Central America is found at the southernmost portion of the North American continent. Central America is a land bridge that connects the continents of North America and South America.
The Pacific Ocean lies to the west of Central America and the Caribbean Sea lies to the east.
A group of seven countries (Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama), Central America is bounded by Mexico to the north and Colombia to the south.
Geography Facts about Central America
Central America spans an area of 521,876 square kilometers (201,497 square miles). As of 2016, the estimated total population of this region is 44.53 million.
Many mountain ranges are found in Central America. The highest peak in Central America is Volcán Tajumulco located in western Guatemala.
The highest point in each country in Central America is:
| Country | Name | Elevation (meters) |
|---|---|---|
| Belize | Doyle’s Delight | 1124 |
| Costa Rica | Cerro Chirripó | 3820 |
| El Salvador | Cerro El Pital | 2730 |
| Guatemala | Volcán Tajumulco | 4220 |
| Honduras | Cerro Las Minas | 2780 |
| Nicaragua | Mogotón | 2107 |
| Panama | Volcán Barú | 3474 |
Central America is part of the Mesoamerican biodiversity hotspot and holds 7% of the world’s biodiversity. Central America is an important landing spot as part of the Pacific Flyway, a major north–south flyway for migratory birds in the Americas.
Geography Mnemonic for Central American Countries
A mnemonic to memorize not just the countries of Central America but also the order in which they are located from north to south is:
Big Gorillas Eat Hotdogs, Not Cold Pizza (Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama).
An alternative, but similar, mnemonic is:
Baby Godzilla Eats Hotdogs, Not Cocoa Puffs.
