The island nation of Jamaica is part of the West Indies in the Caribbean Sea. When the explorer Christopher Columbus reached the island in 1494, he considered it to be “the fairest isle that eyes have beheld.” Many travelers still regard Jamaica as one of the most beautiful islands in the Caribbean. Its rich and diverse scenery includes misty mountaintops, rushing rivers, silvery waterfalls, lush rain forests, dry grasslands, and fine beaches. The capital is Kingston. GeographyJamaica covers an area of 4,244 square miles (10,991 square kilometers). It is the third largest island in the Caribbean, after Cuba and Hispaniola (the island occupied by Haiti and the Dominican Republic). Jamaica lies about 90 miles (145 kilometers) south of Cuba and 100 miles (160 kilometers) west of Haiti. The coastline is more than 600 miles (1,000 kilometers) long. Jamaica is a mountainous island with plains along the coast. The Blue Mountains in the east contain the highest point in the country, Blue Mountain Peak, which rises 7,402 feet (2,256 meters). The Black River in the west is the major river. Jamaica has a tropical climate. Temperatures are higher along the coast and cooler in the mountains. Within a region, however, temperatures vary little throughout the year. Most rain falls in the north and east. Hurricanes sometimes cause severe destruction. Plants and animalsJamaica was once completely forested. Over the years, however, much of the original forestland was cleared for building purposes and for farming. Plant life nevertheless still exists in amazing variety. The island's natural vegetation includes bamboo, ebony, mahogany, and rosewood. Native orchids and ferns are abundant. Cacti and similar plants grow in the dry southwest. Jamaica is home to more than 200 kinds of birds and to many bats, mongooses, frogs, lizards, and crocodiles. People and cultureMost of Jamaica's people are of African origin or of mixed African and European ancestry. They are descended from slaves brought to the island by European colonists. Small groups of people from the United Kingdom, India, China, Syria, Portugal, and Germany also live in Jamaica. The official language is English, but many people also speak Jamaican Creole, which mixes African languages with English, French, and Spanish. A majority of the people practice some form of Christianity. More than half of Jamaica's population lives in urban areas, mainly along the coast. Kingston, the capital and largest city, is on the southeastern coast. The people of Jamaica have developed a lively national culture, represented in such fields as music, drama, and the visual arts. Reggae, a style of popular music created in Jamaica in the 1960s, became popular worldwide. The National Dance Company, founded in 1962, has also earned international recognition. Cricket, Jamaica's most popular sport, is played throughout the island. EconomyJamaica's economy is based mainly on industry and services. The island is one of the world's leading producers of the claylike mineral bauxite, from which aluminum is made. Bauxite and alumina, a substance made from bauxite, are major exports. The main manufactured goods include processed foods, textiles, and metal products. Tourism, finance, and other services are major sources of income for Jamaica. Many people visit the island for its beautiful resorts and for its water sports and game fishing. About 20 percent of Jamaicans work in agriculture. The main agricultural export is raw sugar; molasses and rum are important related products. Other export crops include bananas, cocoa beans, coffee, citrus fruits, and coconuts. HistoryThe first people to live on the island that is now Jamaica arrived in about 5000 BC or earlier. The Arawak people came to the island in about AD 600. They still lived on the island when Christopher Columbus sighted it in 1494. The Spanish took control of Jamaica in the early 16th century and enslaved many Arawak people. By the early 17th century almost all of the Arawak had died from European diseases or overwork. The Spanish also brought some African slaves to Jamaica. Because the island lacked gold reserves, however, Spain generally neglected it. British ruleThe British seized Jamaica in 1655. They greatly expanded the slave trade, bringing in hundreds of thousands of slaves during the 18th century. Products of the sugar, coffee, and other plantations made Jamaica a prized possession for the British. When slavery was ended in Jamaica in the 1830s, the plantation system collapsed. By the late 1930s many Jamaicans were demanding independence. Jamaica finally gained full independence in 1962. It remained a member of the Commonwealth, a group of independent nations that are loyal to Britain. The British monarch appoints the Jamaican governor-general, who is the head of state. Jamaica since independenceEconomic troubles during the 1970s led to violence in Jamaica and a decrease in tourism. In 1988 a devastating hurricane caused widespread damage to the island. Elections of the 1990s were flawed by political violence, and Jamaica continued to experience economic problems into the 21st century. The tourism industry grew, however, particularly in northern towns such as Ocho Rios and Montego Bay. Population (2000 estimate), 2,619,000. |