Caribbean Facts & Worksheets

The western Atlantic Ocean’s Caribbean Sea is a suboceanic basin, lying between latitudes 9° and 22° N and longitudes 89° and 60° W.  Around 1,063,000 square miles (2,753,000 square kilometers) make up its size. 

See the fact file below for more information on the Caribbean, or you can download our 35-page Caribbean worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

OVERVIEW

• Bordered on the south by the coasts of Venezuela, Colombia, and Panama; on the west of Costa Rica, Guatemala, Belize, Nicaragua, Honduras, and the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico; on the north by the  Hispaniola, Greater Antilles islands of Cuba, Jamaica, and Puerto Rico; and on the east by the Lesser Antilles’ north-south chain, which is made up of the island arc that stretches off the coast from the Virgin Islands in the northeast to Trinidad. 
• The largest of several islands located within the limits of the Caribbean is Jamaica, which is located south of Cuba.
• The Caribbean Sea has been incorrectly referred to as the American Mediterranean, along with the Gulf of Mexico, since, like the Mediterranean Sea, it is situated between two continental landmasses.
• The Caribbean does not, however, resemble the Mediterranean in terms of hydrology or climate. The Antillean-Caribbean Sea, which, combined with the Gulf of Mexico, makes up the Central American Sea, is the accepted oceanographic name for the Caribbean. 
• The Cayman Trench (Bartlett Deep), which is situated between Cuba and Jamaica and measures around 25,216 feet (7,686 meters) below sea level, is the deepest point in the Caribbean.

GEOLOGY

• There is some uncertainty over the geologic age of the Caribbean. 
• It is assumed that it was formerly a part of the Central American Sea and that it was connected to the Mediterranean throughout the Paleozoic (about 541 to 252 million years ago) before gradually becoming the Atlantic Ocean.
• With the upper strata representing sediments from the Mesozoic and Cenozoic eras (from about 252 million years ago to the present), and the lower strata presumably representing sediments from the Paleozoic and Mesozoic eras, the ancient sediments covering the seafloor of the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico are about a half mile (about one kilometer) thick (from about 541 to 66 million years ago).
• There are three distinct stages of sedimentation. The basin did not deform during the first or second stages. Before the first phase’s end, the Central American Sea and the Atlantic Ocean appear to have split apart. 
• The Aves and Beata ridges were created by minor warping and faulting that took place at the conclusion of the second phase. There was no final horizontal movement as a result of the vertical forces that produced the Antillean arc and the Panamanian isthmus. 
• When land masses are approached, the sediment layers often dip and arch in the center of the basins. The more recent Cenozoic strata, which developed 65 million years ago, are often horizontal since they were deposited after the deformations.
• As the land bridges that allowed animals to travel between North and South America were built in the Miocene and Pliocene epochs (between about 145 and 66 million years ago), connections with the Pacific Ocean were disrupted (about 23 to 2.6 million years ago).
• Red clay, a calcareous marine deposit, covers the deep basins and trenches, globigerina ooze covers the rises, and pteropod ooze covers the ridges and continental slopes. 
• The Amazon and Orinoco rivers, as well as the Magdalena River in Colombia, seem to have washed down clay minerals. Most of the islands are surrounded by coral reefs.

PHYSIOGRAPHY

• Five generally elliptical-shaped subsurface basins that are separated from one another by submerged ridges and rises make up the Caribbean Sea. 
• They include the Grenada, Colombian, Venezuelan, Cayman, and Yucatán basins.
• The Yucatán Channel, which runs between Cuba and the Yucatán Peninsula and has a sill depth (i.e., the depth of the underwater ridge between basins) of approximately 5,250 feet, divides the northernmost of these, the Yucatán Basin, from the Gulf of Mexico (1,600 meters). 
• Cayman Ridge, an unfinished finger-shaped ridge that spans from the southern half of Cuba toward Guatemala and rises above the surface at one point to form the Cayman Islands, divides the Cayman Basin from the Yucatán Basin in the south. 
• The Beata Ridge partially divides the Venezuelan Basin from the Colombian Basin. 
• At depths of more than 13,000 feet, the submerged Aruba Gap connects the basins (4,000 meters).
• The Venezuelan Basin and the tiny Grenada Basin, which is bordered to the east by the Antillean arc of islands, are divided by the Aves Ridge, which is unfinished at its southernmost end.
• Via two sills, subsurface water reaches the Caribbean Sea. These sills are situated below the Anegada and Windward Passages, which connect Cuba and Hispaniola, and the Virgin Islands with the Lesser Antilles, respectively. 
• Anegada Passage’s sill depth is from 6,400 to 7,700 feet (1,950 to 2,350 meters), whereas the Windward Passage’s sill depth is between 5,250 and 5,350 feet (1,600 and 1,630 meters).

