastward to the [[Atrato River]], where it connects to the [[Pacific/Chocó natural region|Pacific Lowlands]] in northwestern South America.

Central America has over 70 active volcanoes, 41 which are located in El Salvador, and Guatemala.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Q |first=Pablo Fonseca |date=2023-12-20 |title=Central American volcanoes offer clues to Earth's geological evolution |journal=Knowable Magazine |url=https://knowablemagazine.org/content/article/physical-world/2023/central-american-volcanoes-clues-earth-geological-evolution |language=en |doi=10.1146/knowable-122023-1|doi-access=free }}</ref> The volcano with the most activity in Central America is [[Santa María (volcano)|Santa María]]. Still experiencing frequent eruptions to this day, with the last one beginning in 2013, and still is going on to this day.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Central America: an active volcanic arc |url=https://www.eskp.de/en/natural-hazards/central-america-an-active-volcanic-arc-935395/ |access-date=2024-05-22 |website=www.eskp.de |language=en}}</ref>

Of the many mountain ranges within Central America, the longest are the [[Sierra Madre de Chiapas]], the [[Cordillera Isabelia]] and the [[Cordillera de Talamanca]]. At {{convert|4220|m|ft|sp=us}}, [[Volcán Tajumulco]] is the highest peak in Central America. Other high points of Central America are as listed in the table below:

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="margin: 1em auto;"
|+High points in Central America
|-
! Country
! Name
! Elevation
! Range
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flag|Belize}}
|[[Doyle's Delight]]
|{{cvt|1,124|m}}
|[[Maya Mountains]]
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flag|Costa Rica}}
|[[Cerro Chirripó]]
|{{cvt|3,820|m}}
|[[Cordillera de Talamanca]]
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flag|El Salvador}}
|[[Cerro El Pital]]
|{{cvt|2,730|m}}
|[[Sierra Madre de Chiapas]]
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flag|Guatemala}}
|[[Volcán Tajumulco]]
|{{cvt|4,220|m}}
|[[Sierra Madre de Chiapas]]
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flag|Honduras}}
|[[Cerro Las Minas]]
|{{cvt|2,780|m}}
|[[Sierra Madre de Chiapas]]
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flag|Nicaragua}}
|[[Mogotón]]
|{{cvt|2,107|m}}
|[[Cordillera Isabelia]]
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flag|Panama}}
|[[Volcán Barú]]
|{{cvt|3,474|m}}
|[[Cordillera de Talamanca]]
|}

[[File:CAmerica.gif|thumb|Central America geography]]

Between the mountain ranges lie fertile valleys that are suitable for the raising of livestock and for the production of coffee, tobacco, beans and other crops. Most of the population of Honduras, Costa Rica and Guatemala lives in valleys.<ref>{{cite book|author=IBP, Inc.|title=Central American Countries Mineral Industry Handbook Volume 1 Strategic Information and Regulations|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Y_PxCQAAQBAJ&pg=PA8|year=2015|isbn=978-1-329-09114-6|pages=7, 8|publisher=Lulu.com }}</ref>

[[Trade winds]] have a significant effect upon the climate of Central America. Temperatures in Central America are highest just prior to the [[Wet season|summer wet season]], and are lowest during the [[Dry season|winter dry season]], when trade winds contribute to a cooler climate. The highest temperatures occur in April, due to higher levels of sunlight, lower cloud cover and a decrease in trade winds.<ref name=Oliver2005 />

=== Biodiversity ===
{{See also|Central America bioregion}}

===Central American forests===
<gallery>
File:Rain forest of Petén in Guatemala.jpg|[[Petén–Veracruz moist forests]], Guatemala
File:Forest canopy in Belize (5344010084).jpg|Chiquibul Forest Reserve, Belize
File:Zona de Acampar Parque Montecristo.jpg|[[Montecristo National Park]], El Salvador
File:Altagracia Volcan Maderas Bosque Nuboso.jpg|[[Maderas]] forest, Nicaragua
File:Small seepage pond near the top of Cerro El Chino - ZooKeys-298-077-g004B.jpg|Texiguat Wildlife Refuge Honduras
File:Monteverde bosque.jpg|[[Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve]], Costa Rica.
File:DirkvdM cloudforest-jungle.jpg|[[Parque Internacional la Amistad]], Panama
</gallery>

