Jamaica miniguide
Jamaica is an island nation in the Caribbean (islands belong to the large Antilles) - who also is a member of the British Commonwealth, and thus has Queen Elizabeth II as the formal head of state (like, for example, Canada and Australia ).The island was a British colony until it gained its independence in 1962.
The official language of Jamaica is English, but a majority still uses mixed language patois on a daily basis.
Jamaica has about 2.9 million inhabitants (2008), of which 600,000 live in the capital, Kingston , located on the southeast coast.Other cities in Jamaica Spanish Town on the north coast (the second largest with 150,000 inhabitants), Ocho Rios - also on the north coast (popular tourist town and cruise port), Montego Bay on the northwest coast (with Jamaica's finest beach) - and Port Royal, the former capital, located on the sandy banks Los Palisados outside Kingston .
The island's original inhabitants, Arawak Indians, were displaced and eventually wiped out by European colonists who arrived in the wake of Columbus' "discovery" of the island in 1494 - first Spanish, then English. In addition, a large number of African slaves "imported" in the 1700s. In the 1800s, did the slaves revolt in several stages, and among today's jamaicanere is about. 90% of ethnic African origin.
The climate is tropical along the coast, while inland, where there is a lot of mountains, is more temperate. Sometimes, especially in late summer, it happens that Jamaica will be affected by tropical storms. When it comes to landscapes, there is much rain in the north - but also inviting beaches. Jamaica's highest mountain, Blue Mountain Peak, towering 2,256 feet above sea level.
There are two international airports in Jamaica - Norman Manley Airport outside of Kingston and the Sangster Airport in Montego Bay .
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