Jamaica

The island of Jamaica is a country in the Caribbean South of Cuba and West of the island of Hispaniola. Jamaica is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, Queen Elizabeth II is head of State. Jamaica is divided into 3 counties and 14 parishes.



Content
[hide] *1 History  ==History[ Edit] == The island was around 650 in property taken by the Taínos and Arawaks from South America who called the island Xaymaca : Land of wood and water. Around 1400, theCaribbean, a cannibalistic tribe from South America, disrupt the peaceful existence of the Arawaks. In 1494, the island was discovered by Chris Christopher Columbus who used the island as a private to 1509-after which the Spaniards called the island Santiago and there were African slaves come from 1517 . The Arawaks were exterminated by a combination of infectious diseases, slavery and war. In the Spanish time, there were no more than about 2000 people on the island, half of Spaniards. These were mainly engaged in agriculture and livestock for export to Spain and Cuba.
 * 2 Geology
 * 3 Geography
 * 4 Nature
 * 5 demographics
 * 5.1 Language
 * 5.2 Religion
 * 6 political system and governance
 * 6.1 Cities
 * infrastructure 7
 * 7.1 Roads
 * 7.2 railways
 * 7.3 air traffic
 * ports and shipping 7.4
 * 8 born in Jamaica
 * 9 see also

In 1655 Jamaica was conquered by the English. After the conquest of Hispaniola had failed, decided a British fleet, under the authority of Oliver Cromwell, but then another area on the Spaniards to conquer. In doing so the choice fell on the neighbouring island of Jamaica, weak secure. Many Spaniards who lived there fled to Cuba. They left their slaves behind on Jamaica with a view to their help in an eventual reconquest of the island. These slaves are, however, the mountains and built a new life. they are known as the Maroons. In 1658 the Spanish tried in vain to take the island back in. Jamaica to England In 1670 was formally transferred. Jamaica under British rule was an important colony. There were large numbers of plantations, where sugar cane was grown. On the plantations were large numbers of slaves from West Africa employed. In1690, the slaves on the whole island in rebellion. Between the world powers at the time was quite a bit of struggle for power on the economically important colonies in the Caribbean. So destroyed a French fleet in 1694 more than 50 sugar cane plantations. Of the plantations runaway slaves sought often resort to the Maroons in the Interior.This led to various criminal expeditions of the colonial army. In 1739, the Maroons signed a treaty with the English. They were given land and self-government. In return, they promised to help new to suppress rebellions. A new rebellion broke out in 1760 and helped the Maroons that suppress. In 1795 the Maroons were again at war with the English. In 1807 was prohibited the slave trade by the British. A slave rebellion around the city in 1831 Montego Bay was still hard punished. The population had to endure hardships, such as the Morant Bay rebellion in 1865 led by George William Gordon and Paul Bogle. Also this was quashed. In 1838 came to slavery in the entire British Empire, and thereby also in Jamaica, an end. Jamaica got full self-government In 1944 and universal suffrage, and the country became independent in 1962.

In the English first time was the seat of Jamaica Port RoyalGovernors. After this city in 1692 after an earthquake in sea sank, the capital was moved to Spanish Town. Since 1872 the capital is Kingston. ==Geology[ Edit] == About two-thirds of the island, especially West and Central, is dominated by a mountain range that largely consists of limestone formations. These mountains reach a height of max. 900 metres. The relatively steep slopes on the north side walk off towards the coast. Below sea level set up this steep slopes continue to great depth to the Caymantrog. In the mountains are very beautiful tropical karst phenomena formed. Typical are the large numbers of round isolated rest hills, with various corridors, crevices and cavities and underground waterways. A good example is the Cockpit Country. See this area from the sky look like a big, green-covered egg carton. On the South side this mountain ridge gradually down to the coast. Here one finds low Plains, swamps and wide, sandy beaches.

The eastern part, with the Blue Mountains, is part of a mountain range that extends from Hispaniola to Cuba via Jamaica in. Parts of this chain are now below sea level. The top of the Blue Mountains lies above the 2200 metres. This mountain range has a much more complex origin. and includes a variety of harder rock formations.

