Washed by the delicate silk of the Caribbean Sea, the fabulous island of Jamaica attracts tourists and travelers who want to enjoy the fabulous beauty and mild climate. The liquid gold of the sun, which generously bestows upon travelers and natives all year round, the sea of lush greenery in which local villages are drowning, the endless expanse of the year-round warm sea... The dream of anyone who loves a comfortable and emotional vacation!
This fabulous island has been sung by poets more than once and has long been recognized as the pearl of the Caribbean. And for good reason! Just look at the incredible beauty, magnificent, exotic nature. Here is a paradise for those who want to reunite with the most mysterious flora of the planet, dissolve in indescribable beauty, and inhale the enchanting aromas of flowers.
Jamaica on the world map with hotel prices
Jamaica Island on the world map or a detailed map of the island can be viewed using the navigation buttons (+/-). Caribbean islands on the map
You just need to see the geographical location of this fabulous corner, and you will already want to visit here. Even on the map the island looks like a piece of paradise. Surrounded by the water element, covered with emerald greenery, it captivates at first sight.
Holidays in Jamaica can be either quite comfortable or somewhat “savage”. Excellent hotels are hospitable for those who do not want to part with comfort. For lovers of extreme conditions, local residents will offer bungalows just on the seashore. The lack of comfort is compensated by the opportunity to watch how the solar disk sinks in the waters of the Caribbean Sea, so that very soon it will rise again and give people a new day of life in a paradise on the planet.
Nature of Jamaica
Perhaps the most famous and desirable for tourists and travelers on the island are the magnificent flowers, of which more than 3,000 species grow here. By the way, orchids – delicate flowers, many of whose species are previously unseen by Europeans – evoke indescribable delight.
For lovers of hiking, tropical forests with impassable thickets open their arms. In the thickets of bamboo and eucalyptus you can meet a funny panda. On the branches of the loge tree and the Caribbean pine, colorful sweet-voiced birds sing the song of life in every possible way. Fairytale land!
The beaches are located on a narrow plain stretching along the entire island. Snow-white sands, coral reefs, the satin surface of the sea... All this is flooded with the light of the brightest sun in the world. There is no such gentle and caressing warmth in any corner of the world!
Sights of Jamaica
Holidays on this wonderful island are attractive not only for those who like to laze on the beach. There are quite a few interesting and fascinating places here, a visit to which will give you a lot of most pleasant impressions.
Popular for tourists and travelers are:
- Sun Valley Plantations. Fans of exotic delicacies will enjoy walks through plantations, where they can taste the delicious fruits of local plants;
- Blue Mountains. Anyone who conquers their peak will be able to enjoy a breathtaking view - the capital of the island nation of Kingston looks amazing from a bird's eye view;
- River Martha Brae. Local residents are happy to organize a trip on a bamboo raft. Truly a most exciting adventure! Admiring the beauty of nature and local attractions will leave indelible memories;
- Ocho Rios. The main pride of Jamaica. Here you will be invited to walk through fern forests and listen to the sound of the Duns River waterfall;
- Black River. Lovers of thrills and crocodiles safaris who simply bask on the shore should definitely go here. Those who do not want to hunt reptiles will be offered a trip on a rented boat;
- Bob Marley Mausoleum. All tourists should definitely visit this place. The natives adore this artist. After all, he is one of those who sang the praises of this paradise island.
Jamaica is an island state within the British Commonwealth in the West Indies. In the northwest it borders with the territorial waters of Cuba, in the east with the territorial waters of Haiti, in the south with the territorial waters of Colombia. The capital of Jamaica is Kingston.
The name comes from a corruption of the Indian word "haymaka" (Arawak. Xaymaca), which literally means "island of springs" or "land of springs."
On August 6, 1962, Jamaica declared independence from Great Britain within the Commonwealth of Nations. The capital and largest city of the country is Kingston.
The climate in Jamaica is humid tropical. In January the average monthly temperature is about +25C, and in July about +27C. The coldest and rainiest months are usually May and October, but there is also light rain in other months of the year.
