Geography
According to Eningbo, Barbados is the easternmost island of the Lesser Antilles. It is flat in comparison with its island neighbors to the west, the Windward Islands. The island rises gently to the central highlands region, with the country’s high point being Mount Hillaby, in the district of Scotland. [[340 meters (1,120 feet) above sea level]. The island is located in the Atlantic Ocean, east of the other islands of the Antilles.
Geologically composed of coral (90 m / 300 ft thick). The land falls into a series of “terraces” in the west and enters an inclined plane in the east. Much of the country is surrounded by coral reefs.
In the parish of San Miguel is the capital of Barbados and the main city, Bridgetown. Other major cities scattered throughout the island include Holetown, in the parish of Saint James; Oistins, in the parish of Christ Church, and Speightstown, in the parish of Saint Peter.
Climate
The climate is tropical temperate, with a wet season (June-November) and a drier season (December-May). Annual precipitation ranges from 40 inches (1,000 mm) to 90 inches (2,300 mm).
Barbados is often avoided the worst effects of the region’s tropical storms and hurricanes during the rainy season as its location on the eastern tip of the Atlantic Ocean puts it just outside the main hurricane strike zone. On average, a hurricane can hit once every 26 years. The last significant hurricane success to cause severe damage to Barbados was Hurricane Janet in 1955.
Economy
Barbados is the 51st richest country in the world in terms of GDP (gross domestic product) per capita, has a well-developed mixed economy, and a moderately high standard of living. According to the World Bank, Barbados is classified as being in its top 66 high-income economies of the world.
Historically, the Barbados economy has been dependent on the cultivation of sugar cane and related activities, but in the late 1970s and early 1980s it has diversified into the manufacturing and tourism sectors. Offshore financial services and information services have become important sources of foreign exchange, and there is a healthy light manufacturing sector. Since the 1990s the Government of Barbados has been seen as an easy and economically viable business. The island has seen a construction boom, with the development and conversion of hotels, office complexes and homes.
Recent administrations have continued efforts to reduce unemployment, encourage foreign direct investment, and still remain to privatize public companies.. Unemployment has dropped from around 14 percent in the past to less than 10 percent.
The economy contracted in 2001 and 2002 due to the slowdown in tourism, consumer spending and the impact of the September 11, 2001 attacks, but recovered in 2003 and has shown growth since 2004. Traditional trading partners are Canada, the Caribbean Community (especially Trinidad and Tobago), the United Kingdom and the United States.
Trade links and investment flows have become important: as of 2003 the island of Canada saw CA $ 25 billion in investment portfolio, placing it as one of Canada’s top five destinations for Canada’s foreign direct investment (FDI). Entrepreneur Eugene Melnyk from Toronto, Canada, is said to be Barbados’ wealthiest permanent resident.
It was thought by leading Barbados industry sources that 2006 would have been one of the longest years for building construction ever in Barbados, as the island’s construction boom entered the final phase of several projects. multi-million dollar trading.
The European Union is assisting Barbados with a $ 10 million euro dollar program in modernizing the country’s international business and financial services. Barbados maintains the third largest Stock Exchange in the Caribbean region. Currently, stock exchange officials are investigating the possibility of increasing local exchange with an international Stock Market (ISM) company.
Sightseeing
Due to its relatively high levels of development and favorable location, Barbados has become one of the premier tourist destinations in the Caribbean. Numerous internationally renowned hotels offering world class accommodation can be found on the island. Timeshares are available, and many of the smaller local hotels and private villas that dot the island have space available if reserved in advance. The south and west coasts of Barbados are very popular, with the calm blue light of the Caribbean Sea and its beaches of fine white and pink sand. Along the east coast of the island, it faces the Atlantic Ocean, you have to crash the waves are perfect for light surfing. Some areas remain at risk due to towing currents.
The shopping districts are popular in Barbados, with ample-free shopping right.. There is also a night of life, mainly in tourist areas such as the Saint Lawrence Gap. Other attractions include wildlife reserves, jewelry shops, diving, helicopter rides, golf, festivals (the largest being the annual crop festival over July / August), sightseeing, cave tours, exotic drinks and fine clothing. Shopping.
Culture
The influence of English in Barbados is more remarkable than in other islands of the West Indies. A good example of this is the island’s national sport: cricket. Barbados has brought several great cricketers forward, including Garfield Sobers and Frank Worrell.
The citizens is officially called Barbados; Bajans (pronounced: “bay”, “January”), the term “Bajan” may have come from a localized pronunciation of the Barbadian word, which can sometimes sound more like “Bar-bayan”.
The biggest carnival of cultural events like, that takes place on the island is the Crop Over Festival. As in many other countries in the Caribbean and Latin American countries, cultivating more is an important event for many people on the island, as well as the thousands of tourists who flock to the island to participate in the annual events. The festival includes music competitions and other traditional activities. The Barbadian men and women who harvested most of the sugar cane were also crowned the King and Queen of the harvest. It starts from the beginning of July, and ends with the costume parade on Kadooment Day, which took place on the first Monday in August. Barbados maintains a strong British influence and is known by its neighbors as “Little England”.
The popular singer Rihanna was born and lived until adolescence on this Caribbean island, where she made her debut as an artist at the carnival parties that are held every year.
