Caribbean History The Caribbean is a collection of islands and seas located to the north of South America and to the

east of Mexico. Although this may not be apparent on a globe or world map, there are over 7,000 islands, reefs and other land masses that comprise this fascinating part of the world. These islands formerly went by the name of the West Indies and the story goes that Christopher Columbus had discovered the Indies whilst landing his ship in the Caribbean during 1492.Caribbean history has an intriguing story to match such magnificent islands.

What Makes Up the Caribbean? The Caribbean itself is divided into two different areas. One is called the Antilles, which is again split into the Greater and Lesser Antilles. The other half is known as the Bahamas which are actually found in the Atlantic ocean. In terms of their official arrangement, the Caribbean islands are considered to be a part of North America and 27 islands and locations are recognized as constituting the Caribbean islands. Most of these are overseas departments although some are dependencies, retaining a slight level of freedom. Early Caribbean Inhabitants If you were wondering why the Caribbean has such a name then allow me to shed some light: the Caribbean gets its name from an ethnic group known as the Carib who inhabit the Antilles. The Caribbean is home to around 40 million people, although this has been largely dependent upon European influences. This 40 million comprises people from all over the globe and the islands are very enriched indeed. There are Indian, Chinese, British and French links; as well as hints of many other cultures across the globe that have helped to shape the demographics of the Caribbean. In terms of language, this influx of immigrants has left the islands with a vast array of languages. The main ones are English, Spanish, French and Dutch, although a few Creole languages can be found here as well. European Colonization Every one of the islands that make up the Caribbean were at one stage a colony of a European empire. Some of them retain this status although the majority have now achieved independence. Typically this came about after the collapse of the slave trade. French Guinea is one such example of a Caribbean island that is still an overseas territory belonging to a European nation. Due to this level of colonization amongst European countries, many of the islands have remained incredibly separate and their history in this area has meant their participation in international affairs is really quite limited. The Caribbean history of these islands is so diverse that they are often completely different in a modern sense. Apart from their climate, very little remains constant from island to island. They all have different cultural aspects to demonstrate and very different cuisines. Caribbean Geography & Landscape On a more physical sense, the Caribbean has a very wide range of climate and geography. Some islands are very flat and possess very few striking features. Others have many more volcanoes and huge bays. The climate in the Caribbean is tropical to sub-tropical, as the islands lie close to the equator. The biodiversity that can be found in this area is absolutely phenomenal and the islands present nature's beauty at its very finest. The Caribbean islands represent a hugely diverse history and this goes a long way into explaining their immense level of modern diversity. The huge collection of islands remain, however, incredibly interesting and a huge tourist pull. Caribbean history is as interesting as their wildlife and population and equally as diverse. The background of this fantastic place is truly remarkable and every island has its own story to tell