Jamaica Island: photos
Jamaica Island: where is it located?
Jamaica is the third largest island in the Greater Antilles group. The main island is located between 17° - 19° north latitude and 76° - 79° west longitude, 145 km south of Cuba, 160-190 km west of Haiti, 290 km southeast of the Cayman Islands. The closest point of the continent is Cape Gracias a Dios (Nicaragua) - located 630 km to the southwest. With a length of 225 km from west to east and from 35 to 82 km from north to south, the island has an area of 10,991 km². The length of the coastline is 1022 km.
Jamaica Island: how to get there
There are several ways to get to Jamaica:
- Lufthansa and Condor airlines jointly operate a flight on the Moscow - Montego Bay route via Frankfurt. Flight duration is about 16 hours excluding connections.
- British Airways operates transit flights through London to Kingston - but there is a caveat: a change of airport in London, and some flights have an overnight stay in London. The flight duration is about 16 hours excluding connections.
- An alternative is Virgin Atlantic flights that follow the route Moscow - Kingston or Moscow - Montego Bay with a connection in London. In this case, it is also impossible to avoid changing the airport in London (from Heathrow to Gatwick).
There are no direct flights from the CIS countries, so the flight is carried out either through Moscow or in transit through Europe. Transit points are London and Frankfurt.
When flying with British Airways, CIS citizens require a UK transit visa, but for Russian citizens it is only recommended. Therefore, if you need an overnight stay, it is better to apply for a visa. In case of moving from one airport to another, you must have an air ticket to your final destination with departure from another airport and a voucher for a hotel in Jamaica (preferably, the hotel is not the cheapest).
Jamaica Island: video
Travel to Jamaica
Jamaica is an island state in the Caribbean Sea, part of the British Commonwealth, like many other former colonies of the once vast and powerful empire.
Others all our compatriots know about Jamaica is that it is the birthplace of Bob Marley, and they also remember the old song in Italian sung by the loud-voiced boy Robertino Loretti.
The reduction of geography to an optional subject, which threatens mainstream schools, could make this situation widespread.
Meanwhile, Jamaica is a country with an interesting destiny.
Geography
"Jamaica" literally means "land of springs" which is not surprising, since many small rivers and streams flow down from the central highlands and often suddenly disappear, continuing their path underground, in karst cavities.
Mountains and valleys make up different ecosystems - here you can see tropical rainforests, selva, and savanna, especially where forests have long been cut down by colonists for plantations.
Tropical climate - eternal summer,- but the territory of Jamaica is included in the zone of hurricanes, which can be very destructive.
Although human activity has reduced the flora and fauna of the island, for us, residents of northern latitudes, what remains is amazingly exotic.
Orchids and hibiscus grow here (the same one from which hibiscus tea is made), and crocodiles are found in reservoirs. There are more than twenty species of bats alone!
Story
Columbus dropped anchor off these shores in 1494 and, as a loyal citizen of Spain, gave the island the name of Ferdinand and Isabella. The local population ignored this fact, and Jamaica remained Jamaica.
For a hundred years, the colonialists almost completely exterminated the Indians, but they themselves did not want to work, and therefore in the 17th century they began to import black slaves to the island.
But soon the lazy Spaniards were replaced by the active British, who built Port Royal on the shore - “the most sinful city in the Christian world.” It was here that the main residence of the corsairs, who had previously vacationed in Tortuga, was moved.
In general, pirates left a lot here - even The governor of Jamaica at one time was the pirate Henry Morgan, famous for his exploits, and a quarter of the population of Port Royal consisted of gentlemen of fortune.
God punished Port Royal on July 7, 1692: a strong earthquake completely destroyed the city, and the looted goods went under water.
Not all newly arrived Englishmen were pirates. There were also strong businessmen who organized plantations where sugar cane was grown.
Sugar, molasses and rum, Jamaica's main assets, were exported around the world. At the heart of all this was the labor of black slaves.
Slavery was abolished in 1833 (thirty years earlier than in the USA!) and being a planter became unfashionable.
