Trinidad and Tobago: Background & Geography
| Introduction | Trinidad and Tobago |
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Background:
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The islands came under British control in the 19th century; independence was granted in 1962. The country is one of the most prosperous in the Caribbean thanks largely to petroleum and natural gas production and processing. Tourism, mostly in Tobago, is targeted for expansion and is growing. |
| Geography | Trinidad and Tobago |
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Location:
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Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela |
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Geographic coordinates:
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11 00 N, 61 00 W |
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Map references:
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Central America and the Caribbean |
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Area:
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total: 5,128 sq km
land: 5,128 sq km water: 0 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly smaller than Delaware |
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Land boundaries:
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0 km |
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Coastline:
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362 km |
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Maritime claims - as described in UNCLOS 1982 (see Notes and Definitions):
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measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM continental shelf: 200 NM or to the outer edge of the continental margin contiguous zone: 24 NM territorial sea: 12 NM |
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Climate:
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tropical; rainy season (June to December) |
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Terrain:
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mostly plains with some hills and low mountains |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: El Cerro del Aripo 940 m |
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Natural resources:
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petroleum, natural gas, asphalt |
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Land use:
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arable land: 14.6%
permanent crops: 9.2% other: 76.2% (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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30 sq km (1998 est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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outside usual path of hurricanes and other tropical storms |
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Environment - current issues:
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water pollution from agricultural chemicals, industrial wastes, and raw sewage; oil pollution of beaches; deforestation; soil erosion |
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements |
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Geography - note:
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Pitch Lake, on Trinidad's southwestern coast, is the world's largest natural reservoir of asphalt |