Barbados

Major Landforms: - Mount Hillary (1,102’) - Cobbler’s Reef - Hockelton’s Cliff

Climate:- Average temperatures range

From 75 to 85 degrees- Climate type: tropical savana

and humid subtropical- dry season from January

to June (6 months)

Clim

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Climate’s Affects:- Crops grown reflect the warmWeather and plentiful rainfall

- sugar cane and tobacco arethe two main cash crops

Clim

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’s A

ffects

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- the climate attracts many Tourists – over 1 million a year!

Desert RoseSugarcane

Traveler’s Palm

Sea TurtleGreen Monkey

Mahogany

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Fish catch per year: 3,100 tons

Oil production and reserves: 1544 barrels/day (reserves 7.3m barrels)

Estimated livestock resources: 41,300 sheep, 35,000 pigs, 3,430,000 chickens

Other mineral resources: natural gas

Resources of Barbados

TourismSUGAR

Resou

rces

Barbados is divided into 11 “parishes” or states.

The capitol of Barbados is Bridgetown.

Capitol

Barbados has 166 square

miles of land.

Barbados ishome to264,000people.

Politic

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Population density: 1627/mi2

The first indigenous people were Amerindians who arrived here from Venezuela. Paddling long dugout canoes they crossed oceans and currents that challenge modern sailing vessels.

Early

His

tory

The Arawaks were short, olive-skinned people who bound their foreheads during infancy to slope it into a point. The Chiefs and influential members of the tribe wore nose plugs and/or rings made of copper and gold alloys. They were an agricultural people and grew cotton, cassava, corn, peanuts, guavas, and papaya. The cotton was woven and used for armbands and hammocks. The Arawaks also used harpoons, nets, and hooks, to fish for food

In 1200, the Arawaks were conquered by the Caribs. The Caribs were a taller and stronger Amerindian tribe than the Arawaks. They were also cannibals. They were a warlike and savage people who are reported to have barbecued their captives.

Barbados means “bearded”.  The island got its name because of the mossy plants that hang from the trees. Colonized by the British in 1627, Barbados grew rich in the 18th century from sugar produced using slave labor. Slaves were brought there to work on tobacco,  sugar cane, and cotton plantations until slavery was abolished in the 1800's.

1951 Universal adult voting rights introduced. 1961 Full self-government. 1966 Independence from the United Kingdom.

His

tory

Date: November 30,1966First Leader: Errol Walton Barrow Slaves

TobaccoCottonFlag of England

Colo

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The first English ship landed on the island on May 14,1625, under the command of Captain John Powell. The island was claimed on behalf of King James I.

During the 1630’s, sugar cane was introduced to the agriculture. The production of sugar, tobacco and cotton was heavily relied on the indenture of servants. A potential market formed for slaves and soon the Dutch Merchants began to supply Barbados with slaves (forced labor) from Africa.

After slavery was abolished in 1834, many of the new citizens of Barbados took advantage of the superb education available on the island. After these citizens had been educated, they wanted something more than working in the cane fields. Some of them gained prominent offices in Barbados. Others worked in common jobs, and still others stayed in the cane fields.

Today’s main influences are the language, government, and religion.

Barbados' flag is in a pattern.  It goes blue, yellow, blue.  

The blue stands for the sea and the sky.  

The yellow stands for the sand on the beaches.

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Govern

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Barbados has a representative Democratic Government. At a General Election, the representatives from each area are voted for by their constituents. The party winning the most seats in the House of Assembly will then become the leading party. The Prime Minister is chosen from within the leading party. The Prime Minister then appoints his government ministers.

The Prime Minister was David Thompson but he dies of cancer in October of 2010. Deputy Prime Minister Freundel Stuart has been names to head the government until elections in 2012.David Thompson

Freundel Stuart

Cu

lture

Calypso and Reggae are the mainStyles of music in Barbados. ReggaeArtist David Kirton is pictured here.

Here are some examples of traditionalcrafts and jewelry made by local residents.

As the official Barbados language, English is used in formal settings and written communications. In informal settings you are likely to hear Bajan dialect spoken. This Barbados language is a combination of British English and various West African languages.

Bajan

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lture

Located in the parish of St. Philip, Sam Lord's Castle is a beautiful Georgian mansion built in 1820 by the notorious pirate Samuel Hall Lord. It reflects English styles.

Coral reefs are founf in the watersoff the coasts of Barbados. Manypeople fish in the waters and others welcome tourists to dive in the waters around these reefs.

The Anglican Church (or Church of England) once accounted for 90% of all church-goers. It now accounts for 33% - many people have turned to other faiths and native religions.

FAST FACTS:

World GNP ranking: 132nd GNP per capita: US $9750

Balance of payments: –US $94 million Inflation: 0.1%

Literacy Rate: 99%

Birth Rate: 12.55 per 1,000 Death Rates: 8.58 per 1,000

Unemployment: 10%

Strengths Well-developed tourism based on climate and accessibility. Information processing and financial services are important new growth sectors. Weaknesses Narrow economic base and an ailing sugar industry. Tourism is vulnerable to global downturns, especially as Barbados is promoted as a luxury destination. Relatively high manufacturing costs.

ReligiousMake-up:

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