The Caribbean islands get their name from one of the indigenous tribes that inhabit the islands, namely the Caribe (Karibe)/Tainos tribe. According to the history of the Caribbean, the Caribe/Tainos people have apparently evolved from the earth and originally lived in caves. The supreme deity of the Caribe/Tainos people is known as the Earth Mother. In the local language, she is called Atabei, and is widely believed to be the goddess of fertility. Atabei is the mother of Yucahu Bagua Marocoti. He is the supreme or absolute being of the Caribe/Taino people. He neither has a father nor a beginning. Yucahu is a similar concept to the Maya belief in the monotheistic absolute being named Hunab K'you. There is a strong Mayan and Latin American influence in the Caribbean. The Caribbean islands are a group of islands where people belonging to different races living in harmony. The Caribbean islands have, from time to time, been visited by colonizers from different European countries, such as the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Portugal and the Netherlands Caribbean Sea The Caribbean Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean located in the tropics of the Western hemisphere. It is bounded byMexico and Central America to the west and southwest, to the north by the Greater Antilles, to the east by the Lesser Antilles, and to the south by South America.[1] The entire area of the Caribbean Sea, the numerous islands of the West Indies, and adjacent coasts, are collectively known as the Caribbean. The Caribbean Sea is one of the largest seas and has an area of about 2,754,000 km (1,063,000 sq. mi.).[2] The sea's deepest point is the Cayman Trough, between the Cayman Islands and Jamaica, at 7,686 m (25,220 ft) below sea level. The Caribbean coastline has many gulfs and bays: the Gulf of Gonve, Gulf of Venezuela,Gulf of Darin, Golfo de los Mosquitos, Gulf of Paria and Gulf of Honduras. History Main article: History of the Caribbean Christopher Columbus landing onHispaniola in 1492. The name "Caribbean" is derived from the Caribs, one of the dominant American Indian groups in the region at the time ofEuropean contact during the late 15th century. After the discovery of the West Indies by Christopher Columbus in 1492, the Spanish term Antillas was assigned to the lands; stemming from this, "Sea of the Antilles" is a common alternative name for the Caribbean Sea in various European languages. During the first century of development, the Spanish dominance was undisputed. The Caribbean Sea was an unknown body of water to the populations of Eurasiauntil 1492, when Christopher Columbus first sailed into Caribbean waters on a quest to find a sea route to Asia. At that time the Western Hemisphere in general was unknown to Europeans. Following the discovery of the islands by Columbus, the area was quickly colonised by several Western cultures (initially Spain, then later Portugal, England, the Dutch Republic, France and Denmark). Following the colonisation of the Caribbean islands, the Caribbean Sea became a busy area for European-based marine trading and transport, and this commerce eventually attracted piracy. Today the area is home to 22 island territories and borders 12 continental countries. Due to the abundance of sunshine, year-round tropical temperatures moderated by the almost constant trade winds, and the great variety of scenic destinations to visit, during the second half of the 20th century on into the 21st, the Caribbean Sea became a popular place for tourism.. Geology The Caribbean Sea is an oceanic sea largely situated on the Caribbean Plate. Estimates of the sea's age range from 20,000[clarification needed] years to 570 million years. The Caribbean sea floor is divided into five basins separated from each other by underwater ridges and mountain ranges. Atlantic Ocean water enters the Caribbean through the Anegada Passage lying between the Lesser Antilles and Virgin Islands and the Windward Passage located between Cuba and Haiti. The Yucatan Channel between Mexico and Cuba links the Gulf of Mexico with the Caribbean. The deepest points of the sea lie in Cayman Trough with depths reaching approximately 7,686 m (25,220 ft). Despite this, the Caribbean Sea is considered a relatively shallow sea in comparison to other bodies of water. The Caribbean sea floor is also home to two oceanic trenches: the Hispaniola Trench and Puerto Rico Trench, which put the area at a higher risk of earthquakes. Underwater earthquakes pose a threat of generating tsunamis which could have a devastating effect on the Caribbean islands. Scientific data reveals that over the last 500 years the area has seen a dozen earthquakes above 7.5 magnitude.[4] Most recently, a 7.1 earthquake struck Haiti on January 12, 2010. Ecology The Caribbean is home to about 9% of the world's coral reefs covering about 20,000 square miles (52,000 km2), most of which are located off the Caribbean Islands and the Central American coast.[5] During the past ten years, unusually warm Caribbean waters have been increasingly threatening Caribbean coral reefs. Coral reefs support some of the most diverse marine habitats in the world, but they are fragile ecosystems. When tropical waters become unusually warm for extended periods of time, microscopic plants called zooxanthellae, which are symbiotic partners living within the coral polyp tissues, die off.

These plants provide food for the corals, and give them their colour. The result of the death and dispersal of these tiny plants is called coral bleaching, and can lead to the devastation of large areas of reef. The habitats supported by the reefs are critical to such tourist activities as fishing and diving, and provide an annual economic value to Caribbean nations of $3.1-$4.6 billion. Continued destruction of the reefs could severely damage the region's economy.[6] A Protocol of the Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean Region came in effect in 1986 to protect the various endangered marine life of the Caribbean through forbidding human activities that would advance the continued destruction of such marine life in various areas. Currently this protocol has been ratified by 15 countries.[7] Also several charitable organisations have been formed to preserve the Caribbean marine life, such as Caribbean Conservation Corporation which seeks to study and protect sea turtles while educating others about them.[8] [edit]Weather Average sea surface temperatures for the Caribbean Atlantic Ocean (2527 August 2005.[9] Hurricane Katrina is seen just aboveCuba. The Caribbean weather is influenced by the Gulf Stream and Humboldt Currentocean currents.[10] The tropical location of the sea helps the water to maintain a warm temperature ranging from the low of 70 to mid-80 Fahrenheit (21-29 C) by the season. The Caribbean is a focal area for many hurricanes within the Western Hemisphere. A series of low pressure systems develop off the West coast of Africa and make their way across the Atlantic Ocean. While most of these systems do not become tropical storms, some do. The tropical storms can develop into Atlantic hurricanes, often in the low pressure areas of the eastern Caribbean. The Caribbean hurricane season as a whole lasts from June through November, with the majority of hurricanes occurring during August and September. On average around 9 tropical storms form each year, with 5 reaching hurricane strength. According to the National Hurricane Center 385 hurricanes occurred in the Caribbean between 1494 and 1900. Every year hurricanes represent a potential threat to the islands of the Caribbean, due to the extremely destructive nature of these powerful weather systems. Coral reefs can easily be damaged by violent wave action, and can be destroyed when a hurricane dumps sand or mud onto a reef. When this happens, the coral organisms are smothered and the reef dies and ultimately breaks apart. [edit]Economy and human activity The Caribbean region has seen a significant increase in human activity since the colonisation period. The sea is one of the largest oil production areas in the world, producing approximately 170 million tons per year.[11] The area also generates a large fishing industry for the surrounding countries, accounting for half a million metric tons of fish a year.[12] Human activity in the area also accounts for a significant amount of pollution, The Pan American Health Organization estimated in 1993 that only about 10% of the sewage from the Central American and Caribbean Island countries is properly treated before being released into the Sea.[11] The Caribbean region supports a large tourist industry. The Caribbean Tourism Organization calculates that about 12 million people a year visit the area, including (in 19911992) about 8 million Cruise Ship tourists. Tourism based upon scuba diving and snorkeling on coral reefs of many Caribbean islands makes a major contribution to their economies.[13] [edit]Popular culture The Caribbean is the setting for countless literary efforts often related to piracy acts and swashbuckling. One memorable work of pulp fiction has in its title a geographic feature unique in its way to the islands: Fear Cay, the eleventh Doc Savage adventure by Lester Dent. Many James Bond adventures were set there. All of the action of the Monkey Island series videogames takes place within the Caribbean sea area. It is also well known as the location of the Pirates of the Caribbean films, featuringPort Royal. Less swashbuckling, but not lacking in man-against-the-sea exploits, is Peter Matthiessen's Far Tortuga (1975), which chronicles the adventures of a turtling crew in the late 1960s.

