Jamaica What You Should Know

Jamaica is an independent state within the British Commonwealth.

It is governed by a constitution promulgated on August 6, 1962. Holds Executive Branch: the British monarch represented by a governor general, prime minister (head of government) appointed by the Governor-General from among the members of the House of Representatives and a Cabinet appointed by the Governor and recommended by the prime minister. And a legislature composed of the House of Representatives and the Senate.

On the island is operated tourism as income. Only 14% of the territory is arable, and is located mainly in the plains of the coast, which is trying to exploit to the maximum throughout the year. Presents always a flourishing agriculture, with its fertile valleys. There are obtained tropical crops, snuff, bananas, citrus fruits, cocoa, coffee, coconut, corn, hay, pepper, ginger, mango, potato, arrowroot and sugar cane-of which there is a rum appreciated in the world. Among the mineral bauxite is obtained, from which aluminum is extracted is exported, and whose deposits are the richest in the world. Also cast is removed, lead, salt and limestone.

The training presents a mountainous landscape that runs the island from east to west. Towards the west lies a limestone plateau and east toward a crystalline solid, the Blue Mountains, whose height is the main Mount Blue, which reaches 2,256 meters.

Its climate is tropical, warm, with summer heat throughout the year. The biggest disadvantage facing the climate of the island, are the hurricanes that hit this area.

The native tribes that populated the island were Arawak (the Arawak word Xaymaca, meaning ‘land of forests and waters’).

Jamaica was discovered by Christopher Columbus on his second trip, and became a Spanish colony in 1509. In 1655 it was conquered by British under the command of Sir William Penn. According to the provisions of the Treaty of Madrid in 1670 was in fact transferred to England.

The high house tertiary education is the University of West Indies (founded in 1948), located in Kingston, where he studied more than 5,000 young people who have a library of nearly half a thousand copies.

While the southern plains of Jamaica are somewhat dry, the North Slope is characterized by a very humid climate.

The abundant rainfall conducive to maintaining an abundant vegetation, with exotic plants and flowers to beautify the landscape. The maximum precipitation months are May, June, October and November.

There are there more than 200 species of flowering plants. And you can quote among indigenous cedar trees, rosewood, mahogany, palm, coconut palm and the famous Scotch Bonnet pepper.

Also cultivated varieties introduced, such as mango, banana, the breadfruit tree.

The fauna is similar to that of all the Antilles, where there are many parrots, hummingbirds and CUC.

These areas, in late summer, are exposed to the action of fearsome cyclones.

The transport on the island are the railroad, with around 340 km of railroads and some 15,000 km of roads (only a quarter paved). In addition arrive and depart from her numerous international airlines and Air Jamaica.