Jamaica
 
Category:   World Travel Directory  :  North America  :  Jamaica
 
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, 234 kilometres (145 mi) in length and as much as 80 kilometres (50 mi) in width situated in the Caribbean Sea. It is about 145 kilometres (90 mi) south of Cuba, and 190 kilometres (120 mi) west of the island of Hispaniola, on which Haiti and the Dominican Republic are situated.

Its indigenous Arawakan-speaking Taíno inhabitants named the island Xaymaca, meaning the "Land of Wood and Water", or the "Land of Springs". Formerly a Spanish possession known as Santiago, it later became the British Crown colony of Jamaica.

It is the third most populous anglophone country in North America, after the United States and Canada. It remains a Commonwealth realm.

Christopher Columbus claimed Jamaica for Spain after landing there in 1494. Columbus' probable landing point was Dry Harbour, now called Discovery Bay.  St. Ann's Bay was the "Saint Gloria" of Columbus who first sighted Jamaica at this point. One mile west of St. Ann's Bay is the site of the first Spanish settlement on the island, Sevilla, which was abandoned in 1554 because of numerous pirate raids.
The island is famous for its Jamaican jerk spice which forms a popular part of Jamaican cuisine. Jamaica is also home to the world-renowned Red Stripe Beer and Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee.  Source


Jamaica Facts

Population: 3 million

Capital: Kingston

Currency: Jamaican dollar

Area: 11,100 km2

Language: English

Main Religion: Christian

Calling Code: +1-876

Time Zone: GMT - 5

Main Cities: Kingston, New Kingston, Spanish Town, Portmore, Montego Bay, Mandeville, May Pen, Old Harbour, Lonstead, Half Way Tree