HYDROLOGY

• Under the Windward Passage, North Atlantic deep water that has a salinity of just around 35 parts per thousand and a high oxygen concentration reaches the Caribbean. 
• From there, it separates and descends to a depth of approximately 6,500 feet to fill the Yucatán, Cayman, and Colombian basins (2,000 meters).
• At depths of 5,900 to 9,800 feet, this Caribbean bottom water also penetrates the Venezuelan Basin, delivering high-oxygen water (1,800 to 3,000 meters). 
• Between 1,600 and 3,300 feet below the Anegada Passage, subantarctic intermediate water—water that differs in a number of ways from the surface and bottom layers of water that it separates—enters the Caribbean (500 to 1,000 meters).
• The surface water and subtropical undercurrent enter above this water. The Caribbean Sea’s bottom temperature is close to 39 °F (4 °C) whereas the Atlantic’s is less than 36 °F (2 °C), due to the shallow sill depths of the Antillean arc blocking the entrance of Antarctic bottom water.
• Surface currents mostly reach the Caribbean through the canals and passes of the southern Antilles, carrying both high- and low-salinity water depending on the source. 
• The trade winds then push these waters down the little Yucatán Channel and into the Gulf of Mexico.
• The Yucatán Basin and the Gulf of Mexico see an accumulation of wind-driven surface water that raises the average sea level above that of the Atlantic, creating a hydrostatic head that is thought to be the primary engine driving the Gulf Stream.
• Just roughly one-fourth of the water that flows through the Yucatán Channel every second is deep Subantarctic intermediate water. The remaining portion is surface water that was less than 2,600 feet deep when it crossed the Antillean arc (800 meters).

CLIMATE

• Although the Caribbean has a tropical climate in general, there are significant regional variances due to mountain height, ocean currents, and trade winds. 
• On the island of Bonaire, off the coast of Venezuela, yearly rainfall ranges from around 10 inches (25 cm) to nearly 350 inches (900 cm) in some areas of Dominica. The region is dominated by northeast trade winds, which often blow at speeds between 10 and 20 miles (16 and 32 kilometers) per hour. 
• Seasonally frequent tropical storms with hurricane velocities of more than 75 miles (120 km) per hour occur in the northern Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico; they are seldom in the extreme south. 
• Although there is a hurricane season from June to November, September is when they happen most regularly. 
• There are about eight of these storms every year. Neither the western Pacific (where these storms are known as typhoons) nor the Gulf of Mexico has as many hurricanes as the Caribbean.
• Although the precise route of every storm is uncertain, the majority of hurricanes originate in the eastern Atlantic around the Cape Verde Islands and travel via the trade winds into the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico. 
• More than 7,000 people died and significant property damage was done in the Caribbean region alone as a result of one of the worst storms ever recorded, Flora, in 1963. These storms have also been a significant factor in crop failure in the area.
• When the creatures that make up the reef eject the accompanying algae in reaction to changes in the water’s chemistry, coral bleaching takes place (temperature, salinity, acidity, or increases in silt or pollution). 
• These animals are finally killed by the procedure. One of the most popular theories for this phenomenon has been that the temperature of the Caribbean Sea has risen, maybe as a result of climate change on a larger scale.

