Detailed map of Caribbean islands with cities. Fabulous and alluring with their beauty the islands of the Caribbean Sea

Countries have become popular holiday destinations for many people from different parts of the Earth. Caribbean. Their list was supplemented by both mainland and island states.

Caribbean Sea on the world map in Russian

The Caribbean is famous for modern civilization since its discovery in the 15th century. The discoverers named the sea after the tribes Caribbean that inhabited the coast, although the sea has changed its name many times throughout history.

The Caribbean Sea has a romantic and sinister history of piracy, which flourished in the 18th century.

Piracy has long sunk into the past, but is of interest to this day. It was the story of the pirates of the Caribbean that became the plot for the film of the same name. The modern Caribbean Sea is the most fashionable and popular resorts of the world, attracting people with their amazing heavenly beauty.

The Caribbean Sea is an attractive holiday destination. You can choose a vacation to your taste in any country, almost at any time of the year, which is facilitated by the climate. Caribbean is land of eternal summer!

Where is?

The Caribbean Sea is the open sea in western hemisphere, in the pool Atlantic Ocean, it seems to connect two parts of the American continent, located between South and Central America and the Antilles. Connected through the Panama Canal Pacific Ocean, through the Yucatan Strait has access to the Gulf of Mexico.

Climate

Climate of the Caribbean tropical, with a predominance of east winds - trade winds. Tropical hurricanes are not uncommon, especially strong in northern regions seas. The most hurricane season is from June to November. Most often, devastating hurricanes, from which coastal residents have suffered more than once, occur in the first months of autumn.

Sometimes hurricanes are so destructive that this event becomes part of history.

The amount of precipitation can vary depending on the winds and on what area of the sea this or that island is located.

Temperature about the same in the Caribbean. average temperature in summer +28°C, in winter from 23 to 27°C.

List of basin countries

The Caribbean Sea washes the shores of many states and territories, both continental and insular.

What territories it washes: states and their capitals

Continental States, which washes the Caribbean Sea, are located in northern, central and south America.

The only country North America in the Caribbean - or, as it is called in the official language, the United Mexican States. The capital is Mexico City.

South American countries:

Colombia, official name Republic of Colombia. The capital is Bogota;
Venezuela or officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. The capital is Caracas;
Republic of Panama, partly located in Central America. The capital is Panama.

Central American countries:

Republic of Nicaragua, capital - Managua;
Republic of Honduras, the capital is Tegucigalpa;
Republic of Guatemala, capital - Guatemala;
Republic of Costa Rica, capital - San Jose;
Belize capital is Belmopan.

island states Caribbean:

Cuba, official name, unofficial - Liberty Island. The capital is Havana;
Dominican Republic , capital - Santo Domingo;
Haiti, the official name of the Republic of Haiti, the capital of Port-au-Prince;
Jamaica, capital - Kingston;
Puerto Rico, officially called the Freely Associated State of Puerto Rico or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. The capital is San Juan.

Read more about Puerto Rico in: history, climate, animal, vegetable world and other.

It is possible to single out the territories that are part of European countries: (Anguilla), France (Guadeloupe, Martinique, Saint-Barthélemy, Saint-Martin), the Netherlands (Bonaire, Saba and Sint Eustatius), this is due to the history of the colonization of the lands of the Caribbean. As well as territories belonging to - Virgin Islands United States, capital is Charlotte Amalie.

Washed Islands

The islands of the Caribbean are Antilles Large and Small and Bahamas .

Greater Antilles include the island of Cuba, Haiti, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Cayman Islands. The smallest island is Little Cayman, its area is 28.5 km².
Lesser Antilles these are: a chain of small islands, the largest of them are Trinidad and Tobago and Martinique, the smallest is Petit Martinique, only 2.4 km², with a population of 900 people.
Bahamas include 700 small islands, and only 30 of them are inhabited.

Tourism in the Caribbean

The variety of resorts in the Caribbean makes it difficult to choose the best because each island is good in its own way. In the Caribbean, anyone will find a vacation to their liking. For Russian tourists the obstacle is the long and expensive journey to the Caribbean.

A nice bonus is that Russians do not need a visa to enter some states.

