Caribbean Sea

THE CARIBBEAN SEA is a suboceanic BASIN in the western ATLANTIC OCEAN. The sea covers just over 1 million square miles (2.6 million square km) and contains numerous islands. The islands, which vary greatly in size, cover some 91,000 square mi (235,688 square km). CUBA is by far the largest at 44,000 square mi (113,959 square km). In contrast, ANGUILLA has a mere 100 square mi (259 square km).

The islands can be divided into four groups. First are the BAHAMAS, consisting of more than 700 small islands. Second are the Greater Antilles, made up of Cuba, Hispaniola, PUERTO RICO, and JAMAICA and comprising more than 80 percent of the total land area of the Caribbean. Third are the Lesser Antilles, comprising two arcs of islands. An inner arc is made up of volcanic islands, while an outer arc is made of coral limestone islands. Fourth are the South American offshore islands of ARUBA, Bonaire, Curaçao, TRINIDAD, and TOBAGO.

Several geographic characteristics define the Caribbean. One is the insular nature of the region. The fact that the region is made up of many small islands has shaped the Caribbean’s history. The small size of the islands made it virtually impossible for the native inhabitants to resist European attacks, enslavement, and disease. The large number of islands allowed several European powers to colonize the region beginning in the late 1400s. The presence of various European countries has contributed to the cultural diversity of the Caribbean Sea. Furthermore, because of the fragmentation of the region, there was historically more interaction and contact between the islands and the metropolitan powers than among the islands.

The small size of the islands is a second important feature. While the islands are small, many of them have relatively large populations, making them some of the most densely populated areas of the Western Hemisphere. The small size of Caribbean nations has led to numerous problems. Land is often scarce and internal markets are small, forcing countries to rely on imports. Per capita government spending in areas such as education, healthcare, and welfare is all extremely high in the

Caribbean. 

A third defining characteristic is the Caribbean’s location in a maritime tropical air mass. Average temperatures in the region are high at around 80 degrees Fahrenheit. There is little seasonal change throughout the Caribbean. Precipitation in the region varies from island to island. Low-lying islands receive very little rainfall, while those with higher volcanic peaks receive more. Precipitation even varies on each island, as the northeastern sides tend to be wetter than the southern sides.

Hurricanes are a fourth characteristic of the Caribbean. They are a regular occurrence in the region, arriving between June and November of each year. The hurricanes form in the eastern Atlantic Ocean and follow the trade winds to the Caribbean, where an average of eight strike each year. Hurricanes are often destructive, damaging property and crops. In 1963, Hurricane Flora took more than 7,000 lives in the Caribbean.

A fifth characteristic is environmental degradation. The introduction of export agriculture in the form of sugarcane production ushered in environmental problems in the Caribbean. As European plantation owners put their African slaves to work clearing forests, native flora and fauna often disappeared. Such deforestation led to problems such as increased risk of erosion and drought. Fertile soil was quickly exhausted. By the 20th century, poverty and tourism both contributed to these environmental problems in the Caribbean.

A sixth feature of the Caribbean is its strategic location. It serves as a link between Europe and Latin America. The Spanish used the Caribbean as a base to conquer the mainland areas of the Americas. Beginning in the late nineteenth century, the UNITED STATES began to become involved in the Caribbean because of its strategic importance. After the opening of the PANAMA CANAL in the early 20th century, the region’s strategic significance for military and economic matters greatly increased.