Geography of the Caribbean
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Questions and Answers

What are the two main methods used to locate the Caribbean?

  • Longitude and altitude
  • GPS coordinates and compass direction
  • Cardinal points and absolute location (correct)
  • Latitude and longitude

    • Which of the following islands is NOT a part of the Greater Antilles?

  • Trinidad and Tobago (correct)
  • Cuba
  • Jamaica
  • Puerto Rico

    • Which of the following is a Leeward Island?

  • Guadeloupe
  • Antigua and Barbuda (correct)
  • Barbados
  • St. Lucia

    • Which of the following is NOT a mainland/continental territory of the Caribbean?

    <p>Bahamas (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is a way to define the Caribbean?

    <p>All of the above (E)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The Caribbean is located entirely on a single tectonic plate.

    <p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The Caribbean Diaspora refers to people who have migrated from the Caribbean to other parts of the world.

    <p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following countries does NOT have a communist system of government?

    <p>Trinidad and Tobago (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a weakness of the Geographical definition of the Caribbean?

    <p>It does not consider the impact of European colonization. (E)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the name of the tectonic plate that the Caribbean is situated upon?

    <p>Caribbean Plate</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are the two main factors that led to the formation of the Caribbean islands?

    <p>Tectonic plate movement &amp; volcanic activity</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Flashcards

    Caribbean Location (Compass)

    Locating the Caribbean using cardinal directions (north, south, east, west).

    Caribbean Location (Coordinates)

    Using latitude and longitude to pinpoint the Caribbean's exact position on Earth.

    Greater Antilles

    A sub-region of the Caribbean, including Cuba, Hispaniola (Haiti/Dominican Republic), Jamaica, and Puerto Rico.

    Lesser Antilles

    A sub-region of the Caribbean, including the Windward, Leeward, and Netherland Antilles.

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    Windward Islands

    A group of islands in the Lesser Antilles, including Grenada, St. Vincent, St. Lucia, Guadeloupe, Dominica, Martinique, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados.

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    Leeward Islands

    A group of islands in the Lesser Antilles, including Antigua and Barbuda, St. Kitts-Nevis, Montserrat, Anguilla, Virgin Islands, St. Martin, St. Maarten, St. Barthelemy, St. Eustatius, Saba.

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    Netherland Antilles

    A group of islands in the Lesser Antilles, including Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao.

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    Mainland Territories

    Caribbean land areas not islands, including Guyana, Suriname, Belize, French Guiana.

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    Caribbean Archipelagos

    Groups of islands in the Caribbean, including the Bahamas, Cayman Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands, and the Leeward Islands.

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    Caribbean Physical Features

    Variations in landscapes, like mountains, valleys, rivers, etc.

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    Geographical Caribbean

    Land area with coastline washed by the Caribbean Sea.

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    Caribbean Basin

    The area washed by the Caribbean Sea.

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    Geographical Weakness

    Definition includes countries outside the normal Caribbean perception, e.g., some Central American countries.

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    Historical Caribbean

    The area colonized by European powers and heavily influenced by colonialism.

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    Historical Weakness

    Definition overlooks shared Caribbean experience under colonization, focusing on specific colonizers.

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    Geological Caribbean

    Region defined by the Caribbean Plate, encompassing similar tectonic, seismic, and volcanic features.

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    Geological Weakness

    Definition may include some countries widely considered non-Caribbean.

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    Political Caribbean

    Caribbean defined by its political status: independent, associated, or colonial.

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    Political Weakness

    Definition reflects historic European association with the Caribbean.

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    Caribbean Diaspora

    People who have migrated from the Caribbean and now reside in other parts of the world.

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    Diasporic Weakness

    Definition doesn't focus on physical location, and some diaspora may lose ties with the Caribbean.

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    Study Notes

    Caribbean Location and Definition

    • The Caribbean is a diverse area comprising islands, mainland territories, and archipelagos.
    • Location is described using compass directions (cardinal points) and absolute location (latitude and longitude).
    • Caribbean coordinates: 21.4691° N latitude, 78.6569° W longitude.

