View source for Trinidad

{{Short description|Largest island of Trinidad and Tobago}}
{{about|the island of Trinidad|the country as a whole|Trinidad and Tobago|other uses}}
{{Use Trinidad and Tobago English|date=May 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox islands
| name               = Trinidad
| image_name         = Td-map.png
| image_caption      = Map of Trinidad and Tobago
| image_size         = 
| map                = Lesser Antilles
| map_caption        = Location of Trinidad in the [[Lesser Antilles]]
| label_position     = right
| native_name        = {{native name|awd|Iëre • Kairi}}
| nickname           = ''Land of the Hummingbird''
| location           = Eastern [[Caribbean]]
| coordinates        = {{Coord|10.5|N|61.3|W|scale:1000000|display=inline,title}}
| archipelago        = 
| total_islands      = 
| major_islands      = 
| area_km2           = 4,768
| length_km          = 
| width_km           = 
| highest_mount      = [[El Cerro del Aripo]]
| elevation_m        = 940
| country            = [[Trinidad and Tobago]]
| country_admin_divisions_title = Island
| country_admin_divisions       = Trinidad
| country_admin_divisions_title_1 = [[Regional corporations and municipalities of Trinidad and Tobago|Regions]]
| country_admin_divisions_1 = 14
| country_largest_city = [[Chaguanas]] <!-- DO NOT CHANGE TO PORT-OF-SPAIN; Chaguanas is the largest municipality, while San Fernando is the largest municipality with "city" status -->
| country_largest_city_population = 83,516
| demonym            = [[Trinidadians|Trinidadian]]<br />Trini (colloquial)
| population         = 1,267,145
| population_as_of   = 2011
| density_km2        = 266
| postal_code_type   = [[Postal codes in Trinidad and Tobago|Postal code]]
| postal_code        = 10xxxx – 87xxxx<ref name="List of Postal Districts Trinidad">{{cite web |url=https://1drv.ms/x/s!Ah9R_euidiIG4hXQNGbbrWQMtpIC |title=List of Postal Districts |date=29 July 2018 |publisher=TTPOST |access-date=29 July 2018}}</ref>
| ethnic_groups      = {{tree list}}
* 37% [[Indo–Trinidadians and Tobagonians|Indo–Trinidadians]]
* 31.8% [[Afro–Trinidadians and Tobagonians|Afro-Trinidadians]]
* 23.5% [[Multiracial people|Mixed]]
**7.8% [[Dougla people|Dougla]]
*1.3% Others{{efn|incl. 0.66% [[White Trinidadians and Tobagonians|European]] (incl. 0.07% [[Portuguese Trinidadians and Tobagonians|Portuguese]]), 0.31% [[Chinese Trinidadians and Tobagonians|Chinese]], 0.11% [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Indigenous]], 0.08% [[Arabs]], 0.17% Others (incl. [[Latin Americans]])}}
*6.4% Not stated
{{tree list/end}}
| country_capital    = [[Port of Spain]]
| country_leader_title = [[President of Trinidad and Tobago|President]]
| country_leader_name = [[Christine Kangaloo]]
| country1_leader_title = [[Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago|Prime Minister]]
| country1_leader_name = [[Kamla Persad-Bissessar]]
| timezone           = [[Atlantic Time Zone|AST]] ([[Universal Time Coordinate|UTC]] −4) (Trinidad does not observe [[Daylight saving time|DST]])
| languages          = [[Trinidadian and Tobagonian English|English]]<br/>[[Trinidadian Creole]]
{{Infobox|child=yes
| label1             = Currency | data1 = [[Trinidad and Tobago dollar]] (TTD)
| label2             = Religions | data2 = [[Christianity]], [[Hinduism in Trinidad and Tobago|Hinduism]], [[Islam in Trinidad and Tobago|Islam]], [[Trinidad Orisha|Orisha (Shango)]], [[Rastafari]], [[Baháʼí Faith|Bahá'í]], [[Sikhism]], [[Irreligion]], [[Religion in Trinidad and Tobago|others]]<ref name="Census2011" />
}}
}}
[[File:Moruga - Christopher Columbus monument.jpg|thumb|[[Moruga]] – [[Christopher Columbus]] monument. Columbus landed here on his third voyage in 1498. This is on the southern coast of the island of Trinidad]]

'''Trinidad'''{{efn|Pronounced {{IPAc-en|'|t|r|ɪ|n|ᵻ|d|æ|d|}}}} is the larger, more populous island of the [[Republic of Trinidad and Tobago]], the country. The island lies {{convert|11|km|mi|abbr=on}} off the northeastern coast of [[Venezuela]] and sits on the [[continental shelf]] of South America. It is the southernmost island in the [[Caribbean]]. With an area of {{convert|4768|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}, it is also the [[List of Caribbean islands by area|fifth-largest in the Caribbean]].

