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Trinidad (Spanish: "Trinity")
is the larger and more populous of the two major islands and
numerous landforms
which make up the country of Trinidad and Tobago
. It is the southernmost island in the Caribbean
and lies just 11 km (7
miles) off the northeastern coast of Venezuela
. With an area of 4,768 km² (1,864 sq. mi.) it
is also the fifth largest in the West Indies
. Time zone: GMT -4 (Trinidad does not
observe
DST).
It is commonly believed that the original name for the island in
the
Arawak language was "Iëre" which meant
"Land of the Humming Bird".
Christopher Columbus renamed it "La
Ysla de la Trinidad" ("The Island of the Trinity"), fulfilling a
vow he had made before setting out on his third voyage of
exploration.
History

A medallion showing the Capture of
Trinidad and Tobago by the British in 1797.

Sir Ralph Abercromby, Commander of the
British forces that captured Trinidad and Tobago.
The
history of Trinidad and Tobago begins with the settlements of the
islands by Spanish
. Both
islands were encountered by
Christopher Columbus on his third
voyage in 1498. Tobago changed hands between the British, French,
Dutch and Courlanders, but eventually ended up in British hands.
Trinidad remained in Spanish hands until 1797, but it was largely
settled by French colonists. In 1888 the two islands were
incorporated into a single crown colony. Trinidad and Tobago
obtained self-governance in 1958 and independence from the British
Empire in 1962. It became a republic in 1976.
Contemporary Trinidad
Today Trinidad is the result of a fusion of many different
cultures. It hosts an annual pre-
Lenten
Carnival on the Monday
and Tuesday before
Ash Wednesday. It
is the birthplace of the
Steelpan musical
instrument and
Limbo dance. Styles of
popular music include
Calypso,
Chutney,
Soca,
Parang - and now
Soca-Parang and
Reggaeton.
Major
landforms include the hills of the Northern
, Central
and Southern Ranges(Dinah ranges), the Caroni, Nariva
and
Oropouche Swamps, and the Caroni and Naparima Plains.
Major river systems
include the Caroni
, North and South Oropouche and Ortoire Rivers
. Native mammals include the
Red Brocket Deer,
Collared Peccary,
Red Howler Monkey and the
Ocelot. Trinidad has a
rich avifauna,
including a single
endemic species, the
Trinidad Piping Guan.
Trinidad is the second richest country in the West Indies. It is an
industrial island with a diversified economy, based to a large
extent on
oil and
natural gas, industry and agriculture. It is one
of the leading gas-based export centres in the world, being the
leading exporter of ammonia and methanol and among the top five
exporters of
liquefied natural
gas. This has allowed Trinidad to capitalise on the large
mineral reserves within its territories.
References
- Hart, Marie. (1965). The New Trinidad and Tobago, p.
13. Collins. London and Glasgow. Reprint 1972.
- BBC News Trinidad and Tobago timeline
External links