Jamaica
Capital: Kingston
Location and Size:
Jamaica is an island situated 90 miles south of Cuba
in the middle of the Caribbean Sea. It covers an area of
4,244 square miles and is the third largest island in the
Caribbean, after Cuba and Hispaniola. The population in
1992 was estimated at 2,437,000.
The land:
Jamaica has three major regions: the coastal
lowlands and valleys, a limestone plateau, and the interior
highlands. The heavily cultivated coastal lowlands that
encircle the island are most extensive in the south and
west. Toward the center the lowlands rise to a highly
dissected limestone plateau covering about one-half of
the total area of the island. The interior of the island is
dominated by the rugged and thickly forested highlands
with mountain ranges oriented east-west. There are
several natural mineral springs, and many beautiful
waterfalls.
The natural vegetation varies from dense bamboo,
ebony, mahogany, and rosewood forests in the northeast
and east to dry savanna vegetation with scattered dwarf
trees and cacti in the southwest. Banana plantations are
largely concentrated in the valleys and the foothills of
the northeast, and sugarcane plantations occupy most of
the level coastal plains. The island's wildlife is limited to
wild pig, mongoose, lizard, bat, and several species of
birds, including the streamertail hummingbird, which is
the national bird.
Climate:
Jamaica's maritime tropical climate has pleasant
temperatures throughout the year. The average
temperature is about 75º F in winter; it rises to about
80º F in summer. The island's average annual rainfall of
82 inches is concentrated in two rainy seasons: May-June
and September-November. Hurricanes have occasionally
struck the island, sometimes causing severe damage.
People:
The population consists mostly of black and mulatto
descendants of African slaves. Small minorities from the
United Kingdom, India, China, Syria, Portugal, and
Germany live in Jamaica.
Nearly half of Jamaica's population lives in urban areas.
Language:
English is the official language, and a creole derived
from English as well as a variety of African languages,
Spanish, and French are widely spoken.
The Economy:
Jamaica has a developing, mixed economy largely
based on tourism, alumina and bauxite exports, and
sugarcane cultivation.
Source: www.britannica.com