Caribbean

Size	An archipelago, 4,020 kilometres (2,500 mi) in length, and up to 257 kilometres (160 mi) wide; region contains more than 7,000 islands, islets, reefs, and cays
Population (2000)	37. An archipelago (ɑrkəˈpɛləgoʊ is a chain or cluster of Islands The word archipelago literally means "chief Sea " from Italian For human anatomy see Islets of Langerhans An islet is a small Island. In nautical terminology a reef is a rock, sandbar, or other feature lying beneath the surface of the water (six fathoms or less at low water In Biology a population is the collection of inter-breeding organisms of a particular Species; in Sociology 5 million[1]
Demonym	West Indian, Caribbean person
Government	13 sovereign states; also, 2 overseas departments and 12 dependent territories, the majority tied to the European Union
Internet TLD	Multiple
Calling Code	Multiple

The Caribbean (pronounced /ˌkærəˡbi:ən/, kæ'rəbi:ən^[2]; Dutch: Cariben or Caraïben; French: Caraïbe or more commonly Antilles; Spanish: Caribe) is a region of the Americas consisting of the Caribbean Sea, its islands (most of which enclose the sea), and the surrounding coasts. A demonym or gentilic is a word that denotes the members of a People or the inhabitants of a place For the government of parliamentary systems see Executive (government. A Gold Sovereign is a Gold coin first issued in 1489 for Henry VII of England and still in production as of 2008 A state is a political association with effective Sovereignty over a geographic Area and representing a Population. Overseas department (départements d’outre-mer or DOM) is a designation under the 1946 Constitution of the Fourth Republic that was given to the A dependent territory dependent area or dependency is a territory that does not possess full political Independence or Sovereignty as a The European Union ( EU) is a political and economic union of twenty-seven member states, located primarily in The following is a list of currently existing Internet Top-level domains (TLDs) This is a list of country calling codes defined by ITU-T recommendation E Dutch ( is a West Germanic language spoken by around 24 million people 22 million of which are from the Netherlands, Belgium and Suriname French ( français,) is a Romance language spoken around the world by 118 million people as a native language and by about 180 to 260 million people The article is about the geographic sense of the term For other uses including Regions and Regional, see Region (disambiguation. The Americas are the lands of the Western hemisphere or New World, consisting of the Continents of North America and South America For the region see Caribbean. The Caribbean Sea (kəˈrɪbiən or /ˌkærɨˈbiːən/ is a tropical Sea in the Western Hemisphere An island (ˈaɪlənd or isle (/ˈaɪl/ is any piece of land that is completely surrounded by water in two dimensions above high tide and isolated from other significant The region is located southeast of North America, east of Central America, and to the north of South America. South America is a Continent of the Americas, situated entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a

Situated largely on the Caribbean Plate, the region comprises more than 7,000 islands, islets, reefs, and cays. The Caribbean Plate is a mostly oceanic Tectonic plate underlying Central America and the Caribbean Sea off the north coast of South For human anatomy see Islets of Langerhans An islet is a small Island. In nautical terminology a reef is a rock, sandbar, or other feature lying beneath the surface of the water (six fathoms or less at low water Also called the West Indies, since Christopher Columbus landed here in 1492 believing he was in India, the region consists of the Antilles, divided into the larger Greater Antilles which bound the sea on the north and the Lesser Antilles on the south and east (including the Leeward Antilles), and the Bahamas. Christopher Columbus (1451 &ndash May 20 1506 was an Italian Navigator, colonizer The Antilles (the same in French; Antillas in Spanish; Antillen in Dutch) refers to the islands forming the greater part of the The Greater Antilles is one of three island groups in the Caribbean. The Lesser Antilles, also known as the Caribbees, are part of the Antilles, which together with the Bahamas and Greater Antilles form the Leeward Antilles are a chain of Islands in the Caribbean – specifically the southerly islands of the Lesser Antilles (and in turn the Antilles The Bahamas, officially the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, is an independent sovereign English -speaking country consisting of two thousand Cays and Geopolitically, the West Indies are usually reckoned as a subregion of North America and are organised into 27 territories including sovereign states, overseas departments, and dependencies. A subregion is a conceptual unit which derives from a larger Region or Continent and is usually based on location Sovereignty is the exclusive Right to control a Government, a country, a people or oneself A state is a political association with effective Sovereignty over a geographic Area and representing a Population. Overseas department (départements d’outre-mer or DOM) is a designation under the 1946 Constitution of the Fourth Republic that was given to the A dependent territory dependent area or dependency is a territory that does not possess full political Independence or Sovereignty as a At one time, there was a short-lived country called the Federation of the West Indies composed of ten English-speaking Caribbean territories, all of which were then UK dependencies. The West Indies Federation, also known as the Federation of the West Indies, was a short-lived Caribbean Federation that existed from January 3 1958 English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located

The Caribbean islands are an island chain 4,020 kilometres (2,500 mi) long and no more than 257 kilometres (160 mi) wide at any given point. They enclose the Caribbean Sea. ^[3]

The region takes its name from that of the Carib, an ethnic group present in the Lesser Antilles and parts of adjacent South America at the time of European contact. Cariban languages Carib, Island Carib or Kalinago people after whom the Caribbean Sea was named live in the Lesser Antilles islands The Lesser Antilles, also known as the Caribbees, are part of the Antilles, which together with the Bahamas and Greater Antilles form the South America is a Continent of the Americas, situated entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a ^[4] In the English-speaking Caribbean, someone from the Caribbean is usually referred to as a "West Indian," although the phrase "Caribbean person" is sometimes used.

Contents 1 Definition 2 Demographics 3 Geography and climate 4 Biodiversity 5 Historical groupings 6 Present-day island territories 7 Continental countries with Caribbean coastlines and islands 8 Indigenous tribes 9 Regionalism 10 Regional institutions 11 See also 12 Footnotes and references 13 Further reading

Definition

The term "Caribbean" has multiple uses. Its principal ones are geographical and political. Geography (from Greek γεωγραφία - geografia) is the study of the Earth and its lands features inhabitants and phenomena Politics Politics is the process by which groups of people make decisions

• Physiographically, the Caribbean region is mainly a chain of islands surrounding the Caribbean Sea. For the region see Caribbean. The Caribbean Sea (kəˈrɪbiən or /ˌkærɨˈbiːən/ is a tropical Sea in the Western Hemisphere To the north is the Caribbean Sea bordered by the Gulf of Mexico, the Straits of Florida, and the Northern Atlantic Ocean which lies to the East and Northeast; the coastline of the continent of South America lies to the south. The Gulf of Mexico ( Spanish: Golfo de México) is the ninth largest Body of water in the world The Straits of Florida, Florida Straits, or Florida Strait is a Strait located south-southeast of the North American Mainland, generally accepted South America is a Continent of the Americas, situated entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a