[[File:El Chorrerón en San Fernando, Morazán, El Salvador - 2011.jpg|thumb|upright|El Chorreron in El Salvador]]
Central America is part of the Mesoamerican [[biodiversity hotspot]], boasting 7% of the world's [[biodiversity]].<ref name=webng /> The [[Pacific Flyway]] is a major north–south [[flyway]] for [[Bird migration|migratory birds]] in the Americas, extending from [[Alaska]] to [[Tierra del Fuego]]. Due to the funnel-like shape of its land mass, migratory birds can be seen in very high concentrations in Central America, especially in the spring and autumn. As a bridge between North America and South America, Central America has many species from the [[Nearctic realm|Nearctic]] and the [[Neotropical realm]]s. However the southern countries (Costa Rica and Panama) of the region have more biodiversity than the northern countries (Guatemala and Belize), meanwhile the central countries (Honduras, Nicaragua and El Salvador) have the least biodiversity.<ref name=webng /> The table below shows recent statistics:

{|class="wikitable sortable" style="margin: 1em auto;"
|+Biodiversity in Central America (numbers of different species of terrestrial vertebrate animals and vascular plants)
! Country
! Amphibian<br />species
! Bird<br />species
! Mammal<br />species
! Reptile<br />species
! Total terrestrial<br />vertebrate species
! Vascular plants<br />species
! Biodiversity
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|Belize<ref name=MongabayB />
|style="text-align:center;"|46
|style="text-align:center;"|544
|style="text-align:center;"|147
|style="text-align:center;"|140
|style="text-align:center;"|877
|style="text-align:center;"|2894
|style="text-align:center;"|3771
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|Costa Rica<ref name=MongabayCR />
|style="text-align:center;"|183
|style="text-align:center;"|838
|style="text-align:center;"|232
|style="text-align:center;"|258
|style="text-align:center;"|1511
|style="text-align:center;"|12119
|style="text-align:center;"|13630
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|El Salvador<ref name=MongabayES />
|style="text-align:center;"|30
|style="text-align:center;"|434
|style="text-align:center;"|137
|style="text-align:center;"|106
|style="text-align:center;"|707
|style="text-align:center;"|2911
|style="text-align:center;"|3618
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|Guatemala<ref name=MongabayG />
|style="text-align:center;"|133
|style="text-align:center;"|684
|style="text-align:center;"|193
|style="text-align:center;"|236
|style="text-align:center;"|1246
|style="text-align:center;"|8681
|style="text-align:center;"|9927
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|Honduras<ref name=MongabayH />
|style="text-align:center;"|101
|style="text-align:center;"|699
|style="text-align:center;"|201
|style="text-align:center;"|213
|style="text-align:center;"|1214
|style="text-align:center;"|5680
|style="text-align:center;"|6894
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|Nicaragua<ref name=MongabayN />
|style="text-align:center;"|61
|style="text-align:center;"|632
|style="text-align:center;"|181
|style="text-align:center;"|178
|style="text-align:center;"|1052
|style="text-align:center;"|7590
|style="text-align:center;"|8642
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|Panama<ref name=MongabayP />
|style="text-align:center;"|182
|style="text-align:center;"|904
|style="text-align:center;"|241
|style="text-align:center;"|242
|style="text-align:center;"|1569
|style="text-align:center;"|9915
|style="text-align:center;"|11484
|}

Over 300 species of the region's flora and fauna are threatened, 107 of which are classified as critically endangered. The underlying problems are [[deforestation]], which is estimated by [[FAO]] at 1.2% per year in Central America and Mexico combined, [[habitat fragmentation|fragmentation]] of [[rainforest]]s and the fact that 80% of the vegetation in Central America has already been converted to agriculture.<ref name=Harvey2008 />

