The Southern Caribbean is a group of islands that neighbor mainland South America in the West Indies. Nature lovers will want to hike to the 301-acre Jack and Isaac Bay Preserve, home to some 400 species of fish and endangered green and hawksbill turtles. As per the 2021 population estimation, Haiti is the most populous Caribbean nation, followed by Cuba and the Dominican Republic. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure youre on a federal government site. Situated on Trinidad Islands northwestern coast along the Gulf of Paria is Port of Spain, which serves as the countrys capital as well as its major administrative and financial center. These two volcanic islands resemble the shape of a baseball bat and a ball. km. Typical of Moll's style, this map offers a wealth of information including ocean currents and some very interesting commentary. Montserrat is a member of both the Caribbean Community and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States despite being a dependent territory of the United Kingdom. It includes country boundaries, major cities, major mountains in shaded relief, ocean depth in blue color gradient, along with many other features. "Additionally Moll, most likely through his acquaintance with pirates William Dampier and Woodes Rogers, offers a wealth of information on the traffic of silver bearing Spanish treasure fleets en route from the Mexican port of Veracruz, through the islands, to Spanish ports in Europe. As a result, the continent's music, language and flavors pervade these islands mixing with the influences of indigenous, African, European and North American cultures. The Southern Caribbean is a group of islands that neighbor mainland South America in the West Indies. 30 of the Bahamas' islands are inhabited, with most of the people living in cities. Based on user votes and expert insights, plus factors like accessibility to beaches, tourist attractions and comfortable accommodations, U.S. News compiled a list of the best places to visit in. 25 Best All-Inclusive Resorts in the Caribbean for 2023 - U.S. News Travel European cultures and languages transformed this large group of islands and its peoples into one of the premier tourist destinations on the planet. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. They frequently arrive in cruise ships that sail in and out, from ports in Florida and Puerto Rico. The island nation has a population of 124,610 inhabitants, and tourism is the mainstay of the countrys economy. Lounging beachside with a frosty cocktail is a Caribbean essential, but there are lots of adventurous alternatives if you want to get active. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Placed on the southwestern coast of the bigger Saint Kitts Island is Basseterre, which serves as the nations capital as well as its administrative, economic, and industrial center. Besides agriculture, forestry and fisheries also significantly contribute to the regions GDP. Spanish people settled on Trinidad and still have small numbers of descendants, while the Dutch people have a strong influence on the ABC islands. There are over two million people involved in the Southern Caribbean diaspora. Modern Caribbean literature owes much to writers and philosophers of the West Indies, including those who emigrated elsewhere; some notable names include Aim Csaire (Martinique), V.S. The West Indies are not a country. km, Cuba is the largest and the second-most populous country in the Caribbean. The extent of government control varies considerably within the region. A revered and powerful female leader revealed by new method to - CNN The island of Grenada has the volcanic Mount St. Catherine. Youth in the region suffer from high school dropout rates, the breakdown of traditional family and community structures, high levels of domestic violence, and substance abuse, increasing their risk for involvement in crime and violence. It is also the only Eastern Caribbean island with a high population of indigenous Kalinago inhabitants. Only 1.4 percent of the country's land is agricultural, and 51 percent is forested. Diseases of the circulatory system and cancer are major causes of death, while gastroenteritis, influenza, pneumonia, malaria, tuberculosis, and childhood diseases are also major health problems. very small rocky islands); cay's (small, low islands composed largely of coral or sand) and a few inhabited reefs: See Belize. Due to the close proximity of the equator, the Southern Caribbean has all-year-round tropical weather. Note that Bermuda is a member of the Caribbean Community, though the island nation lies in the North Atlantic Ocean, not in the Caribbean. The West Indies have a tropical maritime climate. Tourism, agriculture, and natural resources form the backbone of the Caribbean regions economy. Macorix, Ciguayo and Guanahatabey are unclassified. It is most known for its warm, tropical climate, and natural beauty. Caribbean Sea | Definition, Location, Map, Islands, & Facts 41,116,200. By then the indigenous populations of the islands were in severe decline as exposure to disease and brutal genocide wiped out much of their