What is included in the Caribbean. Where are the Caribbean Islands located? Where is the Deepest Point in the Caribbean

The fact that somewhere on Earth there are Caribbean islands today is known not only by every schoolchild, but also by preschoolers. But not every adult will answer the question where exactly these Caribbean islands are located. Today we will try to fill this gap and go on a virtual journey through the islands of the Caribbean.

How to get to the Caribbean?

The Caribbean Sea, as well as the Caribbean Islands, are comfortably located between the two Americas - South and North. Getting here is quite simple - you just need to buy a ticket and a ticket to paradise is already in your hands. Flights here are regularly operated by such airlines as Air France, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic. Some of the islands of the Caribbean can be reached only with transfers, having first purchased an air ticket to Canada or the USA.

Caribbean - what country is it?

Tourists bound by visa restrictions, of course, cannot but be interested in which state the Caribbean Islands belong to. In total, the Caribbean includes more than fifty islands, some of which are separate independent states, while others are the property of England, America, and France. But tourists can be calm - to enter the territory of most of the islands of the Caribbean, a visa is simply not needed.

Where is the capital of the Caribbean located?

Considering the diversity of the political map of the Caribbean Islands, it is naturally out of the question to talk about their single capital.

Islands of the Caribbean - names

All the islands that make up the Caribbean are usually divided into three groups:

1. Greater Antilles. These include Haiti, Puerto Rico, Jamaica and the Cayman Islands.
2. Lesser Antilles, including about 50 islands, such as Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Antigua, Martinique, St. Thomas, Tobago, Trinidad, etc.
3. Bahamas, which include about 30 inhabited islands and more than 2,000 coral reefs.

There are many islands scattered throughout the Caribbean. Busy Jamaica has little in common with densely populated Aruba. And even islands located extremely close to each other, for example, Saint Kitts and Nevis, differ significantly not only in appearance, but also in offers for tourists. So, which of the islands to choose for a tourist who is going to relax in the Caribbean? Big or small, close or far, urbanized or lost - such reflections can turn a carefree vacation into a chorus of voices that are difficult to distinguish. A guide to the Caribbean Islands will help you make the right decision and get rid of doubts. Here you can find detailed information about the most visited islands, as well as the best that each of them has to offer.

The US Virgin Islands are not called so for nothing, because this is a favorite vacation spot for many Americans who make their first stop here during their trip. The island has all the amenities and it practically does not differ from its native places in America. The islands of St. John's and Santa Cruz attract tourists with natural and cultural attractions.

Best place for: lovers of large resorts and nature.

The beaches on this small island are the epitome of perfection. They are small, with a friendly local culture and luxurious villas dotted around. It's the endless beaches that set the standard for beach clichés.

Best place for: luxurious, but at the same time discreet and secluded holiday.

This medium-sized island is surrounded by many small beaches with large and not very large ones, with modest and not very resorts. English Harbor offers yachting and colonial heritage.

Best place for: classic beach holiday in the resort. But keep in mind that it will take several days to get here.

Lifeless and almost featureless, Aruba attracts attention with its many beaches, world-class resorts and boulevards with famous restaurants and bars.

Best place for: carefree luxury holidays.

Not far from the United States, there are many mysterious places and luxurious resorts on the islands of the Caribbean region. There are about 700 Bahamas in total.

Best place for: island-to-island travelers, diving and party fans, and Americans looking for a change of scenery.

A British accent is common on this clean, medium-sized island bordering the Atlantic Ocean. Many beaches are ideal for every taste and budget. There is both active recreation and moderate luxury.

Best place for: surfers, windsurfers, sunbathers, as well as for true gourmets and lovers of sumptuous meals.

One of the most interesting islands in the southern part of the Caribbean is small Bonaire, which is famous for its excellent diving in the open sea. It also boasts an amazing history and the charming and accessible city of Kralendijk.

Best place for: divers, lovers of inexpensive travel, as well as fans of small discoveries.

It is a richer, less developed and more isolated version of the US Virgin Islands. Yachting and diving enthusiasts will find a lot of interesting things among the 40 islands. And the main island of Tortola can offer the most luxurious holiday.

