Calypso Country - Trinidad and Tobago Quiz

Answer: Southeastern Caribbean

Trinidad and Tobago is part of the island chain referred to as the Lesser Antilles, which extend along the eastern end of the Caribbean Sea, adjoining the North Atlantic Ocean. Trinidad and Tobago is at the southern end of the chain, just 11 km (6.8 mi) off the coast of South America at the closest point. Geologically, the islands do not belong to the Antilles; Trinidad was once a part of South America, while Tobago is part of a sunken island chain on the Caribbean plate.

Answer: Brazil

Trinidad and Tobago has maritime boundaries with a number of other nations, including Barbados to the northeast, Guyana to the southeast, and Venezuela to the south and west. In 1990, Trinidad and Tobago signed a maritime treaty with Venezuela that allocated ocean territory claimed by Barbados to Trinidad and Tobago.

In 2004, Barbados took the dispute to binding arbitration under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. On 11 April 2006, the boundary was set approximately midway between the two countries.

Answer: Archipelago

As well as Trinidad, the largest island with 93% of the country's land area, and Tobago (5.8%), there are around 20 other islands in this archipelagic nation, including the Bocas Islands (between Trinidad and Venezuela) and the Five Islands (a group of six islands in the Gulf of Pataria).

Answer: Port of Spain

Georgetown (Guyana), Kingston (Jamaica) and Havanna (Cuba) are also found in the Caribbean. Port of Spain was an important settlement during the Spanish colonial period, starting from the time when Christopher Columbus landed in Trinidad and renamed it after the Holy Trinity on his third voyage (31 July 1498).

He also sighted Tobago, which he referred to as Bellaforma. Port of Spain is the second-largest city of Trinidad, behind the industrial center of San Fernando.

Answer: Scarborough

Scarborough, the capital of and largest town on Tobago, has about one third of the island's population. It is connected to Port of Spain by a fast ferry service. Crown Point is the site of the only airport on Tobago. Speyside is a popular diving site, with some of the best coral reefs on the island of Tobago.

The popular tourist destination of Pirate's Bay is a 20 minute walk from Charlotteville.

Answer: petroleum and petrochemicals

Trinidad and Tobago is one of the few Caribbean nations with an industrial economy, centered on the petrochemical industry. At the start of the 21st century, oil and gas accounted for nearly half of its Gross Domestic Product, and over three-quarters of its export income.

In 1857, what is said to be the first successful oil well drilling in the world was accomplished at La Brea, Trinidad, striking oil at 280ft (85m). By 1907 major drilling was underway, with the accompanying infrastructure. Estimated oil and gas production in 2005 was 150,000 barrels per day with liquefied natural gas playing an increasingly important role.

Answer: El Cerro del Aripo

The Northern Range of Trinidad, which is actually part of the Andes Mountains, runs along the northern end of the island. Port of Spain is on the western end of the range. The Asa Wright Nature Centre in the Arima Valley is an important nature resort and scientific research station, known as one of the best birdwatching sites in the Caribbean.

The Dragon's Mouth and the Serpent's Mouth are ocean passages between Trinidad and South America.

Answer: Tropical, with a rainy season and a dry season

Well within the tropics, Trinidad and Tobago has a tropical climate with a rainy season from June to December. In Trinidad the annual mean temperature is 26C (79F), and the average maximum temperature is 34C (93F). The humidity is high, particularly during the rainy season, when it averages 85 to 87%. During the dry season, inland parts of Trinidad frequently suffer drought conditions.

Answer: Caroni Swamp

The Caroni Swamp provides an important habitat for the Scarlet ibis (Eudocimus ruber), one of the national birds of Trinidad and Tobago. It also has significant populations of herons, and is the only location in Trinidad to support a local subspecies of the Straight-Billed Woodcreeper.

It is a roosting site for migrant Olivaceous Cormorants, and the edges of the swamp support crakes and bitterns.

Answer: Baltimore Oriole

The Scarlet ibis and the Cocrico are the national birds of Trinidad and Tobago, respectively. They support a shield with two hummingbirds as part of its design. Trinidad is sometimes referred to as the 'Land of the Hummingbird' because more than fifteen different species of hummingbird have been recorded there.

Some historians believe that the Amerindian name for Trinidad meant 'Land of the Hummingbird'.