number. Omissions? Tourism and offshore financial services are the mainstays of the countrys economy, and the Bahamas is one of the Americas richest independent countries in terms of GDP per capita. Trending north-south, another mostly submerged chain of mountains forms the double arc of small islands that make up the Lesser Antilles. Explore the West Indies' varying landscapes and wildlife, from dolphins to red-footed boobies. https://www.thoughtco.com/caribbean-countries-by-area-4169407 (accessed July 8, 2023). Briney, Amanda. km, Antigua is the biggest among the two islands, while Barbuda covers an area of only 160.56 sq. Located on the nations most populous island New Providence is the primate city of Nassau, which serves as the capital as well as a major economic, commercial, educational, and administrative center of the Bahamas. The country has the biggest economy in the Caribbean and the Central American region. Some countries have recognized the importance of the forests, however, and have passed laws to prevent deforestation. After reportedly landing in the eastern Bahamas, Columbus named these islands the It is also quick to decline during times of economic recession. Many oil drums from the US had been transported to Trinidad, and there, an inspired musician molded the base in order to make a drum. The small labor markets of Caribbean SIDS are characterized by high . The Dominican Republic comprises the eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola, which it shares with Haiti. . Safest and Most Dangerous Caribbean Islands - TripSavvy Best Southern Caribbean Cruises 2023 & 2024 | Celebrity Cruises Some of its counted cay's, islands, islets and inhabited reefs front the handful of countries that border the region. Follow West Indies labourers, from banana and pineapple harvesters to woodworkers and fishermen, European exploration and colonialism, 14921800, https://www.britannica.com/place/West-Indies-island-group-Atlantic-Ocean, History World - History of the Caribbean (West Indies), West Indies - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), West Indies - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Also known as: Caribbean Islands, Indes Occidentales, Indias Occidentales, West-Indi, Lecturer in Geography, University of Oxford; Official Fellow of Jesus College, Oxford. Where to Get Weather Information for Your Caribbean Trip, Guide to the Safest and Most Dangerous Caribbean Islands, Maps of Countries With Cruise Ports of Call, The 9 Most Popular Places for Destination Weddings, The Best Cruise Ports of Call in the Western Caribbean, 7 Caribbean Islands You've Never Heard Of, 14 Top Things to Do in Vero Beach, Florida, Your Trip to the Bahamas: The Complete Guide. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Many Venezuelans arrive in Trinidad, Barbados, and Aruba each year, and many Puerto Ricans and Dominican people migrate to the Southern Caribbean along with many Guyanese. ThoughtCo, Feb. 17, 2021, thoughtco.com/caribbean-countries-by-area-4169407. The United Kingdom and France also generally maintain close relations with former dependencies, supplying military training, arms, and, in some cases, defense. The Caribbean had been inhabited for about 7000 years by the Arawaks, Island Caribs, Tanos and their ancestors, who came to the Southern Caribbean on canoes from South America (primarily Venezuela). The Caribbean has been well-traveled for 300 years, and this historic map by Herman Molls is surprisingly complete and accurate. And Buck Island Reef National Monument, located 1.5 miles off St. Croix's northeast coast, offers even more excellent hiking and snorkeling. The country's complicated history. Forming a part of the Lesser Antilles archipelagos Windward Islands chain, this island nation is made up of the bigger Saint Vincent Island and the two-thirds portion of the northern Grenadine islands with about 32 smaller islands. Land fauna is an impoverished version of the fauna found on the nearby South American mainland. You just might be surprised! All of the islands (except the Dutch Antilles) were part of the West Indies Federation from 1958 until its dissolution in 1962. Accessible only by yacht, propeller plane, or ferry, this exclusive island is known for being a party destination for the rich and famous. Cayman Islands St. Vincent & The Grenadines Barbados Grenada Aruba Puerto Plata St. Kitts & Nevis Antigua St. Lucia St. Martin - St. Maarten View 31 Photos Belongs on List? Occupying a total land area of 617 sq. Facts About the Dominican Republic for Spanish Students, Official Listing of Countries by World Region, Countries of Central America and the Caribbean by Area, Population Density Information and Statistics, M.A., Geography, California State University - East Bay, B.A., English and Geography, California State University - Sacramento. The islands take pride in their lively cultural scenes, with dances, parties, and festivals, notably annual carnival celebrations. Barbados has the least migration as it's developing a successful economy, and the living conditions are better than in some other Southern Caribbean countries. Patrice J. Williams is a travel and style content creator, fact-checker and author of the thrift shopping book. South from Puerto Viejo is an idyllic stretch of Caribbean beaches - Pirikiki, Cocles, Chiquita, Uva and at the end of the road Manzanillo. 