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Trinidad and Tobago

Trinidad is 16 times larger than Tobago, which often feels overshadowed by its big neighbor. But each island offers distinctive natural features. The Island of Trinidad Trinidad is situated only 7 miles (11 kilometers) off the coast of Venezuela. More than 10,000 years ago, a land bridge connected the island with the mainland of South America. Today, the island is separated from the continent by the Gulf of Paria. Two heavily forested mountain ranges stretch across the northern and southern parts of the island. El Cerro del Aripo, located in the larger Northern Range, is the highest peak on the island at 3,084 feet (940 meters). The island’s central interior consists of a third mountain range along with rolling plains and swamps filled with coconut and mangrove trees. The country’s capital and main metropolitan area , Port of Spain, is locat- ed at the northwest end of the island. San Fernando, the biggest city in the

Words to Understand in This Chapter

asphalt— a tarlike substance, found in natural deposits or obtained as a by-product of petroleum refining, that is used as a paving material. islets— small islands. metropolitan area— a region composed of a city and its surrounding suburbs. reserve— an area of land set aside for the preservation of native plants and wildlife. trade winds— prevailing winds of the Tropics that blow toward the equator.