Cruising Through the Caribbean

Homework questions and answers:

Reading Check on 214: What formed the islands of the West Indies?

The West Indies were formed in different ways. One way that they were formed is by volcanoes. Some of the islands are part of an underwater chain of volcanos, so what these islands really are are the tops of volcanoes. These islands are called high islands. Other islands in the West Indies are made of Earth's crust. These are called continental islands and they have arable soil with minerals in them. These islands have rivers, mountains, and other mainland features. The third and final type of islands in the West Indies are called low islands. These islands are made of layers of coral that have grown on top of each other, and then have sand on top. These islands sometimes have bays in them. The Greater Antilles are an example of continental islands. The Lesser Antilles are mainly high islands, while the Bahamas are low islands.

Reading Check on 215: What is the major industry in the West Indies?

The main industry in the West Indies is tourism. Many airlines and cruise ships stop at the islands and many other peple are attracted to them as well. Millions of tourists come every year to visit the islands' tropical beaches and enjoy the area's warm climate. Though the continental islands do have arable soil, the soil of the low and high islands is thin and makes it hard to grow crops.

Reading Check on 217: Where was the first permanent European settlement in the West Indies?

The first permanent European settlement in the West Indies was Santo Dominigo, which is now the capital of the Dominican Republic. Santo Dominigo was settled by the Spanish in 1496.

2. Region: What three archipelagos make up the West Indies?

The three archipelagos that make up the West Indies are the Bahamas, the Greater Antilles, and the Lesser Antilles. The Greater Antilles are a chain of islands that starts south of Florida and moves southwest. The Greater Antilles are continental islands. Some countries located in the Greater Antilles are Cuba, Jamacia, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico. The Bahamas are north of the Greater Antilles and southeast of Florida. The Bahamas are high islands. The Lesser Antilles are a string of islands that starts at the end of the Greater Antilles and arches down to the northern part of South America. The Lesser Antilles are low islands. Grenada, St. Lucia, and Anguilla are all examples of islands in the Lesser Antilles.

3. History: Name four groups who have influenced the culture of the Caribbean region.

Four groups that have influenced the Caribbean region are Spain, England, France, and the Netherlands. These countries have all founded colonies in the Caribbean at some point in time. All of them have owned some of the islands in the past, or currently own one currently. That means that these countries have influenced the Caribbean region.

4. Government: How is Cuba different from every other country in the Western Hemisphere?

Cuba is different from other countries in the Western Hemisphere because Cuba is a communist country. Though other countries in the world have communist governments, Cuba is the only one in the Western Hemisphere with a government of this type.