Trinidad
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 Map of Trinidad |
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| Geography | |
|---|---|
  Trinidad (off the coast of Venezuela
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| Location | Caribbean |
| Coordinates | Coordinates: |
| Archipelago | Lesser Antilles |
| Area | 4,769 km2 (1,841 sq mi) |
| Highest point | El Cerro del Aripo (940 m (3,100 ft)) |
| Country | |
 Trinidad and Tobago |
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| Demographics | |
| Ethnic groups | Afro-Trinidadians and Indo-Trinidadians - account for almost 80% of the population |
Trinidad (Spanish: "Trinity") is the largest and most populous of the two major islands and numerous landforms which make up the country of Trinidad and Tobago. Trinidad is the southernmost island in the Caribbean and lies just 11 km (7 miles) off the northeastern coast of Venezuela. Trinidad has an area of 4,769 km² (1,864 sq. mi.), the sixth largest in the West Indies and is located between and .
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[edit] History
The history of Trinidad and Tobago begins with the settlements of the islands by Amerindians. Both islands were encountered by Christopher Columbus 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 in Spanish hands until 1797, but it was largely settled by French colonists. In 1888 the two islands were incorporated into a single crown colony. Trinidad and Tobago obtained its independence from the British Empire in 1962 and became a republic in 1976.
[edit] Contemporary Trinidad
Today Trinidad is the result of a fusion of many different cultures. It hosts an annual pre-Lenten Carnival. It is the birthplace of Calypso music, the Steelpan musical instrument pie and Limbo dance. Styles of popular music include calypso, chutney music, soca and parang.
Major landforms include the hills of the Northern, Central and Southern 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 and the Ocelot. Trinidad has a rich avifauna, including a single endemic species, the Trinidad Piping Guan.
Trinidad is also an industrial island with a diversified economy, based to a large extent on oil and natural gas, industry and agriculture.[citation needed] It is one of the leading gas-based export centers 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 capitalize on the large mineral reserves within its territories. It has good transport links and infrastructure, although some roads in more rural areas are in disrepair.[citation needed]
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