Best place for: lovers of diving, snorkeling, cocktail parties at sunset.

The famous island of Haiti is the exact opposite of a carefree holiday. In 2010, an earthquake occurred here. But if you want to explore a rich culture that is mostly African, this place is worth a visit.

Best place for: people who love to learn and explore new things.

The peaceful islands are ideal for people who love small trips, relaxation on the sand and delicious food. This is a combination of magnificent beaches and tropical nature.

Best place for: topless sunbathing from morning to evening with a great seafood lunch.

You can smell nutmeg in the air of this former British colony. The capital of St. George's is a city of stunning beauty. Here the traveler will have the opportunity to enjoy small and friendly beaches that rival the slopes covered with tropical forests.

Best place for: inexpensive recreation among the wild nature, as well as communication with cheerful locals.

Beaches are everywhere here. Dominica is a local, unspoiled gem with mountains and valleys surrounded by green forests and adorned with waterfalls.

Best place for: mountain sports enthusiasts, nature lovers, and people looking to escape Caribbean clichés.

A large country with a predominantly Hispanic culture. The DR (as it is also called) is home to world-class resorts with exquisite beaches, colonial-era history, and vast terrain with forbidding mountain peaks.

Best place for: resort lovers and adventure seekers.

Grand Cayman is reminiscent of South Florida, but everything is more tidy and there is no such busy traffic. On it you can find a variety of resorts, the famous diving, snorkeling, swimming schools with stingrays.

Best place for: water sports and carefree holidays.

Mysterious and wild beauty. On this large island, unlike any other, time seems to have stopped. Cuba is famous for its famous music, political events and decaying urban beauty. Havana alone is worth a few days of travel.

Best place for: recreation at reasonable prices in a truly "foreign" country, adventure and discovery, a little boasting.

A medium-sized island that attracts lovers of long-distance excursions. The main attraction of the main city of Willemstad is, not without reason, the beautiful, historical harbor recognized as famous. Isolated beaches can offer vacationers a lot of water attractions.

Best place for: unexplored routes, hiking around the city.

This is the most French corner of the Caribbean, whose capital is Fort de France, not so often visited by tourists. The wide-spread beaches attract day-trippers.

Best place for: French language lovers, visiting beautiful and isolated beaches, hiking.

Two different cultures - Dutch and French - have divided the territory of this small and very lively island. It's like one whole brain, consisting of two hemispheres, which together are stronger than individually: the French side offers low-key relaxation, while the Dutch side offers grandiose parties.

Best place for: relaxing in mid-range hotels, day trips to France, Holland and the heart of Creole culture, and visiting the craziest airport bar on Earth.

Ancient San Juan is one of the region's greatest attractions, a ruined colonial past that teems with vitality. The main attractions are huge beach resorts, casinos, visual history and rich Latin American culture.

Best place for: long-distance excursions, enjoying the sea and sand without leaving the United States.

In Nevis and St. Kitts you can find huge hotels and developed condominiums. The area is large enough for a fun day trip around the island, there is a huge national park from the era of pirates. Brimstone Hill Fortress.

Best place for:

comfortable rest, day trips to Nevis, mastering the pirate language.

Beaches on the one hand, magnificent resorts on the other, and slopes covered with lush forests on the third, these are the three attractions of this island, famous for its French language and honeymooners coming from different countries. Here you can relax both on the water and on land.

Best place for: lovers of diving, snorkeling, kitesurfing and other things, as well as lovers of nature and luxury.

Enticing trips on fishing boats between the islands surrounded by beaches are a classic holiday in the Grenadines (you can rent a boat if you wish). The main island of St. Vincent is mostly covered in rainforest, while Bequia is the most popular part of the peaceful Grenadines.

Best place for: lovers of boat trips, divers, explorers, as well as people who do not have a clear travel plan.

Completely obscuring neighboring Tobago, Trinidad is a large, lively Caribbean island famous for its Creole culture and parties that are at their peak during the world's most famous carnival.

