Jamaica is an island in the carribean sea, there is lush topography of mountains, rainforests and reef-lined beaches. It has a population of 3million, it is full of diverse culture and tourist spots. It is the third largest island in the Caribbean Sea, after Cuba and Hispaniola. Christopher Columbus, who first sighted the island in 1494, called it Santiago; It is known globally as Jamaica, or Xaymaca. There are various Spanish, French, and English town names from when the country was colonised.The country can be divided into three landform regions: the eastern mountains, the central valleys and plateaus, and the coastal plains.
The landscape in Jamaica consists of mainly mountainous regions, coastal plains and valleys. The most rugged topography and highest elevations are in the east, where the Blue Mountains can be found, this mountain range reaches up to 2,256 metres high. There are many rivers and sink holes which can be found within the forests such as the Rio Minho in central Jamaica is the longest river, flowing for some 60 miles from the Dry Harbour Mountains to Carlisle Bay and the Black River in the west and the Rio Cobre near Kingston are each longer than 30 miles. There are wet and dry seasons, the annual rainfall is around 2100 mm. There is a lot of wildlife which are indigenous to jamaica such as the Conys and pikas however they were hunted for food and their habitats are being destroyed so they are on the verge of extinction.
Tourism is an important part of Jamaica’s economy. Because of the island’s warm climate and year-round sunshine, its beaches and beautiful landscape, many thousands of people from all over the world come here each year for a holiday. Many people are attracted to Jamaica’s Golden beaches, picturesque mountains, turquoise seas, coral reefs, tropical rainforests and rivers.
Top facts about Jamaica:
1)The island is inside the Atlantic Ocean’s hurricane belt. Hurricane season usually lasts from June to November.
2)The name Jamaica comes from the native Taíno word “haymaca” meaning “Land of Wood and Water” or “Land of Springs”.
3)More than half of all Jamaicans (56%) live in the capital city and other urban areas. About 43% of the population is under 24 years old.
4)The indigenous people of Jamaica are the Taíno or Yamaye people which are descendants of the Arawak people who originally came from South America and settled in the Caribbean
5)Jamaica’s national bird is the red-billed streamer tail, a hummingbird. Three of the four indigenous hummingbird species of Jamaica are only found here.