Caribbean: All about Trinidad and Tobago Quiz

Answer: Southernmost

Situated around 80 miles (130 km) south of the Caribbean island of Grenada, Trinidad and Tobago is composed of a total land area of around 1,980 square miles (5,130 square km).

The northernmost island of the Caribbean is Cuba, the easternmost island of the Caribbean is Barbados and the westernmost islands of the Caribbean are the three "ABC islands": Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao.

Answer: 22 miles (35 km)

The total area of the island of Tobago encompasses 115 square miles (300 square km). It is about 25 miles (40 km) long. It typically takes a ferry 3.5 hours to travel from one island to the other, however a high speed ferry can take around 2.5 hours.

Answer: Caroni Swamp

Spanning around 12,000 acres, the Caroni Swamp is the second largest mangrove wetland of Trinidad and Tobago. It is a popular bird watching and ecotourism spot, housing over 100 species of birds, including the scarlet ibis.

Port of Spain is the only capital city of the world named after another country. It has been the capital of Trinidad and Tobago since 1757. It has the largest shipping container port of the island of Trinidad, and is known for its commerce, with one of the largest stock exchanges in the Caribbean.

Answer: Benedict

Located in the northwest of Trinidad, the Mount Saint Benedict has stood since 1912, making it both the largest and oldest monastery in the Caribbean. Its red roof is a stark contrast against the mountain it sits on, around 4,300 feet (1,130 m) above sea level.

The monks that abide there follow the Order of Saint Benedict, a Catholic organisation of monks who are sometimes coined "the Black Monks" due to the habits they wear. The monks here have several activities from spiritual counselling and mentoring, to woodwork and yoghurt production. Since at least 1997, the monastery had regularly produced a type of fermented yoghurt called "Pax yoghurt" which has become a signature beverage presented to the visitations the monastery.

Answer: Icacos

Located on the tip of Trinidad's southwestern peninsula, Icacos point is a regular spot for the national bird of Trinidad and Tobago, the scarlet ibis. Icacos village was given its name by the locals of the area, the Amerindians, who named the town after an abundant shrub in the area, from the rosaceous or rose family, icaco. The icaco shurb is blue-red in colour, and is colloquially known as "fat port" in Trinidad and Tobago.

During Christopher Columbus' voyages, he happened upon the Icacos point while around Trinidad's southern peninsula. In a clumsy and ill-fated attempt to gain the trust of the locals, he and his men decided to play the drums and dance to show they were friendly. The Amerindians responded by firing a considerable number of arrows at the ship, causing Columbus and his men to flee.

Icacos point is only just under 7 miles (11 km) away from Venezuela, South America. Fishing (particularly shrimp fishing, which must be done at night) has caused Icacos problems with Venezuela, who have accused the Trinidadian fishermen of fishing in their waters.

Answer: Argyle Waterfall

At around 175 feet (55 m) and located on the northeast of Tobago, the Argyle Waterfall had three different levels, all of which end with their own pool of spring water at varying depths. The bottom pool which is the deepest is best for swimming.

Answer: Camouflage

Clothing with camouflage patterns are illegal to wear by civilians in Trinidad and Tobago, and are only allowed to be worn by the country's army. Camouflage patterns on fabrics and clothing are also illegal to import into Trinidad and Tobago. This is to protect Trinidad and Tobago's citizens and military from anyone wishing to pose as a member of the army when they are not.

Answer: Hardbargin

Hardbargin is located in the central section of the island of Trinidad, on the south foot of the Central Range mountain chain. Hardbargin lies approximately 30 miles (45 km) southeast of Port of Spain. The closest airport to Hardbargin is the Piarco International Airport, around 20 miles (30 km) away.

The Triveni Mandir (that is, the Sisters Road Hindu Temple) was born from a cultural organisation which needed somewhere to operate from. A plot of land was donated by Roopnarine Singh; what became a beautiful Hindu Mandir started as a small wooden hut. Between 1970-74, the structure was expanded and the temple is now referred to as "Triveni." This new name is a reference to the sacred place in India where the three rivers, the Ganges, Jamuna and Saraswati converge, juxtaposed with the three local communities that originally made the temple possible, hailing from St. Julien, Dyers Village and Hardbargain.

