Portal:Caribbean

The CARIBBEAN PORTAL Topics Culture Geography Health History Mathematics Nature People Philosophy Religion Society Technology Main   Indices   Projects  Done The Caribbean (Dutch: Caraïben; French: Caraïbes; Spanish: Caribe; Portuguese: Caribe or Caraíbas) is a region of the Americas consisting of the Caribbean Sea, its islands (most of which enclose the sea), and the surrounding coasts. The region is located southeast of Northern America, east of Central America, and to the north and west of South America. Situated largely on the Caribbean Plate, the area comprises more than 7,000 islands, islets, reefs, and cayes. The West Indies consist of the Antilles, divided into the larger Greater Antilles which bound the sea on the north and the Lesser Antilles on the south and east (including the Leeward Antilles), and the Bahamas. Bermuda lies much further to the north in the Atlantic Ocean and is in the West Indies. Geopolitically, the West Indies are usually reckoned as a subregion of North America and are organised into 28 territories including sovereign states, overseas departments, and dependencies. At one time, there was a short-lived country called the Federation of the West Indies composed of ten English-speaking Caribbean territories. edit   Featured article The Elfin-woods Warbler (Dendroica angelae), or Reinita de Bosque Enano (Spanish name), is a bird endemic to the Caribbean island of Puerto Rico where it is a local and uncommon species. Discovered in 1968 and described in 1972, it is the most recently described species of New World warbler (Parulidae family). The species name, angelae, is a tribute to Angela Kepler, one of its discoverers. An insectivore, it feeds by gleaning small insects off leaves. Due to its small populations and restricted habitats, conservation efforts were begun in 1982 to protect this species but, as of 2005, the warbler was still in need of protection. The species is not in immediate danger as the majority of its habitat is protected forest, but introduced species, such as rats and mongooses, habitat reduction, and natural disasters represent potential threats to the population. References edit   Did you know? ...that the Garífuna population (flag pictured), who are descendants of Amerindian and African slaves exiled to Punta Gorda, Belize, is estimated to be around 200,000 both in the Caribbean homeland and North America? ...that there are about 1,500 known Jews living in Cuba, mostly residing in Havana? ...that former President of Haiti Jean-Claude Duvalier, also known as "Baby Doc" was exiled to France after his disposition in 1986? And that he lost most of his wealth due to his divorce from his wife Michèle, and now reportedly lives in very modest circumstances? ...that the Caribbean Sea is a Mediterranean sea largely situated on the Caribbean Plate? And that estimates of the sea's age range from 20,000 years to 570 million years? ...that the Guano Islands Act was federal legislation passed by the U.S. Congress on August 18, 1856 which enables citizens of the U.S. to take possession of islands containing guano deposits? And that disputes remain with Haiti over the status of Navassa Island, and with Colombia and Honduras over the status of the Caribbean island Serranilla Bank and with Jamaica concerning Bajo Nuevo Bank island, after all were seized by the U.S. following the passing of the act? edit   Selected music The Caribbean state of Trinidad and Tobago is best known as the homeland of calypso music, including 1950s stars Lord Kitchener and Mighty Sparrow. Other forms of music include Carnival songs like lavway and leggos, as well as bongo music (which originated at wakes). edit   Selected cuisine Cuisine of Puerto Rico has colorful roots in Africa, Europe, and the Americas. Some dishes still show traces of the original inhabitants of the Island, the Taíno / Arawak Indians. Spain, France, Italy, Africa, Central America, South America, and -- since 1898, the United States -- all impact how food is now prepared in Puerto Rico. Puerto Rican cuisine has almost nothing in common with Mexican cuisine, which surprises many first-time visitors from the United States or Europe. This cuisine also differs from other Latin countries and the food traditions of the United States. edit   Selected picture Photograph of Jamaican political activist Marcus Garvey in 1924. edit   Caribbean News October 10 The Netherlands Antilles were dissolved. Sint Maarten & Curaçao became countries within the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Bonaire, Saba & Sint Eustatius became special municipalities within the Netherlands. September 22: Cuban leader Fidel Castro made his first TV appearance in three months, saying "Well, I'm still here," in an interview taped this week. (BBC NEWS) August 2: The talks between UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Haitian President René Préval in Port-au-Prince appear to have been dominated by discussion of the continued presence of the UN peace keeping force there.