Efforts to protect fauna and flora in the region are made by creating [[ecoregion]]s and nature reserves. 36% of Belize's land territory falls under some form of official protected status, giving Belize one of the most extensive systems of terrestrial protected areas in the Americas. In addition, 13% of Belize's marine territory are also protected.<ref name=Ramos2010 /> A large coral reef extends from Mexico to Honduras: the [[Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System]]. The [[Belize Barrier Reef]] is part of this. The Belize Barrier Reef is home to a large diversity of plants and animals, and is one of the most diverse [[ecosystem]]s of the world. It is home to 70 hard coral species, 36 [[Alcyonacea|soft coral]] species, 500 species of fish and hundreds of [[invertebrate]] species.
So far only about 10% of the species in the Belize barrier reef have been discovered.<ref name=westminster />

=== Flora ===
===National flowers===
<gallery>
File:Lycaste virginalis forma Alba.jpg|''[[Lycaste skinneri]]'', Guatemala
File:Yucca - ‘Daga española’ (7625319272).jpg|[[Yucca gigantea|Izote flower]], El Salvador
File:Rhyncholaelia digbyana (16395522643).jpg|''[[Rhyncholaelia digbyana]]'', Honduras
File:Frangipani flower.jpg|''[[Plumeria]]'', Nicaragua
File:A and B Larsen orchids - Cattleya skinneri 574-24.jpg|''[[Guarianthe skinneri]]'', Costa Rica
File:Peristeria elata Orchi 11.jpg|''[[Peristeria elata]]'', Panama
File:Encyclia cochleata - flower.jpg|''[[Prosthechea cochleata]]'', Belize
</gallery>

===National trees===
<gallery>
File:Ceiba, the Maya Tree of Life Laslovarga01.JPG|''[[Ceiba]]'', Guatemala
File:Enterolobium cyclocarpum in Guanacaste.jpg|''[[Enterolobium cyclocarpum]]'', Costa Rica
File:Maquilishuat en flor.jpg|''[[Tabebuia rosea]]'', El Salvador
File:Árbol Panamá - Sterculia apetala - Árbol Nacional de Panamá 01.JPG|''[[Sterculia apetala]]'', Panama
File:Pinus oocarpa, San Rafael del Norte, Nicaragua.jpg|''[[Pinus oocarpa]]'', Honduras
File:Calycophyllum candidissimum in Managua.jpg|''[[Calycophyllum candidissimum]]'', Nicaragua
File:A big Mahogany tree.jpg|''[[Swietenia macrophylla]]'', Belize
</gallery>

[[File:costa rica santa elena skywalk.jpg|thumb|One of the hanging bridges of the skywalk at the [[Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve]] in [[Monteverde, Costa Rica]] disappearing into the clouds]]
From 2001 to 2010, {{convert|5376|km2|sqmi|sp=us}} of forest were lost in the region. In 2010 Belize had 63% of remaining forest cover, Costa Rica 46%, Panama 45%, Honduras 41%, Guatemala 37%, Nicaragua 29%, and El Salvador 21%. Most of the loss occurred in the moist forest [[biome]], with {{convert|12201|km2|sqmi|sp=us}}. Woody vegetation loss was partially set off by a gain in the coniferous forest biome with {{convert|4730|km2|sqmi|sp=us}}, and a gain in the dry forest biome at {{convert|2054|km2|sqmi|sp=us}}. Mangroves and deserts contributed only 1% to the loss in forest vegetation. The bulk of the [[Deforestation in Central America|deforestation]] was located at the Caribbean slopes of Nicaragua with a loss of {{convert|8574|km2|sqmi|sp=us}} of forest in the period from 2001 to 2010. The most significant regrowth of {{convert|3050|km2|sqmi|sp=us}} of forest was seen in the coniferous woody vegetation of Honduras.<ref name=Redo2012 />

===Montane forests===
The [[Central American pine-oak forests]] ecoregion, in the [[tropical and subtropical coniferous forests]] biome, is found in Central America and southern Mexico. The Central American pine-oak forests occupy an area of {{convert|111400|km2|sqmi|sp=us}},<ref name=WWF0303 /> extending along the mountainous spine of Central America, extending from the [[Sierra Madre de Chiapas]] in Mexico's [[Chiapas]] state through the highlands of Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras to central Nicaragua. The pine-oak forests lie between {{convert|600|-|1800|m|ft}} elevation,<ref name=WWF0303 /> and are surrounded at lower elevations by [[tropical moist forests]] and [[tropical dry forests]]. Higher elevations above {{convert|1800|m|ft}} are usually covered with [[Central American montane forests]]. The Central American pine-oak forests are composed of many species characteristic of temperate North America including [[oak]], [[pine]], [[fir]], and [[cypress]].