Best place for: visits to annual celebrations that can compete with the parties of Rio de Janeiro.

The small companion island of Trinidad is famous for everything that is not found on the larger islands: untouched nature, resorts that attract fun on the water and on land.

Best place for: traditional holiday without fuss, diving enthusiasts, as well as bird watching.

Many small islands with immaculate beaches and turquoise waters beckon travelers. Even world-class dive sites don't get crowded.

Best place for: lovers of boat trips, beach loafers, fans of a calm and secluded holiday on the sand.

Boundless Jamaica, the center of such Caribbean clichés as Bob Marley songs sung to the chords of opening beer bottles, offers resorts ranging from aristocratic to downright dirty, as well as a distinct urban culture.

Best place for: spicy food, exotic music, wild adventures.

So which island do you like best?

Caribbean from A to Z: the most popular islands, beaches and hotels in Jamaica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Barbados or the Bahamas. Colorful photos and videos. Tour operators in the Caribbean.

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The legendary Antilia, and later the colonial West Indies, the Caribbean nestled comfortably in the geographical "hollow" between North and South America. Large and small, windward and leeward, heavily populated by tourists and uninhabited, the Caribbean Islands are a paradise for downshifters and drug lords, and at the same time one of the most popular beach exotic destinations. Fifty odd islands in the Caribbean are a real and well-balanced paradise, the perfect combination of natural and man-made: the rich heritage of the colonial past in the form of a mass of museum houses and pompous mansions perfectly complements the exotic nature, where the green of tropical forests alternates with volcanic landscapes, and expanses of coffee plantations are replaced by thickets of sugar cane and bananas.

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Putting sentiment aside and turning to dry facts, we learn that the Caribbean includes the Greater and Lesser Antilles. The first include 4 large islands "stretching" to the mainland: Cuba, Haiti, Jamaica and Puerto Rico; to the second - a round dance of all sorts of trifles, in turn dividing into leeward and windward islands: the noisy Bahamas and the authentic Turks and Caicos, the Virgin Islands divided between the US and the UK, outlandish Antigua and Barbuda, Guadeloupe discovered by Columbus and the birthplace of Josephine Beauharnais Martinique, Grenada, Barbados , Trinidad and Tobago, finally - Dominica, glorified by the saga of Jack Sparrow. By the way, the island of Curacao (the one that gave the name to the popular liquor) is also located here.

Diving in Curacao

The reasons for the popularity of the Caribbean in the tourist market are obvious: the warm sea all year round, amazingly beautiful nature, a large selection of hotels and a whole bunch of entertainment - water and dry sports, nightclubs, discos, restaurants, interesting excursions. Let's take Cuba or the Dominican Republic as an example. Here you can not only enjoy the sea and the sun, but also wander around old Havana, walk through coffee and tobacco plantations, listen to the singing of street singers, rock out at the disco and, in general, breathe the air of freedom in every possible way.

A distinctive feature of the Caribbean region is a wide variety of recreation options, because each state has its own “specialization” here.

In Barbados, for example, many English traditions are firmly rooted in life. There is a large selection of hotels, and not all of them accept small children: rest here is mostly calm and relaxed.

15 days in the Dominican Republic

Grenada is known as the "island of spices", there are many botanical gardens, museums, attractions, and magnificent beaches invite you to lie down on soft white sand. The Turks and Caicos attract the attention of a respectable public with its magnificent five-star hotels, as well as good diving conditions and high-level SPA centers.

Saint Lucia bears the proud title of "Garden Island" and is one of the most beautiful islands in the Caribbean. In contrast, Aruba is a desert island with great hotels and vibrant nightlife. St. Maarten has a variety of hotels of all levels, and the Bahamas offers a huge range of accommodation options, from secluded hotels to bustling urban complexes.

Finally, in Curacao, it is absolutely necessary to go to one of the bars and order a glass of a wonderful blue drink!