RESOURCES

• While predominantly tropical, the vegetation of the Caribbean area is diverse due to changes in terrain, soils, rainfall, humidity, and soil nutrients. The islands’ porous limestone terraces are often nutrient-poor. 
• While predominantly tropical, the vegetation of the Caribbean area is diverse due to changes in terrain, soils, rainfall, humidity, and soil nutrients. 
• The islands’ porous limestone terraces are often nutrient-poor. 
• Coconut palms characterize the sand vegetation of the littoral, and black and red mangroves create thick forests surrounding lagoons and estuaries. 
• Large seasonal changes in bird populations result from the fact that both the Central American area and the Antillean islands are on bird migration paths to or from North America. 
• While frigate birds, boobies, and tropical birds can be spotted over the open ocean, parrots, bananaquits, and toucans are common resident species in the Caribbean.
• The Caribbean’s shallow-water marine flora and fauna are centered on the underwater bordering coral reefs, which are home to a variety of fish species and other marine life. 
• The Panamanic Seaway, which was blocked by the formation of the Isthmus of Panama around four million years ago, is where the marine biota is drawn from the Indian and western Pacific seas.
• The Antillean region’s consistently mild temperatures, crystal-clear water, and minimal salinity variation are favorable for the establishment of coral reefs. 
• On the leeward faces of reefs, there are lagoons with submerged fields of turtle grass. A few different kinds of sea turtles, manatees, and manta (devil) rays (Manta birostris) are also found in the area. 
• While the queen conch and reef fish are native delicacies, spiny lobster is widely fished across the Caribbean and marketed mostly to restaurants and hotels for tourists.
• Sardines from Yucatán and several tuna species are traded fish. The bonefish of the Bahamas reefs, barracuda, dolphin, marlin, and wahoo are examples of common game fish.
• No area of the Caribbean has been outside of the enlarged mineral, fishery, and territorial zones of the sea-bordering nations since the Law of the Sea Convention was signed in the early 1980s. 
• International efforts to manage and preserve the environment have been sparked by the region’s rapid population increase and overexploitation of marine resources. 
• Around half of the Caribbean nations formally ratified the Cartegena Convention for the Preservation and Development of the Maritime Environment of the Wider Caribbean Area in 1983, but its provisions have subsequently been more widely accepted by the region as a whole. 
• The wider Caribbean’s common waters are to be protected, developed, and managed by the signatories of the Cartegena Convention, both individually and collectively. 
• Under the scope of the agreement, three protocols were created and implemented: collaboration in the fight against oil spills (1983); creation of specially protected areas and wildlife (1990); and prevention, reduction, and management of land-based marine pollution (1999).
• The Caribbean economy relies heavily on tourism, which mostly caters to the populations of Brazil and Argentina to the south and the populations of the United States and Canada to the north. 
• In general, interisland linkages are less established than air and marine connections between the Caribbean and North America. 
• The Caribbean has grown to be one of the world’s main winter holiday resort regions due to its normally sunny temperature and recreational opportunities.

TRADE AND TRANSPORTATION

• The commerce and communication patterns in the Caribbean are complicated. 
• Despite the high trade volume per person, the majority of this commerce is with nations outside the area. 
• Each Caribbean nation frequently conducts business with nations outside its region that speak similar languages. 
• Cuba is an outlier in that it engages in commerce with a number of nations, with former communist bloc nations making up the majority of its overall trade. 
• Due to few industrial resources and the monocultural economic structure, intra-Caribbean commerce is modest. 
• Few goods and commodities are traded in the Caribbean economy, including salt, fertilizer, vegetable oils, fats, and rice from Guyana, timber from Belize, refined petroleum from Trinidad and Curaçao, and a few manufactured goods.
• Low labor costs and tax advantages have drawn some industries, but a lack of capital and a scarcity of natural resources have largely stifled industrial growth. 
• The United States and Canada, which import bananas, sugar, coffee, bauxite, rum, and oil, are the main markets for most Caribbean exports. 
• Using the Panama Canal, all commerce between the Atlantic and Pacific goes via the Caribbean.

