lecture 16a

Overview of the Caribbean

  • The Caribbean is a significant component of Latin America, often classified alongside it in geographic contexts.

  • It has diverse cultural influences, not limited to Spanish and Portuguese but also includes British, Dutch, French, Danish, as well as migrations from India and China.

  • Predominantly, the population consists of people of African descent, similar to regions in Brazil and other parts of Latin America.

Structure of the Caribbean

  • The Caribbean will be examined in three modules:

    • Module 16: Introduction to the Caribbean

    • Module 17: Focus on the Greater Antilles

    • Module 18: Focus on the Lesser Antilles and additional locations.

Categories of Caribbean Islands

Greater Antilles

  • Comprises four major islands:

    1. Cuba: The largest island in the Greater Antilles.

    2. Hispaniola: Includes two countries, Haiti and the Dominican Republic; the name "Hispaniola" is not commonly seen on maps.

    3. Jamaica: The third island of the Greater Antilles.

    4. Puerto Rico: The fourth island in this category.

  • Climate and rainfall:

    • The Greater Antilles receives moisture primarily from the Northeast, influenced by the northeast trade winds from the Atlantic.

    • The northern parts of Cuba, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, and Jamaica receive more rainfall, with the northeastern sides described as the windward sides.

    • In Puerto Rico, the population is concentrated on the southern side despite the north being rainier. Conversely, the Dominican Republic and Jamaica have major cities on their southern sides despite the geography.

Lesser Antilles

  • Consists of a series of smaller islands, organized in an arc-like shape that resembles a backward 'C'.

  • Begins east of Puerto Rico and extends towards Venezuela, but excludes Puerto Rico itself.

    • Notable islands include:

    • Vieques: Part of Puerto Rico.

    • Virgin Islands: Also part of the Lesser Antilles.

    • Other relevant islands that may not be classified as Caribbean due to geographical association with South America (like Tortuga and Margarita).

  • The Lesser Antilles is divided into inner and outer arcs:

    • Inner Arc: Composed of volcanic islands, notable for high peaks and active volcanism.

    • Includes islands like Saint Kitts and Nevis, Montserrat (home to an active volcano), Guadeloupe, Dominica, Martinique, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent.

    • These islands have significant volcanic activity and scenic landscapes, such as the twin peaks in Saint Lucia.

    • Outer Arc: Includes flatter, limestone-based islands that do not capture moisture as efficiently.

    • Islands such as Barbados, Antigua, Barbuda, and others fall under this category, characterized by coral reefs and limestone geology.

    • Tourism thrives in places like Antigua, which boasts "365 beaches". Antigua remains a popular tourist destination, despite being drier than volcanic islands.

South American Offshore Islands

  • Includes the Netherlands Antilles: Curacao, Bonaire, and Aruba which are administratively part of the Netherlands but often grouped together due to geographical proximity and cultural influence.

    • Sometimes referred to as the ABC Islands (Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao).

  • Trinidad and Tobago: Located near the Venezuelan coast, Trinidad is oil-rich and closely tied to the Orinoco Delta in Venezuela.

The Guianas

  • This region includes Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana:

    • Guyana (formerly British Guiana) and Suriname (Dutch Guiana) are independent countries, while French Guiana remains a French territory.

    • Culturally linked to the Caribbean despite being on the South American mainland due to colonial influences.

  • Belize is also briefly mentioned as it has connections to both the Caribbean and Central America.

The Bahamas

  • A separate grouping of low-lying islands, characterized by their flatness and shallow surrounding waters.

  • The geographic position allows for visibility of the seafloor when flying over due to the shallow ocean.

Miscellaneous Islands

  • Turks and Caicos: A British possession but geologically linked to the Bahamas.

  • Cayman Islands: Positioned between Cuba and Jamaica but not classified as part of the Greater Antilles.

  • Inclusion of islands with ties to Honduras, Nicaragua, and some Colombian islands is noted, as well as Bermuda, which is often misclassified as part of the Caribbean due to its British connection and geographic proximity, though generally considered separate due to its northern location.