[[Laurel forest]] is the most common type of Central American temperate evergreen [[cloud forest]], found in almost all Central American countries, normally more than {{convert|1000|m|ft|sp=us}} above sea level. Tree species include [[evergreen oak]]s, members of the [[Laurus|laurel family]], species of ''[[Weinmannia]]'' and ''[[Magnolia]]'', and ''[[Drimys granadensis]]''.<ref name=WWF0167 /> The cloud forest of [[Sierra de las Minas]], Guatemala, is the largest in Central America. In some areas of southeastern Honduras there are cloud forests, the largest located near the border with Nicaragua. In Nicaragua, cloud forests are situated near the border with Honduras, but many were cleared to grow coffee. There are still some temperate evergreen hills in the north. The only cloud forest in the Pacific coastal zone of Central America is on the [[Mombacho]] volcano in Nicaragua. In Costa Rica, there are laurel forests in the Cordillera de [[Tilarán]] and [[Volcán Arenal]], called [[Monteverde]], also in the [[Cordillera de Talamanca]].

The [[Central American montane forests]] are an ecoregion of the [[tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests]] biome, as defined by the [[World Wildlife Fund]].<ref name=WWF0112 /> These forests are of the moist deciduous and the semi-evergreen seasonal subtype of tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests and receive high overall rainfall with a warm summer [[wet season]] and a cooler winter dry season. Central American montane forests consist of forest patches located at altitudes ranging from {{convert|1800|-|4000|m|ft}}, on the summits and slopes of the highest mountains in Central America ranging from Southern Mexico, through Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, to northern Nicaragua. The entire ecoregion covers an area of {{convert|13200|km2|sqmi|sp=us}} and has a [[temperate climate]] with relatively high [[precipitation]] levels.<ref name=WWF0112 />

=== Fauna ===
{{See also|List of mammals of Central America|List of Central American monkey species}}

===National birds===
<gallery>
File:Male Resplendent Quetzal.jpg|[[Resplendent quetzal]], Guatemala
File:Eumomota superciliosa.jpg|[[Turquoise-browed motmot]], El Salvador and Nicaragua
File:Keel-billed toucan.jpg|[[Keel-billed toucan]], Belize
File:Scarlet-Macaw.jpg|[[Scarlet macaw]], Honduras
File:Turdus grayi 4zz.jpg|[[Clay-colored thrush]], Costa Rica
File:Harpy Eagle.jpg|[[Harpy eagle]], Panama
</gallery>
Ecoregions are not only established to protect the forests themselves but also because they are habitats for an incomparably rich and often endemic fauna. Almost half of the bird population of the [[Talamancan montane forests]] in Costa Rica and Panama are endemic to this region. Several birds are listed as threatened, most notably the [[resplendent quetzal]] (''Pharomacrus mocinno''), [[three-wattled bellbird]] (''Procnias tricarunculata''), [[bare-necked umbrellabird]] (''Cephalopterus glabricollis''), and [[black guan]] (''Chamaepetes unicolor''). Many of the amphibians are endemic and depend on the existence of forest. The [[golden toad]] that once inhabited a small region in the Monteverde Reserve, which is part of the Talamancan montane forests, has not been seen alive since 1989 and is listed as extinct by IUCN. The exact causes for its extinction are unknown. Global warming may have played a role, because the development of that frog is typical for this area may have been compromised. Seven small mammals are endemic to the Costa Rica-Chiriqui highlands within the Talamancan montane forest region. [[Jaguar]]s, [[cougar]]s, [[spider monkey]]s, as well as [[tapir]]s, and [[anteater]]s live in the woods of Central America.<ref name=WWF0167 /> The [[Central American red brocket]] is a brocket deer found in Central America's tropical forest.

