Caribbean facts for kids
The Caribbean is a special part of the Americas. It includes the beautiful Caribbean Sea, with more than 7,000 islands and small land areas. It also touches the coasts of northern South America and eastern Central America. Many people love the Caribbean for its white sandy beaches and warm sunshine!
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Geography of the Caribbean
The Caribbean is surrounded by water and land. To its east and north is the huge Atlantic Ocean. To the south, you'll find the coast of South America, and to the southwest, the coast of Central America. The Gulf of Mexico is to its northwest.
The group of islands called the West Indies includes the Bahamas and the Antilles. The Antilles are split into two main parts:
- The Greater Antilles: These are larger islands located at the northern edge of the Caribbean Sea.
- The Lesser Antilles: These are smaller islands found to the east and south.
The Caribbean islands have many different types of land, from mountains to flat areas. This means they are home to many unique kinds of plants and animals, some of which you won't find anywhere else! Some famous islands in the Caribbean are Cuba, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, and Hispaniola. The countries of Dominican Republic and Haiti share the island of Hispaniola.
Island Groups and Countries
The Caribbean is made up of many different islands and countries. Here’s a look at some of them:
Name | Area (km2) |
Population | Density (inhab./km2) |
Capital city | Official language |
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Bahamian Archipelago | |||||
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13,880 | 319,031 | 23 | Nassau | English |
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948 | 47,754 | 50 | Cockburn Town | English |
Greater Antilles | |||||
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110,860 | 11,061,886 | 100 | Havana | Spanish |
Hispaniola | 76,420 | 20,113,564 | 263 | ||
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27,750 | 9,893,934 | 357 | Port-au-Prince | French |
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48,670 | 10,219,630 | 210 | Santo Domingo | Spanish |
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10,991 | 2,909,714 | 265 | Kingston | English |
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13,790 | 3,674,209 | 266 | San Juan | Spanish |
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264 | 53,737 | 204 | George Town | English |
Lesser Antilles | |||||
Leeward Islands | |||||
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1,910 | 104,737 | 55 | Charlotte Amalie | English |
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151 | 31,912 | 211 | Road Town | English |
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91 | 15,754 | 173 | The Valley | English |
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443 | 90,156 | 204 | Saint John's | English |
Saint Martin | 88 | 70,953 | 806 | ||
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54 | 31,264 | 579 | Marigot | French |
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34 | 39,689 | 1167 | Philipsburg | Dutch |
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13 | 1,971 | 152 | The Bottom | Dutch |
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21 | 3,791 | 181 | Oranjestad | Dutch |
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22 | 7,298 | 332 | Gustavia | French |
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261 | 51,134 | 196 | Basseterre | English |
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102 | 5,189 | 51 | Plymouth | English |
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1,628 | 405,500 | 249 | Basse-Terre | French |
Windward Islands | |||||
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751 | 73,286 | 98 | Roseau | English |
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1,128 | 403,795 | 358 | Fort-de-France | French |
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616 | 162,781 | 264 | Castries | English |
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389 | 103,220 | 265 | Kingstown | English |
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344 | 109,590 | 319 | St. George's | English |
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430 | 288,725 | 671 | Bridgetown | English |
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5,128 | 1,225,225 | 239 | Port of Spain | English |
ABC Islands | |||||
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180 | 109,153 | 606 | Oranjestad | Dutch |
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294 | 16,541 | 56 | Kralendijk | Dutch |
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444 | 146,836 | 331 | Willemstad | Dutch |
What's in a Name?
The name Caribbean comes from the Carib people. They were indigenous (native) people who lived in the Lesser Antilles and northern South America when Europeans first arrived.
A Rich History and Culture
In the 1700s, many countries tried to colonize (take control of) the Caribbean islands. Because of this, the Caribbean today has a very mixed and rich culture. You can see influences from Africa, India, and many countries in Europe in their music, food, and traditions.
Images for kids
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The Battle of the Saintes in 1782, a sea battle between British and French ships.
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A beautiful tropical island in the Caribbean, San Andrés.
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A field of Cuban tobacco plants in Pinar del Río.
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A view of Puerto Rico's south shore from the mountains of Jayuya.
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Grand Anse beach in Grenada.
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A church cemetery in the mountains of Guadeloupe.
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A view of Nevis island from Saint Kitts.
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Clear water at Cayo de Agua, Los Roques Archipelago, Venezuela.
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A linen market in Dominica in the 1770s.
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People of Asian Indian heritage singing and dancing in Trinidad and Tobago in the late 1800s.
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A street scene in Matanzas, Cuba.
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The Havana Cathedral in Cuba, finished in 1777.
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Holy Trinity Cathedral in Trinidad and Tobago.
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The Temple in the Sea, a Hindu temple in Trinidad and Tobago.
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The Muhammad Ali Jinnah Memorial Masjid, a Muslim mosque in Trinidad and Tobago.
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Doubles, a popular dish from Trinidad and Tobago.
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Arroz con gandules, a national dish of Puerto Rico.
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Cuban forces with tanks during the Bay of Pigs Invasion in 1961.
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A Marine watching a position in Santo Domingo, 1965.
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A Soviet-made armored vehicle captured by US forces in 1983.
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Plants called epiphytes growing in the rainforest of Dominica.
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A beautiful Caesalpinia pulcherrima flower in Guadeloupe.
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Costus speciosus, a marsh plant, in Guadeloupe.
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An Atlantic ghost crab on a beach in Martinique.
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A Crescentia cujete (calabash fruit) in Martinique.
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A pair of fingerprint cowry shells off the coast of Haiti.
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The Martinique amazon, an extinct type of parrot.
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A tropical gecko in Dominica.
See also
In Spanish: Caribe (región) para niños