When you think of the Caribbean, you are more than likely thinking of its gorgeous beaches and turquoise waters, but there is so much more than that too. Here are fascinating and surprising facts about the Caribbean that we bet you didn’t know about.
Did you know there are about 7,000 islands that make up the Caribbean and about 100 of these are inhabited. One of our other favorite facts about the Caribbean islands is that 700 of these islands belong to the Bahamas.
The Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport (SAB) is on the former Netherlands Antilles island of Saba and it features the shortest commercial runway in the world. The airport’s runway is just 1,312 feet, or 400 meters long.
Although Jamaica is famously associated with Rastafarianism, Jamaica is actually 64% Christian. There are 1600 churches within 10,999 square kilometers, which means there are more churches per square kilometer in Jamaica than any other nation in the world.
The Caribbean is made up of two season, dry and rainy. The dry season, runs from mid-December through to mid-April, which is usually the best time to visit the Caribbean. The wet season runs between mid-April to mid-December and also is known to be hurricane season, which is usually at peak in June.
The main industry in the Cayman Islands is financial services.
When Haiti was known as Hispaniola, there were three million Taino people on the island. Due to the smallpox epidemic, warfare, starvation and inter-marriage with Spanish invaders, that population disappeared. Interestingly enough, many Puerto Ricans have distant ancestry with Taino DNA.
The island of St. Maarten/St. Martin is only 87 km and is the smallest inhabited island on Earth. and it is shared by two nations. The northern half, Saint-Martin, is French run and the southern half, Sint Maarten, is Dutch and one of the four countries of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Martinique, Saint Martin and Guadeloupe are all territories of France and are represented in the EU. They all use the Euro as well.
Cuba is 111 square kilometers and is larger than all the other Caribbean Islands combined. 75% of the Caribbean population lives between Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Haiti.
The Boiling Lake is located on Dominica in the Morne Trois Pitons National Park, which is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the Caribbean. Located over 2,600 feel above sea level, this body of water is a fumarole, an opening in Earth that releases steam and gas. While it’s possible to hike there, it is hard to reach as it is a very muddy trek to get there and not something recommended to do on your own.
What are your most favorite facts about the Caribbean? Share them below!
As we delve into the Caribbean's hottest sustainable hotels, it's impossible to overlook the positive…
Are you searching for the best hotels in Aruba? There are about 26 hotels on…
When Argentinian football star Lionel Messi announced he was moving to Miami to play for…
Amidst the turquoise blue waters and picturesque beaches of Bermuda, a transformative development is about…
With the Bahamas sitting so close to the United States (just a short 1-hour plane…
Looking for the best restaurants in Turks and Caicos? Well, look no further. Ladies, throw…