The Sisters Road Hindu Temple is meticulously and beautifully detailed, with large elephant sculptures, fountains and waterfalls adorning it. It has stained glass windows and works of art by local artists inside, against marble tiles.

The Sisters Road Hindu Temple was completely rebuilt in 2001, being completed in 2003. Sadly, one of the temple's core founders, Roopnarine Singh, died two months before its completion in September 2003.

Answer: Eric Williams

Eric Williams was the first Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, serving under the first President of Trinidad and Tobago, Ellis Clarke, when the country gained independence from Britain in 1962. Williams is also particularly known for his first book "Capitalism and Slavery."

The Eric Williams Plaza was completed in 1986, with construction starting around 1979. The two skyscrapers are known as the "Twin Towers" locally. The towers are designed to withstand earthquakes. Between 1993-1999 the Prime Minister's office was located here.

Answer: Guaracara and Oropouche

Located in the southwest of the country, San Fernando is one of the most populous places in Trinidad and Tobago. It is the birthplace of acclaimed British newsreader, Sir Trevor McDonald.

The Guaracara River is around 20 miles (30 km) long, and drains into the Gulf of Paria, which is located between the island of Trinidad and Venezuela. It forms the northern border of San Fernando, and Couva-Tabaquite-Talparo Regional Corporation, one of the country's nine regions.

While the Guaracara is highly polluted, the north of the Oropouche River is purported to be one of the cleanest rivers on the island of Trinidad.

Trinidad and Tobago's largest river is the Caroni River, which flows for 25 miles (40 km), and also drains into the Gulf of Paria.

Answer: Red House

Located in the centre of Port of Spain, Red House was first built around 1844-1848 but was destroyed in the 1903 riots (caused by the price of water). The building burned down and 16 people died. Red House was rebuilt by 1907, this time with a neo-classical style.

In 1990, Arthur Napoleon Raymond Robinson, the then Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, was kidnapped and held hostage in Red House for three days, alongside other politicians of the country.

Answer: Mayaro Beach

Located on the south-east coast of the island, Mayaro Beach is a popular tourist spot. However, the surrounding sea has strong Atlantic undercurrents and getting into the sea is only advised for those who are experienced swimmers. Due to the high amount of tourism and fishing, the beach can become somewhat polluted but this has not affected the popularity of the area with tourists.

Buccoo Bay is the largest beach on the island of Tobago.

Answer: Robinson Crusoe

Named "Crusoe Cave" since around 1890, Crusoe Cave is named after Robinson Crusoe, the main character of author Daniel Defoe's novel of the same name, published in 1719. Some say the novel itself is based on the island of Tobago, with Crusoe in the novel becoming shipwrecked near Trinidad.

The limestone walls of the cave display fossils. Although the cave can be reached on foot, it is inadvisable to travel here during high tide as the cave fills up with sea water.

Answer: Hasely Crawford

Open to the public since 1982, what is now the Hasely Crawford Stadium was inaugurated the same year by then Prime Minister, George Chambers. In 1996, the then Prime Minister, Basdeo Panday, renamed the stadium the "Hasely Crawford Stadium" to commemorate the first Trinidadian who had ever won an Olympic gold medal.

Hasely Crawford was born in 1950 in the city of San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago. He was awarded the Trinity Cross, Trinidad and Tobago's highest and most prestigious award, for winning the 100m sprint in the 1976 Olympic Games. He was also declared Trinidad and Tobago's athlete of the millennium in 2000.

Answer: Blue

The flag of Trinidad and Tobago was established after the country gained independence from Britain in 1962. Trinidad and Tobago's flag before this consisted of a British blue ensign, with a ship approaching a mountain. The modern flag of Trinidad and Tobago was designed by Carlisle Chang, who also designed the coat of arms for the short-lived state of the Federation of the West Indies.