Former slaves gathered in groups and terrorized former slave owners. There was even a story about the deportation of blacks back to Africa.
In addition, competition has increased - other countries began to produce sugar.
However, Jamaica remained a British colony for another hundred years. It was only in 1962 that it gained independence. however with a strong American influence.
Modernity
Like every country that is part of the British Commonwealth, Jamaica considers Queen Elizabeth its head however, the state is ruled by a prime minister, according to the old tradition called the governor-general, who is elected in Jamaica, but must be confirmed by the current monarch.
The official language is English, but Creole and Jamaican are more popular among the people.
During the Cold War, the Soviet Union sympathized with the blacks of Jamaica oppressed by the Americans. Soviet workers then knew nothing about the fact that Jamaicans did not live boringly.
People here really love holidays with costumed processions, songs and dances.
Similar carnivals are held not only on Christmas and Independence Day, but also on Maroon Day, which is celebrated in honor of Captain Cujo's victory over the British in some time immemorial.
And of course, everyday life is invariably decorated with reggae - the national treasure of Jamaica.
Rastafarianism
According to the Rastafarian interpretation of the Bible, blacks are punished for their sins and given into slavery just as the people of Israel were carried into slavery in Babylon for turning away from God.
Marcus Garvey, revered by Jamaicans as a prophet, predicted the coronation of a “black” king in Africa, which will be followed by easing the lot of blacks and freeing them from slavery.
This is how followers interpreted the coronation of Ras (Prince) Tafari under the name Haile Selassie I in Ethiopia in 1930. He fits perfectly into the legend of the Solomonic dynasty, and Rastafarians reverence him as the messiah.
Among other things, the spiritual leader gave the Rastafarians an idea of how to easily and naturally expand their consciousness in anticipation of a better future, thereby creating a united, peace-loving and cheerful nation from a bunch of goofballs.
Evidence in favor of the Rasta religion is that they do not impose their faith on anyone, since everyone must find God within themselves on their own.
In anticipation of the Exodus, Rastafari followers cultivate “African” identity, benevolence and love of neighbor and do not allow Babylon, that is, the Western way of life, into their lives.
Tourism
Jamaica is called a tourist paradise.
Russians do not need to apply for a visa if they do not plan to stay on the island for more than 30 days.
The American and Jamaican dollar are equally traded.
Local coins with images of animals, birds and fish are highly valued by numismatists.
Most Jamaican Riviera is popular among tourists- a narrow strip of beaches of the finest snow-white sand.
Together with the bright sun, blue sky and the sound of the surf, all this creates an unreal impression that you are inside some kind of advertising video. And reggae music enhances this impression...
Travel and may the Force be with you, as the Rastafarians say.
Video trip to Jamaica
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| Jamaica | |||
| Jamaica | |||
|
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| Motto: “Out of Many, One People (Out of many people - one people)” | |||
| Hymn: "Jamaica, Land We Love" | |||
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| Independence date | August 6, 1962 (from) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Official language | English | ||
| Capital | Kingston | ||
| The largest city | Kingston | ||
| Form of government | a constitutional monarchy | ||
| Queen | Elizabeth II | ||
| Governor General | Patrick Allen | ||
| Prime Minister | Andrew Holness | ||
| Territory | 160th in the world | ||
| Total | 10,991 km² | ||
| % water surface | 1,5 | ||
| Population | |||
| Score (2014) | 2,930,050 people (139th) | ||
| Density | 252 people/km² | ||
| HDI (2013) | ▲ 0.730 (high; 86th place) | ||
| Names of residents | Jamaican, Jamaican | ||
| Currency | Jamaican dollar (JMD, code 388) | ||
| Internet domain | .jm | ||
| ISO code | J.M. | ||
| IOC code | JAM | ||
| Telephone code | +1876 | ||
| Time Zones | UTC−5 | ||
Jamaica(eng. Jamaica) - an island state within the British Commonwealth in. Located in the Caribbean Sea, south of, west of.
