Geography of Jamaica

Jamaica is had in West Indies, in northern part of Caribbean sea. Island sizes are not so great - 250  km at length and 70  km at width. The square of Jamaica compounds 11,5  thousand sq. km that puts it on the third place among the Big Antilles. Jamaica concedes on sizes to Cuba and Haiti, but surpasses Puerto Rico.

The Southern shore of Jamaica is hardly decomposed, has the good harbours ministering in due course by the retreat for pirates, but is bordered by reefs. Northern shore of island rocky, in its central part the narrow strip of beaches - so-called Jamaican rivera is had. The Bulk of terrain of Jamaica is occupied with a hilly calcareous plateau, in the east of island mounts Blju-Mauntins (blue mounts) to 2256  tower; m. Along southern and western coast were stretched extensive vile plains.

Jamaica differs the big seismic activity. Earthquakes here - not a rarity. Two earthquakes (1692 and 1907) were catastrophic. In 1692 the old capital of Jamaica - Port-rojjal has been completely destroyed, and the escaped inhabitants were relocated in the next Kingston valve. But in 1907 and new capital - the Kingston valve - was comprehended by the same fate. However, subsequently the city has been built up anew.

On Jamaica assemblage of the rivers originating on slopes of mounts and hills. The name Jamaica has descended from the distorted American Indian word hajmaka (island of riglets). The largest river of island, Rio Grande (length nearby 100  the km), begins at a mount we Will put in the central part of Jamaica and runs into Caribbean sea in the south of island, near to cape Portland.

The Main natural resource of Jamaica - bauxites. On their stores this small country takes the fifth place in the world. In total on Jamaica is from above 100  deposits, largest of them - Uiljamsfild in the central part of island. Boksitovaja the industry is the basic branch of national economy.

Plateaus in the middle Jamaica and slopes of mounts in the east of island are covered by evergreen tropical woods. On plains of the western and southern part of Jamaica the vegetation acquires savannovyj shape. The big squares are occupied by sugarcane plantations - the basic crop of Jamaica. There are also plantations of bananas and citrus.

The Fauna of Jamaica is poor enough. There are only small gnawers, auks, reptiles and bats.