(BBC NEWS) March 18: Trinidad and Tobago has backed the move by the Venezuelan Government to supply liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Jamaica by 2009.(JAMAICAN GLEANER) March 12 : The 2007 Cricket World Cup opens at the Greenfield Stadium in Jamaica with a ceremony showcasing West Indian musicians including Sly and Robbie, Sean Paul, Kevin Lyttle, Alison Hinds and Jimmy Cliff.(BBC NEWS) March 7: Edwin Carrington, secretary general of the 12-member Caricom announces that the Caribbean Community intends to negotiate a free trade agreement with Central America, perhaps within the next six months.(JAMAICAN OBSERVER) March 1: The West Indies cricket team make final preparations for the oncoming Cricket world cup, which begins on March 13 at the newly completed Sabina Park in Kingston. (CRICKET WORLD CUP NEWS) Feb 28: President of Cuba Fidel Castro makes a surprise phone call to Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez's radio talk show Aló Presidente, and the two leaders converse live on air for thirty minutes. During the conversation, Castro declares that he now has "more energy and strength".(PRAVDA) Feb 28: United Nations troops move into slum areas of Haiti, where almost a quarter of a million people live, as part of a new "get tough" policy against the armed gangs. (BBC NEWS) Feb 22: The United States applauds a unanimous decision by the U.N. Security Council to extend the world body’s stabilization mission in Haiti for another eight months, to October 15, with the intention to renew for further periods. (MEDIA NEWSWIRE) edit   Selected geography article Puerto Rico is an archipelago located between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of the Virgin Islands. The main island of Puerto Rico is the smallest and most eastern of the Greater Antilles. Various smaller islands and cays, including Vieques, Culebra, Mona, Desecheo, and Caja de Muertos comprise the remainder of the archipelago with only Culebra and Vieques being inhabited year-round. Mona is uninhabited through large parts of the year except for employees of the Puerto Rico Department of Natural Resources. edit   Related portals Caribbean Island Topics  Caribbean  Anguilla  Antigua and Barbuda  Aruba  Bahamas  Barbados  Belize  Bonaire  British Virgin Islands  Cayman Islands  Cuba  Curaçao  Dominica  Dominican Republic  Grenada  Guadeloupe  Haiti  Jamaica  Martinique  Montserrat  Puerto Rico  Saint Barthélemy  Saba  Saint Kitts and Nevis  Saint Lucia  Saint Martin  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines  Sint Eustatius  Sint Maarten  Trinidad and Tobago  Turks and Caicos Islands  United States Virgin Islands Regions and Cities Caribbean Cities and Towns  West Indies Federation Greater Antilles Lesser Antilles Leeward Islands Windward Islands Windward Passage British West Indies Danish West Indies Dutch West Indies French West Indies Portuguese West Indies Spanish West Indies Swedish West Indies Courlander West Indies British Overseas Territory Kingdom of the Netherlands  Netherlands Antilles Overseas Departments of France Commonwealth (United States insular area) Territory of the United States Continental countries within the Caribbean Latin America  North America  Culture and Interests  West Indies Cricket Caribbean Sport Caribbean Books Caribbean Plants and Animals Caribbean Music Caribbean Food Caribbean's (People of note) Caribbean Art and Arts Caribbean Languages and Dialects Caribbean Carnival Caribbean Exports Caribbean Airlines WikiProject Caribbean Wikipedia's Portals All Portals Overview Glossaries Indices Lists Outlines Categories Reference Culture Geography Health History Mathematics Nature People Philosophy Religion Society Technology Featured portals About portals Shortcuts to this page: Portal:West Indies • Portal:Barbados • P:CARIB