GEOGRAPHY
Trinidad
and her tiny sister island of Tobago lie off the Venezuelan coast.
Along the north of Trinidad runs the Northern Range of mountains,
looming over the country's capital, Port of Spain. South of Port
of Spain on the west coast the terrain is low, and the Caroni
Swamps contain a magnificent bird sanctuary largely inhabited
by the scarlet ibis. On the north and east coasts lie beautiful
beaches. Central Trinidad is flat and largely given over to agriculture.
Cities: Capital--Port of Spain (metropolitan pop. 300,000).
Other city--San Fernando (pop. 50,000).
Terrain: Plains and low mountains.
Climate: Tropical; rainy season (June through December).
Location:
Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic
Ocean, northeast of Venezuela
Map
references: Central America and the Caribbean
comparative
area: slightly smaller than Delaware
continental
shelf: 200 nm or to the outer edge of the continental margin
exclusive
economic zone: 200 nm
International
disputes: none
Climate:
tropical; rainy season (June to December)
Terrain:
mostly plains with some hills and low mountains
Natural
resources: petroleum, natural gas, asphalt
Irrigated
land: 220 sq km (1989 est.)
current
issues: water pollution from agricultural chemicals, industrial
wastes, and raw sewage; oil pollution of beaches; deforestation;
soil erosion
natural
hazards: outside usual path of hurricanes and other tropical
storms
international
agreements: party to - Climate Change, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear
Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands;
signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity
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