Popular resorts

Resorts where possible visa-free entry:

Montego Bay- a resort for lovers of fun, movement, "hip-strip". The city of a never-sleeping port and luxurious hotels;

One of the most expensive resorts world is located just in the Caribbean Sea. Read about this and other resorts that not everyone can afford.

Negril – white sandy beaches, peace, the kingdom of palm trees, a natural area, remote from the noise of cities and industries;
Ocho Rios charming with its inconsistency: on the one hand - quiet fishing towns, on the other hand - the center of cruise tourism. Both lovers of solitude and fans of parties can find a place for themselves in this resort.

The best beaches

Among the best beaches Caribbean Sea, there are those that deserve additional attention:

The Caribbean Sea is attractive with comfort, romance and a certain share of danger, as Caribbean beaches often find themselves in the path of hurricanes. The strongest winds and complete serenity, the opportunity to choose a vacation and a beach to your liking, enjoy sea views sports, to observe the life of plants and animals in the pristine corners of nature, attracts people from all over the world.

See video About holidays in the Caribbean:

Before you know where the Caribbean Islands are on the world map, you need to get a little general information about them. They include the Antilles, which rise significantly above sea level, as well as the Bahamas from coral reefs. Most of them are of volcanic origin. Some islands are surrounded by large coral reefs, the tops of which protrude from the water and are overgrown with palm trees. The Greater Antilles include four large areas of land that stretch from the mainland, among them Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Haiti and Cuba. The Lesser Antilles include a scattering of small lands, which include the Bahamas, Caicos, Turks, Bourbuda, Antigua, the Virginia Archipelago, Guadeloupe, Barbados, and so on.

Hard to say, which country is the caribbean, since they include all land areas washed by the Caribbean Sea. At the same time, parts of the archipelago territorially belong to different states. Previously, they were known to the world as the legendary Antilia, then as the West Indies, and only then as the Caribbean, comfortably located inside a kind of geographical depression between South and North America. Some of the islands are not inhabited, but most of them still have a developed resort network. Today, about fifty islands are places where visitors come from all over the world.

The popularity of the local latitudes is explained harmonious combination mild climate rich historical heritage as well as picturesque natural landscapes.

An important advantage of the Caribbean is the opportunity to relax all year round, because it is not cold here, eternal summer and sunny weather reign. The big question is the need for visas. It is tourists who are constrained by visa restrictions who are most interested in Where is the Caribbean which countries they belong to. The Caribbean includes more than fifty islands, some of which are separate states, while others are considered the territorial property of France, America and England. However, most Caribbean sites do not require their guests to have a visa. All cruises are operated from Mexico, the Dominican Republic and the United States, so the city of departure still needs to be reached by plane, so lovers of cruise travel will still not be able to do without a visa. The most common cruise destinations are Eastern, Southern and Western Caribbean. It is also worth noting that the cost of the tour depends on the number of islands included in the route.

Which Caribbean Islands to visit

Among the huge list of sites in the Caribbean, there are several areas that are most popular. After the tourist has understood where the Caribbean islands are, he needs to make a specific choice where he will go to rest. To do this, you should familiarize yourself with the basic information known about the most resorts. Some of them are distinguished by a developed tourist network, others make travelers fall in love with their remoteness from the usual civilization. Domestic tourists, as a rule, choose among such offers:

The list can go on for a very long time. It is noteworthy that before you go traveling, you must also look at the weather of the Caribbean Islands by months, which will allow you to make the right choice.

Weather in the Caribbean

Weather conditions for different land areas belonging to the same archipelago may vary slightly. In general, however, the climate ranges from humid to temperate tropical. It is worth noting that the humidity index for any island will remain consistently high, which contributes to the excellent growth of various types of vegetation. Cleaner and drier air is always in mountainous areas. The air temperature here does not fall below +25 degrees. Coastal water stays warm all year round, its temperature does not fall below +22 degrees. Care should be taken when planning a vacation in these latitudes from September to November. Since this period is characterized by increased rainfall with possible hurricanes.