STUDY AND EXPLORATION

• Christopher Columbus, who arrived in the Bahamas in 1492, certain he had found a new path to Asia, was the first European to set foot in the Caribbean Sea. 
• On the island of Hispaniola, he went south and discovered an extensive Spanish colony (now divided politically between Haiti and the Dominican Republic).
• The region’s key characteristics were uncovered by Columbus during his three subsequent expeditions.
• Early explorers’ findings, particularly those of the English buccaneer and explorer William Dampier in the late 17th century, were published and served as the basis for early studies of Caribbean natural history. 
• A longer American mission on the Blake (1877–1899) followed the British Challenger Expedition’s short passage across the Caribbean in 1873. 

HISTORY

• With Spain’s first colonization of the Caribbean in the 15th century, slavery and sugar plantations developed. 
• David Lambert investigates the impact of this system on the area and the persistence of enslaved people in their resistance to colonial control.
• The Caribbean served as the center of England’s first empire abroad, along with many colonies in North America. Because Christopher Columbus mistakenly thought he had sailed to the “Indies,” as Asia was then known, when he first got there in 1492, the area was also known as the “West Indies.” 
• At the time, Europeans were unaware that the region we now refer to as the Americas was an entirely new region of the world. The term “Indians” has been used to refer to people who lived in this region of the world before the arrival of the Europeans.
• Several Caribbean islands were claimed by Spain under Columbus. Spain mostly ran the province on its own terms during the majority of the 16th century. 
• Yet beginning in the early 17th century, settlers from other European superpowers like France and England also came to the area. (Strictly speaking, the term “Britain” should not be used until after 1707, when England and Scotland united.) 
• The English colonized St. Kitts in 1624, Barbados, Montserrat, Antigua, and Nevis in 1628, and Barbados, Montserrat, and Antigua in 1627. France founded colonies in Martinique and Guadeloupe at about the same period. 
• By joining Spain, which had established its first colonies in the area more than a century earlier, a number of rival European nations came to rule the Caribbean.
• The Caribbean was a destination for Europeans seeking fortune. Initially, the Spaniards searched for gold and silver, but they had not discovered anything. 
• Instead, the Europeans experimented with cultivating various crops to be marketed at home.
• The English colonists tried producing sugarcane in the Caribbean after trying to cultivate tobacco but failed. This plant wasn’t indigenous to the area, but it thrived once it was introduced. 
• Many things might be made from sugarcane. Of course, there was sugar, which was great with chocolate, coffee, and tea. 
• Moreover, it might be used to create rum, a potent alcoholic beverage. Such goods were in high demand across Europe, and as a result, individuals who cultivated them, or “planters,” amassed an enormous fortune. 
• The Caribbean colonies became lucrative as a result, making them enticing targets for competing powers. Throughout the 18th and early 19th centuries, Britain and France were in perpetual conflict, and territories like Martinique often changed hands.

THE RISE OF SLAVERY

• There was a huge demand for employees as sugar “plantations” grew throughout the Caribbean.
• The landowners were more and more interested in purchasing men, women, and children who had been imported as enslaved people from Africa. 
• A total of 5 million enslaved people from Africa were transported to the Caribbean, with the British Caribbean receiving over 2.3 million.
• The demographics of the Caribbean colonies evolved as planters relied more on slave labor, and those born in Africa or their descendants came to make up the majority. 
• The notion that they belonged to a lesser “race” served as justification for their harsh and brutal treatment. 
• In fact, complex systems of racial classification that put “white” people at the top, “black” people at the bottom, and various “mixed” groupings in between developed throughout the Caribbean colonies. This was a justification for slavery that was created by white people.

