6Y7EI Team will be active from Jamaica, IOTA NA - 097, 12 - 24 March 2025.
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Jamaica
For many, Jamaica is a country that is associated with eternal summer, golden beaches, azure Caribbean Sea and stunning landscapes. But not only beach vacation calls tourists from all over the world to visit this exotic state. The country is characterized by a mild tropical climate, a diverse world of flora and fauna, rich history and the presence of a large number of parks and green areas.
Jamaica. Author - Dr. Ashok Kolluru.
About Jamaica
To date, the country is an island nation, part of the Greater Antilles. The area covers 10991 km², the length from north to south - 82 km, from west to east - 225 km, the coastline stretches for 1022 km. The country has the Blue Mountains with the highest point at 2256 meters. The main feature of the climate is that the average temperature throughout the year does not change much - from 24 °С in January to 27 °С in July. In the mountains the temperature stays within 4 - 7 °С.
The island is a member of the British Commonwealth in West India, and its nearest neighbors are Cuba and Haiti. The name of the country is derived from the word “Haymaka”, which translates as “land of springs”. The capital is Kingston, the largest city in the state.
The population is 2.8 million people, of which 91% are African, 6% mulatto and 3% other ethnic groups. The official language of the country is English, the spoken language is Jamaican Creole. The main part of the religious layer is Protestants, as well as atheists and Rastafarians.
Jamaica. Author - Grant Harden.
Jamaica's geographical location and its characteristics
Since the island is located in a seismically active zone (Antilles-Caribbean), it is often affected by earthquakes and tsunamis, the largest of which occurred in 1692 and 1907. The first occurred in the city of Port Royal, where a large part of the territory went under water. As a result of the elements, injuries and spreading diseases, a total of about 5,000 people died. A second major earthquake in January 1907 in Kingston killed about 1,400 people.
In addition to seismic activity, the island is prone to Atlantic hurricanes and tornadoes, which cause significant damage to the population and economy of the country. Among the strongest is Hurricane Dean, which reached Category 5, the level of the highest danger, when wind speeds exceeded 250 km/h. In 2004, there was a hurricane “Ivan” (“Ivan”), where the wind speed recorded in Jamaica was equal to 260 km / h. In 1988, the hurricane “Gilbert” was formed, which is the second most intense hurricane observed in the Atlantic basin. In 1980, there was a hurricane “Allen”, whose speed reached 305 km / h.
Historical events that have influenced the course of Jamaica's development
The Arawak Indians were the original inhabitants of the country and began to disappear after the discovery of Jamaica by Christopher Columbus in 1494 and the Spanish migration to the island. If in 1509 there were 60000 Indians in Jamaica, in 1611 there were only 74 of them left.
In the 16th century the Spaniards actively settled Jamaica, but in 1655 the English captured the island and in 1670 made it their colony. Having settled in the region, the English were engaged in the cultivation of sugar cane, produced molasses, rum, raw sugar.
The active use of slave labor led to a major uprising in 1831. It involved about 60,000 native and African slaves. Similar unrest in several other English colonies led to the abolition of slavery in 1833. Plantation farming and sugar production in the country declined sharply, and the economic situation worsened.
A big influence on the growth of the economy was the United States, which invested in the export of bananas, coconuts, cocoa and coffee production. Thanks to the investments of Americans, the country began to develop infrastructure, railroad and road network.
In 1943 Jamaicans received the right to vote, in 1944 they were able to partially govern the country, and in 1959 they began to lead the state independently. Jamaicans gained full independence from Britain in 1962.
Jamaica. Author - John Oates.
Culture of Jamaica
The culture of Jamaica is represented by music, art, literature and theater:
- Music. The most popular trend is reggae. It is characterized by a slow, jagged rhythm to a melodic chant. The music is based on rock 'n' roll and blues, mixed with Caribbean motifs. The lyrics are based on Protestant movements and rostafarianism (free life, smoking marijuana, bright clothes, braids). The most prominent representative of reggae were Jamaican Bob Marley, Max Romeo, The Congos. Reggae is the basis of the newest musical styles - electronic music, dub, jangla.
- Art. The National Gallery of Jamaica (Kingston) contains the best works of art from the entire Caribbean region. In 1950 the Jamaican school of arts was created, where talented painters, sculptors, actors and musicians are trained.
- Literature. Jamaica's first internationally recognized literary figure was poet, writer and journalist Thomas McDermott. Jamaicans Derek Walcott, Louis Simpson, and Claude McKay became Nobel Prize winners.
- Theater. A significant contribution to the development of the theater art was made by Louise Bennett and Mikey Smith.
Every year Kingston hosts a film festival, the Reggae Film Festival.
Traditions and customs of Jamaicans
Most Jamaican beliefs are related to human birth and death, here are some of them:
- Burial of the umbilical cord. The umbilical cord of a newborn baby is buried in the ground and a tree is planted on the spot. In this way, the child remains forever connected to the place of its birth.
- “Nine Nights. The first 8 nights after the death of a person, his relatives and friends gather at the house of the deceased, singing songs and dancing. Farewell funeral songs are not sung until the 9th night. On the same night in the room make a rearrangement, throw out the things of the deceased, so that his spirit did not recognize the room and did not return to the house.
- Wedding. Preparations for the celebration take more effort and expense than the holiday itself. Relatives and friends begin to give gifts even before the wedding. Especially often present eggs, which are used in the preparation of the cake. The wedding ceremony itself does not take long, and the cutting of the cake serves as its end.
Many Jamaicans believe in witchcraft, perform rituals and practice black and white magic.
Interesting Places in Jamaica
Jamaica's natural and man-made attractions allow you to immerse yourself in its culture, see interesting places and enjoy beautiful views:
Negril Beach with white sand, not far from which is the town of Eppolton, distinguished by local color and the production of real Jamaican rum.
Dunns River Falls. Located on the territory of the natural park, near the settlement of Ocho Rios. The total length of the waterfalls is 180 meters, and the total height is 55 meters.
The city of Kingston. Here you should visit the National Gallery, the Royal House, many museums, among them the Bob Marley Museum, located in the house where the musician lived.
The city of Falmouth. Is one of the world leaders in sugar and rum production, has a beautiful cruise ship port.
City of Port Royal. The town used to be a haven for pirates and bandits, but the 1692 earthquake, fires and hurricanes wiped out the area and today it is completely abandoned.
Blue Mountains. This is home to an unspoiled nature reserve with dense forests, mountainous landscapes, and many exotic animals and plants.
Visiting these and other places in Jamaica, a tourist will be able to experience the color of the island, enjoy the sun, spiritually enriched and understand why the locals are so happy, friendly and smiling.
