The Interesting West Indies Region
Cate W.
March 28, 2016
Green Group
Main idea:Tourism is the prime support in the economies of the islands of the West Indies
Cate W.
March 28, 2016
Green Group
Reading Check Questions:
1. What formed the islands of the West Indies?
According to the textbook the West Indies were formed by tectonic plates. They were made from a volcanic hot spot chain and pressure on certain plates that pushed up the ocean floor, limestone. There is a large fault line along the lesser antilles that fits the arc of the islands. Infact, the plate in the region is actually called the Caribbean Plate (This is a .com site).
2. What is the major industry in the West Indies?
The major industry in the West Indies is the tourism industry. Something I found interesting about the statistical data of the Carribean, was that over 17 million cruise passengers visited the Carribean in 2003. There are many places that are commonly known for their beaches and family vacationing.
Recalling Facts Questions:
2. Region- What three archipelagos make up the West Indies?
The three archipelagos that are found in the West Indies are the Bahamas, east of Florida, the Greater Antilles, south of Florida, and the Lesser Antilles, which stretch from the Greater Antilles to South America. How these three archipelagos were formed is important to their geology and how they are arranged. The geology and the geography of the islands are very related.
3.History- Name four groups who have influenced the culture of the Caribbean region.
Four groups that colonized in the West Indies and provided cultural impact were the Spaniards, the English, the French, and the Dutch. From these cultures and their slaves plus the additional Tainos and the Caribs (The natives) one can assume that they would have rather diverse culture mixed with religion, language and other cultural concepts.
4. How is Cuba different from every other country in the Western Hemisphere?
Unlike all the other islands in the Western Hemisphere, Cuba is run by a communist government. Reccently, the US president Barack Obama visited Cuba. He will be the first president to visit the Cuba in 88 years. Relations between Cuba and the United States do not allow citizens to travel between the two countries.