Barbados is an island nation, part of the Windward Islands in the southern part of the Lesser Antilles in eastern Caribbean region. Barbados is the most easterly of the Caribbean Islands. It is located east of both the Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent. Even though Barbados is considered a Caribbean island countries, it is on the Atlantic Ocean, Bridgetown is the capital and largest city of Barbados. Formerly known as The Town of Saint Michael. Rihanna was a born and raised in Barbados Barbados is a tourist paradise, has some of the loveliest and most luxurious villas and vacation rentals in the world. The beaches are beautiful, snorkeling and surfing are very popular. You can even swim with the turtles. Geography This isolated pear-shaped island’s total land area is 430 square kilometers. The island is fringed with coral reefs. Mount Hillaby is the highest point. 85% percent of the island's surface consists of limestone twenty-four to thirty meters thick. Climate Barbados enjoy tropical climate. A nice breezes throughout the year gives a pleasant climate. Barbados is located just outside hurricane belt. However still venerable to earthquakes, landslips, and hurricanes. The last significant hurricane to cause severe damage was Hurricane Janet in 1955; in 2010 the island was struck by Hurricane Tomas, but this caused only minor damage. History Humans to the island - 1600 BC. A permanent settlement 4th to 7th centuries AD by Saladoid-Barrancoid. Then Arawaks came - 800–1200 AD, Caribs also came - 12th–13th centuries European - 15th or 16th century, Pedro a Campos named the island "Los Barbados", means The Bearded One! The first English ship - 1625 and first settlement began in Holetown. The settlement was funded by Sir William Courten, an English merchant. Courten's title was later transferred to James Hay, 1st Earl of Carlisle, in what was called the "Great Barbados Robbery". Then during 1650 a large number of prisoners-of-war, vagrants and people who were kidnapped and forcibly transported to the island and sold as servants. These groups were mostly Irish, as thousands of them rounded up by English merchants and sold as servants in Barbados and other Caribbean islands. It was a big problem in Ireland and known as being Barbadosed. In 1644 the population of Barbados was about 30,000, with 800 African descent, by 1724, there were 18,000 free whites and 55,000 enslaved Africans. The slaves rebelled, the largest one was Bussa's rebellion in 1816 and it was successfully crushed by British troops, but the opposition to slavery grew to its abolition in the British Empire in 1833. By the 1820 sugar prices started to go down and with slaves freed, profit deceased and many white farmers left the island. Things came to a head in the 1930s during the Great Depression and Barbadians demanded change and in 1938 a reforms was introduced. As a result, Afro-Barbadians began to play a much more prominent role in the colony's politics. Barbados joined the short-lived West Indies Federation from 1958 to 1962, later gaining full independence on 30 November 1966. but the island chose to remain a constitutional monarchy with Elizabeth II as Queen of Barbados. People and Cultures People of Barbados are called Barbadians or Bajan. Most of them actually 92% are blacks. 76% of the population is Christian, 3 English is the official language. Bajan, an English creole is spoken by most in everyday life. The life expectancy for Barbadians is 80 years, but has one of the highest per capita centenarians. The Barbados literacy rate is close to 100%. Barbados culture is a blend of West African, Portuguese, Caribbean, Indian and British. Crop Over in Barbados is the most anticipated event of the year, a largest carnival-like cultural festival that take place in July. It will have ceremonial delivery of the last cane indicating the end of the crop. The festival also includes musical competitions and other traditional activities, and features the majority of the island's homegrown calypso and soca music. The male and female Barbadians who harvested the most sugarcane are crowned as the King and Queen of the crop. This month long festivity take place all of July. Barbados is considered the culinary capital of the Caribbean, One of the benefits of the melting pot of cultures is that incredibly diverse culinary scene. The national dish is flying fish served with cou-cou in spicy gravy. Barbados produces the world's oldest rum. The Mount Gay Rum claims to be the world's oldest. Every October the island hosts a Food and Rum Festival, it attract many visitors. As far as the sports goes Cricket is very popular. Economy Barbados is one of the richest country in the in the Caribbean. It has a well-developed mixed economy, and pretty good standard of living, however according to World Bank 17% of Barbadians live in poverty.

• published: 14 Dec 2021
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