Barbados – island country
Barbados is the island country, which lies at the eastern end of the West Indies between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean. Its area is 431 square kilometers. Barbados was a British colony for a long time and it still shows the influence of British culture. Barbados is surrounded by coral reefs. There are no rivers or lakes and few hilly areas. The country has one of the highest population densities in the world (1,548 per square mile).
Bridgetown is the capital of the country and its largest city.
Sugarcane, grown on large plantations, is the most common plant. Monkeys, hares, mongooses, and egrets are common animals.
Primary natural resources are petroleum, fish, natural gas.
Most Barbadians have African ancestors. English is the official language. Most of the people are Christians.
In the early 1500s the Spanish visited the island. The English settled there in 1627 and brought slaves from Africa to work on sugar plantations. Barbados was the center of the sugar-producing world until the abolition of slavery in 1834, but the industry continued to dominate.
Great Britain ruled the island until 1966 when Barbados became an independent country. Barbados was one of the first British colonies to achieve independence.
Interesting facts about Barbados
– Mount Hillaby is the highest point (336 m). At 305 meters, Hackleton’s Cliff is the next-highest point.
– Harrison’s Cave, near the center of the island, is a large underground cave with stalactites and stalagmites.
– Barbados is the birthplace of grapefruit.
– The Barbados army took part in the First and Second World Wars, while it consists of only 610 people.
– The head of state is the British Queen, but the governor is governed the island on her behalf.
– The state emblem depicts a ficus, two orchids, a sugar cane, a dolphin (Coryphaena hippurus) and a pelican, that are symbols of flora and fauna. The motto of the Barbadians: “Pride and Industry”.
– In 1993, Barbados established diplomatic relations with Russia.