==Name==
The original name for the island in the [[Arawakan languages]] was {{lang|arw|Iëre}} which meant "Land of the Hummingbird".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://epicureandculture.com/trinidad-the-land-of-the-hummingbirds/ |title=Trinidad: The Land of the Hummingbirds |work=Epicure & Culture |date=15 May 2013 }}</ref> [[Christopher Columbus]] renamed it {{lang|es|La Isla de la Trinidad}} ('The Island of the [[Holy Trinity|Trinity]]'), fulfilling a vow he had made before setting out on his third voyage.<ref> {{cite book |title=The New Trinidad and Tobago: A Descriptive Account of the Geography and History of Trinidad and Tobago |last=Hart |first=Marie |year=1972 |orig-year=1965 |publisher=Collins |location=London and Glasgow |page=13}}</ref> This has since been shortened to ''Trinidad''. [[Indo-Trinidadian]]s called the island  चीनीदत्त {{small|([[Devanagari script]])}}, 𑂒𑂲𑂢𑂲𑂠𑂞𑂹𑂞 {{small|([[Kaithi script]])}}, {{nastaliq| چینی دت}} {{small|([[Perso-Arabic script]])}}, ''Chinidat'' or ''Chinidad'' in [[Caribbean Hindustani#Trinidadian Hindustani|Trinidadian Hindustani]] which translated to the land of sugar. The usage of the term goes back to the 19th century when recruiters from [[British Raj|India]] would call the island ''Chinidat'' as a way of luring workers into indentureship.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_n82hsbDJBMC&dq=chinidat&pg=PA204 |title=Dictionary of the English/Creole of Trinidad & Tobago: On Historical Principles – Lise Winer |via=Google Books |date=16 January 2009 |isbn=9780773576070 |accessdate=2022-08-26|last1=Winer |first1=Lise |publisher=McGill-Queen's Press - MQUP }}</ref> On Tuesday, 31 July 1498 Columbus sent a sailor to climb up to the main top and sighted a cluster of three peaks, therefore Columbus named the island Trinidad from the three peaks and Columbus's special devotion to the Trinity.<ref>{{cite book|title= Christopher Columbus, The Four Voyages}}</ref>

==History==
{{Main|History of Trinidad and Tobago}}
[[Island Caribs|Caribs]] and [[Arawaks]] lived in Trinidad long before [[Christopher Columbus]] encountered the islands on his third voyage on 31 July 1498. The island remained Spanish until 1797, but it was settled mostly by French colonists from the [[French Caribbean]], especially [[Martinique]].<ref name="Besson, 2000">Besson, Gerard (27 August 2000). "Land of Beginnings – A historical digest", ''Newsday Newspaper''.</ref> In 1889 the two islands became a single British [[crown colony]]. Trinidad and Tobago was granted self-governance in 1958 and independence from the United Kingdom in August 1962,<ref name="WDL">{{cite web |url = http://www.wdl.org/en/item/11332/ |title = Railroad Map of Trinidad |website = [[World Digital Library]] |year = 1925 |access-date = 25 October 2013 }}</ref> and it became a republic in September 1976.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://guardian.co.tt/opinion/45-years-a-republic-6.2.1389840.1663fd2aca|title=45 years a Republic|publisher=Trinidad & Tobago Guardian|language=English|date=24 August 2021|accessdate=6 January 2022}}</ref>