The name comes from a corruption of the Indian word "haymaka" (Arawak. Xaymaca), which literally means "island of springs" or "land of springs."
On August 6, 1962, Jamaica declared independence within the Commonwealth of Nations. The capital and largest city of the country is Kingston.
Physiographic characteristics
NASA satellite photo. Jamaica Island south of Cuba
Geographical position
Jamaica is the third largest island in the Greater Antilles group. The main island is located between 17° and 19° north latitude and 76° and 79° west longitude, 145 km south of, 160-190 km west of Haiti, 290 km southeast of. The closest point of the continent is Cape Gracias a Dios () - located 630 km to the southwest. With a length of 225 km from west to east and from 35 to 82 km from north to south, the island has an area of 10,991 km². The length of the coastline is 1022 km.
Climate
Jamaica is located in a tropical climate zone with the dominance of northeastern trade winds, which significantly influence, along with the absolute altitude of the area, the climate of the country.
In the metropolitan area, the average annual temperature varies from 24 to 27 °C, and in the town of Gordon Hill in the Blue Mountains - from 4 to 7 °C.
Temperatures vary slightly throughout the year, the average values in January are 24-25 °C, in July - 26-27 °C.
Precipitation is seasonal and is particularly intense in May and October, although thunderstorms with heavy rainfall also occur in the summer months. The average annual precipitation is 2100 mm, but also depends on the area. The south coast receives 635mm of rainfall, while the John Crow Mountains in the north-east of the island receive up to 7600mm. The rainy season lasts from May to October, and during the winter months (December to March), the island is exposed to cold northerly winds from the North American continent.
Jamaica is located in the Atlantic hurricane belt, which causes great damage to the population and economy. Among the particularly powerful hurricanes that swept right through the island were Hurricanes Charlie (1951), Allen (1980) and Gilbert 1988. Hurricanes Ivan (2004) and Dean (2007) caused widespread destruction and several deaths on the island.
Relief and geology
Relief of Jamaica
Most of the territory (about 2/3) of Jamaica is a limestone plateau with a height of 500m to 1km, in some places higher. In the eastern part of the island are the Blue Mountains, where the highest point in the country is located - Blue Mountain (height 2256 m). To the southwest is Mount Malvern (725m) and to the west is Dolphin Head (545m). In the western part of the island, karst landforms are common, represented in the John Crow Mountains, Dry Harbor Mountains and in the Cockpit Country karst basin with an area of about 1300 km². The basin is a complex of low hills separated by narrow valleys. This area is characterized by sinkholes and underground watercourses.
Alluvial lowlands are located along the southern and western coasts. The southern coast of the island is heavily dissected and has reef-lined harbors, such as Kingston Harbor. On the western coast of the city, a beach of coral sand stretches for 11 km. The northern coast is poorly dissected and has a rocky character. In its center is the popular Jamaican Riviera, a narrow strip of fine-grained white sand beaches.
Jamaica's position in the seismically active Antilles-Caribbean tectonic region was reflected in catastrophic earthquakes in 1692 and 1907. The most important mineral resource is bauxite, in terms of reserves of which Jamaica occupies a leading place in the world.
Water resources
Jamaica has many small rivers and streams that originate in the central highlands and often disappear into karst cavities. The total volume of renewable water resources is 9.4 km³ (2000). The longest river is the Miño (93 km) flowing from the Dry Harbor Mountains to Carlisle Bay. Two more rivers, the Black River in the western part and the Rio Cobre near Kingston, are more than 50 km long. Of all the island's rivers, the Black River is navigable for a considerable distance - small ships can rise 48 km from the mouth. The only river that does not flow in a north or south direction is Plantaine Garden in the east of the island.
Major cities
- Kingston
Flora and fauna
Halliwell National Park in the Blue Mountains
The island is known for its diverse ecosystems, including low-growing forests high in the mountains, jungles on the northeastern mountain slopes and valleys, savannas in the south and west, and sandy areas where only cacti and other xerophytic plants grow. Since the 15th century, when the island was completely forested except for small agricultural areas, the vegetation has changed greatly. Colonists cut down trees for construction purposes and cleared plains, savannas and mountain slopes for cultivation. Many species have been introduced, including sugarcane, bananas and citrus fruits.