=== Geology ===
[[File:Tectonic plates Caribbean.png|thumb|Central America and the [[Caribbean Plate]]]]
{{See also|Central America Volcanic Arc|List of earthquakes in Costa Rica|List of earthquakes in El Salvador|List of earthquakes in Guatemala|List of earthquakes in Nicaragua}}
{{image frame|content=
<gallery perrow=2 widths=170 heights=170 mode=nolines caption="Central American Geology" style="line-height:130%">
File:Lago de coatepeque de color.jpg|[[Coatepeque Caldera]], El Salvador
File:Atitlan Lake and Volcanoes (3746396035).jpg|[[Lake Atitlán]], Guatemala
File:Mombacho.JPG|[[Mombacho]], Nicaragua
File:Arenal Volcano in Costa Rica.JPG|[[Arenal Volcano]], Costa Rica
</gallery>
}}

Central America is geologically very active, with [[Types of volcanic eruptions|volcanic eruptions]] and earthquakes occurring frequently, and [[tsunami]]s occurring occasionally. Many thousands of people have died as a result of these natural disasters.

Most of Central America rests atop the [[Caribbean Plate]]. This [[Plate tectonics|tectonic plate]] converges with the [[Cocos Plate|Cocos]], [[Nazca Plate|Nazca]], and [[North American Plate|North American]] plates to form the [[Middle America Trench]], a major [[subduction]] zone. The Middle America Trench is situated some {{convert|60-160|km|mi|sp=us}} off the Pacific coast of Central America and runs roughly parallel to it. Many large earthquakes have occurred as a result of seismic activity at the Middle America Trench.<ref name=Astiz1987 /> For example, subduction of the Cocos Plate beneath the North American Plate at the Middle America Trench is believed to have caused the [[1985 Mexico City earthquake]] that killed as many as 40,000 people. Seismic activity at the Middle America Trench is also responsible for earthquakes in [[1902 Guatemala earthquake|1902]], [[1942 Guatemala earthquake|1942]], [[1956 Nicaragua earthquake|1956]], [[1972 Nicaragua earthquake|1972]], [[1982 El Salvador earthquake|1982]], [[1992 Nicaragua earthquake|1992]], [[January 2001 El Salvador earthquake|January 2001]], [[February 2001 El Salvador earthquake|February 2001]], [[2007 Iztapa earthquake|2007]], [[2012 Guatemala earthquake|2012]], [[October 2014 Nicaragua earthquake|2014]], and many other earthquakes throughout Central America.

The Middle America Trench is not the only source of seismic activity in Central America. The [[Motagua Fault]] is an onshore continuation of the [[Cayman Trough]] which forms part of the tectonic boundary between the North American Plate and the Caribbean Plate. This [[transform fault]] cuts right across Guatemala and then continues offshore until it merges with the Middle America Trench along the Pacific coast of Mexico, near [[Acapulco]]. Seismic activity at the Motagua Fault has been responsible for earthquakes in [[1717 Guatemala earthquake|1717]], [[1773 Guatemala earthquake|1773]], [[1902 Guatemala earthquake|1902]], [[1976 Guatemala earthquake|1976]], [[1980 Honduras earthquake|1980]], and [[2009 Honduras earthquake|2009]].

Another onshore continuation of the Cayman Trough is the [[Chixoy-Polochic Fault]], which runs parallel to, and roughly {{convert|80|km|mi|sp=us}} to the north, of the Motagua Fault. Though less active than the Motagua Fault, seismic activity at the Chixoy-Polochic Fault is still thought to be capable of producing very large earthquakes, such as the 1816 earthquake of Guatemala.<ref name=White1985 />

[[Managua]], the capital of Nicaragua, was devastated by earthquakes in [[1931 Nicaragua earthquake|1931]] and [[1972 Nicaragua earthquake|1972]].

Volcanic eruptions are also common in Central America. In 1968 the [[Arenal Volcano]], in Costa Rica, erupted killing 87 people as the 3 villages of Tabacon, Pueblo Nuevo and San Luis were buried under pyroclastic flows and debris. Fertile soils from weathered volcanic lava have made it possible to sustain dense populations in the agriculturally productive highland areas.