01 of 30 Antigua CIA Factbook Antigua is a British island in the eastern Caribbean. Briney, Amanda. Carnival cruises sail year-round to the entire region. Droughts are also common. award-winning guidebooks, covering maps, itineraries, and expert Population density is high in Jamaica, especially in its largest cities. The per capita gross national product (GNP) of the countries in the region ranged in the early 21st century from less than $400 in Haiti (well below the world average) to more than $30,000 in Cuba (comparable to the per capita GNP of many western European countries) and more than $24,000 in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Social welfare programs, particularly in the dependent states, are comprehensive and have contributed to an improvement in health conditions in the region. Annual rainfall totals range from 30 to 80 inches (800 to 2,000 millimetres), and relative humidity is high throughout the year. West Indies, includes more than 7,000 islands; of those, 13 are independent island countries (shown in red on the map), and some are dependencies or overseas territories of other nations. Get to the heart of Southern Caribbean with one of our in-depth, Trinidad has a growing diaspora to Canada, mostly to Toronto, that has contributed the Toronto Caribana in the city. The country comprises over 700 islands, islets, and 2,400 cays occupying a total area of 13,878 sq. Long called the This is a list of sovereign states and dependent territories in the Caribbean.. The music had never really been produced by Bajan artists until 1999 when Square One released "Faluma", spoken in the language of the Saamaka tribe in Suriname, a song featuring the Soca-Samba bass. Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Barbados rank 2nd and 3rd, respectively, with GDP per capita of USD 18,230.13 and USD 17,033.94. The island features many beaches and harbors. This page was last edited on 30 June 2023, at 20:28. Situated on Antigua Island's northwestern coast is St. John's, which serves as the capital as well as the most prominent city of Antigua and Barbuda. Briney, Amanda. Most of these islands were disputed and fought over by European empires, such as Britain, France, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain: Eventually, all of the islands in the region except the Dutch islands Aruba and Netherlands Antilles were occupied by the British, who were in control from the 18th century onwards. It has a smaller diaspora compared to its neighboring islands, however. Great military powers continually fought for control of the islands, and finally, a blended mix of African and In an attempt to overcome problems of small size and dependence on a few export items, the Caribbean countries have formed economic unions, including the Central American Common Market, which established a regional free-trade zone; the Caribbean Community (Caricom), which promotes cooperation between English-speaking countries; and the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States, whose members, as signatories of the Lom Convention of 1975, receive preferential tariffs from the European Union. Continue to 2 of 30 below. Some cases of segregation have arisen among West Indian people, however, which causes a commonly found rivalry between people from the larger island of Jamaica and those from the smaller "Smallie" islands of the Southern Caribbean. On the return, laden with silver from the mines of San Luis Potosi, the Spanish fleet took advantage of eastward blowing trade winds, which helped to overcome the strong current on the sail to Havana. All of the Southern Caribbean islands are small, and are either volcanic or made of limestone coral, as they form at the ridge of the Caribbean and South American tectonic plates. Eastern and Southern Caribbean Regional Digital Ecosystem Country Area 90,339 square miles (233,976 square km). Then in 1492, Christopher Columbus, the Italian explorer began his exploration of the Caribbean, becoming the first The Caribbean Sea. Learn how and when to remove these template messages, Learn how and when to remove this template message, Trinidad and Tobago 2011 Population and Housing Census Demographic Report, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Southern_Caribbean&oldid=1162730710. There are a number of currencies serving multiple territories; the most widespread are the East Caribbean dollar (8 countries and territories), the United States dollar (5) and the euro (4). She holds a Certificate of Advanced Study in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) from California State University. The islands of the country of Antigua and Barbuda include: [1] [2] [3] Antigua, 1750N 61480W, 280 km 2 (110 sq mi) Located the eastern part of the Caribbean, Barbados is the most densely populated country, with a third of the population living in urban areas.
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