==Geography==
Major landforms include the hills of the [[Northern Range|Northern]], [[Central Range, Trinidad and Tobago|Central]] and Southern Ranges (Dinah ranges), the [[Caroni Swamp|Caroni]], [[Nariva Swamp|Nariva]] and Oropouche Swamps, and the Caroni and Naparima Plains. [[List of rivers of Trinidad and Tobago|Major river systems]] include the [[Caroni River (Trinidad and Tobago)|Caroni]], North and South Oropouche and [[Ortoire River]]s. There are many other natural landforms such as beaches and waterfalls. 
Trinidad has two seasons per the calendar year: the rainy season and the dry season. [[El Cerro del Aripo]], at 940 metres (3,084&nbsp;ft), is the highest point in Trinidad. It is part of the Aripo Massif and is located in the [[Northern Range]] on the island, northeast of the town of [[Arima]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Trinidad-and-Tobago#ref516194|title=Trinidad and Tobago – People, Culture, Map, & Flag|website=Encyclopædia Britannica}}</ref>

== Demographics ==
{{Main|Demographics of Trinidad and Tobago}}

As of the 2011 Trinidad and Tobago Census, Trinidad's population was 37% Indo-Trinidadian, 32% Afro-Trinidadian, and 24% [[Multiracial|mixed race]].<ref name="Census2011">{{cite web | url=https://cso.gov.tt/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/2011-Demographic-Report.pdf | title=2011 Demographic Report | publisher=Central Statistical Office | accessdate=2025-04-22}}</ref> Venezuela has also had a great impact on Trinidad's culture, such as introducing the music style [[parang music|parang]] to the island. Many groups overlap. For example, a "[[Dougla]]" is a person of African and Indian descent.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-Icr9Klvm6wC&q=french+creole|title=Race Relations in Colonial Trinidad 1870–1900|first=Bridget|last=Brereton|author-link=Bridget Brereton|date=6 June 2002|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=9780521523134|access-date=2 August 2017|via=Google Books}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.une.edu.au/langnet/definitions/trinidad.html|title=''Trinidad French Creole''|website=Une.edu.au|access-date=2 August 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100328025807/http://www.une.edu.au/langnet/definitions/trinidad.html|archive-date=28 March 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |url=http://content.karger.com/produktedb/produkte.asp?typ=fulltext&file=HHE2005060003129 |title=Estimates of African, European and Native American Ancestry in Afro-Caribbean Men on the Island of Tobago |first1=Iva |last1=Miljkovic-Gacica |first2=Robert E. |last2=Ferrell |first3=Alan L. |last3=Patrick |first4=Candace M. |last4=Kammerer |first5=Clareann H. |last5=Bunker |journal=Human Heredity |volume=60 |number=3 |year=2005 |pages=129–133 |doi=10.1159/000089553 |pmid=16282694 |s2cid=42174747 |access-date=2011-07-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713135418/http://content.karger.com/produktedb/produkte.asp?typ=fulltext&file=HHE2005060003129 |archive-date=2011-07-13 |url-access=subscription }}</ref>

==Culture==
{{See also|Trinidad and Tobago cuisine|Music of Trinidad and Tobago}}
There are multiple festivals on Trinidad, featuring the music of the Caribbean and the [[steelpan]] (which originated on Trinidad and is the country's national instrument); These festivals<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g147387-s408/Trinidad-And-Tobago:Caribbean:Events.And.Festivals.html|title=Trinidad and Tobago: Events & Festivals – TripAdvisor|website=tripadvisor.com}}</ref> include the multi-national, [[Lent|pre-Lenten]] [[Carnival|Carnivál]], [[J'ouvert]], and [[Panorama (music competition)|Panorama]], the national steelpan competition. 

In addition to the traditional [[Christian holidays]] and official [[public holidays in Trinidad and Tobago|public]] days (such as [[Boxing Day]], Christmas, Easter Sunday, [[Easter Monday]], [[Emancipation Day]], [[Good Friday]], [[Independence Day]], Labour Day, New Year's Day, and [[Republic Day]]) in Trinidad, the island nation also celebrates a significant percentage of its population's Indian ancestry (of both [[Hinduism|Hindu]] and [[Muslim]] backgrounds), with officially-recognised holidays such as [[Divali]], [[Eid al-Fitr]] and [[Indian Arrival Day]]. Sites of cultural or religious significance include [[Mount Saint Benedict]], the [[Temple in the Sea]], and the Karyasiddhi [[Hanuman]] [[murti]] in [[Carapichaima]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.discovertnt.com/trinidad-tobago-celebrations-festivals-2015/|title=Trinidad & Tobago celebrations & festivals – Discover Trinidad & Tobago|date=21 January 2015|website=discovertnt.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tntisland.com/festivals.html|title=Trinidad & Tobago Festival & Holidays|website=tntisland.com}}</ref>