The local summer is characterized by moderate heat, which is facilitated by the trade winds blowing from the sea. The peak of tourism falls on the period from December to April, so domestic travelers often meet here New Year. From August to November, the so-called "Dead season" begins in the Caribbean. It is worth noting that it is quite difficult to predict a Caribbean holiday, because on one part of the land there can be a torrential downpour, and on the other, the sun can burn brightly. Thus, it is important not only to view photos of the beaches of the Caribbean Islands on the Internet, but also to read the reviews of tourists who have already had time to relax here.

The Caribbean Sea is the dream of many people. Hot summer always reigns here, the sun's rays are warm, tropical trees are green and beautiful flowers are fragrant with their unique aromas. Snow-white beach sand and azure waves of the sea - this place is a real paradise for any tourist.

Caribbean Sea: map, climate, flora and fauna

The Caribbean Sea is home to a variety of unique representatives of the animal and plant world. While diving, you can admire beautiful exotic fish and magnificent coral reefs.

Fascinating caribbean map fringes numerous islands and island groups. The coastline is quite indented. The main part of the islands is covered with mountains and surrounded by evergreen wooded tropics. Stretches along the coast great amount snow-white sandy beaches. Each island has its own, special originality and originality.

Weather in the Caribbean region is even throughout the year. Most of the precipitation falls in May. Air temperature rarely below 26 degrees The water temperature is also quite warm and comfortable. Hurricanes can occur in autumn, but this is quite rare.

The sea is striking in its area and depth. It stretches for more than three million square meters. km, in some places its depth reaches three kilometers.

Popular islands in the Caribbean

Consider several islands, the rest on which will become especially bright for impressions and emotions.

Jamaica

Jamaica is one of the Caribbean islands, which is especially popular among Russian tourists. Here you can find unusual fantastic landscapes, stunning with their splendor and beauty: mountain expanses, sea depths, waterfalls with cascades, golden beaches, quiet harbors and mysterious gorges. The local "trick" is the legendary rum, which is a special pride of the island's population.

The weather in Jamaica is very comfortable. Despite the year-round summer, there is no burning heat, exhausting heat and excessive stuffiness. On the territory of the island, you can feel a slight coolness, a pleasant sea breeze and a warm east wind. The resort provides for both active and calm, measured rest. Tourists can enjoy spending time on cozy beaches or on exciting excursions. You can walk or ride horses and appreciate all the greatness of the local rich culture.

Dominican Republic

On the map of the popular islands of the Caribbean occupies far from the last place. It attracts many tourists with its luxurious beaches, most of which are among the ten best beach areas in the world. They are distinguished by very picturesque shores and excellent equipment. On their territory there are many children's and sports grounds, restaurants, cafes and places for active entertainment.

Wonderful developed infrastructure offers a wide choice good hotels and hotel complexes. Be sure to go on interesting sea cruises that take place from the tourist port of La Romana. The efficiency and technical equipment of this port were noted as the best in the world.

Barbados

Barbados also stands out for its comfortable weather conditions and lots of attractions. Here you can go windsurfing, rafting, diving or canoeing. A lot of options for sightseeing trips: sea travel, an overview of the island by helicopter from a height, scuba diving on a boat. Worth visiting the Flower Reserve, botanical gardens Andromeda zoo.

On the coastal line of Barbados, there are many comfortable beaches. A special local attraction is Crane Beach with its unique pink sand. resort area Surrounded by numerous restaurants with delicious gourmet cuisine.

Holidays in the Caribbean have their own huge benefits: soft climatic conditions, interesting sights, a lot of entertainment and more. etc. Using them, you can make your vacation colorful and unforgettable.

The Caribbean Sea is a tropical sea that is part of the Atlantic Ocean.

The Caribbean Sea, located between the two Americas, has a long history. Here, luxurious nature and excellent conditions for the development of tourism.

Origin

The ancient age of the sea has not been precisely established by science. It is believed that it began with a small reservoir, which in the Cretaceous period acquired the features of the modern sea.

The rising waters connected it to the Atlantic Ocean. Modern name it received from the Caribs, who displaced after the first millennium AD. Indians Antilles. Therefore, the Europeans, who discovered the sea in the middle of the last millennium, named it after this people.

Historical events

In the Middle Ages, the first Spanish settlement was founded in what is now Haiti. Then Cuba and Hispaniola were conquered. The local Indians became slaves. Later, Mexico was conquered and colonized. British, French, Dutch and Danish colonies appeared. The mining of gold and silver, the production of dyes, tobacco and sugar were organized. For this, slaves were brought from Africa.

