FACTS ABOUT CENTRAL AMERICA

1. Central America extends on an area of about 540,000 km² and a width between the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea ranging from about 560 km to about 50 km.

2. Total population of Central America is estimated at 44.5 million (2016).

3. Central America consists of seven countries: Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama.

4. Central America connects North and South America but is technically speaking part of North America.

5. Spanish is the official language in six of the Central American countries. While in Belize it is English.

6. Nicaragua is the largest country in Central America but Guatemala has the largest population.

7. Christopher Columbus first foot steps on American mainland were in Honduras. 

8. Central America boast some 75 of the world’s biodiversity.

9. Costa Rica is the longest standing democracy in Central America.

10. Nicaragua had the first elected female president from 1991-1997.

11. Contrary on what the name “Mosquito Coast” implies, it is not due to a large number of mosquitos but after the original inhabitants, the “Miskitos”. It consists of some 60 kilometres stretching along the coast from Honduras to Nicaragua.

12. The largest lake of Central America is Lake Nicaragua. It is home to sweet water sharks.

13. There are no street names or numbering in Nicaragua. An address is given by whatever major landmarks they live near. 

14. The original name of Guatemala was “Goathemals”. In the Maya-Toltec language this stands for “land of the trees”.

15. Chocolate was used as currency by the ancient Mayas.

16. The mayas first came up with the mathematical concept of the “0”.

17. Belize was previously known as British Honduras. In 1973, the name was changed to Belize. 

18. Panama is the only country in the world where you can see the sunrise on the Pacific and the sunset on the Atlantic Ocean.

19. Panama has 5,637 kilometres of coast line and over 1,518 islands.

20. El Salvador went to war with Honduras after a soccer match. 

21. Costa Rica has no standing military. It was banned in 1949.

22. El Salvadorians call themselves “Guanacos”. It means brother or sister not literally but figuratively.

23. El Salvador is one of the world’s most popular places for surfers. 

24. The Central American Volcanic Arc (a chain of volcanoes) passes through all of the Central American countries. The Pacaya Volcano in Guatemala is one of the most active ones.

25. The Queen of England is also the Queen of Belize.

26. Contrary to its name, the Panama hat originates in Ecuador.

27. Costa Rica has 800 miles of coasts on the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

28. Costa Rica was not part of the Treaty of Versailles. Hence, technically speaking, it is still at war with Germany.

29. The Panama Canal supplies 12% of the country’s gross domestic product. 

30. To pass the Panama Canal with your private boat will make you some $800 – $3200 Dollars poorer. Having said that, this is still cheaper than navigating around South America. 

31. Cruise ships are charges between 138 and 148 Dollars per person when passing through the Canal.

32. Some 13,000-14,000 vessels pass through the Canal every year.

33. Belize has the only Jaguar reserve in the world.

34. The currency of El Salvador and Costa Rica is named Colon after Christopher Columbus. His name in Spanish is Cristobal Colon.

35. Costa Ricans call themselves Ticos and Ticas. 

36. “Pura Vida” (pure life) is the greeting in Costa Rica. 

37. Panama canal was one of the largest and most difficult engineering projects ever undertaken at the time. It is an artificial 82 km long water way that connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

38. After the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, Belize stands second in the world with its longest reef featuring an abundance of marine life.

39. The ancient Mayas were the original inhabitants of Belize which was the major capital of the Mayan empire.

40. Belize has some 900 Mayan sites. 

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