• Politically, the term "Caribbean" may be centered around socio-economic groupings found in the region. For example the bloc known as the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) contains both the Co-operative Republic of Guyana and the Republic of Suriname found in South America as full members. The Caribbean Community ( CARICOM) is an organization of Caribbean nations and dependencies Guyana (ɡaɪˈænə or /ɡiːˈɑːnə/ officially the Co-operative Republic of Guyana and previously known as British Guiana, is the only Nation state Suriname ( Dutch: Suriname; Sranan Tongo: Sranan) officially the Republic of Suriname (traditionally spelled Surinam by South America is a Continent of the Americas, situated entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a Bermuda and the Turks and Caicos Islands which are found in the Atlantic Ocean are Associate members of the Caribbean Community, and the same goes for the Commonwealth of the Bahamas which is a full member of the Caribbean Community. Ba (officially The Bermuda Islands or The Somers Isles) is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. The Turks and Caicos Islands ( TCI) (ˈtɜːks ænd ˈkeɪkəs are a British Overseas Territory consisting of two groups of tropical islands in the West Indies The Bahamas, officially the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, is an independent sovereign English -speaking country consisting of two thousand Cays and

Demographics

The population of the Caribbean is estimated to have been around 750,000 immediately before European contact, although higher figures are given. After contact, war and disease led to a decline in the Native American population. ^[5] From 1500 to 1800 the population rose as slaves arrived from West Africa and immigrants from Britain, France, Spain, the Netherlands, and Denmark, although mortality was high for both groups. West Africa or Western Africa is the Westernmost Region of the African Continent. The Kingdom of Great Britain, also known as the United Kingdom of Great Britain, was a State in northwest Europe, in existence from 1707 to 1800 This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. The Netherlands ( Dutch:, ˈnedərlɑnt is the European part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which consists of the Netherlands the Netherlands The Kingdom of Denmark ( ˈd̥ænmɑɡ̊ (archaic ˈd̥anmɑːɡ̊ commonly known as Denmark, is a country in the Scandinavian region of northern Europe ^[6] The population is estimated to have reached 2. 2 million by 1800. ^[7] Immigrants from India, China, and other countries arrived in the 19th century. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National ^[8] After the ending of the Atlantic slave trade the population continued to increase naturally,^[9] and was estimated at 37. The Atlantic Slave trade, also known as the transatlantic slave trade, was the trade of African people supplied to the Colonies of the New World 5 million by 2000. ^[1]

Geography and climate

The geography and climate in the Caribbean region varies from one place to another. San Juan (saŋ hwaŋ (from the Spanish San Juan Bautista, " Saint John the Baptist " is the Capital and largest municipality in Some islands in the region have relatively flat terrain of non-volcanic origin. Such islands include Aruba (possessing only minor volcanic features), Bahamas, Turks and Caicos Islands, Barbados, Bonaire, the Cayman Islands or Antigua. Aruba is a -long island of the Lesser Antilles in the southern Caribbean Sea, north of the Paraguaná Peninsula, Falcón State, Venezuela The Bahamas, officially the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, is an independent sovereign English -speaking country consisting of two thousand Cays and The Turks and Caicos Islands ( TCI) (ˈtɜːks ænd ˈkeɪkəs are a British Overseas Territory consisting of two groups of tropical islands in the West Indies Barbados ( Portuguese word for bearded-ones, bɑrˈbeɪdoʊz -dɒs situated just east of the Caribbean Sea, is an independent Island nation The Island Territory of Bonaire ( Dutch: Eilandgebied Bonaire, Papiamento: Teritorio Insular di Boneiru) is one of five island areas The Cayman Islands are a British overseas territory located in the western Caribbean Sea, comprising the islands of Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac Antigua (ænˈtiːgə an-TEE-gah) is an Island in the West Indies, in the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean region the main Others possess rugged towering mountain-ranges like the islands of Cuba, Dominica, Hispaniola, Jamaica, Montserrat, Puerto Rico, Saba, Saint Kitts, Saint Lucia, Grenada, Saint Vincent, Guadeloupe, and Trinidad & Tobago. The Republic of Cuba (ˈkjuːbə or) consists of the island of Cuba (the largest and second-most populous island of the Greater Antilles) Isla de la The Commonwealth of Dominica, commonly known as Dominica, is an Island nation in the Caribbean Sea. Hispaniola (from Spanish, La Española) is the second-largest and most populous Island of the Antilles, lying between the islands of Jamaica (ˈdʒəˈmeɪkə} is an Island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length and as much as in width situated in the Caribbean Sea. Montserrat (ˌmɒntsəˈræt is British overseas territory located in the Leeward Islands, part of the chain of islands called the Lesser Antilles Puerto Rico (ˌpwertoˈriko officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico ("Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico" {{lang-en|"Associated Free State of Puerto Rico"}} SABA was a German manufacturer for electronic equipment from the Black Forest up to the 1980s Saint Kitts (also known more formally as Saint Christopher Island ( Saint-Christophe in French) is an Island in the West Indies Saint Lucia (ˌseɪnt ˈluːʃɪə is an Island nation in the eastern Caribbean Sea on the boundary with the Atlantic Ocean. Grenada (grɪˈneɪdə is an Island nation that includes the southern Grenadines in the southeastern Caribbean Sea. Guadeloupe is an island group or Archipelago located in the eastern Caribbean Sea at, with a land area of 1628 square kilometres (629  sq The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago (ˈtrɪnɪdæd ən təˈbeɪgoʊ is an archipelagic state in the southern Caribbean, lying northeast of the South American

The climate of the region is tropical but rainfall varies with elevation, size and water currents (cool upwellings keep the ABC islands arid). The ABC islands are Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao. They are the three most western Islands of the Leeward Antilles in the Warm, moist tradewinds blow consistently from the east creating rainforest/semidesert divisions on mountainous islands. The trade winds (also called trades) are the prevailing pattern of easterly winds found in the Tropics near the Earth's Equator. Occasional northwesterlies affect the northern islands in the winter. Winters are warm, but drier.