Caribbean sea. about haiti photo

Active trade with the mother countries caused the appearance of piracy in the 17th century, which flourished in the years 1700-1730. Pirates hunted in this sea until the beginning of the 19th century. Since that time, the process of decolonization began, which ended in the twentieth century. In place of the colonies, independent states were formed.

The United States began to play a dominant role in the region. At the beginning of the 21st century, the Association of Caribbean States recognized the sea as a common heritage and priceless asset that sets the stage for cooperation in tourism, trade, transport and the fight against natural disasters.

currents

The sea has several currents. So, from the southeast, currents drive cold water to the northwest at depths from 500 to 3000 m. Warmer subtropical currents go from above and continue to move, created by winds in a westerly direction.

Bypassing the coast of Central America, these waters enter the bay off the Mexican coast, raising its level above the Atlantic Ocean. It is characteristic that if it usually flows at a speed of up to 2.8 km/h, then at the entrance to the strait near the Yucatan Peninsula it reaches 6 km/h.

As a result, there is a pressure, called hydrostatic. It is believed that it is he who makes the Gulf Stream move. From the south side of the sea, for almost a whole year, there is a circular rotation of water.

What rivers flow

The largest river in the region is the Colombian Magdalena, 1,500 kilometers long. In the same country, Atrato, Leon and Turbo flow into the sea. The Dike, Sinu, Catatumbo and Chama rivers flow into Lake Maracaibo connected to the sea.

Several rivers (Belen, Krikamola, Teribe, etc.) flow into the sea from the North American continent. Through Nicaragua, the Bambana, Indio, Coco, Kurinuas, Kukalaya, Prinsapolka, Rio Escondido and others flow into the sea.

From the territories of Honduras, Guatemala and Belize, the sea receives the waters of ten rivers of these countries. On the largest islands rivers flow from the seas: in Haiti - Yaque del Sur and Artibonite; in Cuba, Cauto and Sasa; in Jamaica, Milk River and Black River.

Relief

There are several significant depths in the sea, called basins, with a depth of 4120 to 7680 m. Among them:

Venezuelan (5420m)
Grenadian (4120m)
Kaimanova(7090m)
Colombian (4532m)
Yucatan (5055m)

They are separated by underwater ridges and straits. The highest of these ranges is off the coast of Venezuela. From its top to the surface of the sea over 2100 m. Straits have a depth of more than one and a half kilometers. In the eastern part of the sea within there is a deep-water passage Anegada, reaching a depth of 2350 m.

corals in the caribbean

The deep-water bottom of the Caribbean Sea is calcareous or weakly manganese silt. In shallow water, sand or coral thickets.

Cities

Dozens of cities are located on the North American and South American coasts and on the islands. Most of them have a long history associated with colonization. Thus, the Colombian port of Cartagena, conveniently located at the exit from the Gulf of Darien, was one of the key ports of the sea. It retained this meaning to this day.

Havana photo

The Venezuelan Cumana was a stronghold of the Spanish colonizers who explored the mainland. Founded in 1511, Havana turned from a once small settlement into a powerful fortress. Today it is the capital of the Republic of Cuba.

Santo Domingo photo

The current capital of the Dominican Republic, the city of Santo Domingo, had the status beautiful city New World. Today it is one of the centers of Caribbean tourism. Modern port cities have become Costa Rican Lemon, Colombian Barranquilla, Maracaibo in Venezuela, Port-au-Prince in Haiti, Cienfuegos in Cuba. Many coastal cities are centers of tourism.

Flora and fauna

Rich and varied animal world represented here by hundreds of species of fish and birds, many mammals. There are only four species of local sharks, which include: bull sharks, tiger silk sharks, and sharks that live in the Caribbean reefs.

shark in the caribbean

There are such fish as: flying fish and angel fish, sea devil, parrot fish and butterfly fish, tarpon, moray eels. Commercial marine animals are sardines, lobsters and tuna. Divers and fishermen are attracted by marlins and barracudas.

