| Nickname: Land of the Hummingbird | |
|---|---|
Map of Trinidad and Tobago |
|
|
Trinidad (Lesser Antilles)
|
|
| Geography | |
| Location | Leeward Islands |
| Archipelago | Lesser Antilles |
| Area | 4,748 km2 (1,833.2 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation | 940 m (3,080 ft) |
| Highest point | El Cerro del Aripo |
| Country | |
|
South America
|
|
| Largest city | San Fernando (pop. 62,000) |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 1,252,800 |
| Density | 262.7 /km2 (680.4 /sq mi) |
| Ethnic groups | [mixed] |
Trinidad (Spanish: "Trinity") is the larger and more populous of the two major islands and numerous landforms which make up the island nation of Trinidad and Tobago. It is the southernmost island in the Caribbean and lies just 11 km (6.8 mi) off the northeastern coast of Venezuela. With an area of 4,768 km2 (1,841 sq mi) it is also the fifth largest in the West Indies. Time zone: GMT −4 (Trinidad does not observe DST).
Many believe the original name for the island in the Arawaks' language was "Iëre" which meant "Land of the Humming Bird". Christopher Columbus renamed it "La Isla de la Trinidad" ("The Island of the Trinity"), fulfilling a vow he had made before setting out on his third voyage of exploration.[1]
Contents |
Caribs and Arawaks lived in Trinidad long before Christopher Columbus encountered the islands on his third voyage in 1498. Tobago changed hands between the British, French, Dutch and Courlanders, but eventually ended up in British hands. Trinidad remained Spanish until 1797, but it was largely settled by French colonists. In 1889 the two islands became a single crown colony. Trinidad and Tobago obtained self-governance in 1958 and independence from the British Empire in 1962. It became a republic in 1976.
Major landforms include the hills of the Northern, Central and Southern Ranges (Dinah ranges), the Caroni, Nariva and Oropouche Swamps, and the Caroni and Naparima Plains. Major river systems include the Caroni, North and South Oropouche and Ortoire Rivers.
Native mammals include the Red Brocket Deer, Collared Peccary, Red Howler Monkey,the Scarlet ibis and the Ocelot. Trinidad has a rich avifauna, including a single endemic species, the Trinidad Piping Guan.
It is an industrial island with a diversified economy, based to a large extent on oil and natural gas, industry and agriculture. It is one of the leading gas-based export centres in the world, being the leading exporter of ammonia and methanol and among the top five exporters of liquefied natural gas. This has allowed Trinidad to capitalise on the biggest mineral reserves within its territories. In recent times, the production of oil has fallen below 100,000 barrels a day, signifying a steep and perhaps irreversible decline in production.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||