The Western World Daily Readings on Geography Chapter 64 Latin America and the Caribbean (LACAR) Regional Example

CHAPTER 64 Latin America and the Caribbean ( Regional Example Regional geography studies the people and places of a cohesive region . A region is defined to be an area with multiple shared characteristics over a range of categories , including both physical and human geographic characteristics . The secret of creating a region , which is a human construct not a naturally begotten unit , is to cluster together as many similarities as possible , while excluding geographic differences . In Latin America and the Caribbean ( the Netherlands has been one of the . Its definition also follows the methodology of regional geography . It turns out that this is a complicated question . In addition to the question of region , consideration ofthe Netherlands is made more complex by its colonial history and politics . First of all , Caribbean islands are divided into two regions the Great and the Lesser , as based on area ( though population is correlated to area ) Then within the many islands of the Lesser , there are several that have a colonial history and a current affiliation with the Netherlands . This was the Netherlands . Additionally , Americans forget that the Dutch , who are the people ofthe Netherlands , were significant explorers , traders , and . Americans surely recognize the exploration , trade , and colonization done by the British , the French , and the Spanish . Perhaps noting that Brazilians speak Portuguese , Americans may observe that the Portuguese were big in these fields as well ( in Africa and elsewhere too ) Many Americans do not know or forget that before New York was part of the British colonies of America , New York was a Dutch colony named New Amsterdam . In fact , the Dutch sailed to many corners of the world naming New Zealand , developing the city ( that is now the capital in Indonesia ) taking islands in the Caribbean , and more . Thus , it is that many people are unaware of the Dutch presence in the Caribbean . The Dutch came to the Caribbean Sea and to the nearby mainland of South America where they also secured the territories cited as the Dutch . Eventually , the Netherlands lost some of these lands to the British , retaining only that much later became an independent country in 1975 . 316

LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN ( REGIONAL EXAMPLE 317 The set of islands of the Netherlands progressively changed political status in relationship with the Netherlands . OK , this set of islands consisted , and Curacao ( the called ABC islands ) as well as , and . the Dutch word for Saint . The island is shared with the French and also known as Martin . Let call these the islands . The Dutch briefly held a few other islands , like , but lost control , mainly to the British . 1986 . Public domain . Photo by Chad Sparks on . These two groups ofthree islands are clustered together but not adjacent to the other . This presents one of the problems of maintaining the Netherlands . The two groups are over 600 miles apart . Though in a much smaller way , this separation is reminiscent of the spatial gap between West Pakistan and East Pakistan before they became Pakistan and respectively . The ABC islands sit off the coast of South America . In fact , is only nine miles from the Venezuelan Peninsula . These islands naturally pick up some of the elements of South American culture . is a mecca for scuba divers , as its waters have 85 dive sites and 350 fish species . Diving . The islands are located on the northern end of the Lesser , near islands bearing English and French colonial histories . While the ABC islands are only of modest size , the islands are tiny . Photo by Sara .

313 JOEL QUAM AND SCOTT CAMPBELL SMALL CARIBBEAN ISLANDS Island Square Miles Population in thousands ABC 69 105 113 19 ?

ao 171 161 13 41 Dutch half only For at least these two reasons , it is a bit awkward to place these six islands together as a . The next challenge is that and Curacao have large enough populations to consider independence . As many colonies around the world and from various colonial empires sought independence , especially in the , it is reasonable that and Curacao would examine this choice too . was the first to go . Although the issue of independence was broached in the 19305 , a local referendum on the issue did not take place until 1977 . After several years of consideration , reached a deal with the Netherlands that in 1986 would achieve the status of a country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands . This is a curious designation with some similarities to the British Commonwealth . The original agreement held the condition that would become a fully independent country in 1996 , but this provision later was eliminated . Noting that Curacao is bigger than both in area and in population , it is understandable that Curacao also would consider its options . However , in 1993 an island referendum resulted in declining both options that had taken . In 2005 , in a new referendum , islanders voted to have Curacao gain the status of country within the Kingdom . As the third most populated of these Dutch islands , too sought the designation of country within the Kingdom . Negotiations amid all six islands and the Dutch kingdom persisted until in 2010 constitutional changes were made official . The current situation remains the same as that final agreement . As made in the official statement of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs The Kingdom of the Netherlands consists of four autonomous countries the Netherlands , Curacao and St . The latter three are located in the Caribbean . The country of the Netherlands consists of a territory in Europe and the islands of , and St in the Caribbean . The Kingdom of the Netherlands therefore has a European part and a Caribbean ' It is a complex settlement that seems to be working adequately . There are odd circumstances that remain . and all use the American dollar as their currency , instead of the Euro . has its own florin for currency , while Curacao and use the Netherlands guilder . Rights within the European Union for all six islands and their residents is still another story . Overall then , the Netherlands is no more , though the term often is used popularly to describe the subset of the Lesser .

LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN ( REGIONAL EXAMPLE 319 Did You Know ?

The disappearance and apparent murder of American Holloway ( age 18 ) in 2005 in was a hot media topic and conspiracy theory for several years . She was in for a high school graduation trip , reflecting prominence as a tropical resort island . CITED AND ADDITIONAL BIBLIOGRAPHY , van . 201 . Information from the Government ofThe Netherlands . May . Sara . 2019 . Buddy Dive Resort in . Sparks , Chad . 2015 . Island . Attribution Generic ( BY )