The forest area on the island is about 194 thousand hectares (1/5 of the entire territory). Cottonwood is the most common tree; in hard-to-reach places, virgin stands of large-leaved tree, ebony and dalbergia have been preserved; in some places there are thickets of bamboo and logwood, as well as plantings of Caribbean pine and eucalyptus. The southern coast is overgrown with mangroves in many places. In the western and southwestern parts of the island, in places where the land is not used for plantations, savanna-type vegetation (cereals and free-standing trees) is common. In total, the island is home to more than 3,000 species of flowering plants, including 200 species of orchids and Hibiscus sabdariffa (from which hibiscus is made).
Bird Trochilus polytmus, a representative of the pennant-tailed hummingbird subfamily
Jamaica's fauna is relatively poor: birds, rodents (rats, mice), rabbits, mongooses, reptiles (turtles, snakes, crocodiles and iguanas) and 20 species of bats. There are few native animals in Jamaica; during human development, the fauna of the island suffered greatly. In pre-Columbian times, the island was home to numerous members of the Hutiidae family, but their numbers later declined due to hunting and habitat destruction. Native crocodiles may also be at risk of extinction. Mongooses, introduced in 1872 from India to combat poisonous snakes, became widespread.
The waters of the island and coastal areas are rich in fish. Freshwater fish are represented mainly by mullet; there are 4 types of freshwater crayfish. Manatees live in coastal waters.
More than 250 species of birds have been recorded, including migratory ones, with 25 species and 21 subspecies being endemic, including the national symbol - the pennant-tailed hummingbird. Among the introduced species are mynas.
The island's conservation areas include Cockpit Country, Hellshire Hills and Litchfield forest reserves. In 1992, the first marine park was organized in Montego Bay and has an area of 15 km². In 1993, the Blue Mountains and John Crow Mountains National Park were created.
Story
In ancient times, Jamaica was inhabited by Indians. The island was discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1494. Columbus named it the island of Ferdinand and Isabella in honor of the royal couple. This name did not catch on; the island retained its local name - Jamaica. The Spaniards founded their first settlement on the island in 1509.
By the time the Spaniards arrived, Jamaica was inhabited by Arawak Indians, their number possibly reaching about 60 thousand people. During the period of Spanish rule, the Indians in Jamaica disappeared almost completely. By 1611, there were only 74 Indians on the island.
Already at the beginning of the 16th century, the Spaniards began to import black slaves from Jamaica as labor force. However, the Spaniards did not colonize the island very actively over a century and a half, and in 1655 it was captured by the British (Jamaica was officially declared an English colony in 1670).
The British erected a fort on the shore of a vast natural harbor, not far from what is now Kingston. A city began to grow near the fort. He soon gained fame "the most sinful city in all of Christendom", since the “capital” of sea robbers moved there from the island of Tortuga. At the end of the 17th century, the city of Port Royal had 8 thousand inhabitants, of which one and a half thousand were pirates.
Pirates robbed Spanish ships and took their loot to Port Royal, which led to the prosperity of the city. However, on June 7, 1692, most of this "depraved Babylon" As a result of the earthquake, she disappeared into the depths of the sea. The delighted Church of Catholic Spain hastened to announce that “God punished the wicked city for its sins.”
Kingston, 1820
However, by that time the British had already firmly established themselves in Jamaica, turning the island into a large “sugar” colony - sugar cane plantations were intensively developing in Jamaica. Most of the plantations were located on the plains of the south of the island. The interior of Jamaica was used for grazing. Jamaica's industry produced raw sugar, molasses-molasses and the famous Jamaican sugar.
The uprisings of black slaves caused considerable concern to the British. In about 150 years, before the beginning of the 19th century, there were at least 30 such uprisings. Already in the second half of the 17th century, the Maroons, runaway black slaves and their descendants, settled in the most remote mountainous and forested areas of Jamaica, who created something like their own state. They raided for livestock and other plunder, and eventually the British deported the Maroons to Africa (where they founded a city) at the end of the 18th century.
