jamaica

*Main Jamaica Facts*

Capital: Kingston
Official Language: English
Official Religion: Protestant
Currency: Jamaican Dollar
Population: 2,713,130 (July 2004)
Total Area: 9,629,091 square kilometers
Geographic Coordinates: 38 N, 97 W

*Geography*

Jamaica (146 miles long and up to 51 miles wide) is the third largest island in the Caribbean. Much of the island is composed of limestone. Jamaica has six mountain ranges; one hundred and twenty rivers and many springs.
The climate is tropical with a rainy season between May and October. Jamiaca is prone to hurricanes and earthquakes: there have been major earthquakes in 1692 when Port Royal sank below the sea, in 1907 when much of Kingston was destroyed, and in 1993.

*Environment*

    The island of Jamiaca is particularly fertile; some of the flora and fauna of Jamaica have been introduced by colonists including the banana, the breadfruit, and the mongoose.
     The are no native large animals but there are reptiles inland such as crocodiles, lizards, and snakes. Turtles, dolphins, tunas, marlins, and barracudas are found in the surronding sea. The coral reefs support many smaller fish but are endangered by environmentally unfriendly fishing practices.
     Jamaica's forests include many colorful birds such as parrots, parakeets, and hummingbirds. Among the island's trees are cedar, coconut trees, ebony, mahoe (the national tree), mahogany, rosewood, silk cotton trees (kapok), and the lignum vitae (tree of life) whose flower is the Jamaican national flower.
     Jamaica has many species of ferns, crotons, and orchids. Other plants include bougainvillea, poinsettias, and cactus.
     The island has suffered badly from deforestation caused by land clearing for coffee, sugar, and banana plantations. The environment also suffers from the use of pesticides and fertilizers and from the mining and processing for bauxite, the source of aluminum.

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*History*

    Jamaica was first inhabited by Arawak Indians who crossed from South America. Columbos landed on the island in 1494 and claimed the island for Spain.
     The Arawaks suffered a similar fate to their relatives on other Caribbean islands: they were enslaved or died from illness caught from the Spanish. To replace their labor supply, the Spanish brought in salves captured from Africa.
     In 1655, the British took over the island. Henry Morgan, a buccaneer, became Lieutenant Governor of Jamaica in 1674. Rivalry in the Caribbean continued between the British, French, and Spanish.
     Over the years, Jamaica's slaves rebelled time after time. In 1760, a rebellion was led by Tacky, an African chief who had been enslaved. There was another major rebellion in 1760 and another in 1831 led by Sam Sharpe. The Emancipation Act ended slavery in the West Indies in 1834- however, the slaves did not gain complete freedom until four years later. As a result of this emancipation, the sugar plantations became neglected. A further rebellion, in 1865, led to Britain making Jamaica a full crown colony.
     Jamaica became independent in 1962 becoming a member of the British Commonwealth. Many Jamaicans sought work in Canada, Britain, and the USA.
     Jamaica's first prime minister was Sir Alexander Bustamante who was succeeded by Hugh Shearer in 1967 and Michael Manley in 1972. In 1992, PJ Patterson became Jamaica's prime minister.

*Economy*

    Sugar is still important to the Jamaican economy. Rum, distilled from fermented cane juice, is an important byproduct of the sugar industry. Blue Mountain coffee is known worldwide.
     Other produce includes maize, rice, cocoa, bananas, citrus fruits, coconuts, spices, and tobacco. Cattle, goats, pigs, and chickens are farmed and fish are plentiful in the Caribbean and in Jamaica's rivers.
     Bauxite mining is an important Jamaican industry. Other minerals extracted in commercial quantities are clay, limestone, marble, and gypsum.
     Manufacturing centers on agricultural machinery, cement, chemicals, textiles and sewn products, processed foods, and cigars.
     Jamaica has many attractions for visitors. Tourism is a major earner and increasingly important to the national economy.

*Food*

    Ackee and saltfish, is along with rice and peas, the best known traditional Jamaican dish. Another traditional recipe is that for jerk meat- pork or chicken seasoned in hot spices cooked over a barbecue. Fish from the rivers and the coastal waters are an important part of the national diet.
     Other local foods include pepper-pot soup, curried goat, plantains, patties, and banana fritters. Rastafarians favor a vegetarian diet.
     Shaved iced with fruit syrup is a favorite dessert. Drinks include coconut juice, Blue Mountain coffee, and the traditional spirit, rum.
     Jamaica is particularly rich in fruit: bananas, pineapples, and pawpaws are well known, but also plentiful are the less familiar naseberries, ortaniques, and star apples.

*Arts*

    The earliest art recorded in Jamaica is the cave art of the Arawak Indians, the island's original inhabitants. In the 1920s, one of the main artistic figures was Edna Manley, who helped found the Jamaica School of Art in 1950 and carved many sculptures on display today. John Dunkley, a barber from Kingston, is one of the leading Jamaican artists.
     Among the number of Caribbean authors, there are many Jamaican writers, living at home and abroad.
     Music has been a significant artistic contribution. African music has been a major influence on Jamaican popular music. Dance helped to keep alivethe traditions of Africa in the sugar plantations and drums were not only used as musical instruments but also as instruments of communication between the enslaved Africans.
     The first internationally known Jamaican singer was Harry Belafonte who is remembered for "Island in the Sun". Modern Jamaican popular music was influenced by American Rhythm and Blues music.
     Ska (Bluebeat in the UK) and Rock Steady was developed in Jamaica. Reggae has influenced American and British popular music. Bob Marley, the internationally known Jamaican singer and songwriter, was a major figure in world popular music.