And located in the tropical zone of the Western Hemisphere. In the northwest, the reservoir borders the Yucatan Peninsula (Mexico) and connects to the Gulf of Mexico through the Yucatan Strait between Yucatan and Cuba. To the north and east are the Greater and Lesser Antilles. In the south, the sea washes the northern coast of South America. To the west and southwest is the coast of Central America. Here Caribbean waters join the Pacific Ocean through the Panama Canal.

Geography

The reservoir in question is one of the largest in the world. Its area is 2.754 thousand square meters. km. The volume of water is 6.860 thousand cubic meters. km. The maximum depth is 7686 meters. It is fixed in the so-called Cayman trough. It is located between Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. This is an underwater trench between the North American and Caribbean plates. The average depth of the reservoir is 2500 meters.

Countries

A huge sea washes many countries. In South America, these are Venezuela and Colombia. In Central America: Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Honduras and Belize. The last in this series is the Yucatan Peninsula. Its northern part is occupied by 3 Mexican states, and to the south there are lands belonging to Belize and Guatemala.

In the northern part of the Greater Antilles, there are states such as Cuba, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Puerto Rico. The territory of the Lesser Antilles is occupied by such countries as Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago.

Caribbean Sea on the map

Islands

For those who are not in the know, you need to know that the Bahamas never belonged to the Caribbean. They are located north of Cuba and south of Florida. These are the waters of the Atlantic, and historically this area is called the West Indies. Here it covers both the Caribbean and the Bahamas. This term appeared after the discovery of America by Columbus.

In the reservoir under consideration are the Antilles, subdivided into Large and Small. The first includes 4 large islands: Cuba, Haiti, Jamaica and Puerto Rico. This also includes small islands located near Cuba and forming the Los Canarreos and Jardines de la Reina archipelagos.

The Lesser Antilles are much more numerous. They are influenced by the northwest trade wind and are subdivided into windward and leeward or southerly. In the first group, there are about 50 islands. The southern group stretches along the coast of South America and includes both individual islands and archipelagos.

Closer to the western coast of the reservoir, there are several archipelagos. These are the Cayman Islands (Grand Cayman, Little Cayman, Cayman Brac), Islas de la Bahia, belonging to Honduras, as well as the Miskitos and Turneff Islands. There are separate islands of San Andres and Providencia.

Rivers

Many rivers flow into the huge reservoir. The largest river in South America is the Magdalena. It flows through Colombia and has a length of 1550 km. Its annual flow is the largest and is approximately 230 cubic meters. km. The second Colombian river is called Atrato. Its length is 644 km. Some of the rivers flow into Lake Maracaibo (the largest in South America). It is connected to the Venezuelan Gulf of the Caribbean Sea by a shallow strait, the depth of which does not exceed 4 meters.

The reservoir is also fed by about 30 rivers of Central America. There are rivers and islands. For example, the Cauto River in Cuba. Its length is 343 km. Or the Artibonite River in Haiti with a length of 240 km. There are rivers in Jamaica. These are Milk River and Black River.

Climate

The climate is tropical. It is formed by the subtropical Caribbean Current, which is a continuation of the South Trade Wind Current. Warm waters flow from the southeast to the northwest and through the Yucatan Strait go to the Gulf of Mexico, where the Gulf Stream is born. Therefore, the annual temperature is kept in the range from 21 to 29 degrees Celsius.

Trade winds dominate the reservoir. Their speed ranges from 16 to 30 km/h. Tropical hurricanes occur in the northern part of the reservoir. Their speed can reach up to 120 km/h. Such strong winds sometimes bring real tragedy: people die, houses collapse, crops die. For example, Hurricane Mitch, which formed in the western part of the sea in October 1998, brought a lot of grief. 11 thousand people died and the same number went missing. 2.7 million people were left without housing. They were mostly citizens of Nicaragua and Honduras.

Economy

The Caribbean Sea is inextricably linked with oil production. Approximately 170 million tons of oil per year are produced in its water area. In addition, the fishing industry is well developed. Sea waters give up to 500 thousand tons of fish per year. However, human activity pollutes the environment. First of all, this negatively affects coral reefs, which are steadily bleaching, and their ecosystem is being destroyed.

