ABSTRACT

Central America encompasses an intricate mosaic of dynamic landscapes shaped by a wide range of Earth surface processes. Few other regions worldwide exhibit a comparable magnitude of geomorphic diversity. Along the length of the Central American isthmus, highly variable tectonic, lithologic, and climatic domains (see Chapter 1) are superimposed across a small land area (0.4% of Earth’s total land surface). The resulting physiography is characterized by a heterogeneous array of geomorphic provinces (Fig. 3.1), each featuring a distinctive landform assemblage that preserves a unique history of landscape evolution.