The waters of the Caribbean Sea host large, migratory schools of fish, turtles, and coral reef formations. Coral reefs are Aragonite structures produced by living organisms found in marine waters with little to no nutrients in the water The Puerto Rico trench, located on the fringe of the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea just to the north of the island of Puerto Rico, is the deepest point in all of the Atlantic Ocean. The Puerto Rico Trench is an Oceanic trench located on the boundary between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. For the region see Caribbean. The Caribbean Sea (kəˈrɪbiən or /ˌkærɨˈbiːən/ is a tropical Sea in the Western Hemisphere Puerto Rico (ˌpwertoˈriko officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico ("Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico" {{lang-en|"Associated Free State of Puerto Rico"}} ^[10]

Hurricanes, which at times batter the region, usually strike northwards of Grenada, and to the west of Barbados. A tropical cyclone is a storm system characterized by a low pressure center and numerous Thunderstorms that produce strong winds and Flooding Grenada (grɪˈneɪdə is an Island nation that includes the southern Grenadines in the southeastern Caribbean Sea. Barbados ( Portuguese word for bearded-ones, bɑrˈbeɪdoʊz -dɒs situated just east of the Caribbean Sea, is an independent Island nation The principal hurricane belt arcs to northwest of the island of Barbados in the Eastern Caribbean. Barbados ( Portuguese word for bearded-ones, bɑrˈbeɪdoʊz -dɒs situated just east of the Caribbean Sea, is an independent Island nation

Biodiversity

The Caribbean islands are classified as one of Conservation International's biodiversity hotspots because they support exceptionally diverse ecosystems, ranging from montane cloud forests to cactus scrublands. Saona Island or Isla Saona is a Tropical Island located a short distance from the mainland on the south-east tip of the Dominican Republic The Dominican Republic ( Spanish: República Dominicana;) is a nation located in the Caribbean region and shares the island of Hispaniola with Île à Vache (also expressed Île-à-Vaches) (Cow Island is a small island lying off the south-west peninsula of Haiti near the town of Les Cayes Haiti ( English: ˈheɪ·tiː or haɪ·ˈjiː·tiː French Haïti a·i·ti Haitian Creole: Conservation International (CI is a nonprofit organization headquartered in the Washington D A biodiversity hotspot is a Biogeographic region with a significant reservoir of biodiversity that is threatened with destruction A cloud forest, also called a fog forest, is a generally Tropical or Subtropical evergreen Montane moist forest characterized by a A cactus (plural cacti) is any member of the Spine plant family Cactaceae, native to the Americas Scrubland is a Plant community characterized by scrub Vegetation. These ecosystems have been devastated by deforestation and human encroachment. An ecosystem is a natural unit consisting of all plants animals and micro-organisms( Biotic factors in an area functioning together with all of the non-living physical ( Deforestation is the conversion of Forested areas to non-forest land for use such as Arable land, Pasture, urban use logged area or wasteland The hotspot contains dozens of highly-threatened species, ranging from birds, to mammals and reptiles. Popular examples include the Puerto Rican Amazon, two species of solenodon (giant shrews) in Cuba and Hispaniola (Haiti and the Dominican Republic), as well as the Cuban crocodile. The Puerto Rican Amazon ( Amazona vittata) also known as the Puerto Rican Parrot or Iguaca, is a bird endemic to the Archipelago Solenodons are Nocturnal, burrowing Insectivorous Mammals belonging to the family Solenodontidae. The Republic of Cuba (ˈkjuːbə or) consists of the island of Cuba (the largest and second-most populous island of the Greater Antilles) Isla de la Hispaniola (from Spanish, La Española) is the second-largest and most populous Island of the Antilles, lying between the islands of Haiti ( English: ˈheɪ·tiː or haɪ·ˈjiː·tiː French Haïti a·i·ti Haitian Creole: The Dominican Republic ( Spanish: República Dominicana;) is a nation located in the Caribbean region and shares the island of Hispaniola with The Cuban crocodile ( Crocodylus rhombifer) is a small species (2 The hotspot is also remarkable for the diminutive nature of much of its fauna. Fauna is all of the Animal life of any particular region or time

Historical groupings

Main article: History of the Caribbean

All islands at some point were, and a few still are, colonies of European nations; a few are overseas or dependent territories:

• British West Indies/Anglophone Caribbean – Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bay Islands, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Croix (briefly), Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago (from 1797) and the Turks and Caicos Islands
• Danish West Indies – present-day United States Virgin Islands
• Dutch West Indies – present-day Netherlands Antilles and Aruba, Virgin Islands, Saint Croix (briefly), Tobago and Bay Islands (briefly)
• French West Indies – Anguilla (briefly), Antigua and Barbuda (briefly), Dominica, Dominican Republic (briefly), Grenada, Haiti, Montserrat (briefly), Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sint Eustatius (briefly), St Kitts (briefly), Tobago (briefly), Saint Croix, the current French overseas départements of Martinique and Guadeloupe (including Marie-Galante, La Désirade and Les Saintes), and the current French overseas collectivities of Saint Barthelemy and Saint Martin. The history of the Caribbean reveals the significant role the region played in the colonial struggles of the European powers since the Fifteenth century. This article is about a type of political territory For other uses see Colony (disambiguation. A dependent territory dependent area or dependency is a territory that does not possess full political Independence or Sovereignty as a The term British West Indies refers to territories in and around the Caribbean which were at one time colonised by the United Kingdom. The term Anglophone Caribbean is used to refer to the independent English -speaking countries of the Caribbean region Anguilla (English pronunciation ang-GWILL-ah, æŋˈɡwɪlə is a British overseas territory in the Caribbean, one of the most northerly of the Leeward Antigua and Barbuda ( Spanish for "Ancient" and "Bearded" is an Island nation located on the eastern boundary of the Caribbean Sea The Bahamas, officially the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, is an independent sovereign English -speaking country consisting of two thousand Cays and Barbados ( Portuguese word for bearded-ones, bɑrˈbeɪdoʊz -dɒs situated just east of the Caribbean Sea, is an independent Island nation Belize (bəˈliːz formerly British Honduras, is a country in Central America. The British Virgin Islands ( BVI) is a British overseas territory, located in the Caribbean to the east of Puerto Rico. The Cayman Islands are a British overseas territory located in the western Caribbean Sea, comprising the islands of Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac The Commonwealth of Dominica, commonly known as Dominica, is an Island nation in the Caribbean Sea. Grenada (grɪˈneɪdə is an Island nation that includes the southern Grenadines in the southeastern Caribbean Sea. Guyana (ɡaɪˈænə or /ɡiːˈɑːnə/ officially the Co-operative Republic of Guyana and previously known as British Guiana, is the only Nation state Jamaica (ˈdʒəˈmeɪkə} is an Island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length and as much as in width situated in the Caribbean Sea. Montserrat (ˌmɒntsəˈræt is British overseas territory located in the Leeward Islands, part of the chain of islands called the Lesser Antilles The Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis (also known as the Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis) located in the Leeward Islands, is a federal two-island Saint Lucia (ˌseɪnt ˈluːʃɪə is an Island nation in the eastern Caribbean Sea on the boundary with the Atlantic Ocean. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is an island nation in the Lesser Antilles chain of the Caribbean Sea. The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago (ˈtrɪnɪdæd ən təˈbeɪgoʊ is an archipelagic state in the southern Caribbean, lying northeast of the South American The Turks and Caicos Islands ( TCI) (ˈtɜːks ænd ˈkeɪkəs are a British Overseas Territory consisting of two groups of tropical islands in the West Indies The Danish West Indies ( Danish: Dansk Vestindien or De dansk-vestindiske øer) or "Danish Antilles" were a colony of Denmark-Norway The United States Virgin Islands is a group of Islands in the Caribbean that are an Insular area of the United States. The Netherlands Antilles ( Dutch:) previously known as the Netherlands West Indies or Dutch Antilles/West Indies, is part of the Lesser Antilles The Netherlands Antilles ( Dutch:) previously known as the Netherlands West Indies or Dutch Antilles/West Indies, is part of the Lesser Antilles Aruba is a -long island of the Lesser Antilles in the southern Caribbean Sea, north of the Paraguaná Peninsula, Falcón State, Venezuela See also Culture of the Virgin Islands Music of the Virgin Islands Virgin Islands Creole Tobago is the smaller of the two main islands that make up the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. The term French West Indies ( Antilles françaises) refers to the four territories presently under French sovereignty in the Caribbean: the two overseas Anguilla (English pronunciation ang-GWILL-ah, æŋˈɡwɪlə is a British overseas territory in the Caribbean, one of the most northerly of the Leeward Antigua and Barbuda ( Spanish for "Ancient" and "Bearded" is an Island nation located on the eastern boundary of the Caribbean Sea The Commonwealth of Dominica, commonly known as Dominica, is an Island nation in the Caribbean Sea. The Dominican Republic ( Spanish: República Dominicana;) is a nation located in the Caribbean region and shares the island of Hispaniola with Grenada (grɪˈneɪdə is an Island nation that includes the southern Grenadines in the southeastern Caribbean Sea. Haiti ( English: ˈheɪ·tiː or haɪ·ˈjiː·tiː French Haïti a·i·ti Haitian Creole: Montserrat (ˌmɒntsəˈræt is British overseas territory located in the Leeward Islands, part of the chain of islands called the Lesser Antilles Saint Lucia (ˌseɪnt ˈluːʃɪə is an Island nation in the eastern Caribbean Sea on the boundary with the Atlantic Ocean. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is an island nation in the Lesser Antilles chain of the Caribbean Sea. Sint Eustatius, also known as Statia, or Saint Eustace, is one of the islands which make up the Netherlands Antilles; it is in the northern Leeward The Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis (also known as the Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis) located in the Leeward Islands, is a federal two-island Tobago is the smaller of the two main islands that make up the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. Overseas department (départements d’outre-mer or DOM) is a designation under the 1946 Constitution of the Fourth Republic that was given to the Martinique is an Island in the eastern Caribbean Sea, having a land area of 1128 km² Guadeloupe is an island group or Archipelago located in the eastern Caribbean Sea at, with a land area of 1628 square kilometres (629  sq Marie-Galante is an island of the Caribbean Sea located in the Guadeloupean archipelago La Désirade is an island in the French overseas ''région'' and ''département'' of Guadeloupe, in the Lesser Antilles. The Îles des Saintes (literally "Islands of the Saints" also called simply Les Saintes, are a group of Islands within the French overseas department The French overseas collectivities ( collectivités d'outre-mer or COM) like the French regions, themselves are first-order Administrative divisions Saint Barthélemy (Saint-Barthélemy officially the Collectivity of Saint Barthélemy (French Collectivité de Saint-Barthélemy) is an Overseas collectivity
• Portuguese West Indies – present-day Barbados, known as Os Barbados in the 1500s when the Portuguese claimed the island en route to Brazil. Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic (República Portuguesa is a country on the Iberian Peninsula. Barbados ( Portuguese word for bearded-ones, bɑrˈbeɪdoʊz -dɒs situated just east of the Caribbean Sea, is an independent Island nation The Portuguese left Barbados abandoned in 1533, nearly a century prior to the British arrival to the island.
• Spanish West Indies – Cuba, Hispaniola (present-day Dominican Republic, and until 1609, Haiti), Puerto Rico, Jamaica (until 1655), the Cayman Islands, Trinidad (until 1797) and Bay Islands (until 1643)
• Swedish West Indies – present-day French Saint-Barthélemy and Guadeloupe (briefly). The Spanish West Indies (also known as " Las Antillas Occidentales " or simply " Las Antillas " in Spanish) was the contemporary The Republic of Cuba (ˈkjuːbə or) consists of the island of Cuba (the largest and second-most populous island of the Greater Antilles) Isla de la Hispaniola (from Spanish, La Española) is the second-largest and most populous Island of the Antilles, lying between the islands of The Dominican Republic ( Spanish: República Dominicana;) is a nation located in the Caribbean region and shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti ( English: ˈheɪ·tiː or haɪ·ˈjiː·tiː French Haïti a·i·ti Haitian Creole: Puerto Rico (ˌpwertoˈriko officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico ("Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico" {{lang-en|"Associated Free State of Puerto Rico"}} Jamaica (ˈdʒəˈmeɪkə} is an Island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length and as much as in width situated in the Caribbean Sea. The Cayman Islands are a British overseas territory located in the western Caribbean Sea, comprising the islands of Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac Trinidad ( Spanish: " Trinity " is the largest and most populous of the two major islands and Bay Islands may refer to Bay Islands (department, Honduras Bay Islands (Queensland, Australia See also "Sverige" redirects here For other uses see Sweden (disambiguation and Sverige (disambiguation. The Caribbean (ˌkærəˡbiən kæ'rəbiən Cariben|Caraïben or Caraïben; Caraïbe or more commonly Antilles; Caribe is a Region consisting This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Saint Barthélemy (Saint-Barthélemy officially the Collectivity of Saint Barthélemy (French Collectivité de Saint-Barthélemy) is an Overseas collectivity Guadeloupe is an island group or Archipelago located in the eastern Caribbean Sea at, with a land area of 1628 square kilometres (629  sq

The British West Indies were united by the United Kingdom into a West Indies Federation between 1958 and 1962. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located The West Indies Federation, also known as the Federation of the West Indies, was a short-lived Caribbean Federation that existed from January 3 1958 The independent countries formerly part of the B. W. I. still have a joint cricket team that competes in Test matches and One Day Internationals. Cricket is a bat-and-ball team Sport that originated in England and is now played in more than 100 countries Test cricket is the longest form of the Sport of Cricket. It has long been considered the ultimate test of playing ability between cricketing nations Note Most of the information here pertains to men's cricket ODI matches are also played in Women's cricket. The West Indian cricket team includes the South American nation of Guyana, the only former British colony on that continent. The West Indian cricket team, also known colloquially as The Windies or The West Indies, is a multi-national Cricket team representing Guyana (ɡaɪˈænə or /ɡiːˈɑːnə/ officially the Co-operative Republic of Guyana and previously known as British Guiana, is the only Nation state

In addition, these countries share the University of the West Indies as a regional entity. The University of the West Indies, also known as UWI, is an autonomous regional institution supported by and serving 16 English-speaking Countries and territories The university consists of three main campuses in Jamaica, Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago, a smaller campus in the Bahamas and Resident Tutors in other contributing territories. Jamaica (ˈdʒəˈmeɪkə} is an Island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length and as much as in width situated in the Caribbean Sea. Barbados ( Portuguese word for bearded-ones, bɑrˈbeɪdoʊz -dɒs situated just east of the Caribbean Sea, is an independent Island nation The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago (ˈtrɪnɪdæd ən təˈbeɪgoʊ is an archipelagic state in the southern Caribbean, lying northeast of the South American The Bahamas, officially the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, is an independent sovereign English -speaking country consisting of two thousand Cays and