    Sub-Regions

    • Greater Antilles: Cuba, Hispaniola (Haiti and Dominican Republic), Jamaica, and Puerto Rico.
    • Lesser Antilles: Divided into Windward, Leeward, and Netherlands (or Dutch) Antilles.
      • Windward Islands: Grenada, St. Vincent, St. Lucia, Guadeloupe, Dominica, Martinique, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados.
      • Leeward Islands: Antigua and Barbuda, St. Kitts-Nevis, Montserrat, Anguilla, Virgin Islands, St. Martin, St. Maarten, St. Barthelemy, St. Eustatius, and Saba.
      • Netherlands/Dutch Antilles: Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao.

    Mainland Territories

    • Guyana, Suriname, Belize, and French Guiana.

    Defining the Caribbean

    • There are four main ways to define the Caribbean: geographically, historically, geologically, and politically.

    Geographical Definition

    • The physical features of the Caribbean include mountains, valleys, plains, rivers, etc.
    • The Greater Antilles islands (except Cuba) are mostly mountainous.
    • Cuba has wide elevated plains and low-lying alluvial plains; it also has limestone hills with caves.
    • Smaller volcanic islands in the Eastern Caribbean are rugged and mountainous.

    Geographical Definition - Weaknesses

    • The geographical definition includes countries not normally associated with the Caribbean, like Panama, Colombia, and others in Central America.
    • It excludes the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos Islands.
    • It includes territories of Suriname, Guyana, and French Guiana, which are not typically considered part of the Caribbean.

    Historical Definition

    • This definition focuses on the area colonized and significantly impacted by European powers (Spain, Britain, France, and the Netherlands).
    • It involves elements of colonialism, including the enslavement of Africans, indentureship of people from other parts of the world, and the plantation system.
    • Caribbean countries often have strong ties to the specific European power that dominated them.

    Historical Definition - Weaknesses

    • This definition is broad and includes countries in Central/South America that aren't typically considered part of the Caribbean.
    • It sometimes ignores commonalities of experience under different colonial powers.

    Geological Definition

    • The Caribbean is part of a larger geological feature, the Caribbean Plate, which shares its boundaries with other plates.
    • The Caribbean Plate is one of the many plates that make up Earth's crust; it is located between the North and South American Plates and the Cocos Plate.
    • The presence of the Caribbean Plate means the region shares similar geological processes, such as tectonic movements, seismic activity, and volcanic processes.

    Geological Definition - Weaknesses

    • The definition includes countries such as Honduras, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Panama, which are not typically considered part of the Caribbean.
    • It excludes territories like Cuba, Guyana, Suriname, the Bahamas, and Turks and Caicos Islands.

    Political Definition

    • The Caribbean is defined by its political entities and processes encompassing independent states, associated states, and colonial dependencies.
    • Independent states are countries that govern themselves.
    • Associated states enjoy rights and privileges of the country governing them, but aren't fully independent
    • Colonial dependencies aren't independent and are directly governed by another country.

    Political Definition - Weaknesses

    • Political definition of the Caribbean sometimes includes territories outside the Caribbean region, such as areas of Central America
    • Definitions that emphasize the political ties to Europe and the historical colonial powers sometimes overlook different experiences within the Caribbean.

    Diasporic Definition

    • Caribbean diaspora refers to people who have migrated from Caribbean regions.
    • This definition highlights the complex cultural background and mixing of ethnic groups in the Caribbean.
    • People originating from diverse ethnic backgrounds migrated to different parts of the world.
    • The definition also highlights Caribbean identity in a global context.

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    Related Documents

    Locating and Defining the Caribbean PDF

    Description

    This quiz explores the geographical features and sub-regions of the Caribbean. You'll learn about the diverse islands and mainland territories, as well as how to define the Caribbean using cardinal points and coordinates. Test your knowledge of the Greater and Lesser Antilles and their locations.

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