Trinidad and Tobago (GPS: 11 00 N, 61 00 W) is located in the Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela. The country’s area measurements are total: 5,128 sq km; land: 5,128 sq km, water: 0 sq km. This sovereign state is slightly smaller than Delaware. The total irrigated land is 70 sq km (2012).
One of the essential features of Trinidad and Tobago: Pitch Lake, on Trinidad’s southwestern coast, is the world’s largest natural reservoir of asphalt.
It’s significant, and at the same time, the principal city, Port of Spain’s GPS coordinates are 10 39 N 61 31 W. Port of Spain’s local time is 1 hour ahead of Washington DC during Standard Time. The capital’s time difference: UTC-4.
Google Maps Trinidad and Tobago and Port of Spain, Central America and the Caribbean
About Trinidad and Tobago in detail
Flag of Trinidad and Tobago
Map of Trinidad and Tobago
First colonized by the Spanish, the islands came under British control in the early 19th century. The emancipation of the slaves hurt the island’s sugar industry in 1834. The workforce was replaced by importing contract laborers from India between 1845 and 1917, which boosted sugar production and the cocoa industry. The discovery of oil on Trinidad in 1910 added another important export. Independence was attained in 1962. The country is one of the most prosperous in the Caribbean, thanks largely to petroleum and natural gas production and processing. Tourism, mostly in Tobago, is targeted for expansion and is growing. The government is struggling to reverse a surge in violent crime.
Trinidad and Tobago’s names conventional long form: the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, conventional short form: Trinidad and Tobago, etymology: explorer Christopher COLUMBUS named the larger island “La Isla de la Trinidad” (The Island of the Trinity) on 31 July 1498 on his third voyage; the tobacco grown and smoked by the natives of the smaller island or its elongated cigar shape may account for the “tobago” name, which is spelled “tobaco” in Spanish. Explorer Christopher COLUMBUS named the larger island “La Isla de la Trinidad” (the Island of the Trinity) on 31 July 1498 on his third voyage; The tobacco grown and smoked by the natives of the smaller island or its elongated cigar shape may account for the “tobago” name, which is spelled “tobaco” in Spanish.
Trinidad and Tobago’s terrain is typically mostly plained with some hills and low mountains. The country’s mean elevation: 83 m, elevation extremes; lowest point: the Caribbean Sea 0 m, highest point: El Cerro del Aripo 940 m.
The general climate in the country; tropical: rainy season (June to December).
The total number of border countries is 0; none are the neighboring nations with the indicated border lengths. Trinidad and Tobago’s coastline is 362 km, while its marital claims are: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines territorial sea: 12 nautical miles, contiguous zone: 24 nautical miles, exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles, continental shelf: 200 nautical miles or to the outer edge of the continental margin. Waterways: N/A. Land use: agricultural land: 10.6%; arable land 4.9%; permanent crops 4.3%; permanent pasture 1.4%; forest: 44%; other: 45.4% (2011 estimate).
The population in Trinidad and Tobago 1,215,527 (July 2018 estimate), urban population: 8.4% of total population (2015), major urban area’s population: PORT-OF-SPAIN (capital) 34,000 (2014), while Trinidad and Tobago have a population on Trinidad concentrated in the western half of the island; on Tobago in the southern half. Their spoken languages are English (official language), Caribbean Hindustani (a dialect of Hindi), French, Spanish, Chinese. Main religions in Trinidad and Tobago are Protestant 32.1% (Pentecostal/Evangelical/Full Gospel 12%, Baptist 6.9%, Anglican 5.7%, Seventh-Day Adventist 4.1%, Presbyterian/Congregational 2.5%, other Protestant 0.9%), Roman Catholic 21.6%, Hindu 18.2%, Muslim 5%, Jehovah’s Witness 1.5%, other 8.4%, none 2.2%, unspecified 11.1% (2011 estimate). The nation uses English common law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court. It is a(n) parliamentary republic, National holiday(s) Independence Day, 31 August (1962).
Economic overview for the country: Trinidad and Tobago rely on its energy sector for much of its economic activity and has one of the highest per capita incomes in Latin America. Economic growth between 2000 and 2007 averaged slightly over 8% per year, significantly above the regional average of about 3.7% for that same period; however, GDP has slowed down since then, contracting during 2009-2012, making small gains in 2013 and contracting again in 2014-2017. Trinidad and Tobago are buffered by considerable foreign reserves and a sovereign wealth fund that equals about one-and-a-half times the national budget. However, the country is still in a recession, and the government faces the dual challenge of gas shortages and a low price environment. Large-scale energy projects in the last quarter of 2017 are helping to mitigate the gas shortages. Energy production and downstream industrial use dominate the economy. Oil and gas typically account for about 40% of GDP and 80% of exports but less than 5% of employment.
Trinidad and Tobago is home to one of the most extensive natural gas liquefaction facilities in the Western Hemisphere. The country produces about nine times more natural gas than crude oil on an energy-equivalent basis, with gas contributing about two-thirds of energy sector government revenue. The US is the country’s largest trading partner, accounting for 28% of its total imports and 48% of its exports. Economic diversification is a longstanding government talking point, and Trinidad and Tobago have much potential due to its stable, democratic government and its educated, English speaking workforce. The country is also a regional financial center with a well-regulated and stable financial system. Other sectors the Government of Trinidad and Tobago have targeted for increased investment, and projected growth include tourism, agriculture, information, communications technology, and shipping. Unfortunately, a host of other factors, including low labor productivity, inefficient government bureaucracy, and corruption, have hampered economic development.
Natural resources of Trinidad and Tobago: petroleum, natural gas, asphalt.
Main export partners for Trinidad and Tobago, Central America, and the Caribbean are US 26.3%, Argentina 12%, Brazil 6.6%, Chile 5.3%, Dominican Republic 5.2%, Barbados 5% (2015) for petroleum and petroleum products, liquefied natural gas, methanol, ammonia, urea, steel products, beverages, cereal, and cereal products, cocoa, fish, preserved fruits, cosmetics, household cleaners, plastic packaging, while the main import partners for the country are: the US 35.6%, China 6.8%, Gabon 6.6% (2015) for mineral fuels, lubricants, machinery, transportation equipment, manufactured goods, food, chemicals, live animals.
When you visit this country in Central America and the Caribbean, consider the natural hazards in Trinidad and Tobago: The usual outside path of hurricanes and other tropical storms, while infectious diseases are noted: active local transmission of Zika virus by Aedes species mosquitoes have been identified in this country (as of August 2016); it poses a significant risk (a large number of cases possible) among US citizens if bitten by an infective mosquito; other less common ways to get Zika are through sex, via blood transfusion, or during pregnancy, in which the pregnant woman passes Zika virus to her fetus (2016). Also, note that Trinidad and Tobago face the following environmental issues: Water pollution from agricultural chemicals, industrial wastes, raw sewage, widespread pollution of waterways and coastal areas, Illegal dumping, Deforestation, Soil erosion, Fisheries, and wildlife depletion.
You may also be interested in the countries next to Trinidad and Tobago around its 0 km border – No border countries.