Present-day island territories

Main article: List of islands in the Caribbean

See also: Caribbean South America and Caribbean basin

Continental countries with Caribbean coastlines and islands

The nations of Belize and Guyana, although on the mainland of Central America and South America respectively, are former British colonies and maintain many cultural ties to the Caribbean and are members of CARICOM. The Commonwealth of Dominica, commonly known as Dominica, is an Island nation in the Caribbean Sea. Venezuela (ˌvɛnəˈzweɪlə) officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (Spanish República Bolivariana de Venezuela) is a country on the Grenada (grɪˈneɪdə is an Island nation that includes the southern Grenadines in the southeastern Caribbean Sea. The Grenades are a Caribbean island chain of over 600 islands in the Windward Islands. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is an island nation in the Lesser Antilles chain of the Caribbean Sea. Carriacou Island in the Caribbean Sea, is the largest island of the Grenadines, an Archipelago in the Windward Islands chain Carriacou Island in the Caribbean Sea, is the largest island of the Grenadines, an Archipelago in the Windward Islands chain Ronde Island, Grenada is a 2000 acre Private island in the Lesser Antilles chain of the Caribbean Sea. Guadeloupe is an island group or Archipelago located in the eastern Caribbean Sea at, with a land area of 1628 square kilometres (629  sq Overseas department (départements d’outre-mer or DOM) is a designation under the 1946 Constitution of the Fourth Republic that was given to the This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. For the largest city on the island of Basse-Terre and capital of Guadeloupe see Basse-Terre. La Désirade is an island in the French overseas ''région'' and ''département'' of Guadeloupe, in the Lesser Antilles. Grande Terre is also the name of the main island of New Caledonia, and the name of the largest of the Kerguelen Islands. Marie-Galante is an island of the Caribbean Sea located in the Guadeloupean archipelago The Îles des Saintes (literally "Islands of the Saints" also called simply Les Saintes, are a group of Islands within the French overseas department Hispaniola (from Spanish, La Española) is the second-largest and most populous Island of the Antilles, lying between the islands of The Dominican Republic ( Spanish: República Dominicana;) is a nation located in the Caribbean region and shares the island of Hispaniola with Saona Island or Isla Saona is a Tropical Island located a short distance from the mainland on the south-east tip of the Dominican Republic Haiti ( English: ˈheɪ·tiː or haɪ·ˈjiː·tiː French Haïti a·i·ti Haitian Creole: Gonâve Island (Île de la Gonâve is an island of Haiti located to the west-northwest of Port-au-Prince in the Gulf of Gonâve. Tortuga may refer to a Spanish word meaning Tortoise the name of several islands La Tortuga Island in Île à Vache (also expressed Île-à-Vaches) (Cow Island is a small island lying off the south-west peninsula of Haiti near the town of Les Cayes The Cayemites are a pair of islands located in the Gulf of Gonâve off the coast of southwest Haiti. Jamaica (ˈdʒəˈmeɪkə} is an Island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length and as much as in width situated in the Caribbean Sea. Sandals Cay (formerly called Kokomo Island) is part of the privately owned Sandals Royal Caribbean All-inclusive resort in Montego Bay, Lime Cay is the main islet of the Port Royal Cays off Port Royal, Jamaica, located in the northeast of the reef Morant Cays is an offshore island group 51 km SSE off Morant Point, Jamaica. Navy Island is a small island off the coast of Port Antonio in Portland Parish Jamaica formerly owned by actor Errol Flynn. Pedro Bank is a large bank of Sand and Coral, partially covered with Seagrass, about 80 km south and southwest of Jamaica, rising steeply from Martinique is an Island in the eastern Caribbean Sea, having a land area of 1128 km² Overseas department (départements d’outre-mer or DOM) is a designation under the 1946 Constitution of the Fourth Republic that was given to the This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Montserrat (ˌmɒntsəˈræt is British overseas territory located in the Leeward Islands, part of the chain of islands called the Lesser Antilles The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located The British Overseas Territories are fourteen territories that are under the Sovereignty of the United Kingdom, but which do not form part of the United Kingdom Navassa Island ( French: La Navase, Haitian Kreyòl: Lanavaz or Lavash) is a small uninhabited island in the Caribbean Sea The Netherlands Antilles ( Dutch:) previously known as the Netherlands West Indies or Dutch Antilles/West Indies, is part of the Lesser Antilles The Netherlands and The Kingdom of the Netherlands are two distinct geographical and administrative entities The Island Territory of Bonaire ( Dutch: Eilandgebied Bonaire, Papiamento: Teritorio Insular di Boneiru) is one of five island areas Klein Bonaire ( Dutch for "little Bonaire" is a small uninhabited Islet off the west coast of the Caribbean island of Bonaire. Curaçao (ˈkjuːrəsaʊ in English Dutch: Curaçao, Papiamento: Kòrsou) is an Island in the southern Caribbean Sea, Klein Curaçao ( Dutch for little Curaçao) is a small uninhabited island south-east of Curaçao. SABA was a German manufacturer for electronic equipment from the Black Forest up to the 1980s Sint Eustatius, also known as Statia, or Saint Eustace, is one of the islands which make up the Netherlands Antilles; it is in the northern Leeward For the island of St Martin on the whole see Saint Martin, for the French side see Saint Martin (France and for other uses see Saint Martin (disambiguation Saint Martin is a tropical Island in the northeast Caribbean, approximately 300 km (186 miles east of Puerto Rico. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Puerto Rico (ˌpwertoˈriko officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico ("Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico" {{lang-en|"Associated Free State of Puerto Rico"}} This article is about US insular areas For US States that designate themselves as "Commonwealths" see Commonwealth (United States. