Trinidad

For other uses, see Trinidad (disambiguation).

Trinidad (Spanish: "Trinity") is the largest and most populous of the 23 islands 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.) and is located between 10°3′N, 60°55′W and 10°50′N, 61°55′W.

History

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Main article: History of Trinidad and Tobago

Trinidad was originally settled by Amerindians of South American origins. The first European to spot it was Christopher Columbus on his third voyage in 1498. Trinidad remained in Spanish hands until 1797 (when the British attacked the island, which was subsequently ceded to Spain in 1802), but it was largely settled by the French and their African slaves.

The Royal Botanical Gardens, located in Port of Spain, were established in 1818.

After the Abolition of the Slave Trade in the British Empire in 1834 and total emancipation in 1838, several immigrant indentured labourer groups, including Portuguese, Chinese and Indians, were employed to fill the labour void created when the liberated Africans left the plantations.^{[citation needed]}

In 1889 it was united with Tobago into a single crown colony. The united entity, Trinidad and Tobago, obtained its independence from the British Empire in 1962 and became a republic in 1976.

Contemporary Trinidad

Main article: Trinidad and Tobago

Today\'s 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 and Limbo dance. Styles of popular music include calypso, chutney music, soca and parang.

Natural scenery includes: a variety of beaches (e.g. Maracas, Las Cuevas, Toco, Mayaro and Grande Riviere), swamps (Nariva and Caroni), areas of seasonal tropical forests and the hills of the Northern Range. Trinidad is also home to such animals as the leopard-like ocelot, the manatee, the caiman and the Scarlet Ibis (see List of birds of Trinidad and Tobago), which is the national bird of Trinidad and Tobago and is featured on the coat of arms along with the Rufous-vented Chachalaca or "Cocrico". The Scarlet Ibis represents Trinidad and the Cocrico represents Tobago.

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]}

References

External links

• Trinidad and Tobago website
• Trinidad and Tobago Television

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