PENNSVALLEY
114
COPYRIGHT
Lesson 59:
Natural Resources and Economy
of the Caribbean Islands
Theclimate is themost important natural resourceof the Islandsof theCaribbean.Thewarm trop-
ical climate supports agriculture and tourism, the two main economic activities of the islands.
Agriculture
and
tourism
provide about 80% of all jobs. Other less-important economic activities
include
manufacturing,mining
, and
fishing
.
Sugar cane
continues to be the most important
agricultural product
grown throughout the islands. It is grown on large plantations for export to
other countries, where sugar is extracted from the juice, or sap, of the long
sugar cane stalks. Other important agricultural products include bananas,
coconuts, mangos, citrus fruits, cacao (seeds are used to make chocolate
and cocoa), coffee, rice, tobacco, and spices.
The mild tropical climate, sandy white beaches, and beautiful
scenery attract millions of tourists to the Caribbean Islands each year.
Tourism
provides jobs in the service sector of the economy. Guides,
hotel and restaurant workers, and jobs in transportation are important
occupations that serve visitors and support tourism. Cruise ships are a
popular way to visit and experience the tropical beauty of the islands.
Manufacturing
includes food and tobacco processing, rum distilling
andmolasses, fruit canning, pharmaceuticals, textiles and footwear, and
electronic parts.
Mineral resources
such as petroleum, bauxite, iron
ore, and nickel are found on some islands.
Lesson 60:
Climate andWeather of
the Caribbean Islands
In the study of latitude and longitude
(LLB=Lessons 3, 4)
you learned that there are parallel lines
on the earth called latitude lines. Remember, the area between 23-1/2 degrees north latitude
and 23-1/2 degrees south latitude is known as the tropical region. Only higher elevations receive
cooler temperatures.
Refer to the
AtlasBuddy (AB)
or aworld globe and find theTropic of Cancer.With the exception
of islands in the northern Bahamas, theCaribbean Islands are located south of theTropic of Cancer,
whichmeans they have a tropical climate, withwarm temperatures all year round.
TheCaribbean Islands are positioned so that they are able to take advantage of the
tradewinds
that bring cooling temperatures off the Atlantic Ocean. The steady flow of air from the trade winds
reduce the heat from the sun’s direct rays, providing even temperatures throughout the year. From
January toApril, the tradewinds pick up and bringmore rain than other times of the year.
During the summer season, the Caribbean Islands are faced with the threat of
hurricanes
.
Hurricanes are violent tropical storms that bring heavywind and rain.Hurricanes begin in theAtlantic
Oceanoff the coast of Africa.As they roar across theAtlanticandmeet thewarmwatersof theoceans
around the Caribbean Islands, they becomemore violent. Hurricanes not only create damage to the
Caribbean Islands, but they also have been known for their destruction along theGulf Coast and the
eastern coastline of theUnitedStates.
Islands of the Caribbean
Cilantro
is an herb
with leaves
that looks like Italian
parsley. It is amember
of the carrot family.
Cilantrowas first
introduced toMiddle
America by Spanish
conquistadors.
