West Indies

Introduction to West Indies

West Indies, a chain of tropical islands in the Atlantic Ocean between North and South America. They lie primarily in the Caribbean Sea, an arm of the Atlantic, and extend in an arc stretching 2,400 miles (3,900 km) from Cuba to the island of Aruba, off the coast of Venezuela. Many of the islands have great natural beauty, with palm-lined, white sandy beaches; crystalline blue-green waters; dense tropical forests; and colorful birds, flowers, and plant life.

Originally, the islands were called the Indies—so named by Columbus, their discoverer, who believed he had arrived at his destination in Asia. Later, the islands acquired the name West Indies to differentiate them from the East Indies on the opposite side of the world. The name Antilles is sometimes used instead of West Indies, although it normally excludes the Bahamas. Another name for the islands in this area is the Caribbees.

The West Indies consist of hundreds of islands and many sand or coral reefs, called cays. The islands are divided into three main groups: the Bahamas in the north; the Greater Antilles—Cuba, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, and Jamaica—in the central part; and the Lesser Antilles—including the Windward and Leeward groups—in the southeast and south. Together, the West Indies have an area of about 92,000 square miles (238,000 km2), slightly more than that of Florida and South Carolina combined.

Politically, the islands vary considerably. Several are independent countries. Puerto Rico is a commonwealth associated with the United States. Many of the smaller islands, especially those in the Lesser Antilles, are European possessions—British, French, and Dutch. Some of the islands are colonies; some are semi-independent states; some are considered to be integral parts of European mother countries. Most of the islands off the north coast of Venezuela are Venezuelan. Some of the Virgin Islands belong to the United States.

Physical Geography

The Bahama Islands and most of Cuba consist of low-lying, relatively flat limestone and coral formations, much like those of Florida. Jamaica, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, some of the Virgin Islands, and the southeastern part of Cuba are predominantly mountainous. They are the exposed parts of a largely submerged mountain chain extending east-west across the Caribbean Sea to Central America. Numerous peaks reach heights of 4,000 to 7,000 feet (1,200 to 2,100 m); the highest is Pico Duarte, 10,417 feet (3,175 m), in the Dominican Republic.

With a few exceptions, the Windward and Leeward Islands are the protruding summits of an underseas volcanic ridge, containing volcanic peaks and craters. They are mountainous and, in many respects, rank among the world's most scenic islands. The rest of the Lesser Antilles—those off the South American coast—are low and have little relief. Only on Trinidad and Margarita do mountains attain heights of 2,000 to 3,000 feet (600 to 900 m).

Their tropical location gives the West Indies a warm climate all year. Except at high elevations, temperatures normally average 75° to 85° F. (24° to 29° C.), with little variation seasonally and from night to day. Trade winds, blowing steadily from the northeast, are a tempering influence, particularly along the coasts.

The trade winds also bring large amounts of rainfall to the exposed, or windward, sides of the mountainous islands, especially along the north and northeast coasts. In such areas, more than 100 inches (2,500 mm) of rain may fall each year. Mountain-rimmed areas protected from the winds and the low-lying islands are surprisingly dry. Some areas receive large amounts of rain throughout the year; some have alternate wet and dry seasons; some have two wet and dry seasons each year. Occasionally, severe droughts occur where there is a distinct dry season. Hurricanes are a menace throughout the West Indies, especially from July through October.

Economic Activities

Economically, the islands are poorly developed. The great majority of the people live barely above the subsistence level, with virtually no cash income.

For almost 500 years agriculture has been the dominant activity. Large white-owned plantations account for much of the commercial crop production, especially on the larger islands, excluding Cuba. Cuba's large, privately owned plantations were abolished by a program of nationalization, which began in 1959. More typical than the plantations, and far more numerous, are tiny plots and small family-operated farms, which usually produce only enough to meet the family's needs. Some family farms also produce cash crops, but in small amounts.

On nearly all the islands sugarcane is the leading crop. Other cash crops include bananas, cacao, citrus fruits, coffee, sisal, spices, and tobacco. Staple foods grown include beans, peas, corn, rice, sweet potatoes, mangoes, and plantains. The raising of livestock, particularly cattle, is important on some of the larger islands, especially Cuba. Fishing the coastal waters, both commercially and for immediate food needs, is widely practiced. The catch is one of the chief sources of protein in the West Indian diet.

Manufacturing generally consists of processing agricultural products. Refined sugar and rum are two of the most notable products. On many of the islands, household and consumer goods are made primarily in small shops and in homes as handicraft items. Modern manufacturing is confined chiefly to Puerto Rico and, to a lesser extent, Cuba, Jamaica, and Trinidad. In Puerto Rico, many industries have been established since the early 1940's as the result of a development program that attracted many manufacturing industries from the United States. On the islands of Curaçao and Trinidad large refineries process petroleum for export. Large-scale mining is limited primarily to bauxite in Jamaica, nickel ores in Cuba, and petroleum in Trinidad.

Tourism has expanded rapidly since the 1940's, when fast commercial air transportation first became available. On some of the islands, such as the Bahamas, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands, tourism is of major importance, attracting many thousands of visitors annually.

People

More than 35,000,000 people inhabit the West Indies. Most of them are concentrated in the countries of the Greater Antilles—Cuba, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and Jamaica. Densities are extremely high on many of the islands. Barbados, for example, had a density in 1991 of 1,557 persons per square mile (601 per km2).

Racially, the West Indians are highly mixed. Most are dark-skinned people, mainly blacks descended from African slaves brought to the islands centuries ago as plantation workers by European colonists. There are also many mulattoes (of mixed black and white descent) and large numbers of whites of European descent, mainly Spanish but also English, French, and Dutch. In addition, there are people of Indian, East Indian, and Chinese origin. Virtually all the groups are unevenly spread among the islands. The population of Barbados, for example, is primarily black; of the Dominican Republic, chiefly mulatto; and of Cuba, largely white. Little remains of the original Indian population, which once numbered in the millions. Through slavery and disease the Arawaks were wiped out soon after the discovery of the islands. Only a few of the Caribs survive.

In culture the islands are a patchwork of languages, religions, and institutions that are largely European—a legacy of long colonial rule. African influences and overtones are also strong on many of the islands, as evidenced by colorful costumes, dances, and music. East Indian and other Asian influences are significant on a few of the islands.

Spanish and English are the languages spoken by most of the West Indians. French, Dutch, numerous dialects, and some mixed tongues, such as Creole and Papiamento, are also used. Roman Catholicism, centered mainly in the Spanish-speaking areas, is the predominant religion. There are significant numbers of Protestants, Buddhists, Muslims, and Hindus, and many followers of cults that trace their origins to Africa.

Primary education is free throughout the West Indies, but is generally compulsory only in the economically developed islands. There are several universities and other institutions of higher learning.