GEOGRAPHY Most people who decide to visit the Caribbean region do so to enjoy the geography and climate. The topography of the region is breathtaking, with its clean beaches and the intermingling of highland on some of the islands. Year round, the climate is perfect for enjoying the outdoors on the islands. The following is an overview of the geography and climate of the Caribbean region.

The Caribbean archipelago consists of three major marine geographical features; many of the islands are intermixed with two or more. In The Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, the Cayman Islands and parts of Cuba, theDominican Republic, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Anguilla, to name a few regions, the islands in the outer regions are surrounded by a ring of corals and white sandy beaches.

In the second inner ring of islands, the ground consists of black sands created by volcanic soils. Land created by volcanic ash is fertile regions and a great place for planting the tropical fruit that flourishes in the Caribbean. These volcanic islands of the Greater Antilles like Cuba, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico, to name a few.

The third geographic feature of the Caribbean is the alluvial coastal regions. These regions consist of lands formed by sediments coming from flowing water. These regions include the coast of Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana. Because the coasts of these regions are always muddy, they are locations for people who don't want a traditional beach vacation. They are home to a variety of fish and shrimp species and at the forefront of eco-tourism.

The Caribbean is characterized by four types of landscapes. For example, Cuba, the Bahamas, and Turks and Caicos Islands are homes to limestone plateaus. Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Puerto Rico have mountainous regions. Volcanic mountainous islands run through the Windward and Leeward Islands. The population of these islands varies just as much as the geography of the Caribbean.

The climate is more consistent than the geography of the various regions of the Caribbean. The majority of the countries of the Caribbean are tropical, with warm, humid temperatures. The trade winds of the Atlantic Oceanproduce moisture in the region. The temperatures don't change that much throughout the years. During the months of July to August, temperatures are approximately 28 degrees Celsius (82 degrees Fahrenheit). The temperature of the cooler months of January and February is 24 degrees Celsius (75 degrees Fahrenheit). The southern part of the Caribbean is slightly cooler than the northern part of the Caribbean.

As the sun rises, the temperatures starts out low and rises steadily as the day progresses and hold the same temperature from midday to late afternoon. Around 10 p.m., the temperatures decrease, only to rise again in the morning. The down part of the climate is hurricane season that occurs between June and November, where winds can reach well over 100 miles per hour and unimaginable damage and loss of life results.

Overall, the geography and climate of the Caribbean region is worth a visit at any time of the year. People flock to these locations year round because of the steadiness of the climate and the beauty of the various geographical landscapes they are privy to.

BEACHES The Caribbean Beaches are without a doubt among the best in the world. Beautiful beaches with soul-warming sun, crystal-clear waters and white or even pink sand. Selecting the best ones isnt an easy task with so many beaches to choose from. But heres our list of the best Caribbean beaches. 3The Baths

One of the Caribbeans most famous beaches, The Baths are situated at the southern tip of Virgin Gorda, the third largest island of the British Virgin Islands. Huge granite boulders lie in piles on the beach, forming spectacular tunnels and grottoes that are open to the sea and flood at high tide. The sandy beaches are lined with tropical palms, adding to the dramatic effect. 2Englishman's Bay

Englishmans Bay is a secluded beach on the leeward coast of Tobago. Although the bay does not draw the large numbers of beach-goers that Tobagos western beaches do, it is considered as one of the islands most beautiful. The beach itself is a classic crescent shape, capped by two heavily forested headlands. The sand starts immediately after the forest ends and is of a shallow to medium gradient and somewhat coarse grain. The waters are calm year-round and boast magnificent snorkeling and swimming. 1Trunk Bay

Trunk Bay is a National Park beach on St. John in the United States Virgin Islands. Rated as one the worlds most beautiful beaches by the National Geographic Society and among the best beaches in the Caribbean it attracts hordes of cruise ship passengers. Amenities on the beach include a snack bar, showers and restrooms, a lifeguard, and, most famously, an underwater trail for snorkeling its coral reef