The coastal plains in the South, at Kingston and Spanish Town, consist of marine terraces. ==Geography<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == Map of Jamaica;Surface
 * Total: 10.991 km²
 * Country: 10.826 km²
 * Water: 165 km²


 * Land Borders
 * 0 km


 * Coastline
 * 1022 km


 * Climate
 * Tropical; hot, humid, moderate in the Interior


 * Extremes
 * Lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
 * Highest point: Blue Mountain Peak 2256 m
 * Natural resources
 * Bauxite, gypsum, limestone, bananas, sugarcane, cocoa beans, coconuts koffiebonenen

==Nature<span class="mw-editsection" len="320" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">A number of valuable areas, both on land and in sea (coral reefs) are designated as a national park in Jamaica <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-4" len="159" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[4]   :

==Demographics<span class="mw-editsection" len="324" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The majority of the Jamaican population has African ancestry. The minority is of British, Indian or Chinese descent. The Indian Jamaicans and Chinese Jamaicans were hired as contract workers by the British that the Africans had to replace, after the slavery was abolished. ===Language<span class="mw-editsection" len="318" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The official language of Jamaica is English. However, the majority of the population speaks Jamaican Patois, a Creole language. The Patois is caused by people from different parts of the world should be able to communicate with each other with different mother tongues. A simplified English was the basis. Further houses the Patois words and syntax from various African languages, including the Akan and Yoruba, from other European languages (Spanish and Portuguese) and Asian languages (Hindi and Hakka).<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-5" len="159" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"> [5]  this developed so gradually to a language with its own grammar rules, which for most Jamaicans the everyday language. TheBritish English or "theQueen's English" is mainly used in more formal situations, in education, Government and business world. ===Religion<span class="mw-editsection" len="321" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">About 65.3% of the Jamaican population are Christian. Most of these belong to the Anglican Church. In addition, the island numerous Protestant denominations and Evangelical movements. Faith is on Jamaica on a very intense, but in everyday life, often particularly liberal manner polite. The largest non-Christian religion is the Rastafarian movement. Also other religions such as Baha'i, Buddhism and islam have followers on the island. ==Political system and governance<span class="mw-editsection" len="335" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The island of Jamaica is a Constitutional Kingdom since the independence of 1962 and has a parliamentary democracy with a directly elected Prime Minister. The British Queen Elizabeth II was automatically crowned ' Queen of Jamaica "when the country was independent and sovereign of the United Kingdom. Jamaica's heir to the throne is Prince Charles. In Jamaica are all constitutional and ceremonial tasks that are carried out by the head of State made by the Governor General of Jamaica in the absence of the head of State. The tasks concerning the appointment, barks and dismiss ministers, members of Parliament, appoint nominating Prime Minister and some ceremonial functions in the Jamaican army. The head of State or his replacement officially as an individual has no right to speak in public affairs. The King and other members of the Royal family are no citizens of Jamaica, but only have a relationship with the nation. Jamaica at the local level is divided into fourteen parishes with a general and Executive Board that is elected every four years. ===Cities<span class="mw-editsection" len="320" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === <p lang="en" len="29" style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The main cities are:
 * Negril Marine Park
 * Black River Morass
 * Royal Palm Reserve
 * Dolphin Head Reserve
 * Ocho Rios Marine Park
 * Cockpit Country Reserve
 * Port Antonio Marine Park
 * Montego Bay Marine Park
 * Port Royal-Palisadoes Protected Area
 * Portland Bight Protected Area
 * Blue & John Crow Mountains National Park

