HONDURAS

Because fruit grows well in Honduras' hot, humid climate, the banana industry has long dominated the nation's economy. Honduras currently exports various goods, including beef, sugar, and coffee. The majority of Hondurans reside in rural areas, either in remote towns or small villages. A lot of them are impoverished farmers who grow rice, beans, or corn for their own consumption. People are starving, and life is hard. Uneven land distribution is present; 60% of the land is owned by wealthy individuals and fruit companies.

AREA OF HONDURAN PEOPLE

The vast majority of people in Honduras are mestizos, the descendants of 16th-century immigrants who were a mix of indigenous peoples and Europeans. Some are from the descendants of black Africans who were sent to the Caribbean as slaves. Others are Indian, while some are white (European).

BANANA PLANTATIONS

Banana exports are important to Honduras' economy. Many are grown in large farms, particularly in the northeastern Honduras region near La Lima. Long hours are put in for little pay by workers. It is frequently necessary for cutters to transport loads of bananas weighing about 88 kg (40 kg). Before being sent abroad, bananas are cleaned, checked, and weighed into boxes.

"EL SALVADOR"

El Salvador is the smallest country in Central America. Throughout its history, it has been through civil war and revolution. Most Salvadorans have always been poor, and a few wealthy families have always controlled the land and money. A line of volcanoes, some of which are still active, makes up most of the landscape. Forests that used to be full of cedar, mahogany, and oak have been cleared to make room for farms.

THE SAN SALVADOR

In 1525, Spanish colonists built San Salvador. It has had a lot of damage from earthquakes since then. Most of the original Spanish buildings have been torn down and replaced with newer ones. Since thousands of refugees came to the city looking for work, overcrowded slums have sprung up all over the city.

THE FOOTBALL WAR

When El Salvador played Honduras to get to the World Cup in 1969, long-running border disputes broke out. Because of what happened, the army of El Salvador moved into Honduras. More than 3,000 people died.

PEACE ACCORD

Between 1979 and 1991, the government, which the US backed, and left-wing rebels fought in a bloody civil war. 75,000 people died in El Salvador. The peace deal that guerrilla leader Che Guevara signed on January 16, 1992, was well received by the country. (left).

Nicaragua, sometimes known as "the land of lakes and volcanoes," is a beautiful nation. It may be one of the wealthiest countries in Central America, but its recent history has been as violent as its earthquakes, and its economy has been thrown into turmoil by political events of the past. Nicaragua's economy is mostly based on agriculture and fishing along the coasts, although the country also possesses vast quantities of exportable minerals, particularly copper and gold. More than half of the country's people are under the age of 15, making it a young nation.

SANDINISTAS' RISE TO POWER

The Somoza family ruled Nicaragua as a dictatorship for nearly 40 years. In 1979, however, insurgents seized power and created the socialist Sandinista government. They enhanced health care and devised a plan to confiscate land from the wealthy and distribute it to peasants. However, they were opposed by the Contras, US-funded anti-Sandinista fighters, and many of them perished in war during the following decade. In 1990, the Sandinistas were defeated in elections, but their support among the poor has survived.

FAMILY LIFE

In Nicaragua, extended families are commonplace. Frequently, parents and children share a home with their grandparents. Prior to 1979, more than half of the population was illiterate. Under the Sandinistas, a literacy program was established, and many freshly educated female instructors were dispatched to rural areas to teach reading and writing. Within a few months, the literacy rate increased to 87 percent. However, when the Sandinistas were removed from power, the campaign waned and reading levels declined once more.

LIVING DANGEROUSLY

Numerous important cities are located along the Pacific coast, where the majority of Nicaragua's population resides. Volcanoes are active here, but earthquakes pose the greatest threat. In 1972, Managua, the nation's capital, was virtually destroyed by an earthquake that left over 6,000 people dead and 300,000 homeless. In 1998, the devastating Hurricane Mitch destroyed the east coast of Nicaragua, killing at least 3,800 people and generating $1 billion in damages.

