1. CARIBBEAN STUDIES
MODULE 1
GEOGRAPHICAL DEFINITION OF THE CARIBBEAN
The geographical definition of the Caribbean refers to the area washed by the Caribbean Sea. It includes
most of the islands in the Lesser Antilles, Greater Antilles and the main land territories of Central
America such as coast Rica Belize panama and Honduras and the northern America such as Columbia and
Venezuela. The common link here is the Caribbean Sea.
Another way of defining the Caribbean in geographical terms are that the Caribbean is made up 25
countries with 25 million people but only 6 Caribbean countries have population exceeding one million.
These Caribbean countries may include Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Dominica Republic Haiti Cuba and
Puerto Rico.
Another way of defining the Caribbean in geographical terms is by the use of coordinates that is the lines
of longitude and the line of latitude. Where the Caribbean is situated 60^ west to 90^ west from the
Greenwich meridian and 5^ north from the equator to 25^ beyond.