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Vieques ( Spanish pronunciation: /'vjɛkɛs/ or /'bjɛkɛs/ or /'βjɛkɛs/ English pronunciation: or) in full Isla de Vieques, is an island Isla de Caja de Muertos, or Caja de Muertos for short is an uninhabited Island off the southern coast of Puerto Rico. Desecheo is a small uninhabited Island of the Archipelago of Puerto Rico located in the northeast of the Mona Passage; 21 km from the west coast "Mona Island" redirects here Mona is also an ancient or poetic name for the island of Anglesey or the Isle of Man. Saint Barthélemy (Saint-Barthélemy officially the Collectivity of Saint Barthélemy (French Collectivité de Saint-Barthélemy) is an Overseas collectivity The French overseas collectivities ( collectivités d'outre-mer or COM) like the French regions, themselves are first-order Administrative divisions This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. The Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis (also known as the Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis) located in the Leeward Islands, is a federal two-island NEVIS, or New Exhaust Valve & Intake System, is a type of Internal combustion engine developed by Cesare Bortone in cooperation with the University Saint Kitts (also known more formally as Saint Christopher Island ( Saint-Christophe in French) is an Island in the West Indies Saint Lucia (ˌseɪnt ˈluːʃɪə is an Island nation in the eastern Caribbean Sea on the boundary with the Atlantic Ocean. The French overseas collectivities ( collectivités d'outre-mer or COM) like the French regions, themselves are first-order Administrative divisions This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Saint Martin is a tropical Island in the northeast Caribbean, approximately 300 km (186 miles east of Puerto Rico. The Netherlands Antilles ( Dutch:) previously known as the Netherlands West Indies or Dutch Antilles/West Indies, is part of the Lesser Antilles Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is an island nation in the Lesser Antilles chain of the Caribbean Sea. The Grenades are a Caribbean island chain of over 600 islands in the Windward Islands. Baliceaux is one of the Grenadines islands which lie between the Caribbean islands of Saint Vincent and Grenada. Bequia ( pronounced beck-way) is the second largest island in the Grenadines. Canouan is one of the Grenadines Islands belonging to St Vincent. Mayreau is the smallest inhabited island of the Grenadines, with an area of about 1 Mustique is a small Private island in the West Indies on the edge of the Caribbean Sea. Palm Island in the Grenadines is a tiny island a mile from Union Island, and only accessible by boat Petit St Vincent, known locally as PSV is an island 40 Statute miles (60 km south of St You may be looking for St Vincent Island Florida Saint Vincent is a volcanic Island in the Caribbean, the largest island Tobago Cays are an archipelago comprised of five small uninhabited islands - Petit Rameau Petit Bateau Baradol Petit Tobac and Jamesby - located in the Southern Grenadines Union Island is the southernmost island of the Grenadines belonging to the state of St The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago (ˈtrɪnɪdæd ən təˈbeɪgoʊ is an archipelagic state in the southern Caribbean, lying northeast of the South American Tobago is the smaller of the two main islands that make up the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. Little Tobago (or Bird of Paradise Island) is a small island off the northeastern coast of Tobago, and part of the republic of Trinidad and Tobago The St Giles Island is a small island off the northeast tip of Tobago. Trinidad ( Spanish: " Trinity " is the largest and most populous of the two major islands and Chacachacare is an island in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago located at 10° 41' north Latitude and 61° 45' west Longitude. Gaspar Grande or Gasparee is an island in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago named for Gaspar de Percín. Huevos (Spanish Eggs) is an island in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. Monos is an island in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. It is one of the "Bocas Islands" which lie in the Bocas del Dragón ( Dragons' Nelson Island, Trinidad and Tobago is one of the Five Islands which lie west of Port of Spain in the Gulf of Paria. The Turks and Caicos Islands ( TCI) (ˈtɜːks ænd ˈkeɪkəs are a British Overseas Territory consisting of two groups of tropical islands in the West Indies The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located The British Overseas Territories are fourteen territories that are under the Sovereignty of the United Kingdom, but which do not form part of the United Kingdom Grand Turk Island is an island in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Middle Caicos, also Grand Caicos is the largest island in the Turks and Caicos Islands. North Caicos is the third-largest island in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Parrot Cay is a tiny island part of Turks and Caicos Islands and is dominated by a large hotel beach resort which over the years has seen many visits by celebrities such as Pine Cay is an island of about 30 people population in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Providenciales, nicknamed " Provo " is an island in the Turks and Caicos Islands. South Caicos is the seventh largest island in the Turks and Caicos islands archipelago with a land area of 21 West Caicos is an island in the Turks and Caicos Islands. West Caicos has an area of, and has been uninhabited for over a century East Caicos is the fourth largest island in the Turks and Caicos Islands. The United States Virgin Islands is a group of Islands in the Caribbean that are an Insular area of the United States. Territories of the United States are one type of political division of the United States, administered by the U The United States of America —commonly referred to as the See also Culture of the Virgin Islands Music of the Virgin Islands Virgin Islands Creole Buck Island Reef National Monument, or just Buck Island is a small uninhabited 176 acre (712000 m² island about 1 The Hans Lollik Islands are two islands in the US Virgin Islands. Hassel Island (also sometimes Hassell Island is a small island of the U DSC00835JPG|thumb|250px| Trunk Bay Beach in St John US Virgin Islands. Saint Thomas is an Island in the Caribbean Sea, a County and constituent district of the United States Virgin Islands (USVI an unincorporated Thatch Cay is a small uninhabited 230 acre (931000 m² island half a mile (800 m off the northeastern coast of Saint Thomas. Water Island is the fourth and most recently acquired main island in the U Belize (bəˈliːz formerly British Honduras, is a country in Central America. Ambergris Caye, pronounced "am-BER-gris" is the largest Island of Belize located northeast of the country in the Caribbean Sea. Belize City is the largest city of the Central American nation Belize. Big Creek