The home of
carnival, steel bands,
calypso and limbo dancing, Trinidad and Tobago’s blend of different cultures gives them an air of cosmopolitan excitement.
Liming, or talking for talking’s sake, is a popular pastime, as is chatting about, watching and playing
cricket.
Port of Spain, surrounded by lush green hills, is the capital and business hub of oil-rich Trinidad. Bazaars throng beneath modern skyscrapers and mosques rub shoulders with cathedrals.
San Fernando is the island’s second town and the main commercial center in the
south. Close by is the fascinating natural phenomenon of the
Pitch Lake, a 36-hectare (90-acre) lake of asphalt which constantly replenishes itself.
Tobago, some 32km (20 miles) to the northeast of Trinidad, is very different from her sister isle. The island is so beautiful and fertile that just about every western European colonial power has fought to have it. It is a
tranquil island with
calm waters and a number of
fine beaches, each with their own flavor.
The story of Trinidad and Tobago has been one of
invasion and
conquest since its discovery by Christopher Columbus, who claimed it for Spain in 1498. The British captured Trinidad in 1797 after settling Tobago in 1642. In 1888, Tobago was amalgamated with Trinidad and administered as a single colony thereafter. The islands achieved full
independence in 1962.
GeographyTrinidad and her tiny sister island of Tobago lie off the Venezuelan coast. Along the north of Trinidad runs the Northern Range of mountains, looming over the country’s capital, Port of Spain. South of Port of Spain on the west coast the terrain is low, and the Caroni Swamps contain a magnificent bird sanctuary largely inhabited by the scarlet ibis. On the north and east coasts lie beautiful beaches. Central Trinidad is flat and largely given over to agriculture.
Next Page »