In 1831, a major uprising occurred in Jamaica, during which approximately 60,000 slaves went on strike, and which is believed to hastened the decision to abolish slavery in the British colonies. Thus, Henry Taylor, head of the West Indian Department of the British Colonial Administration, later commented: “Indirectly, this terrible event [the rebellion] ... dealt a mortal blow to slavery.” In the 19th century, after the abolition of slavery in 1833, “bad times” came for English planters in Jamaica. The emancipation of black slaves significantly undermined the plantation economy of Jamaica. The import of contract workers from China did not improve the situation. Sugar production in Jamaica has declined sharply. In addition, competition has increased due to the increase in beet sugar production in Europe and the increase in sugar production in Java.
In the 20th century, the economic situation in Jamaica changed significantly as a result of investments from. American companies established large-scale export production of bananas, as well as cocoa, coffee and coconuts in Jamaica. The Americans also began developing Jamaica's infrastructure (railway network, etc.).
Universal suffrage was introduced in Jamaica in 1943, and partial self-government in 1944. In 1959, Jamaica gained internal self-government, and in August 1962, Britain granted Jamaica independence.
State structure
Until 1962, Jamaica was a possession; on August 6, 1962 it became an independent state. The constitution of 1962 is in force (taking into account the reforms of 1997 and subsequent amendments). The country is a kingdom, royal power is exercised in the form of a constitutional monarchy. The head of state is the British monarch (Queen Elizabeth II), represented by the Governor General, who is appointed by him on the recommendation of the Prime Minister of Jamaica. The Governor-General exercises royal authority in the country on behalf of the Queen, exercising all the powers granted to her by the Constitution during her absence from Jamaica.
In 2012, the 50th anniversary of independence from the United Kingdom, Jamaica expressed its desire to leave the Commonwealth and become a "full-fledged" republic. Jamaican Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller announced this at her inauguration speech. Buckingham Palace responded that the decision on the political system of Jamaica rests with the population of the state, and not with anyone else.
The Governor General signs all bills and appoints the Prime Minister (from the winning party). Under the Governor General there is an advisory body of 6 members - the Privy Council, which is formed by him on the recommendation of the Prime Minister. On his recommendation, the Governor-General appoints members of the government.
The legislative body is a bicameral parliament, consisting of two chambers: the Senate (21 members, appointed by the governor general, of which 13 are on the recommendation of the prime minister, 8 are from the opposition); House of Representatives - 63 deputies elected by the population for a 5-year term.
The main two political parties (based on the results of the elections in February 2016):
- Jamaica Labor Party (liberal-conservative) - 33 seats in parliament
- People's National Party (social democratic) - 30 seats in parliament
Administrative division
Jamaica is divided into fourteen parishes (districts), which are located in three historical counties.
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Clicking on the number or image of any district will take you to the corresponding article. |
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| County of Cornwall | Adm. center | km | Middlesex County | Adm. center | km | Surrey | Adm. center | km | |||
| 1 | Hanover | Lucea | 450 | 6 | Clarendon | May-Pen | 1196 | 11 | Kingston | Kingston | 25 |
| 2 | Saint Elizabeth | Black River | 1212 | 7 | Manchester | 830 | 12 | Portland | 814 | ||
| 3 | St. James | 595 | 8 | Sainte-Anne | Saint Anse Bay | 1213 | 13 | Saint Andrew | 453 | ||
| 4 | Trelawney | 875 | 9 | Saint Catherine | 1192 | 14 | St. Thomas | 743 | |||
| 5 | Westmoreland | Savanna-la-Mar | 807 | 10 | St. Mary's | 611 | |||||
Foreign policy
Jamaica is a member of the British Commonwealth, a member of the UN and its specialized organizations, the Organization of American States, the Caribbean Community, the Non-Aligned Movement, the ACP countries, etc.
