Jamaica

I

Introduction

Jamaica, island country, third-largest island of the Greater Antilles, situated south of Cuba in the northern Caribbean Sea. Jamaica has a maximum length, from east to west, of about 235 km (146 mi); the maximum width is approximately 80 km (50 mi). The total area of the country is 10,991 sq km (4,244 sq mi). Kingston is the capital and largest city of Jamaica, and also a large commercial seaport.

II

Land and Resources

The terrain is mountainous except for several tracts of lowlands in the southern coastal area. The principal range, situated in the east of the island, is the Blue Mountains, of which Blue Mountain Peak (2,256 m/7,402 ft) is the highest summit in the Caribbean. A series of lesser mountains, with many transverse spurs, extends generally westward to the coast, surmounting an extensive plateau. The coastline, about 800 km (500 mi) long, is irregular, particularly in the south, and the island has a number of excellent natural harbours, including those at Kingston, St Ann’s Bay, Montego Bay, and Port Maria.

Thermal springs occur in various areas. No other volcanic phenomena are apparent, but the island is subject to severe earthquakes. Many small unnavigable rivers traverse the island.

A

Climate

Tropical climatic conditions prevail in the coastal lowlands of Jamaica. The mean annual temperature in this region is about 26.7° C (80° F), but north-eastern trade winds frequently moderate the extremes of heat and humidity. Mean annual temperatures in the plateau and mountain areas average about 22.2° C (72° F) at elevations of about 900 m (2,950 ft), and are considerably less at higher levels. Annual precipitation is characterized by wide regional variations. More than 5,080 mm (200 in) of rain are deposited annually in the mountains of the north-east; in the vicinity of Kingston the annual average is 813 mm (32 in). The months of maximum precipitation are May, June, October, and November. The island is subject to hurricanes in late summer and early autumn. Widespread devastation was caused by Hurricane Ivan in September 2004.

B

Natural Resources

Mineral deposits in Jamaica include gypsum, lead, and salt. The bauxite deposits, in the central section of the island, are among the richest in the world, although acidic dust, a by-product from bauxite processing, is a major environmental problem. Rich soils are found on the coastal plains.