is a Sea port facility in Belize. Big Creek is a deep-water port on the Caribbean Sea in Belize's Stann Creek District, constructed Caye Caulker is a small Limestone Coral Island off the coast of Belize in the Caribbean Sea measuring about 5 Miles (north Colombia (kəˈlʌmbɪə officially the Republic of Colombia () is a country in northwestern South America. Archipelago of San Andres Providencia and Santa Catalina or colloquially San Andres y Providencia is one of the departments of Colombia. Barranquilla, an industrial portuary and special district is a city and municipality located in northern Colombia by the Caribbean sea. Cartagena de Indias (kaɾtaˈhena ð̞e ˈin̪d̪jas in Spanish; the usual English pronunciation is ˌkɑrtəˈheɪnə deɪ ˈɪndiəs is a large city Riohacha, Rio Hacha or Rio de la Hacha (River of the Axe - Wayuu: Süchiimma) is a city and municipality in the northern Caribbean Santa Marta is a city and municipality located in northern Colombia by the Caribbean sea and the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountains capital of Costa Rica, officially the Republic of Costa Rica ( Spanish: Costa Rica or República de Costa Rica,) is a Country in French Guiana (Guyane française officially fr ''Guyane'' is an Overseas department (French département d'outre-mer, or DOM) of France Guatemala (República de Guatemala) is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west the Pacific Ocean to the southwest Guyana (ɡaɪˈænə or /ɡiːˈɑːnə/ officially the Co-operative Republic of Guyana and previously known as British Guiana, is the only Nation state Hogg Island, the largest of the hundreds of islands in the Essequibo River in Guyana is 5 km from the river's mouth in its Estuary, located at. Leguan Island is a small island situated in the delta of the Essequibo River on the coast of Guyana, South America. Wakenaam is a large (~17 square miles island that at the mouth of the Essequibo River of Guyana. Honduras in Spanish, República de Honduras) is a democratic republic in Central America. Guanaja is one of the Bay Islands of Honduras, and is in the Caribbean. Roatán, located between the islands of Útila and Guanaja ( is the largest of Honduras ' Bay Islands. History Ruins on all three of the Bay Islands indicate that they were inhabited well before the Europeans arrived The Cayos Cochinos or Cochinos Cays are a group of two small islands ( ( Cayo Menor and Cayo Grande) and 13 more small coral Cays situated 30 kilometers The Swan Islands, or Islas Santanilla, are a chain of three islands located in the northwestern Caribbean Sea, approximately ninety miles off the coastline of The United Mexican States ( or commonly Mexico (ˈmɛksɪkoʊ () is a federal constitutional Republic in North America. Quintana Roo (kinˈtana ˈro is a state of Mexico, on the eastern part of the Yucatán Peninsula. Cancún (pronounced as kanˈkun is a coastal city in Mexico 's easternmost state Quintana Roo, on the Yucatán Peninsula. Chetumal ( Chactemàal which means "Place of the red wood" Modern Maya) (coordinates) is a city on the east coast of the Yucatán Peninsula Isla Contoy is a small island in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, approximately 30 kilometers north of Isla Mujeres. Cozumel ( Mayan: Island of the Swallows ' ( Kùutsmil in Modern Maya) is an Island in the Caribbean Sea off the eastern Isla Mujeres is the name of a small Island, as well as the town on that island a short distance off the coast of the northeast of the Yucatán Peninsula in the Cozumel ( Mayan: Island of the Swallows ' ( Kùutsmil in Modern Maya) is an Island in the Caribbean Sea off the eastern Nicaragua (ˌnɪkəˈrɑgwə officially the Republic of Nicaragua () is a representative democratic republic and the largest nation in Central America The Corn Islands (Las Islas del Maíz are two Islands about 70 km east off the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua, constituting one of 12 municipalities of the The Miskito Cays ( Spanish: Cayos Miskitos are an Archipelago with an area of 27 Km² located off shore in the North-Eastern Caribbean Coast of Nicaragua The Pearl Cays ( Spanish: Cayos de Perlas) is a group of 18 Cays located about 35 kilometers from Laguna de Perlas offshore the Caribbean Coast Panama, officially the Republic of Panama (República de Panamá) is the southernmost country of Central America. The San Blas Islands of Panama is an archipelago of 365 Islands off the north coast of the Isthmus east of the Panama Canal. Bocas del Toro is the capital of the Panamanian province of Bocas del Toro. Suriname ( Dutch: Suriname; Sranan Tongo: Sranan) officially the Republic of Suriname (traditionally spelled Surinam by Venezuela (ˌvɛnəˈzweɪlə) officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (Spanish República Bolivariana de Venezuela) is a country on the The Los Monjes islands, a federal dependency of Venezuela, are located to the northwest of the Gulf of Venezuela, 34 The Las Aves Archipelago is a pristine Archipelago in the Caribbean Sea, and is part of the Federal Dependencies of Venezuela. The Los Roques islands are a federal dependency of Venezuela, consisting of about 350 Islands Cays or Islets The archipelago is La Tortuga Island ( Isla La Tortuga in Spanish) is an uninhabited island dependency of the government of Venezuela. Belize (bəˈliːz formerly British Honduras, is a country in Central America. Guyana (ɡaɪˈænə or /ɡiːˈɑːnə/ officially the Co-operative Republic of Guyana and previously known as British Guiana, is the only Nation state South America is a Continent of the Americas, situated entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a The Caribbean Community ( CARICOM) is an organization of Caribbean nations and dependencies Nicaragua's Caribbean Coast, often referred to as the Mosquito Coast was also a former British colony and maintains many cultural ties to the Caribbean distinct to the Pacific coast. Nicaragua (ˌnɪkəˈrɑgwə officially the Republic of Nicaragua () is a representative democratic republic and the largest nation in Central America The Caribbean Mosquito Coast (or Miskito Coast) historically consisted of an area along the Atlantic coast of present-day Nicaragua, named after its native Guyana participates in West Indies cricket tournaments and many players from Guyana have been on the West Indies Test cricket team. The Turneffe Islands (and many other islands and reefs) are part of Belize and lie in the Caribbean Sea. The nation of Suriname, on the mainland of South America, is a former Dutch colony and also a member of CARICOM. Suriname ( Dutch: Suriname; Sranan Tongo: Sranan) officially the Republic of Suriname (traditionally spelled Surinam by

