The island - discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1494 - was settled by the Spanish early in the 16th century. The native Arawak Indians are the first who inhabited Jamaica. England took control of the island in 1655 and started a plantation economy based on sugar, cocoa, and coffee. Jamaica gradually obtained increasing independence from Britain, and in 1958 it joined other British Caribbean colonies in forming the Federation of the West Indies. Jamaica gained full independence when it withdrew from the Federation in 1962. It is has a constitutional monarchy form of government.
Jamaica is located in the Caribbean, south of Cuba. It is strategically located between Cayman Trench and Jamaica Channel, the main sea lanes for the Panama Canal. Kingston is the capital of Jamaica. It has a variety of climate ranging from tropical, hot, humid, temperate interior. Usually the temperature in Jamaica is 25c in winter and 28c in summer. Hurricanes also strike during July to November. Its terrain consists mostly of mountains, with narrow, discontinuous coastal plain.
English is the official language of Jamaica. The population as of July 2008 is estimated at 2,804,302. The most dominant religion is Christian but nowadays Rastafari movement is also known. It is a popular religion of the Carrribean. Jamaican cuisine has a mixture of Spanish, English, African, and Chinese who contributed their own dishes in the country. The primary natural resources are bauxite, gypsum and limestone.
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