In the near future, this may not affect the tourism industry in the best way. Up to 40 million tourists visit this area every year. Their net profit is about 30 billion dollars. Many tourists are attracted by diving and the beauty of coral reefs. Approximately 3 million local residents living on the islands are somehow connected with the tourism business. So the issues related to ecology are quite acute.

Caribbean countries have become popular holiday destinations for many people from different parts of the Earth. Their list was supplemented by both mainland and island states.

Caribbean Sea on the world map in Russian

The Caribbean Sea has been known in modern civilization since its discovery in the 15th century. The discoverers named the sea after the tribes Caribbean that inhabited the coast, although the sea has changed its name many times throughout history.

The Caribbean Sea has a romantic and sinister history of piracy, which flourished in the 18th century.

Piracy has long sunk into the past, but is of interest to this day. It was the story of the pirates of the Caribbean that became the plot for the film of the same name. The modern Caribbean Sea is the most fashionable and popular resorts of the world, attracting people with their amazing heavenly beauty.

The Caribbean Sea is an attractive holiday destination. You can choose a vacation to your taste in any country, almost at any time of the year, which is facilitated by the climate. Caribbean is land of eternal summer!

Where is?

The Caribbean Sea is the open sea in western hemisphere, in the Atlantic Ocean basin, it seems to connect two parts of the American continent, located between South and Central America and the Antilles. Through the Panama Canal it is connected to the Pacific Ocean, through the Yucatan Strait it has access to the Gulf of Mexico.

Climate

Climate of the Caribbean tropical, with a predominance of east winds - trade winds. Tropical hurricanes are also not uncommon, especially strong in the northern regions of the sea. The most hurricane season is from June to November. Most often, devastating hurricanes, from which coastal residents have suffered more than once, occur in the first months of autumn.

Sometimes hurricanes are so destructive that this event becomes part of history.

The amount of precipitation can vary depending on the winds and on what area of ​​the sea this or that island is located.

Temperature about the same in the Caribbean. The average temperature in summer is +28°C, in winter from 23 to 27°C.

List of basin countries

The Caribbean Sea washes the shores of many states and territories, both continental and insular.

What territories it washes: states and their capitals

Continental states, which washes the Caribbean Sea, are located in northern, central and south America.

The only North American country in the Caribbean - or, as it is called in the official language, the United Mexican States. The capital is Mexico City.

South American countries:

• Colombia, the official name of the Republic of Colombia. The capital is Bogota;
• Venezuela or officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. The capital is Caracas;
• Republic of Panama, partly located in Central America. The capital is Panama.

Central American countries:

1. Republic of Nicaragua, capital - Managua;
2. Republic of Honduras, the capital is Tegucigalpa;
3. Republic of Guatemala, capital - Guatemala;
4. Republic of Costa Rica, capital - San Jose;
5. Belize capital is Belmopan.

island states Caribbean:

• Cuba, official name, unofficial - Liberty Island. The capital is Havana;
• Dominican Republic, capital - Santo Domingo;
• Haiti, the official name of the Republic of Haiti, the capital of Port-au-Prince;
• Jamaica, capital - Kingston;
• Puerto Rico, officially called the Freely Associated State of Puerto Rico or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. The capital is San Juan.

Read more about Puerto Rico in: history, climate, fauna, flora and more.

It is possible to single out the territories that are part of European countries: (Anguilla), France (Guadeloupe, Martinique, Saint-Barthélemy, Saint-Martin), the Netherlands (Bonaire, Saba and Sint Eustatius), this is due to the history of the colonization of the lands of the Caribbean. As well as territories belonging to the United States Virgin Islands, the capital is Charlotte Amalie.

Washed Islands

The islands of the Caribbean are Antilles Large and Small and Bahamas.

• Greater Antilles include the island of Cuba, Haiti, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Cayman Islands. The smallest island is Little Cayman, its area is 28.5 km².
• Lesser Antilles these are: a chain of small islands, the largest of them are Trinidad and Tobago and Martinique, the smallest is Petit Martinique, only 2.4 km², with a population of 900 people.
• Bahamas include 700 small islands, and only 30 of them are inhabited.

