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Welcome to Trinidad on the Paradise
Islands website.
Trinidad is the larger
of the two islands which
together make up the
country of Trinidad and
Tobago. Trinidad is
the southernmost of the
islands and lies just
seven miles north of
Venezuela. Trinidad is
also the most southerly
of the Caribbean
Windward island chain
and one of the largest
islands in the West
Indies at more than
1,800 square miles.
There are a further 21
smaller islands within
the Republic of Trinidad
and Tobago. |
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Both
Trinidad and Tobago were
discovered by
Christopher Columbus on
his third voyage in
1498. Trinidad was named
after the Holy Trinity
and remained in Spanish
hands until 1797 when
the island surrendered
to a British blockage of
18 warships. The two
islands of Trinidad and
Tobago were
incorporated into a
crown colony in 1888
which eventually
obtained self governing
status in 1958; which in
turn led to independence
in 1976 when Trinidad
and Tobago became a
republic. |
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Little
church at Maracas Bay |
Girl
selling vegetables |
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Unlike
most of the smaller
Caribbean islands,
Trinidad does not rely
on tourism. There are
very few resort areas.
The island is quite
industrialised with a
diverse economy
including the export of
oil and natural gas with
some large natural
mineral reserves.
Petroleum and
Petrochemicals are the
largest sources of
income, followed by
agriculture including
the export of citrus and
coca. |
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The
population of Trinidad
is 1.2 million and the
capital is Port-of-Spain
in the north. Other
large towns include San
Fernando and Chaguanas.
The official language is
English (although all
islanders speak a local
Creole) and the official
currency is the Trinidad
and Tobago dollar.
Trinidad is the
birthplace of calypso
music and famous for the
invention of the
acoustic instrument
steelpan. |
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Travel, holiday, vacation and photograph
guide to Trinidad and the Caribbean. All text and images are Copyright
Paradise Islands
org 2009. All photographs on this website are obtained with
the permission of the owners and come from various sources
including the islands tourist boards. Some of our own images
maybe reproduced with permission - please see notes
attached to each image to avoid any copyright penalty.
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