EMANCIPATION AND FREEDOM

• Several enslaved people rebelled against their enslavers in search of freedom and to escape their harsh and violent treatment, but they were only successful in ending slavery in the French province of St. Dominque. 
• Some attempted to flee the plantations; while many were apprehended, others were able to establish villages of “Maroons” who persisted in defying European domination. 
• They preferred to live in areas that were difficult for colonial soldiers to access and distant from plantations. 
• The British were unable to subdue the Maroons in certain regions, including Jamaica, and were forced to come to an arrangement with them.
• The British promised not to fight the Maroons in exchange for the Maroons returning any additional enslaved people who attempted to join them and cooperate with them in the event of an insurrection or invasion. 
• The early 19th century saw the start of the abolition of slavery.
• In the 1830s, enslaved people in the British Caribbean were released or “emancipated.” Between 1834 and 1838, a system known as “apprenticeship” was implemented over the majority of the Caribbean. 
• Its purpose was to help formerly enslaved, and the enslavers who depended on their labor make the transition to freedom. Even after the end of the apprenticeship, inequality persisted.

Caribbean Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about the Caribbean across 35 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about the Caribbean. The western Atlantic Ocean’s Caribbean Sea is a suboceanic basin, lying between latitudes 9° and 22° N and longitudes 89° and 60° W.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

1. Caribbean Facts
2. Caribbean Map 
3. Fill Me Up
4. Learn the Facts
5. Stages to Follow
6. Climate for the Year
7. The Breakthrough
8. Itinerary List
9. Mini-Caribbean
10. Survival Skills
11. Watch and Learn

Frequently Asked Questions

What countries are part of the Caribbean region?

The Caribbean region consists of numerous countries and territories, including but not limited to: Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, as well as several overseas territories of European countries such as Puerto Rico (United States), British Virgin Islands (United Kingdom), and French Guiana (France), among others.

What is the climate like in the Caribbean?

The climate in the Caribbean is typically tropical, characterized by warm to hot temperatures throughout the year. The region generally experiences two main seasons – a dry season and a rainy season. The dry season usually occurs from December to April, while the rainy season spans from May to November. The Caribbean can also be prone to hurricanes, particularly from June to November, with September being the peak of the hurricane season.

What are some popular tourist destinations in the Caribbean?

1. The Caribbean is known for its stunning beaches, crystal-clear waters, vibrant cultures, and rich history. Some popular tourist destinations in the Caribbean include:

• Punta Cana, Dominican Republic: Famous for its all-inclusive resorts and pristine beaches.
• Montego Bay, Jamaica: Known for its reggae culture, beautiful beaches, and water sports.
• Nassau, The Bahamas: A popular destination for its white sandy beaches, turquoise waters, and vibrant nightlife.
• San Juan, Puerto Rico: A historic city with Spanish colonial architecture, vibrant culture, and beautiful beaches.
• Havana, Cuba: Known for its colorful architecture, classic cars, and rich cultural heritage.
• Bridgetown, Barbados: Famous for its beaches, water sports, and British colonial history.

What are some traditional dishes from the Caribbean?

4. The Caribbean has a rich culinary heritage influenced by African, European, Indian, and Indigenous cultures. Some traditional dishes from the Caribbean include:

• Jerk Chicken (Jamaica): Chicken marinated in a spicy jerk seasoning blend and grilled to perfection.
• Roti (Trinidad and Tobago): A flatbread filled with curry chicken, beef, or vegetables.
• Rice and Beans (Puerto Rico): A classic dish made with rice, red beans, and seasoned with sofrito (a mix of onions, garlic, and peppers).
• Conch Fritters (The Bahamas): Deep-fried fritters made with conch (a type of sea snail) and served as a popular appetizer.
• Ackee and Saltfish (Jamaica): A national dish made with salted codfish and the ackee fruit, often served with rice and vegetables.
• Callaloo (Caribbean-wide): A leafy green vegetable stew often made with taro leaves, okra, and meat such as pork or crab

What are some famous festivals and events in the Caribbean?

Caribbean is known for its vibrant festivals and events that showcase its diverse cultures and traditions. Some famous festivals and events in the Caribbean include:

• Carnival (Various Caribbean countries): A colorful and lively festival celebrated with music, dancing, elaborate costumes, and parades. Carnival is celebrated in many Caribbean countries, including Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Jamaica, and Dominican Republic, among others.
• Crop Over (Barbados): A summer festival that celebrates the end of the sugarcane harvest with music, dancing, and cultural performances.
• Junkanoo (The Bahamas): A traditional street parade with elaborate costumes

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