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Tobago
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Tobago is the smaller of the two main islands
that make up the Republic of Trinidad and
Tobago. It is located in the southern
Caribbean Sea, northeast of the island of
Trinidad and south of Grenada. Its name is
believed to derive from tobacco.
Geography
Tobago has a land area of 300 km² (116 mi²), and
is approximately 42 kilometres long and 10
kilometres wide. It is located at latitude 11°
9' N, longitude 60° 40' W, slightly north of
Trinidad. The population is 54,084 (2000). The
capital of Tobago is Scarborough, with a
population of about 17,000. While Trinidad is
multiethnic, the population of Tobago is
overwhelmingly Afro-Tobagonian, although with a
growing proportion of Indo-Trinidadians and
Europeans (predominantly Germans and
Scandinavians). Between 1990 and 2000 the
population of Tobago grew by 11.28%, making it
one of the fasting growing areas of the country.
History
Tobago was inhabited by Island Caribs at the
time of European contact. The island later
changed hands between the French, Dutch, British
and Courlanders. The island was finally ceded to
the British in 1814. 1833 - 1889 it was part of
the British Windward Islands colony
Originally a very wealthy sugar colony, Tobago's
economy collapsed after the abolition of
slavery. In 1888 Tobago was annexed to Trinidad.
See also History of Trinidad and Tobago,
Courland colonization of the Americas
Climate
The climate is tropical, and the islands lie
just south of the Atlantic hurricane belt.
Average rainfall varies between 3800 mm on the
Main Ridge to less than 1250 mm in the
south-west of the island. There are two seasons,
a wet season between June and December and a dry
season between January and May.
Government
Local Government functions in Tobago are handled
by the Tobago House of Assembly. The current
Chief Secretary of the THA is Orville London.
The People's National Movement controls 11 seats
in the Assembly, while the Democratic Action
Congress controls the other seat.
Hurricane Flora
Although Tobago lies to the south of the
hurricane belt, it was nevertheless struck by
Hurricane Flora on September 30, 1963. The
effects of the hurricane were so severe that
they changed the face of Tobago's economy. The
hurricane laid waste to the plantations of
Banana, Coconut and Cocoa, which largely
sustained the economy. It also wreaked
considerable damage to the largely pristine
tropical rainforest that makes up a large
proportion of the interior of the northern half
of the island. Subsequently, many of the
plantations were abandoned and the economy
changed direction away from cash crop
agriculture towards tourism.
Economy and Tourism
Pigeon Point, TobagoThe principal economic
forces in Tobago are tourism and government
spending. Conventional beach and water-sports
tourism is largely focussed in the south-east
around the airport and the coastal strip.
However ecotourism is growing in significance
and much of this is focussed on the large area
of protected forest in the centre and north of
the main island and also on Little Tobago, a
small island off the north east tip of the main
island.
Tourism is concentrated in the southwest of the
island, around Crown Point, Store Bay, Pigeon
Point and Buccoo Reef. This area has large
expanses of sand and is dominated by resort type
developments. Tobago also has very many idyllic
beaches around its coast line especially those
at Castara, Bloody Bay and Englishman's Bay.
Tobago is linked to the world through the
airport at Crown Point, and the Scarborough
harbour. Domestic flights connect Tobago with
Trinidad, and international flights connect with
the Caribbean and Europe.
Culture
The Chaconia (Warszewiczia coccinea) flower is
the national flower of Trinidad and Tobago.Main
article: Culture of Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago is famous for its pre-Lenten
Carnival. It is also the birthplace of calypso
music and the steelpan, which is widely claimed
to be the only acoustic musical instrument
invented during the 20th century. The diverse
cultural and religious background allows for
many festivities and ceremonies throughout the
year. Other indigenous art forms include soca (a
derivate of calypso), Parang
(Venezuelan-influenced Christmas music),
chutney, and pichakaree (musical forms which
blend the music of the Caribbean and India) and
the famous Limbo dance.
The artistic scene is vibrant. Trinidad and
Tobago claims two Noble Prize-winning author, V.
S. Naipaul and St. Lucian-born Derek Walcott.
Mas' designer Peter Minshall is renowned not
only for his carnival costumes, but also for his
role in opening ceremonies of the Barcelona
Olympics, the 1994 Football World Cup, the 1996
Summer Olympics and the 2002 Winter Olympics,
for which he won an Emmy Award.
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Background:
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The
islands came under British control in the 19th
century; independence was granted in 1962. The
country is one of the most prosperous in the
Caribbean thanks largely to petroleum and natural
gas production and processing. Tourism, mostly in
Tobago, is targeted for expansion and is growing.
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Location:
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Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the
North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela
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Geographic coordinates:
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11 00
N, 61 00 W
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Map references:
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Central America and the Caribbean |
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Area:
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total: 5,128 sq km
land: 5,128 sq km
water: 0 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly smaller than Delaware |
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Climate:
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tropical; rainy season (June to December) |
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Terrain:
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ostly
plains with some hills and low mountains |
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Nationality:
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noun: Trinidadian(s), Tobagonian(s)
adjective: Trinidadian, Tobagonian
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Ethnic groups:
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black
39.5%, East Indian (a local term - primarily
immigrants from northern India) 40.3%, mixed 18.4%,
white 0.6%, Chinese and other 1.2% |
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Religions:
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Roman
Catholic 29.4%, Hindu 23.8%, Anglican 10.9%, Muslim
5.8%, Presbyterian 3.4%, other 26.7%
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Languages:
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English (official), Hindi, French, Spanish, Chinese
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Currency:
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Trinidad and Tobago dollar (TTD) |
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Currency code:
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TTD
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Exchange rates:
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Trinidad and Tobago dollars per US dollar - 6.2466
(January 2002), 6.2332 (2001), 6.2998 (2000), 6.2989
(1999), 6.2983 (1998), 6.2517 (1997) |
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