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Greater Antilles facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
LocationGreaterAntilles
Location of the Greater Antilles (green) in relation to the rest of the Caribbean.

The islands of the Caribbean Sea, collectively known as the West Indies are sorted by size and location into the Bahamas (or Lucayan archipelago), the Lesser Antilles and the Greater Antilles. The Greater Antilles are Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola (composed of Haiti on the west side and the Dominican Republic on the east side) and Puerto Rico. The smaller islands near these four major islands are sometimes also treated as part of the group. This includes the smaller islands thst surrounding the main islands, but are still part of the main island country (e.g. the Republic of Cuba consists of the island of Cuba and several smaller islands around it). The Cayman Islands are also often included in the Greater Antilles because they are close. The Greater Antilles are made up of continental rock, distinct from the Lesser Antilles, which are mostly young volcanic or coral islands.

Images for kids

  • Cathedral (3209489947)

    Havana Cathedral, built by the Spanish in Cuba between 1748 and 1777

  • Citadelle Laferrière Aerial View

    Citadelle Laferrière, 19th-century fortress in Haiti. It was built by freed slaves as a defence against France

  • Punta Cana

    Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

  • Town of Ocho Rios

    Ocho Rios, Jamaica

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Antillas Mayores para niños

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