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| Scuba Trinidad & Tobago Coral Reef |
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Resources Overview
The large island of Trinidad and the nearby Tobago lie well south of the chain of the Lesser Antilles, on the continental shelf of South America. Reef development around Trinidad is severely restricted. The Orinoco River lies to the south and discharges huge volumes of sediment into the sea, creating turbid conditions which predominate along the south and east coastlines of the island. The western coastline faces the Gulf of Paria which, along with high levels of sediments, has near estuarine conditions arising from the high freshwater inputs and semi-enclosed nature of this gulf. There are small, low diversity coral communities in places on the north shore. Tobago lies close to the edge of the continental shelf, and here reef development is much better, with a number of fringing reefs, particularly on the north shore and in the southwest. Tobago has a considerable tourism industry, and the impacts of tourism have undoubtedly led to the degradation of some coastal reefs.
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Geography
Area: 5,128 sq. km. (1,980 sq. mi.); about 1.5 times the size of Rhode Island.
Cities: Capital--Port of Spain (metropolitan pop. 300,000).
Other cities--San Fernando, Arima, Chaguanas.
Terrain: Plains and low mountains.
Climate: Tropical; rainy season (June through December). |
People
Nationality: Noun and adjective--Trinidadian(s) and Tobagonian(s).
Population (1999 est.): 1.3 million.
Annual growth rate: 0.6%.
Ethnic groups: African 40%, East Indian 40.3%, mixed 14%, European 1%, Chinese 1%, Other 3.7%.
Religions: Roman Catholic 32.2%, Anglican 14.4%, Hindu 24.3%, Muslim 6%, Other Protestant 14%, other 9.1%.
Language: English.
Education: Years compulsory--8. Literacy--98%.
Health (1999 est.): Infant mortality rate--18.6/1,000. Life expectancy--68 yrs. male; 73 yrs. female.
Work force (564,000, 1999 ): Trade and services--61%. Construction--13%. Manufacturing--11%. Agriculture--9%. Oil/gas--4%. |
Economy
(1999 est.)
GDP: $6.14 billion.
Annual growth rate: 5.6%.
Per capita income: $5,900.
Natural resources: Oil and natural gas, lumber, fish.
Economic sectors: Hydrocarbons (26% of GDP), crude oil, natural gas, petrochemicals.
Agriculture (2% of GDP): Sugar, cocoa, citrus, poultry.
Tourism: 3.4% of GDP.
Industry (8% of GDP): Processed food and beverages, manufacturing, printing.
Trade: Exports--$4.22 billion (2000 estimate): crude oil and petroleum products (65%) petrochemicals (18%) iron and steel, sugar, and agricultural products. Major markets--U.S. (43%), CARICOM, Puerto Rico, France, Colombia, Dominican Republic. Imports--$2.17 billion: machinery and transport equipment (37%), manufactured goods (28%), food and agricultural products (13%), chemicals (13%). Major suppliers--U.S. (48%), U.K., Germany, Canada, Brazil, CARICOM.
Exchange rate (2001): TT $6.24=U.S.$1. |
Profile
Trinidad and Tobago's people are mainly of African or East Indian descent. Virtually all speak English. Small percentages also speak Hindi, French patois, and several other dialects. Trinidad has two major folk traditions: Creole and East Indian. Creole is a mixture of African elements with Spanish, French, and English colonial culture. Trinidad's East Indian culture came to the island with indentured servants brought to fill a labor shortage created by the emancipation of the African slaves in 1833. Most remained on the land, and they still dominate the agricultural sector, but many have become prominent in business and the professions. East Indians have retained much of their own way of life, including Hindu and Muslim religious festivals and practices.
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History
Columbus landed in Trinidad in 1498, and the island was settled by the Spanish a century later The original inhabitants--Arawak and Carib Indians--were largely wiped out by the Spanish colonizers, and the survivors were gradually assimilated. Although it attracted French, free Black, and other non-Spanish settlers, Trinidad remained under Spanish rule until the British captured it in 1797. During the colonial period, Trinidad's economy relied on large sugar and cocoa plantations.
Tobago's development was similar to other plantation islands in the Lesser Antilles and quite different from Trinidad's. During the colonial period, French, Dutch, and British forces fought over possession of Tobago, and the island changed hands 22 times--more often than any other West Indian island. Tobago was finally ceded to Great Britain in 1814. Trinidad and Tobago were incorporated into a single colony in 1888.
In 1958, the United Kingdom tried to establish an independent Federation of the West Indies comprising most of the former British West Indies. However, disagreement over the structure of the federation and Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago's withdrawal soon led to its collapse. Trinidad and Tobago achieved full independence in 1962 and joined the British Commonwealth. |
| Information provided by CIA Worldfactbook, US Department of State, Coral Reef Action Network (ICRAN). ReefBase: Oliver, J. and M. Noordeloos. Editors. 2002, UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Center, |
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