==Zoology==
{{Further|Natural history of Trinidad and Tobago}}

The island of Trinidad has a rich biodiversity.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sta.uwi.edu/fst/lifesciences/uwi-zoology-museum|title=UWI Zoology Museum – The Department of Life Sciences|website=sta.uwi.edu}}</ref> The fauna is overwhelmingly of South American origin. There are about 100 species of mammals including the [[Guyanese red howler]] monkey, the [[collared peccary]], the [[red brocket deer]], the [[ocelot]] and about 70 species of bats.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.trinibats.com/the-bats-of-trinidad.html | title=Bats of Trinidad | publisher=TriniBats.com | access-date=2016-11-27}}</ref> There are over 400 species of birds including the endemic [[Trinidad piping-guan]]. Reptiles are well represented, with about 92 recorded species including the largest species of snake in the world, the [[green anaconda]], the [[spectacled caiman]], and one of the largest lizards in the Americas, the [[green iguana]]. Trinidad is also the largest [[leatherback turtle]] nesting site in the western hemisphere; they nest on Trinidad's eastern and northern beaches. There are 37 recorded frog species, including the tiny [[El Tucuche golden tree frog]], [[Mannophryne trinitatis|Trinidad poison frog]], and the more widespread huge [[marine toad|cane toad]].<ref>Jowers, M., & Downie, J. (2004). Distribution of the frog Mannophryne trinitatis (Anura: Dendrobatidae) in Trinidad, West Indies. ''Living World'', ''2004''.</ref> About 43 species of freshwater fish are known from Trinidad, including the well known [[guppy]]. It is estimated that there are at least 80,000 arthropods, and at least [[List of butterflies of Trinidad and Tobago|600 species of butterflies]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.zstt.org/|title=Zoological Society of Trinidad and Tobago Inc. – Official Website|website=zstt.org}}</ref>

The William Beebe Tropical Research Station (founded by [[William Beebe]]), also known as Simla, lies {{convert|8|km|0}} north of [[Arima]].

==Economy==
The [[economy of Trinidad and Tobago]] is diversified, based to a large extent on oil and natural gas. It is one of the leading gas-based export centers in the world, being one of the top five exporters of [[liquefied natural gas]] and the largest onshore natural gas well was recently discovered in southern Trinidad. This has allowed Trinidad to capitalise on the biggest mineral reserves within its territories. It is an [[list of countries by proven oil reserves|oil-rich country]] and stable economically.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gecf.org/countries/trinidad-and-tobago|title=Trinidad and Tobago|website=gecf.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Overview |url=https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/trinidadandtobago/overview |access-date=2024-04-26 |publisher=World Bank |language=en}}</ref>

==Geology==
[[File:Trinidad geology.jpg|thumb|right|Regional Geology of Trinidad and Venezuela<ref>Woodside, P.R., The Petroleum Geology of Trinidad and Tobago, 1981, USGS Report 81-660, Washington: US Dept. of the Interior, p. 4a.</ref>]]
The Venezuela [[Tertiary period|Tertiary]] [[Structural basin|Basin]] is a [[Tectonic subsidence|subsidence]] basin formed between the Caribbean and South American [[Plate Tectonics|plates]], and is bounded on the north by the coast [[Mountain range|ranges]] of Venezuela and the Northern Range of Trinidad, and bounded on the south by the [[Guayana Shield]].<ref>Bane & Chanpong, p. 392.</ref>  This Guayana shield supplied fine-grained [[Clastic rock|clastic]] [[sediments]], which with the subsidence, formed a regional negative [[gravity anomaly]] and growth [[fault (geology)|fault]]s.<ref name="Bane, S.C. 1980, p. 387">Bane & Chanpong, p. 387.</ref> Oil and gas discoveries from the [[Pliocene]] Moruga [[Group (stratigraphy)|Group]] include Teak (1968), Samaan (1971), Poui (1972) and Galeota.<ref name=Woodside>Woodside, P.R., The Petroleum Geology of Trinidad and Tobago, 1981, USGS Report 81-660, Washington: US Dept. of the Interior, pp. 2 and 25</ref> These fields are mainly faulted [[anticline]] [[Structural trap|traps]] producing from depths of {{convert|1.2|to|4.2|km|abbr=on}} subsea, with Teak possessing a hydrocarbon column almost {{convert|1|km|abbr=on}} thick.<ref name="Bane, S.C. 1980, p. 387"/>

