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Architecture
Brilliant colors enhance the
traditional shapes of caribbean
architecture. Similarly, caribbean
music, literature, art, and
food are a unique mixture of
european and African cultures.BAStille DAy
the islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique are part of France, and the
people have strong links with this country. they speak the French language,
use French currency for money, fly the French flag, and celebrate French
holidays such as Bastille Day. Other caribbean islands have close political
and financial links with Britain, the Netherlands, or the united States.tOuriSM
the caribbean islands are
very beautiful, with lush trees,
colorful birds, long sandy beaches,
and months of sunshine. the
region attracts tourists from all over
the world. this has created many
new jobs, particularly in the towns.
tourism is now the main source
of income for several islands.AGriculture
More than half the people of the caribbean
earn a living from agriculture. Many work for a
landowner, producing crops such as sugar and
coffee. they may also rent or own a small plot of
land. On this land they grow food to feed their
families or to sell in local markets.cricket
cricket is a reminder of the caribbean’s
colonial past. it is played, and passionately
supported, in many of the former British
colonies. For international test matches,
the caribbean islands join forces and
compete as the West indies. the West
indies were victorious in the cricket
World cup in 1975 and 1979.exteNDiNG like a string of pearls, there
is a long row of tropical islands curving for
more than 2,000 miles (3,200 km) between
Mexico and Venezuela. together they are
usually called the caribbean islands, or
sometimes the West indies. Some are tiny,
uninhabited rocks or coral reefs; others
are much larger islands with thriving
populations. On Martinique, for instance,
about 400,000 people live around the wooded
slopes of several volcanoes that tower hundreds
of feet above the sea. there are 13 countries and
12 other territories in the caribbean. cuba, with
a population of more than 11 million people, is
the biggest nation. Although each country has its
own distinctive culture, many have connections
with other countries. these links are left over
from the 18th and 19th centuries, when the
whole region was colonized by european
kingdoms. the ruling nations brought African
slaves to the caribbean to harvest sugar cane.
today descendants of these slaves make up
a large proportion of the population.the caribbean Sea covers about
750,193 sq miles (1,943,000 sq km)
in area. it is enclosed on three
sides by central America,
South America, and the
caribbean islands.Chris Gayle (right)
plays cricket for the
West Indies. In 2015,
he became the first
batsman to score
more than
200 runs in
the Cricket
World Cup.Caribbean 95-
central america
columbus, christopher
SlaveryFind out more
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