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The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is an archipelagic state in the southern Caribbean, lying northeast of the South American country of Venezuela and south of Grenada in the Lesser Antilles.
It shares maritime boundaries with other nations including Barbados to the northeast, Guyana to the southeast, and Venezuela to the south and west.
The country covers an area of 5,128 square kilometers (1,980 sq mi) and consists of two main islands, Trinidad and Tobago, and numerous smaller landforms.
Trinidad is the larger and more populous of the main islands; Tobago is much smaller, comprising about 6% of the total area and 4% of the entire population which is estimated at 1.3 million (2005). The nation lies outside the hurricane belt.
General information:
Capital: Port of Spain
Coordinates: 10°40′N 61°31′W
Largest city: San Fernando
Official language: English
Area: 5,128 km2
Population: 1,299,953
Currency: Trinidad and Tobago dollar (TTD)
Time zone: (UTC-4)
Drives on the left
Calling code: +1-868
History
When Trinidad was explored by Columbus in 1498, it was inhabited by the Arawaks; Carib Indians inhabited Tobago. Both Trinidad and Tobago were originally settled by Amerindians of South American origin. Trinidad remained in Spanish possession, despite raids by other European nations, until it was ceded to Britain in 1802.
At the time of European contact Trinidad was occupied by various Arawakan-speaking groups including the Nepoya and Suppoya, and Cariban-speaking groups such as the Yao, while Tobago was occupied by the Island Caribs and Galibi.
Tobago passed between Britain and France several times, but it was ultimately given to Britain in 1814. Slavery was abolished in 1834. Between 1845 and 1917, thousands of indentured workers were brought from India to work on sugarcane plantations. In 1889 Trinidad and Tobago were made a single colony.
Geography
Trinidad and Tobago are southeasterly islands of the Antilles, situated between 10° 2′ and 11° 12′ N latitude and 60° 30′ and 61° 56′ W longitude. At the closest point, Trinidad is just 11 kilometers (6.8 mi) off the Venezuelan coast. Covering an area of 5,128 km2 (1,980 sq mi), the country consists of the two main islands, Trinidad and Tobago.
Trinidad and Tobago lie in the Caribbean Sea off the northeast coast of Venezuela. Trinidad, the larger at 1,864 sq mi (4,828 sq km), is mainly flat and rolling, with mountains in the north that reach a height of 3,085 ft (940 m) at Mount Aripo. Tobago, at just 116 sq mi (300 sq km), is heavily forested with hardwood trees.
Language
English is the country’s only official language but the main spoken language is either of two English-based creole languages which reflect the Spanish, Indian, African and European heritage of the nation.
Both creoles contain elements from a number and variety of African languages; Trinidadian Creole, however, is also influenced by French, French Creole, Spanish, and by Bhojpuri/Hindi
Culture
This is the birthplace of calypso music and the steelpan, which is widely claimed in Trinidad and Tobago to be the only acoustic musical instrument invented during the 20th century. The diverse cultural and religious background allows for many festivities and ceremonies throughout the year.
Trinidad and Tobago claims two Nobel Prize-winning authors, V.S. Naipaul and St Lucian-bornDerek Walcott (who founded the Trinidad Theatre Workshop, working and raising a family in Trinidad for much of his career). Edmundo Ros, the “King of Latin American Music”, was born in Port of Spain. Designer Peter Minshall is renowned not only for his Carnival costumes, but also for his role in opening ceremonies of the Barcelona Olympics, the 1994 Football World Cup, the1996 Summer Olympics and the 2002 Winter Olympics, for which he won an Emmy Award.
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