The [[Northern Range]] is an [[Upper Jurassic]]-[[Lower Cretaceous]] range of [[metamorphic]] rocks [[strike and dip|striking]] east and dipping south.  The range's southern boundary is marked by a [[fault (geology)|fault]] extending from the [[El Pilar Fault System]] in Venezuela.  South of this fault is the Northern Basin, or Caroni [[Syncline]], consisting of [[Tertiary period|Tertiary]] [[sedimentary rock]]s [[unconformably]] overlying Jurassic and Cretaceous sedimentary rocks.  South of this basin is the Central Range, consisting of [[Upper Tertiary]] sedimentary rocks lying unconformably atop [[Lower Eocene]] and [[Paleocene]] rocks. South of this range is the [[Naparima Plain]], a [[fold and thrust belt|thrust belt]] of [[Oligocene]] and [[Lower Tertiary]] beds.  

Hydrocarbon bearing anticlines include those associated with [[Pitch Lake]], Forest Reserve, Point Fortin, Penal, Barrackpore, and Balata Fields.  The Los Bajos Fault is a [[wrench fault]], with [[Lower Pliocene]] displacement of 6.51 miles, bordered on the north by the Siparia syncline, and on the south by the Erin syncline.  Finally, the [[Southern Range]] consists of anticlinal folds, including the Rock Dome-Herrera anticline and the Moruga-West Field. East of this Rock Dome are [[en echelon]] folds containing the Lizard Springs Field.  South of these folds is another fold trend containing the Moruga-East, Guayaguayare, Beach, and Galeota Fields.  South of the Morne Diablo-Quinam Erin Field westward is a strongly folded anticline associated with shale [[diapirism]], which extends west southwestward to the Pedernales Field in southeast Venezuela.  The northeast portion of the Southern Range separates into a northern trend containing the Lizard Springs, Navette, and Mayaro Fields, while the southern trend contains the Beach Field.<ref name=Woodside/>{{rp|5–9}}

==Recreation==
Trinidad is considered one of the best places in the world to catch [[Atlantic tarpon]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Olander |first1=Doug |title=World's Best Tarpon Fishing Spots |url=https://www.sportfishingmag.com/tarpon-fishing-best-locations/ |website=sportfishingmag.com |date=29 May 2014 |publisher=Sport Fishing Magazine |access-date=21 June 2019}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Trinidad and Tobago|Caribbean|Islands}}
* [[Culture of Trinidad and Tobago]]
* [[Hinduism in Trinidad and Tobago]]
* [[Islam in Trinidad and Tobago]]
* [[Music of Trinidad and Tobago]]
* [[Religion in Trinidad and Tobago]]
* [[Trinidad and Tobago literature]]
* [[Trinidad and Tobago cuisine]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Sources==
*  Bane, S.C.; Chanpong, R.R. (1980). "Geology and Development of the Teak Oil Field, Trinidad, West Indies". in ''Giant Oil and Gas Fields of the Decade: 1968–1978''. AAPG Memoir 30. Tulsa: American Association of Petroleum Geologists. {{isbn|0891813063}}.

==External links==
{{Commons category|Trinidad, Trinidad and Tobago|Trinidad}}
* {{wikivoyage-inline|Trinidad}}
* {{Wiktionary-inline|Trinidad}}
* [http://www.gotrinidadandtobago.com/ Gotrinidadandtobago.com: Trinidad and Tobago tourism website]

{{Islands of Trinidad and Tobago}}
{{Authority control}}
{{notelist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Trinidad}}
[[Category:Trinidad (island)| 01]]
[[Category:Islands of Trinidad and Tobago]]
[[Category:Windward Islands]]
[[Category:Former Spanish colonies]]
[[Category:Spanish West Indies]]
[[Category:1530 establishments in the Spanish Empire]]
[[Category:1530s establishments in the Spanish West Indies]]
[[Category:1790s disestablishments in the Spanish West Indies]]
[[Category:1797 disestablishments in the Spanish Empire]]
[[Category:1797 establishments in the British Empire]]