Trinidad

"Trini" redirects here. For character from Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, see Trini Kwan.

For other uses, see Trinidad (disambiguation).

Trinidad

Nickname: Land of the Hummingbird
Map of Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad (Lesser Antilles)
Geography
Location	Leeward Islands
Coordinates	10°27′38″N 61°14′55″W
Archipelago	Lesser Antilles
Area	4,748 km2 (1,833.2 sq mi)
Highest elevation	940 m (3,080 ft)
Highest point	El Cerro del Aripo
Country
Largest city	San Fernando (pop. 62,000)
Demographics
Population	1,252,800
Density	262.7 /km2 (680.4 /sq mi)
Ethnic groups	[mixed]

Trinidad and Tabago on a world map

Trinidad (Spanish: "Trinity") is the larger and more populous of the two major islands and numerous landforms which make up the island nation of Trinidad and Tobago. It is the southernmost island in the Caribbean and lies just 11 km (6.8 mi) off the northeastern coast of Venezuela. With an area of 4,768 km² (1,841 sq mi) it is also the fifth largest in the West Indies. Time zone: GMT −4 (Trinidad does not observe DST).

Many believe the original name for the island in the Arawaks' language was "Iëre" which meant "Land of the Humming Bird". Christopher Columbus renamed it "La Isla de la Trinidad" ("The Island of the Trinity"), fulfilling a vow he had made before setting out on his third voyage of exploration.

History

Main article: History of Trinidad and Tobago

Caribs and Arawaks lived in Trinidad long before Christopher Columbus encountered the islands on his third voyage in 1498. Tobago changed hands between the British, French, Dutch and Courlanders, but eventually ended up in British hands. Trinidad remained Spanish until 1797, but it was largely settled by French colonists. In 1889 the two islands became a single crown colony. Trinidad and Tobago obtained self-governance in 1958 and independence from the British Empire in 1962.

Geography

Major landforms include the hills of the Northern, 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 calender year, the rainy season and the dry season.

Tourism

Trinidad offers many options to tourists. It offers travelers a unique experience like no other. It is rich in history, culture and biodiversity. There are many options for accomodation; luxurious hotels, such as The Hyatt and Hilton Trinidad hotel, which provide comfort and quality service. There are also resorts that allow the tourist to experience the nature first hand, such as Asa Wright Nature Center.

There are many tourist attractions such as La Brea Pitch Lake, Caroni Bird Sanctuary, Pointe-A-Pierre Wild Fowl Trust, Nariva Swamp, La Vega Garden Center and the many beaches that lay along the coast of the island. For those who love hiking, there are also many waterfalls and beaches that are untouched by human influence and a beauty to behold.

There is also a lively capital city which is an enjoyable daytime experience and electrifying nightlife with the many parties or ‘liming spots’ as the locals call it. Tourism rises in February around the time of the festival 'Carnival'.

Food

Trinidad is popular for its savory food options. The food is diverse, cultural and traditional in many cases. It is influenced by many different styles, such as European, Asian, Chinese, East Indian, African and more. Over time the food has been adapted and changed to what is known as Trinidadian food today.

Some popular foods are curry dishes, roti (dhalpuri, 'buss up shot'), macaroni pie, callaloo etc.

Some popular cultural and seasonal foods are the black 'fruit cake' seen around Christmas season, sawine, prasad, and 'indian sweets' such as barfi, kurma, ladoo, pastelles etc.

The most popular street food is possibly 'doubles' which consists of two 'bara', chick peas and sauces. There is also bake and shark, phulourie, gyros and corn soup. On a hot day, 'snow cone' is a sweet treat often enjoyed by locals.

There are blogs online that contain recipes for Trinidadian dishes, though they cannot match the authenticity of genuine food from Trinidad (due to different factors such as the brand of products etc.) such as trinigourmet.com and simplytrinicooking.com

Culture

Culture is a main experience in Trinidad and Tobago. It is sometimes known as a 'rainbow island' or more fondly 'a pot of callaloo' (Callaloo is a popular dish in the Caribbean). There is a wide range of ethnicity, religion, and culture. Trinidad is overflowing with cultural experiences waiting to be observed and shared. From the delicious assortment of food and drink, to the many religious-based festivals you are sure to find a rich cultural experience. Some of the more famous festivals are Divali, Eid Ul Fitr and Phagwa. There are also places that can be visited that hold cultural significance, such as the Temple in the Sea.

Zoology

The island of Trinidad has a wide biodiversity of both plant and animal species that are unique to the island. Native mammals include the Red Brocket Deer, Collared Peccary, Red Howler Monkey,the Scarlet ibis and the Ocelot. Trinidad has a rich avifauna, including a single endemic species, the Trinidad Piping Guan.

Economy

It is an industrial island with a diversified economy, based to a large extent on oil and natural gas, industry and agriculture.^{[citation needed]} It is one of the leading gas-based export centres in the world, being the leading exporter of ammonia and methanol and among the top five exporters of liquefied natural gas. This has allowed Trinidad to capitalise on the biggest mineral reserves within its territories.

It is an oil-rich country and stable economically.

External links

• Trinidad and Tobago Tourism Website
• Trinidad and Tobago Entertainment Forum