By looking at a map of the Caribbean we can easily see why the Caribbean islands can be divided into three groups: the Bahamas, the Greater Antilles, and the Lesser Antilles.
What are the major groupings in the Caribbean?
Island Groupings
The islands of the Caribbean are sorted into three main island groups: The Bahamas, the Greater Antilles and the Lesser Antilles. The Greater Antilles consists of Cuba, Jamaica, the island of Hispaniola (composed of Haiti on the west side and the Dominican Republic on the east side) and Puerto Rico.
What are the two major island groups in the Caribbean?
The Caribbean Islands are dived into geographical groups. The Greater Antilles include the large islands of Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola and Puerto Rico. The Lesser Antilles describe the small islands that curve in an ark from Puerto Rico South to Trinidad, near the coast of Venezuela.
How many main islands are in the Caribbean?
There are about 20 main islands or island groups, but we’d recommend New Providence if you have to choose just one to visit. With its rich history, pristine beaches, and exciting nightlife, make the capital of Nassau your base.
What are the Caribbean islands called?
The islands of the Caribbean are sorted into three main island groups: The Bahamas, the Greater Antilles and the Lesser Antilles. The Greater Antilles consists of Cuba, Jamaica, the island of Hispaniola (composed of Haiti on the west side and the Dominican Republic on the east side) and Puerto Rico.
Why are they called Antilles?
The name ‘Antilles’ refers to a semi-mythical land called Antilia which can be found on many medieval maps. This was before Europeans traveled all the way across the Atlantic, but they did have an idea that some land was across the seas to the west, though it was often depicted as a large continent or island.
What are the 7 Caribbean islands?
The Caribbean Islands
- Greater Antilles. the most-visited region in the Caribbean. …
- Haiti. Port-au-Prince, capital city of Haiti. …
- Leeward Islands. the northern islands of the Lesser Antilles chain. …
- Guadeloupe. Basse-Terre, capital city of Guadeloupe. …
- Saint Barthélemy. …
- Sint Eustatius. …
- Windward Islands. …
- Martinique.
How are the Caribbean islands divided?
The Caribbean Basin is often divided into the Greater Antilles and the Lesser Antilles (the bigger islands and the smaller islands, respectively). The Greater Antilles includes the four large islands of Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola, and Puerto Rico. The Lesser Antilles are in the eastern and southern region.
Why Cuba is called Pearl of Antilles?
Christopher Columbus claimed Cuba for Spain in 1492 when it was the realm of the Arawakan-speaking, Taino people who had displaced even earlier inhabitants. It became the Spanish empire’s most important source of raw sugar in the 18th century and later earned the name ‘Pearl of the Antilles’.
What are the biggest Caribbean islands?
Islands 1,000 km2 (390 sq mi) and greater
| Rank | Island | Country or Countries |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cuba | Cuba |
| 2 | Hispaniola | Haiti and Dominican Republic |
| 3 | Jamaica | Jamaica |
| 4 | Puerto Rico | Puerto Rico |
What is the #1 Caribbean island?
1. Dominican Republic. The Dominican Republic is the most visited island in the Caribbean. With its seemingly endless white-sand beaches, the Dominican Republic is a popular getaway for tourists in search of an idyllic vacation, plenty of outdoor adventure, and a tinge of colonial history.
What is the second largest island in the Caribbean?
Hispaniola. Hispaniola is the second-largest island in the Caribbean and the most populous. It comprises two different countries: the Republic of Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
Why are Jamaicans called West Indian?
The West Indies refers to a collection of islands in the Caribbean. These islands have nothing to do with India – they were named the West Indies because when Christopher Columbus arrived on the island of Hispanola (where the Dominican Republic and Haiti are), he thought that he was in India.
What is the Pearl of the Antilles?
Abstract. From being the “Pearl of the Antilles”, Haiti has regressed to being the poorest country in the Western hemisphere. Several factors contributed to this decline, including a long history of exploitation, corruption, political instability, and devastating natural disasters.
How many countries are in the Greater Antilles?
The Greater Antilles consists of Cuba, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Cayman Islands, and Hispaniola. Hispaniola is divided into Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
What are the four major island groups of the Caribbean?
Major island groups of the Caribbean: the Bahamas (red), Greater Antilles (yellow), and Lesser Antilles (green). What is this?
How is the Caribbean divided?
The Caribbean Basin is often divided into the Greater Antilles and the Lesser Antilles (the bigger islands and the smaller islands, respectively). The Greater Antilles includes the four large islands of Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola, and Puerto Rico. The Lesser Antilles are in the eastern and southern region.
What are the major stages in the integration movement in the Caribbean?
West Indian Federation (1958-1962) CARIFTA (1968-1973) CARICOM (1973 …) OECS: Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (1981…) CSME: 1989 ACS: Association of Caribbean States (1995…) The West Indies Federation (WIF) was the first major effort at regional integration.
What makes up the Caribbean region?
The boundary nations of the Caribbean Sea are Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, United States, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, St.
Why is it called the Caribbean?
The name “Caribbean” is derived from the Caribs, one of the dominant American Indian groups in the region at the time of European contact during the late 15th century.
What are the 5 regions of the Caribbean?
Nine Caribbean sub-regions—Bahamian, Bermuda, Eastern Caribbean, Florida, Greater Antilles, Gulf of Mexico, Southern Caribbean, Southwestern Caribbean, and Western Caribbean.