Information about Jamaica
Location and geography
The island of Jamaica is located in the western Caribbean and is part of the Greater Antilles archipelago of the West Indies. The island is washed by the waters of the Caribbean Sea. The capital of the state is Kingston.
Population of Jamaica
The population of the island is approximately 3 million. person. The majority of citizens are of African descent. The population is evenly distributed between cities and rural areas.
Nature
Most of the island is covered by highlands and mountains over 200 meters above sea level. 1/5 of the country is covered by dense tropical forests interspersed with vast savannas. The main waterway of the country is the Black River. Jamaica’s wildlife is very diverse. Several hundred species of birds and various rodents can be found here.
Climatic conditions of Jamaica
The island has a tropical climate. Northeast winds blow here most of the year. There are 4 seasons in a year. Two dry (July – August and December – April) and two rainy (September – November and May – June). On the ocean shore, the temperature remains around +37°C throughout the year. In mountainous areas – no higher than +25°C.
Language.
The official language of the state is English. The local creole language Patois, based on English, is widely spoken.
Jamaican cuisine
Local culinary traditions are influenced by African, Chinese, Indian, English and Spanish cuisines. National dishes most often use various vegetables, fruits, root vegetables, dried meat and fish, and cassava. The traditional banana-coconut pudding, goat curry, cod-cod soup with bananas, yam, pepper and white rum dressing are unusually tasty and have an original flavor. The island’s favorite tonic drink is made from ice with Kaiju syrup. Coconut milk is also popular, served directly in a half nut.
Currency.
The official currency of the island is the Jamaican dollar. A dollar contains 100 cents.
Time
Time in Jamaica is 8 hours behind Kyiv time zone.
Religion in Jamaica
The majority of the population is Christian: 60% are Protestants, 6% are Catholics, and about 10% are Rastafarians. 20% of the population consider themselves atheists.
Holidays
25.12 – Christmas, 6.08 – Independence Day, 23.05 – Labor Day, 6.01 – Epiphany, 1.01 – New Year.
Resorts of Jamaica
Montego Bay is called the king of the island’s resorts for a reason. Developed infrastructure, a huge selection of hotels, an extensive network of restaurants and cafes, and a vibrant nightlife make the city a comfortable and enjoyable place to stay. There is a unique underwater park, several well-equipped golf courses and, of course, endless sandy beaches lapped by the ocean surf.
The small town of Port Antonio is lost in the virgin jungle. Giant butterflies, colorful exotic birds, picturesque waterfalls and inaccessible rocky mountains – everything here looks like hundreds of thousands of years ago, in the era of dinosaurs. Local restaurants are very popular with exotic dishes that are eaten with your hands and served on leaves.
Sights of Jamaica
At the very tip of the peninsula, at the entrance to Kingston Bay, is the small town of Port Royal. Looking at the sleepy, deserted streets of the town, you would never guess that 300 years ago this city was the capital of the legendary Caribbean pirate fraternity. Unfortunately, the earthquake of 1962 submerged most of the city. But even now, tourists will not be indifferent to the famous stone forts designed to guard the entrance to the strait. Today, the following sites are open to the public: Fort Charles with a local history museum, Fort Walker, and the half-submerged Fort Rupert. Climbing to the highest point of the island, the Blue Mountain Peak (2147 m above sea level), will appeal to fans of eco-tourism and outdoor activities. From here you can see the north and south coasts of the island, and in good weather, the neighboring island of Cuba. On the slopes of the mountain are vast plantations of the famous Jamaican blue mountain coffee. Not far away is the house-museum of the famous founder of reggae style Bob Marley.
