The Carnival is an annual event held on the Monday and Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. The event is well known for participants’ colourful costumes and exuberant celebrations. (Above)
History
Christopher Columbus arrived on the islands in 1498 and named Trinidad after the three peaks of south-east and Tobago after the local brand of the tobacco pipe.
Trinidad was under the Spanish empire while Tobago was under the French rule. Trinidad was surrendered to Britain in 1802 while Tobago was surrendered to Britain in 1814.
Slavery was abolished in the two regions in 1834.
The two regions joined together in 1889 as a British colony. The two then gained independence as a single republic in 1976.
Food/ culture
The country’s culture is influenced by European, African, Spanish and Indian cultures.
The major crops grown in the country are coffee, coconut, cocoa, vegetables and citrus fruits.
The most popular dishes are pelau, rice dishes, stewed chicken, breadfruit, macaroni and calaloo.
Wildlife
Common wildlife animals found in the country are porcupine, capuchin, agouti, ocelots, raccoon, peccary, anteater, armadillo and howler monkeys.
Annual events/ celebrations/ festivals
Major events held in the country are Carnival, Easter Weekend, Phagwa, Corpus Christi, Emancipation Day, Tobago Heritage Festival and Spiritual Baptist.
Things to see
Maracas Beach is a bay with sandy beaches on the island of Trinidad.
The Pitch Lake is the world’s largest natural deposit of asphalt.
Englishman Bay is a secluded beach on the coast of Tobago.
Other must-visit places are Caroni Bird Sanctuary, Little Tobago and Queen’s Park Savannah.
Interesting facts
The country produced the first black winner of the Miss Universe Pageant.
The largest deposit of Asphalt in the world is Trinidad.
Borders
It is located south of Grenada and northeastern of Venezuela. It also shares marine borders on the northeast by Barbados, on the northwest by Grenada, on the southeast by Guyana and, on the south and west by Venezuela.
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