The country's foreign policy fluctuated significantly depending on which party was in power. Thus, the PLJ government in 1962-1972 focused on and. The PNP cabinet in 1972-1980 emphasized the slogans of non-alignment and solidarity with the countries of the “third world”, strengthened relations with. The PLJ, having returned to power in 1980, broke off relations with and again reoriented towards. Since 1989, the Jamaican government has pursued a more balanced foreign policy.
The country has diplomatic relations with (established with the USSR in 1975).
Armed forces
The Jamaica Defense Force consists of:
- ground forces - 1 infantry regiment (three battalions, of which one is reserve); engineer regiment (actually a battalion consisting of 4 companies); support and service battalion (training center, supply, repair, transport, military police units);
- aviation wing - several light aircraft and helicopters;
- coast guard - 3 patrol ships, 2 patrol boats, as well as small boats.
Population
- Population - 2.8 million (estimate as of July 2010)
- Birth rate - 19.5 per 1000
- Mortality - 6.5 per 1000
- Emigration - 5.5 per 1000
- Annual population growth - 0.7%
- Fertility - 2.2 births per woman
- Average life expectancy - 71.8 years for men, 75.3 years for women
- Immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection - 1.6% (2007 estimate)
- Literacy - 84% men, 92% women
- Urban population - 53%
Ethno-racial composition: Africans 91.2%, mulattoes 6.2%, others 2.6% (according to the 2001 census).
Languages: The main spoken language is Jamaican Creole ("Patois") based on English, the official language is Standard English.
Religions: Protestants of various persuasions 62.5%, Catholics 2.6%, Rastafari 10%, atheists 20.9%, other and undecided 4% (according to the 2001 census). Protestants are represented by Baptists, Anglicans, Methodists, Pentecostals from the Church of God and Assemblies of God, etc.
Largest cities: Kingston (660 thousand people), (83 thousand).
Economy
The main sector of the Jamaican economy is the service sector (more than 60% of GDP and employees). The main sources of income in convertible currency are tourist services (20% of GDP), cash receipts from workers abroad (20% of GDP) and the export of bauxite and aluminum.
GDP per capita (in 2009) - 8.2 thousand dollars (117th place in the world). The unemployment rate (in 2009) is 14.5%.
Agriculture (6% of GDP, 17% of workers) - sugar cane, bananas, coffee, citrus fruits, yams, vegetables; chickens and goats are raised; shellfish fishing.
Industry - bauxite mining, agricultural processing, rum and clothing production.
International trade
Exports in 2008 - $2.6 billion. Main export goods: alumina, bauxite, sugar, coffee, yams, drinks.
Imports in 2008 - $7.2 billion: food, consumer goods, fuel, vehicles, building materials.
Main suppliers - USA 39.7%, 17.6%, 11.7%.
Culture
Music
In the music world, Jamaica is known primarily for its reggae style, represented by hundreds of talented performers and groups such as Bob Marley, The Congos, Lee "Scratch" Perry, Max Romeo, The Abyssinians, The Heptones, Kiddus I, John Holt, Eek-A-Mouse and many more. etc. Since the 1970s, reggae and its derivative styles have spread across all continents. The styles of ska, dub, dancehall, soul, and calypso also owe their origin to Jamaica. The lead singers of the group Boney M (Liz Mitchell and Marcia Barrett), model, actress and singer Grace Jones, lead singer of the Bad Boys Blue group Trevor Taylor, Grammy winner Sean Paul, as well as the Jamaican reggae group Inner Circle, Andrew Donalds, famous thanks to hits such as “Mishale” (#38 on the Billboard Hot 100), “(I’m Not Your) One Night Lover” and collaborations with the famous ambient music group Enigma.
Sport
Usain Bolt with the prize for the best athlete in the world 2011
Among the sports in Jamaica, sprinting is the most developed. Jamaican sprinters made their presence known back in 1948, when Jamaica first took part in the Summer Olympics. In total, between 1948 and 2012, Jamaican athletes won 67 Olympic medals (including 17 gold), of which 66 were won in athletics and another in cycling. In the 100 and 200 meters, Jamaican athletes are among the world leaders in the 21st century, along with US athletes.