FARMING THE LAND

The lush volcanic soil near the Pacific coast constitutes Nicaragua's primary agricultural sector. The primary food crops are corn, beans, and sorghum, which are harvested twice a year. Additionally, coffee, cotton, and bananas are significant export crops.

LAKE NICARAGUA

Lake Nicaragua, the largest lake in Central America, dominates the country's western region. Additionally, it is the only freshwater lake in the world to hold marine species, such as sharks and swordfish. Scientists now believe that sharks swim up the San Juan River from the Caribbean Sea to reach the lake.

COSTA RICA

Costa Rica is different from its neighbors in many ways. It is surrounded by water on both sides. It is a peaceful country with a government that is chosen by the people. Since 1948, the country has not had an army. The country is also doing pretty well. Schools are free, and a big part of Costa Rica's budget goes to education. Costa Rica is the country in Central America with the longest average life span. The rich volcanic soils of the country are used to grow exports like coffee, bananas, and sugar. The main port is in Limón, which is on the Caribbean coast.

THE WAY TO SAN JOSÉ

San José is in the mountains in the middle of the country, right on the Pan-American Highway. It is a place where goods grown in the valleys around it are processed. Under Spanish rule, the town grew as a place where tobacco was grown. In 1823, it became the capital.

COFFEE BEANS

Costa Rica was the first country in Central America to grow coffee, and for more than a hundred years, coffee has been the country's main export. International price cuts sometimes get in the way of this success. The fruit of the coffee tree is used to make coffee. The fruit grows best in soil that drains well. Trees need a warm but not hot climate, and they usually grow in places where bigger trees cast some shade. Over the next 15 years, they can grow good crops.

TRAIN TO THE COAST

In 1890, the Atlantic Railway was built to get coffee from the plantations to the coast so it could be shipped overseas. There were many problems with the project. Dangerous working conditions caused the deaths of thousands of people, which put the government in debt.

SAVING THE FORESTS

Costa Rica was once covered with forests that included mahogany and tropical cedar trees. But its tree cover has been greatly reduced because forests have been cut down for lumber and to make room for coffee plantations. However, the government is aware that loss of forest also means loss of valuable plant and animal life, and it is now working to conserve its forests. Today, much of the forest is protected in reserves and national parks.

PANAMA

Panama is a country that is in both North America and South America. The Panama Canal, which goes through the middle of the country and connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, is a key part of international shipping. The weather in Panama is hot and humid, and it rains a lot, especially on the Caribbean coast. There are mountains in the interior. The best places to farm are in the lowlands along the Pacific coast. Bananas, coffee, and sugar are the main cash crops grown there. Exports also include shrimp caught in coastal seas.

PANAMA CANAL

About 14,000 ships go through the locks of the Panama Canal every year. The canal is 51 miles (82 km) long and has a depth of at least 39 feet. It opened in 1914. (12 m). It took ten years and $US380 million to finish the canal. Forty thousand people worked on it, most of them from the Caribbean. Thousands of people also died because of it. After sharing the canal with the US for a long time, Panama took full control of it in December 1999.

THE CROSSROADS CANAL

Because of the canal, Panama is now in the middle of a lot of international trade. Both the money made from the canal and the Free Trade Zone at its end in Colón are important to the economy. Since 1970, Panama has been one of the world's most important financial hubs. Its tax-free banking system brings investors from all over the world.

CUNA INDIANS

The first people to live in Panama were mostly Cuna, Guaymi, and Choco Indians, but after European explorers arrived in the 16th century, their numbers dropped by a lot. The Cuna used to be a strong group in the area. They did most of their trading by canoe along the Caribbean coast. The hammock was used to get important chiefs from place to place. The Cuna now live in small towns and make their living by farming.

THE GOOD SOIL

There are a lot of rivers in Panama. Alluvial soil is made up of clay, sand, and silt that these rivers carry downstream. It is good for growing crops like the vegetables shown here. Poorer soils are used for a few years, and then they are left alone until their natural fertility comes back. This way of using land is called roza.