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Barbados

Quick Facts: The Geography of Barbados

Location: island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela Area: (about 2.5 times the size of Washington, D.C.) total: 166 square miles (266 sq km) land: 166 square miles (266 sq km) water : 0 square miles Climate: tropical; rainy season June through October

Terrain: relatively flat with a gentle rise to the central highland region Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean—0 feet highest point: Mt. Hillaby—1,104 feet (337 meters) Natural hazards: hurricanes, landslides

Source: Adapted from CIA World Factbook 2015.

causing no fatalities. Hurricanes and tropical storms typically occur during the summer and fall months (July to October).

Plants and Trees of Barbados While other islands in this part of the world are home to many unusual types of plants and flowers, Barbados is not. Much of the island’s native plant life is extinct, thanks to the massive crop planting and cultivation done by early set- tlers. Over a quarter of the island’s land is devoted to sugarcane fields. Large fig trees, which are native to the island, can still be found along its shores. These trees have a thick, cascading canopy of vines that resemble a man’s beard and inspired the island’s name. The 16th-century Portuguese explorer Pedro a Campos called the island “Los Barbados,” meaning “the bearded ones.” Other trees that are native to Barbados include the Bajan