Among female sprinters, Merlin Ottey, Veronica Campbell-Brown, Shelley-Ann Fraser-Pryce and others have achieved success at the world level. At the end of the 2000s, the star of the most successful athlete in the history of the country rose: Usain Bolt managed to win three gold medals at three Olympics in a row (2008 and 2012, 2016), winning at distances of 100 meters, 200 meters and in the 4x100 meter relay. . Having set world records in the 100 and 200 meters, Bolt became a true symbol of Jamaica and one of the most recognizable athletes in the history of the sport.
The Jamaican bobsled team competed in four Winter Olympics, finishing 14th among four-man teams in 1994.
Holidays
Jonkanoo (English) Jonkonnu parades) is a traditional celebration dedicated to Christmas, during which celebrants parade through the streets in fancy dress. This holiday came out of the traditions of secret societies.
January 6th is celebrated Maroon Day. This holiday commemorates the birthday of Captain Cujo, a Maroon who defeated the English army in the 1730s. On January 6, festivals are held in honor of this day, the integral attributes of which are traditional dancing, singing and rituals.
Education
- University of the West Indies
In culture
- Pirates of the Caribbean (film series)
- "The Maroons" is a novel by Mine Reid.
- The Man with the Golden Gun - novel by Ian Fleming
- "Tight Turns" - the story of the Jamaican bobsled team
Natives of Jamaica are characters in the works of Charlotte Bronte "Jane Eyre" and Ethel Lilian Voynich's "Take Off Your Shoes"
The band "Comedoz" refers to Jamaica many times in their songs. They also have the song "Jamaica".
Tourist sites
- About 70 official beaches
- Bob Marley House Museum
Notes
- World Atlas: Maximum detailed information / Project leaders: A. N. Bushnev, A. P. Pritvorov. - Moscow: AST, 2017. - P. 84. - 96 p. - ISBN 978-5-17-10261-4.
- The CIA World Factbook - Jamaica.
- Human Development Report 2013 (English). United Nations Development Program (2013). Archived from the original on August 13, 2013.
- Blue Mountains Maroons.
- Geographical names of the world: Toponymic dictionary. - M: AST. Pospelov E. M. 2001.
- Encyclopedia Around the World: Jamaica.
- Encyclopedia Around the World: Jamaica.
- Jamaica- article from the Great Soviet Encyclopedia.
- Jamaica - Britannica Online Encyclopedia
- Jamaica // Encyclopedia "Around the World".
- Jamaica - CIA - The World Factbook
- America: a general overview of Latin America. Middle America. - Thought, 1981. - 344 p.
- E. V. Tarle. Essays on the history of colonial policy of Western European states: the end of the 15th - beginning of the 19th centuries. - Leningrad, 1965. - 450 p.
- From colonies to sovereignty: from the history of the liberation struggle of the Caribbean colonies of England. - Thought, 1985. - 186 p.
- N. A. Erofeev. Essays on the history of England 1815-1917. M. 1959 (ru-US). www.google.ru. Retrieved April 20, 2018.
- Zinkina Yu. V., Grinin L. E., Ilyin I. V., Andreev A. I., Aleshkovsky I. A. Historical global studies: Volume 2. XIX century. - Uchitel Publishing House LLC - 392 pp. - ISBN 9785705751808.
- B. F. Porshnev, V. V. Biryukovich, S. D. Skazkin. New history: 1789-1870. - Mr. political publishing house Literary, 1958. - 860 p.
- Will Britain come to terms with its crimes against humanity? (Russian) , InoSMI.Ru(April 20, 2018). Retrieved April 20, 2018.
- Key historical individuals Understanding slavery initiative. Retrieved June 30, 2013. Archived July 2, 2013.
- Holiday Calendar: Maroon Day in Jamaica
Links
- Jamaica in the Open Directory Project (dmoz) link directory
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