Trinidad

Coordinates: 10°30′N 61°18′W / 10.5°N 61.3°W / 10.5; -61.3
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Trinidad
Nickname: Land of the Hummingbird
Trinidadian
Trini
Population1,267,145[1] (2011)
Pop. density266/km2 (689/sq mi)
LanguagesTrinidadian and Tobagonian English / Trinidadian Creole
Currency
Ethnic groups
UTC −4) (Trinidad does not observe DST)
Postal code10xxxx – 87xxxx[4]
MorugaChristopher Columbus monument. Columbus landed here on his third voyage in 1498. This is on the southern coast of the island of Trinidad, West Indies

Trinidad is the larger and more populous of the two major islands of Trinidad and Tobago. The island lies 11 km (6.8 mi) off the northeastern coast of Venezuela and sits on the continental shelf of South America. It is often referred to as the southernmost island in the West Indies. With an area of 4,768 km2 (1,841 sq mi), it is also the fifth largest in the West Indies.

Name

The original name for the island in the

Perso-Arabic script), Chinidat or Chinidad in Trinidadian Hindustani which translated to the land of sugar. The usage of the term goes back to the 19th century when recruiters from India would call the island Chinidat as a way of luring workers into indentureship. [7]

History

French Caribbean, especially Martinique.[8] In 1889 the two islands became a single British crown colony. Trinidad and Tobago was granted self-governance in 1958 and independence from the United Kingdom in August 1962,[9] and it became a republic in September 1976.[10]

Geography

Major landforms include the hills of the

Central and Southern Ranges (Dinah ranges), the Caroni, Nariva and Oropouche Swamps, and the Caroni and Naparima Plains. Major river systems include the Caroni, North and South Oropouche and Ortoire Rivers
. There are many other natural landforms such as beaches and waterfalls. Trinidad has two seasons per the calendar year: the rainy season and the dry season. El Cerro del Aripo, at 940 metres (3,084 ft), is the highest point in Trinidad. It is part of the Aripo Massif and is located in the Northern Range on the island, northeast of the town of Arima.[11]

Demographics

As of the 2011 Trinidad and Tobago Census, the population was 35.43%

Dougla" is a person of African and East Indian descent who may identify as being part of either group.[12][13][14]

Culture

There are multiple festivals on Trinidad, featuring the music of the Caribbean and the steelpan (which originated on Trinidad and is the country's national instrument); These festivals[15] include the multi-national, pre-Lenten Carnivál, J'ouvert, and Panorama, the national steelpan competition.

In addition to the traditional

Divali, Eid al-Fitr and Indian Arrival Day. Sites of cultural or religious significance include Mount Saint Benedict and the Temple in the Sea.[16][17]

Zoology

The island of Trinidad has a rich biodiversity.

cane toad.[20] About 43 species of freshwater fish are known from Trinidad, including the well known guppy. It is estimated that there are at least 80,000 arthropods, and at least 600 species of butterflies.[21]

The William Beebe Tropical Research Station (founded by William Beebe), also known as Simla, lies 8 kilometres (5 mi) north of Arima.

Economy

The economy of Trinidad and Tobago is diversified, based to a large extent on oil and natural gas. It is one of the leading gas-based export centers in the world, being one of the top five exporters of liquefied natural gas and the largest onshore natural gas well was recently discovered in southern Trinidad. This has allowed Trinidad to capitalize on the biggest mineral reserves within its territories. It is an oil-rich country and stable economically.[22][verification needed]

Geology

Regional Geology of Trinidad and Venezuela[23]

The Venezuela

traps producing from depths of 1.2 to 4.2 km (0.75 to 2.61 mi) subsea, with Teak possessing a hydrocarbon column almost 1 km (0.62 mi) thick.[25]

The

Lower Tertiary
beds.

Hydrocarbon bearing anticlines include those associated with

diapirism, which extends west southwestward to the Pedernales Field in southeast Venezuela. The northeast portion of the Southern Range separates into a northern trend containing the Lizard Springs, Navette, and Mayaro Fields, while the southern trend contains the Beach Field.[26]
: 5–9 

Recreation

Trinidad is considered one of the best places in the world to catch Atlantic tarpon.[27]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Trinidad and Tobago 2011 Population and Housing Census Demographic Report (PDF) (Report). Trinidad and Tobago Central Statistical Office. p. 26. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
  2. ^ "2011 Population and Housing Census Demographic Report". CSO.gov.tt. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  3. ^ "The World Factbook — Central Intelligence Agency". cia.gov. 11 May 2022.
  4. ^ "List of Postal Districts". TTPOST. 29 July 2018. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
  5. ^ "Trinidad: The Land of the Hummingbirds". Epicure & Culture. 15 May 2013.
  6. ^ Hart, Marie (1972) [1965]. The New Trinidad and Tobago: A Descriptive Account of the Geography and History of Trinidad and Tobago. London and Glasgow: Collins. p. 13.
  7. . Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  8. ^ Besson, Gerard (2000-08-27). "Land of Beginnings – A historical digest", Newsday Newspaper.
  9. ^ "Railroad Map of Trinidad". World Digital Library. 1925. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  10. ^ "45 years a Republic". Trinidad & Tobago Guardian. 24 August 2021. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
  11. ^ "Trinidad and Tobago - People, Culture, Map, & Flag". britannica.com.
  12. . Retrieved 2 August 2017 – via Google Books.
  13. ^ "Trinidad French Creole". Une.edu.au. Archived from the original on 28 March 2010. Retrieved 2 August 2017.
  14. S2CID 42174747. Archived from the original
    on 13 July 2011. Retrieved 15 July 2011.
  15. ^ "Trinidad and Tobago: Events & Festivals - TripAdvisor". www.tripadvisor.com.
  16. ^ "Trinidad & Tobago celebrations & festivals - Discover Trinidad & Tobago". discovertnt.com. 21 January 2015.
  17. ^ "Trinidad & Tobago Festival & Holidays". www.tntisland.com.
  18. ^ "UWI Zoology Museum - The Department of Life Sciences". sta.uwi.edu.
  19. ^ "Bats of Trinidad". TriniBats.com. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  20. ^ Jowers, M., & Downie, J. (2004). Distribution of the frog Mannophryne trinitatis (Anura: Dendrobatidae) in Trinidad, West Indies. Living World, 2004.
  21. ^ "Zoological Society of Trinidad and Tobago Inc. - Official Website". www.zstt.org.
  22. ^ "Trinidad and Tobago". www.gecf.org.
  23. ^ Woodside, P.R., The Petroleum Geology of Trinidad and Tobago, 1981, USGS Report 81-660, Washington: US Dept. of the Interior, p. 4a.
  24. ^ Bane & Chanpong, p. 392.
  25. ^ a b Bane & Chanpong, p. 387.
  26. ^ a b Woodside, P.R., The Petroleum Geology of Trinidad and Tobago, 1981, USGS Report 81-660, Washington: US Dept. of the Interior, pp. 2 and 25
  27. ^ Olander, Doug (29 May 2014). "World's Best Tarpon Fishing Spots". sportfishingmag.com. Sport Fishing Magazine. Retrieved 21 June 2019.

Sources

  • Bane, S.C.; Chanpong, R.R. (1980). "Geology and Development of the Teak Oil Field, Trinidad, West Indies". in Giant Oil and Gas Fields of the Decade: 1968–1978. AAPG Memoir 30. Tulsa: American Association of Petroleum Geologists. .

External links