Geography as a Defining Feature of the Caribbean free essay sample

The Caribbean region, located in the tropics, extends in a broad arc of over 4000 km from the Bahamas in the north to Guyana and Suriname in the south. The region also includes, based on historical factors, Belize which is in Central America bordering Mexico and Guatemala. The countries are widely different in physical and population size as well as landforms and geology. Three marine geographical features, often intermixed, are evident in the sweep of the Caribbean archipelago and in the mainland territories. There is first an outer ring of mainly coral islands with white sand beaches from The Bahamas, to the Turks and Caicos, the Cayman Islands and embracing parts of Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, the eastern parts of Guadeloupe, Martinique, St. Lucia, the Grenadines, parts of Grenada, Tobago and Barbados. The second inner ring of more volcanic islands, with black sands, includes the islands of the Greater Antilles Cuba, Haiti, Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. We will write a custom essay sample on Geography as a Defining Feature of the Caribbean or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The inner ring also includes St. Kitts, the western parts of Guadeloupe, Dominica, parts of St. Lucia, St. Vincent, and parts of Grenada. The third distinct feature is the alluvial coast of Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana (Cayenne) on the South American mainland between the vast estuaries of the Orinoco and the Amazon. It is to be noted that Dominica, St. Vincent and most of St. Kitts have no white sand beaches. The volcanic ash that characterizes these islands is extremely fertile. Historically, St. Kitts has produced sugar cane with yields comparable to those of high yield sugar-producing countries, like Australia and Cuba. The verdant green of the valleys in St. Vincent is an indication of the fertility of the soil in that island. Guyana and Suriname have perpetually muddy sea coasts, with little prospects for the traditional sun and sand-type tourism. The silt from the rivers in South America that empty into the area between the estuaries of the Orinoco and the Amazon rivers has made that sea coast one of the best fishing grounds in the world. There can be found a wide variety of fish and among the largest species of prawns. These countries also have the potential for significant eco-tourism development. There are four different types of landscapes that characterize the region. Most of Cuba, the Bahamas, Belize and the Turks and Caicos Islands, Barbados and parts of Guadeloupe consist of limestone plateaus. Then there are the mountainous countries such as Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Puerto Rico. There is the arc of volcanic mountainous islands from Saba to Grenada through the Windward and Leeward Islands. In the region, several active volcanoes exist. These are present in Montserrat, where recently, due to volcanic activity, much of the population has been evacuated to nearby islands and to Britain. Some volcanic activity also currently exists in St.Vincent, Martinique and Guadeloupe. Finally, there are the Guianas (Group of three countries on the South American mainland) formed of ancient rock. The Caribbean countries vary in size (population, land area) and elevation. Among the most populated Caribbean countries are Cuba, Dominican Republic and Haiti, whilst those with the smallest population include Turks and Caicos, Montserrat and the British Virgin Islands. In terms of land area, the mainland territories are among the largest including Guyana, Suriname and Belize, while the larger islands include Cuba, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Puerto Rico. The countries with the highest elevation include Jamaica, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guyana and Belize. Many of the Caribbean countries are subject to earthquakes, volcanic and small-scale geothermal activity. Earthquakes are more frequent in the Northern Caribbean islands. Some earthquakes have been quite strong. The coastal areas the Caribbean countries are characterized by widely differing features. These include coral reefs, large and small sand barriers, mangroves, lagoons, river estuaries and high cliffs. Coral reefs continue to be formed in many areas of the region. These are the defining features of the Caribbean.