caribbean islands
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Caribbean Islands. Mrs. Barrow’s 5 th Grade Social Studies. The islands of the Caribbean, or the West Indies, are a group of archipelagos The West Indies include thousands of islands that form an arc for more than 2,000 miles - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Mrs. Barrow’s 5th Grade Social Studies
*Caribbean Islands
*Political features
* The islands of the Caribbean, or the West Indies, are a group of archipelagos
* The West Indies include thousands of islands that form an arc for more than 2,000 miles
* In 1942 Christopher Columbus gave these islands the name West Indies
* 40 million people live in this area* The Caribbean islands are divided up into 3 major regions
* Bahama Archipelago* Greater Antilles* Lesser Antilles
*Political featuresBahamas
*Political featuresGreater Antilles
*Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola, and Puerto Rico*Hispaniola*Haiti & Dominican Republic
*Political featuresGreater Antilles
*Political featuresLesser Antilles
*Leeward Islands & Windward Islands
*Physical Features
*Atlantic Ocean*Caribbean Sea*Gulf of Mexico*Bahamas*Mostly islands made up of coral and limestone
*Pico Durate*Highest mountain in the Caribbean. Found in Dominican
Republic*Dominican Republic*Martinique & Saint Vincent*Active volcanoes are found on these islands
*Natural Resources
*Climate is the most important natural resource*Warm tropical climate supports agriculture and
tourism (which provide 80% of all jobs)*Sugar cane is the most important agricultural
product*The tropical climate, sandy white beaches,
and beautiful scenery attract millions of tourists to these islands*Tourism is a major tertiary industry
*Sugar Cane
*Beaches
*Climate & Weather
*Trade winds*Bring cooling temperatures to the islands from
the Atlantic Ocean*Steady flow of air from the trade winds reduce
the heat from the sun’s direct rays. This gives the area the even temperatures throughout the year.
*Hurricanes*Summer season*Violent tropical storms that bring heavy winds
and rain
*Trade winds