==Infrastructure<span class="mw-editsection" len="329" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The infrastructure of Jamaica consists of roads,railway lines and airports. Road transport is by far the most important method of transport on the island. ===Roads<span class="mw-editsection" len="320" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The Jamaican road network is approximately 21,000 km long, of which about 15,000 km is paved.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-WorldFactbook_6-0" len="173" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"> [6]  the Jamaican Government works, along with private parties, since the end of the nineties of the twentieth century on several projects to improve the infrastructure. The most significant Highway 2000project, which aims to build motorways between the main towns on the island. The first 33 km from Kingston to Old Harbour is in use between 2003 and 2005. <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-7" len="159" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[7] ===Railways<span class="mw-editsection" len="325" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">]  === <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The railways in Jamaica are among the oldest railway lines outside of Europe and North America. Of the remaining network of 272 km is still only 57 km used to transport bauxite . The movement of persons is completely shut down since 1992 after the Jamaican Government decided the Jamaica Railway Corporation (JRC) no longer have to subsidize. From July 2011 to August 2012 have driven passenger trains on some lines. To this end, suffered losses and the JRC has fully focused on transporting bauxite. ===Air Traffic<span class="mw-editsection" len="327" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Jamaica has two international airports where large appliances can land: Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston and Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay. Both airports serve as home base for the national airline Air Jamaica. In addition, there are a number of small airports that are used only for domestic flights: Tinson Pen in Kingston, Port Antonio Ken Jones Aerodrome , Ian Fleming International Airport in Ocho Ríos, and Negril Aerodrome. Several small rural centres have around small fly fields on sugar plantations and bauxite mines. ===Ports and shipping<span class="mw-editsection" len="336" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Due to its location in the Caribbean Sea on the shipping route to the Panama Canal and proximity to large markets in both North and South America, Jamaica has a lot of container transport. Both in Kingston and in Montego Bay are container terminals.
 * Black River
 * Falmouth
 * Kingston (capital)
 * Lucea
 * Mandeville
 * May Pen
 * Montego Bay
 * Morant Bay
 * Port Antonio
 * Port Maria
 * Portmore
 * Saint Ann's Bay
 * Savanna-la-Mar
 * Spanish Town

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">There are many other ports, such as Port Esquivel in St. Catherine, Rocky Point in Clarendon, Port Kaiser in St. Elizabeth, Port Rhoades in Discovery Bay, Reynolds Pier in Ocho Rios, and Boundbrook Port in Port Antonio. most ports of Jamaica are located in the South of the country ==Born in Jamaica<span class="mw-editsection" len="333" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] ==
 * Donovan Bailey (1967), sprinter who competed for Canada
 * Yohan Blake (1989), sprinter
 * Usain Bolt (1986), sprinter
 * Dennis Brown (1957-1999), reggae artist
 * Paul Bogle (1820-1865), leader, National Hero Morant Bay protests 1865
 * Veronica Campbell-Brown (1982), spider star
 * Nesta Carter (1985), sprinter
 * Vincent Chin (1937-2003), record producer
 * Jimmy Cliff (1948), reggae artist
 * Desmond Dekker (1941-2006), rocksteady, ska and reggae artist
 * Coxsone Dodd (1932-2004), record producer
 * Don Drummond (1932-1969), ska trombonist
 * Marcus Garvey (1887-1940), political activist, National Hero
 * George William Gordon (1820-1865), politician, convicted of Morant Bay protests, National Hero
 * George Alphonso Headley (1909-1983), cricketer (sprinter)
 * Toots Hibbert (1942), ska and reggae artist
 * Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (1986), sprinter
 * Gregory Isaacs (1951-2010), reggae artist
 * Grace Jones (1948), model, singer and actress
 * Byron Lee (1935-2008), ska and soca artist
 * Elephant Man (1975), Dancehall artist
 * Bob Marley (1945-1981), reggae artist
 * Damian Marley (1978), reggae artist
 * Merlene Ottey (1960), sprinter
 * Augustus Pablo (1953-1999), reggae, roots, dub-artist/producer
 * Sean Paul (1973), hip hop and Dancehall artist
 * Asafa Powell (1982), sprinter
 * Donovan Powell (1971), sprinter and brother of Asafa Powell
 * Shabba Ranks (1966), Dancehall artist
 * Shaggy (1968), Dancehall artist
 * Samuel Sharpe (1801-1832), 1831 slave rebellion leader, National Hero
 * Peter Tosh (1944-1987), reggae artist
 * U-Roy (1942), reggae singer
 * Bunny Wailer (1947), reggae artist
 * Warren Weir (1989), sprinter