Indigenous tribes

• Arawak
• Kalinago
• Ciboney
• Galibi
• Garifuna
• Igneri
• Lucayan
• Taino
• Ciguayo
• Macorix

Aruba	Anguilla	Antigua	Bonaire
British Virgin Islands	Dominica	Rastafarian from Jamaica	Montserrat

Regionalism

Caribbean societies are very different from other western societies in terms of size, culture, and degree of mobility of their citizens. The term Arawak (from aru, the Lokono word for Cassava flour was used to designate the Amerindians encountered by the Spanish in Cariban languages Carib, Island Carib or Kalinago people after whom the Caribbean Sea was named live in the Lesser Antilles islands The Ciboney were Pre-Columbian indigenous inhabitants of the Greater Antilles in the Caribbean Sea. The Galibi were a Cariban-speaking people who lived in the Lesser Antilles and northern South America ( French Guiana) at the time of European The Garinagu (singular Garifuna) are an ethnic group of mixed ancestry who live primarily in Central America. The Igneri were a pre- Colombian Ethnic group that was once part of the Arawak tribe The Lucayan were Arawakan People who inhabited the Bahamas at the time of Christopher Columbus ' landing on October 12, 1492. The Taínos were pre-Columbian inhabitants of the Bahamas, Greater Antilles, and the northern Lesser Antilles. Aruba is a -long island of the Lesser Antilles in the southern Caribbean Sea, north of the Paraguaná Peninsula, Falcón State, Venezuela Anguilla (English pronunciation ang-GWILL-ah, æŋˈɡwɪlə is a British overseas territory in the Caribbean, one of the most northerly of the Leeward Antigua (ænˈtiːgə an-TEE-gah) is an Island in the West Indies, in the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean region the main The Island Territory of Bonaire ( Dutch: Eilandgebied Bonaire, Papiamento: Teritorio Insular di Boneiru) is one of five island areas The British Virgin Islands ( BVI) is a British overseas territory, located in the Caribbean to the east of Puerto Rico. The Commonwealth of Dominica, commonly known as Dominica, is an Island nation in the Caribbean Sea. The Rastafari movement (also known as Rastafari, Rastafarianism or simply Rasta) is a monotheistic, Abrahamic, New Testament Jamaica (ˈdʒəˈmeɪkə} is an Island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length and as much as in width situated in the Caribbean Sea. Montserrat (ˌmɒntsəˈræt is British overseas territory located in the Leeward Islands, part of the chain of islands called the Lesser Antilles ^[11] The current economic and political problems that the states of the Caribbean face individually are common to all Caribbean states. Regional development has contributed in attempts to halt current problems and avoided projected problems. Regionalism in the Caribbean from a political economic perspective is an attempt to portray Caribbean states as active participants in current international affairs through collective coalitions. In Politics, regionalism is a Political ideology that focuses on the interests of a particular Region or group of regions whether traditional or formal In 1973, the first true orientation of regionalism in the Caribbean Basin was created on the advances of the English-speaking Caribbean nations through the institutional vehicle known as the Caribbean Common Market and Community (CARICOM). The Caribbean Basin is generally defined as the area running from Florida westward along the Gulf coast, then south along the Mexican coast through The Caribbean Community ( CARICOM) is an organization of Caribbean nations and dependencies ^[12] Certain scholars have argued both for and against generalizing the political structures of the Caribbean. On the one hand the Caribbean states are politically diverse, ranging from communist systems like Cuba to Westminster-style parliamentary systems like in the Commonwealth Caribbean. Other scholars argue that these differences are superficial, and that they tend to undermine commonalities in the various Caribbean states. Contemporary Caribbean systems seem to therefore reflect a “blending of traditional and modern patterns, yielding hybrid systems that exhibit significant structural variations and divergent constitutional traditions yet ultimately appear to function in similar ways. ”^[13] The political systems of the Caribbean states share similar practices. The influence of regionalism in the Caribbean is often marginalized. Some scholars believe that regionalism could not exist in the Caribbean because each small state is unique. On the other hand, scholars also suggest that there are commonalities amongst the Caribbean nations which would suggest that regionalism exists. “Proximity as well as historical ties among the Caribbean nations has led to cooperation as well as a desire for collective action. ”^[14] These general attempts at regionalization owe a great deal to where the Caribbean stands in the international system and a desire to reposition itself to compete in the international economic system. ^[14] Furthermore, a lack of interest from the other major states promoted regionalism in the region. In recent years the Caribbean has suffered from a lack of U. S. interest. “With the end of the Cold War, U. S. security and economic interests have been focused on other areas. As a result there has been a significant reduction in U. S. aid and investment to the Caribbean. ”^[15] The lack of international support for the Caribbean which was comprised of small, relatively poor states, helped regionalism prospers through the creation of regional associations. One of the most important associations that deal with regionalism amongst the nations of the Caribbean Basin is the Association of Caribbean States. The Caribbean Basin is generally defined as the area running from Florida westward along the Gulf coast, then south along the Mexican coast through The Association of Caribbean States ( ACS; Spanish: Asociación de Estados del Caribe French: Association des États de la Caraïbe Proposed by CARICOM in 1992, the ACS soon won the support of the other countries of the region and in July of 1994, the association came into existence. The Caribbean Community ( CARICOM) is an organization of Caribbean nations and dependencies The ACS is concerned with attempting to maintain regionalism within the Caribbean on issues which are unique to the Caribbean Basin. The Caribbean Basin is generally defined as the area running from Florida westward along the Gulf coast, then south along the Mexican coast through Through coalition building, like the ACS and CARICOM, regionalism has become an undeniable part of the politics and economics of the Caribbean. The Caribbean Community ( CARICOM) is an organization of Caribbean nations and dependencies The successes of region building initiatives are still debated by scholars, yet regionalism remains prevalent throughout the Caribbean.

Regional institutions

Here are some of the bodies that several islands share in collaboration:

• Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Guyana
• Association of Caribbean States (ACS), Trinidad and Tobago
• Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), Saint Lucia
• Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), Barbados
• Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency (CDERA), Barbados
• Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC), Barbados and Jamaica
• Caribbean Programme for Economic Competitiveness (CPEC), Saint Lucia
• Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO), Barbados
• Inter-American Economic Council (IAEC), Washington, D.C.
• Latin American and Caribbean Internet Addresses Registry (LACNIC), Brazil and Uruguay
• United Nations - Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), Chile and Trinidad and Tobago
• Caribbean Association of Industry and Commerce (CAIC), Trinidad and Tobago [1]
• Caribbean Association of National Telecommunication Organizations (CANTO), Trinidad and Tobago [2]
• Caribbean Electric Utility Services Corporation (CARILEC), Saint Lucia [3]
• Caribbean Hotel Association (CHA), Puerto Rico [4]
• Caribbean Regional Environmental Programme (CREP), Barbados [5]
• Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM), Belize [6]
• Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery (CRNM), Barbados and Dominican Republic [7]
• Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU), Trinidad and Tobago [8]
• West Indies Cricket Board, Antigua and Barbuda [9]
• University of the West Indies, Jamaica, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago [10]

See also

• African diaspora
• Americas (terminology)
• British Afro-Caribbean community
• Caribbean English
• Tourism in Caribbean
• CONCACAF
• Council on Hemispheric Affairs
• History of the Caribbean
• Indo-Caribbean
• Islands of the Caribbean
• Latin American and Caribbean Congress in Solidarity with Puerto Rico’s Independence
• List of Indigenous Names of Eastern Caribbean Islands
• Middle America (Americas)
• Music of the Caribbean
• Piracy in the Caribbean
• Pirates of the Caribbean
• Politics of the Caribbean
• Tongue of the Ocean
• West Indies Federation
• List of Caribbean-related topics

Footnotes and references

Further reading

• de Kadt, Emanuel, (editor). Patterns of foreign influence in the Caribbean, London, New York, published for the Royal Institute of International Affairs by Oxford University Press, 1972.
• Kurlansky, Mark. 1992. A Continent of Islands: Searching for the Caribbean Destiny. Addison-Wesley Publishing. ISBN 0-201-52396-5.
• Digital Library of the Caribbean
• Eastern Caribbean Islands
• Develtere. Patrick, 1994. "Cooperation and Development, with special reference to the Commonwealth Caribbean" ACCO, Leuven, ISBN 90-334-3181-5
• Gowricharn, Ruben. Caribbean Transnationalism: Migraton, Pluralization, and Social Cohesion. Lanham: Lexington Books, 2006.
• Henke, Holger, and Fred Reno, eds. Modern Political Culture in the Caribbean. Kingston: University of West Indies P, 2003.
• Heuman, Gad. The Caribbean: Brief Histories. London: A Hodder Arnold Publication, 2006
• Hillman, Richard S. , and Thomas J. D'agostino, eds. Understanding the Contemporary Caribbean. London: Lynne Rienner, 2003.
• Knight, Franklin W. . The Modern Caribbean. na: The University of North Carolina Press, 1989.
• Langley, Lester D. The United States and the Caribbean in the Twentieth Century. London: University of Georgia P, 1989.
• Maingot, Anthony P. The United States and the Caribbean: Challenges of an Asymmetrical Relationship. San Francisco: Westview P, 1994.
• Serbin, Andres. "Towards an Association of Caribbean States: Raising Some Awkward Questions. " Journal of Interamerican Studies and World Affairs (2004): 1-19. (This scholar has many articles referencing the politics of the Caribbean)

Coordinates: 14°31′32″N 75°49′06″W / 14.52556, -75.81833

A geographic coordinate system enables every location on the Earth to be specified in three coordinates using mainly a spherical coordinate system.

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