Tourism in the Caribbean

The variety of resorts in the Caribbean makes it difficult to choose the best because each island is good in its own way. In the Caribbean, anyone will find a vacation to their liking. For Russian tourists, an obstacle is the long and expensive way to the Caribbean.

A nice bonus is that Russians do not need a visa to enter some states.

Popular resorts

Resorts where possible visa-free entry:

Cuba. Attractive for Russian tourists since Soviet times. It was probably the only one of the islands available for recreation of the Soviet people in the Western Hemisphere. Famous Kuban revolutionaries, cigars, rum, sombreros fascinated and attracted with their mystery and remoteness.

Varadero- the largest resort in the Caribbean, the beaches stretch for 20 km. The snow-white sands of Varadero, the warm sea protected by coral reefs, nature, plunging into bliss and tranquility, are not the only advantage of this resort.

The history of the island is interesting, both ancient and modern, which gave Cuba the romantic name "Freedom Island". For a modern Russian tourist, this is a kind of journey into the past, as you can plunge into the atmosphere of the communist regime that persists in Cuba.



Dominican Republic. The country provides an amazing opportunity to feel the influence of colonial culture, to feel like a pioneer on this earth, to enjoy the amazing, unique views of the sea and coastlines that Columbus discovered.

The main language spoken by the Dominicans is the language of the discoverer of these lands - Spanish. A large flow of tourists from the United States led to the fact that they began to actively learn English on the island.

The identity of this country is also manifested in the presence of its own musical and dance culture. It was in this country that the music and dance style was born. merengue, which became widespread throughout the world at the end of the 20th century.



Resorts of the Dominican Republic provide a wide range of choices:

• Punta Cana attractive for families;
• Boca Chica popular with outdoor enthusiasts, many opportunities for water sports;
• resorts Cabarete And Sosua- places of recreation for young people and party lovers.

Saona Island(which is Bounty Island) and Del Este National Park, although they are not resorts, they provide an opportunity to feel complete detachment and merging with nature.

The main attraction of this island is the so-called natural swimming pool, which, being part of the sea, is a bay, only one meter deep, this pool stretches for 8 kilometers.

You can become a life explorer marine animals in the waters of the natural basin, of which there are a great many. The fact is that shallow water warms up very well in the sun and creates comfortable conditions for many marine organisms.

Especially in the natural pool, there are many five-pointed starfish that do not pose a danger to humans.

You can just swing on the waves in this amazing place, where you can so perfectly relax your body and relax your soul. The territory of the natural pool is reserved, tourists are brought there on an excursion.


Jamaica. The state allows you to plunge not only into amazing nature, but also into a mixture of European and African cultures, to feel the originality of this island, which distinguishes it from all the others.

The mixing of cultures is felt in language. The inhabitants of the island speak English, but due to the influence of Spanish and African languages, it does not resemble classical English. The main symbol of the country is the hummingbird living on this island.



The musical style of the island, which has long gone beyond its borders - the famous reggae, fully represented in the world musical culture, creates the atmosphere and mood of the holiday on resorts in Jamaica:

• Montego Bay- a resort for lovers of fun, movement, "hip-strip". The city of a never-sleeping port and luxurious hotels;

One of the most expensive resorts in the world is located just in the Caribbean Sea. Read about this and other resorts that not everyone can afford.

• Negril- snow-white beaches, peace, the kingdom of palm trees, a natural area, remote from the noise of cities and industries;
• Ocho Rios charming with its inconsistency: on the one hand - quiet fishing towns, on the other hand - the center of cruise tourism. Both lovers of solitude and fans of parties can find a place for themselves in this resort.

The best beaches

Among the best beaches in the Caribbean, there are those that deserve extra attention:

The Caribbean Sea is attractive with comfort, romance and a certain share of danger, as Caribbean beaches often find themselves in the path of hurricanes. The strongest winds and complete serenity, the opportunity to choose a vacation and a beach to your taste, enjoy sea sports, observe the life of plants and animals in the pristine corners of nature, attracts people from all over the world.

See video About holidays in the Caribbean: