Caribbean

The Caribbean archipelago is made up of around 7,000 islands and stretches more than 2,500 miles from the Bahamas to Trinidad. Terrain is varied and ranges from high volcanic mountains such as Jamaica’s Blue Mountains to limestone hills and plateaus and flat lowland areas often resulting from coral deposition. The tropical climate is moderated by prevailing winds and has distinct rainy (May–November for much of the region) and dry seasons. Hurricanes can occur between June and November. Levels of rainfall vary geographically with windward mountain slopes receiving significantly more precipitation than leeward areas, which can exhibit semiarid conditions. Islands with lower elevation can also receive less rainfall on average.

The cultural landscape of the Caribbean is varied as well. Reflecting the colonial influence of a range ...