Key facts about Trinidad and Tobago

News: The PM announces that sixth generation Indian-origin citizens of Trinidad and Tobago will receive Overseas Citizens of India card soon.

Key facts about Trinidad and Tobago

• It is an island country of the southeastern West Indies, forming the two southernmost links in the Caribbean chain.
• Location: It lies close to the continent of South America, northeast of Venezuela and northwest of Guyana between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean.
• Capital: Port of Spain, located on the northwestern coast of Trinidad.
• It consists of two main islands—Trinidad and Tobago—and several smaller islands.
  • Trinidad: It is the larger one of the two islands and is separated from the Venezuelan coast by the Gulf of Paria.
  • Tobago: It is the smaller island and lies 30 km to the northeast of Trinidad.
• Little Tobago: It lies about a mile off Tobago’s northeastern coast and is also called Bird of Paradise Island.
  • It was once noted as the only wild habitat of the greater bird of paradise outside of New Guinea; however, the bird is no longer found there.
• Terrain: The terrain of the islands is a mixture of mountains and plains.
• Northern Range: It is located in the island of Trinidad and is a continuation of the coastal ranges of the Andes Mountains in Venezuela.
  • Waterfalls: Blue Basin Falls and the Maracas Falls, both 298 feet (91 metres) high.
• Climate: It has a maritime tropical climate comprising of a dry season and rainy season.
• Resources
  • La Brea Pitch Lake: World’s largest natural asphalt deposit.
  • Tobago Main Ridge: Oldest legally protected rainforest reserve in Western Hemisphere (est. 1776).
  • Leatherback Turtles: One of the world’s densest nesting sites, with around 10,000 turtles annually (Mar–Jul).
    • They are categorized as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
  • Government: It is a multiparty republic with a President (head of state) and Prime Minister (head of government)