The isl& nation of Jamaica is part of the West Indies in the Caribbean Sea. When the explorer Christopher Columbus reached the isl& in 1494, he considered it to be “the fairest isle that eyes have beheld.” Many travelers still regard Jamaica as one of the most beautiful isl&s in the Caribbean. Its rich & diverse scenery includes misty mountaintops, rushing rivers, silvery waterfalls, lush rain forests, dry grassl&s, & fine beaches. The capital is Kingston.Jamaica covers an area of 4,244 square miles (10,991 square kilometers). It is the third largest isl& in the Caribbean, after Cuba & Hispaniola (the isl& occupied by Haiti & the Dominican Republic). Jamaica lies about 90 miles (145 kilometers) south of Cuba & 100 miles (160 kilometers) west of Haiti. The coastline is more than 600 miles (1,000 kilometers) long.Jamaica is a mountainous isl& with plains along the coast. The Blue Mountains in the east contain the highest point in the country, Blue Mountain Peak, which rises 7,402 feet (2,256 meters). The Black River in the west is the major river.
Jamaica has a tropical climate. Temperatures are higher along the coast & cooler in the mountains. Within a region, however, temperatures vary little throughout the year. Most rain falls in the north & east. Hurricanes sometimes cause severe destruction.
Jamaica was once completely forested. Over the years, however, much of the original forestl& was cleared for building purposes & for farming. Plant life nevertheless still exists in amazing variety. The isl&'s natural vegetation includes bamboo, ebony, mahogany, & rosewood. Native orchids & ferns are abundant. Cacti & similar plants grow in the dry southwest. Jamaica is home to more than 200 kinds of birds & to many bats, mongooses, frogs, lizards, & crocodiles.
Most of Jamaica's people are of African origin or of mixed African & European ancestry. They are descended from slaves brought to the isl& by European colonists. Small groups of people from the United Kingdom, India, China, Syria, Portugal, & Germany also live in Jamaica. The official language is English, but many people also speak Jamaican Creole, which mixes African languages with English, French, & Spanish. A majority of the people practice some form of Christianity. More than half of Jamaica's population lives in urban areas, mainly along the coast. Kingston, the capital & largest city, is on the southeastern coast.
The people of Jamaica have developed a lively national culture, represented in such fields as music, drama, & the visual arts. Reggae, a style of popular music created in Jamaica in the 1960s, became popular worldwide. The National Dance Company, founded in 1962, has also earned international recognition. Cricket, Jamaica's most popular sport, is played throughout the isl&.
Jamaica's economy is based mainly on industry & services. The isl& is one of the world's leading producers of the claylike mineral bauxite, from which aluminum is made. Bauxite & alumina, a substance made from bauxite, are major exports. The main manufactured goods include processed foods, textiles, & metal products. Tourism, finance, & other services are major sources of income for Jamaica. Many people visit the isl& for its beautiful resorts & for its water sports & game fishing.
About 20 percent of Jamaicans work in agriculture. The main agricultural export is raw sugar; molasses & rum are important related products. Other export crops include bananas, cocoa beans, coffee, citrus fruits, & coconuts.
The first people to live on the isl& that is now Jamaica arrived in about 5000 BC or earlier. The Arawak people came to the isl& in about AD 600. They still lived on the isl& when Christopher Columbus sighted it in 1494. The Spanish took control of Jamaica in the early 16th century & enslaved many Arawak people. By the early 17th century almost all of the Arawak had died from European diseases or overwork. The Spanish also brought some African slaves to Jamaica. Because the isl& lacked gold reserves, however, Spain generally neglected it.
The British seized Jamaica in 1655. They greatly exp&ed the slave trade, bringing in hundreds of thous&s of slaves during the 18th century. Products of the sugar, coffee, & other plantations made Jamaica a prized possession for the British. When slavery was ended in Jamaica in the 1830s, the plantation system collapsed.
By the late 1930s many Jamaicans were dem&ing independence. Jamaica finally gained full independence in 1962. It remained a member of the Commonwealth, a group of independent nations that are loyal to Britain. The British monarch appoints the Jamaican governor-general, who is the head of state.
Economic troubles during the 1970s led to violence in Jamaica & a decrease in tourism. In 1988 a devastating hurricane caused widespread damage to the isl&. Elections of the 1990s were flawed by political violence, & Jamaica continued to experience economic problems into the 21st century. The tourism industry grew, however, particularly in northern towns such as Ocho Rios & Montego Bay. Population (2000 estimate), 2,619,000.