Of the mammals, dolphins, sperm whales, humpback whales, as well as manatees, called American, and groups of seals live here. On the islands you can meet different crocodiles and turtles, rare species of amphibians.

underwater world of the Caribbean Sea photo

Of the 600 species of birds, many are not found elsewhere. Toucans, parrots and other land birds live in the forests. Above the water you can see phaetons and frigates.

The vegetation of the Caribbean Sea, mostly tropical, here you can see fields of underwater macroalgae, there are several dozen species of them. Near corals, the plant world is more diverse: sea rupee, tortoiseshell alassia, cymodocean algae. Coastal mangroves attract many marine life.

beauty of the caribbean photo

Characteristic

The sea has an area of more than 2.7 million square meters. km, average depth 1225m, maximum depth 7686m. It washes the shores of such continental countries: Venezuela and Honduras, Colombia and Costa Rica, Mexico and Nicaragua, Panama and Cuba, Haiti and Jamaica.

There are also small island countries on fifty islands. The islands, called the Lesser Antilles, are located in the eastern part of the sea.

turtle in the caribbean

The South Antilles are scattered along the South American coast. Several archipelagos and many small islands are located on the western side of the sea.

The salinity of the water is about 35 ppm.

Climate

The climate here is tropical with a significant amount of rainfall depending on the region and season. It is affected by the circulation of air currents, the average speed of which can reach 30 km per hour. And there are also winds with a speed of 120 km / h, which causes hurricanes and storms. Such cataclysms occur in the northern part of the sea. They can destroy houses, ruin crops, take people's lives. The average monthly temperature varies between 21-29 degrees Celsius. About 500mm falls in the east, about 2000mm in the west.

The largest coral barrier reef in the Northern Hemisphere is located off the coast of Belize
a third of the sea's reefs have been destroyed or are in serious danger as a result of human activities
Diving and fishing, important for tourism, annually bring up to 4 billion dollars to the Caribbean countries
coffee, bananas, sugar, rum, bauxite, oil, nickel produced in the countries of the region are exported mainly to the USA and Canada
on the islands of the sea, the number of people employed in tourism, the volume of investment in it is two times higher than the world average; Port Royal was the largest English colony and pirate capital in the region. In 1692, it was almost completely destroyed by an earthquake and tsunami.

Jamaica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Barbados, Puerto Rico - all these and many other famous countries are located on the islands of the Caribbean and are known under the common historical name of the West Indies.

Surely, some tourists who want to relax in one of these countries have a question - where are the caribbean islands? Washed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, they are located between the North and South America. Discovered by Christopher Columbus in the 15th century, they number about seven thousand island land plots. There are 13 states on their territory. The Caribbean Sea washes not only the islands in it, but also the shores of South, Central and North America, so countries that have a Caribbean coast are also considered Caribbean.

All the islands of the Caribbean are united in three large groups - the Bahamas, Lesser and Greater Antilles. Everyone has their own geographical feature and, accordingly, relief. The Lesser Antilles, having an arched shape, stretch throughout the northern part of the archipelago. On their territory there are 8 Caribbean countries, among them - Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Dominica, Saint Lucia.

The Greater Antilles is the place most visited by tourists. The territory of the Greater Antilles includes Cuba, Jamaica, Haiti, the Cayman Islands and Puerto Rico. These countries are loved by tourists because they have a mild tropical climate, a little humid. Evergreen forests, numerous rivers, endless beaches - all this is conducive to a good rest.

The Bahamas is a large archipelago with about 700 small islands in its territory. A large number of coral reefs, snow-white sands and coconut palms, tropical forests and the warm current of the Gulf Stream - all this cannot leave lovers indifferent southern holiday. In addition, for those who know where the Caribbean Islands are located and, accordingly, their origin, it is the Bahamas that reveals its underwater deep secrets. In addition to the fashionable resorts on the islands of Abaco and Eleuthera, the Bahamas are rich in nature, historical sites and friendly people.

Caribbean Islands - a place that is a kind of oasis in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. For lovers active rest there are many geographical advantages here - from good wind conditions for sailing, to endless reef labyrinths with amazing underwater inhabitants. For a relaxing holiday- quiet sea lagoons framed by tropical forests make the rest on the islands worthy of subsequent repetitions.