Geography Research Paper - Hurricane Wilma

When thinking about the Caribbean, most people think of a vacation with warm weather, good beaches, and a great overall environment. However, not everyone agrees, in fact, some people think of the Caribbean as a hot spot for bad weather such as thunder storms, hurricanes, or tsunamis. So, while there are many reasons to visit the Caribbean, there are arguably an equal number of reasons not to visit. The Caribbean is considered to be such a diversified region as it relates to physical and human geography.

The Caribbean is a unique region and it can be described as a region consisting of two seasons; hurricane and non-hurricane season. Hurricane season in the Caribbean is typically from June to November with most activity during September and October. Much of the Caribbean lies inside what is known as the Atlantic hurricane belt, so if the plan is to visit during hurricane season, then it may be best to go to an island outside of the belt such as Aruba, Curacao, Bonaire, or Trinidad and Tobago. With that being said, it is also important to know the overall climate of this region, which is fairly consistent with warm, humid weather followed by a nice ocean breeze. The Caribbean is not known to be extremely hot or cold during any time of the year, with the warm weather ranging from 85-90°F and the cooler temperatures ranging from 70-85°F. In contrast, the rainfall in the Caribbean can vary quite a bit from place to place with a high average annual rainfall amount of 132 inches in Costa Rica and low average annual rainfall amount of 21 inches in Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao. There are a total of 28 countries that make up the Caribbean islands and each one is unique in their own way, whether it is geographically, historically, culturally, architecturally, or in their landscapes. For example, Aruba (Lat: 12°30′N, Long: 69°58′W), can be characterized as a flat and dry land with little vegetation, but it contains some of the most beautiful beaches, whereas the Dominica (Lat: 15°25′N, Long: 61°20′W), is considered to be more tropical with forests and more rainfall. Another aspect to keep in mind is climate change in the Caribbean and some countries experiencing these climate changes are Antigua and Barbuda (Lat: 17°03′N, Long: 61°48′W), with an increase in the number of storms/hurricanes, along with the Bahamas (Lat: 24°15′N, Long: 76°00′W), experiencing a rise in sea level and changes in rainfall patterns. It is important to know there are similarities and differences that pertain to the climate of the Caribbean as aforementioned and it is equally important to know how overpopulation may be problematic for some parts of the Caribbean.

Population can be a key factor in the Caribbean as it relates to the economy and the environment. The overall population of the Caribbean is approximately 42.5 million with Cuba making up the higher end of that population at approximately 11.3 million followed by the Dominican Republic with 10.4 million, then with Haiti at 10.3 million. Overpopulation is a big problem and some of the countries that are suffering from overpopulation include Cuba, Jamaica, Haiti, and Aruba. The causes of overpopulation in these countries are due to an increase in birth rates as well as an increase in immigration, and in some circumstances a lack of education plays a big role. The effects of overpopulation have shown to be pretty severe in some of these countries. For example, Haiti is experiencing a depletion of resources such as water and food among many other things such as clothing, shelter, etc. Also, overpopulation has shown to create conflicts among neighboring countries due to a lack of resources along with the rise in unemployment. As a result, this creates some aggression among the residents followed by riots and an increase in crime rates. Overpopulation does exists in some of the countries that make up the Caribbean and it may seem like a reason not to visit. However, there are still plenty of reasons to visit, some of which are credited to the amazing physical features that make up parts of the Caribbean.

The Caribbean consists of several physical features that have been known to offer many reasons for people to visit. The Caribbean is made up of multiple sub-regions such as the Lucayan archipelago, Greater Antilles, Leeward Antilles, and the Lesser Antilles. Some of the physical features that make up the Caribbean islands include; volcanoes, mountains and mountain ranges, waterfalls, rainforests, swamps, beaches, and coral reefs. The Caribbean has a few volcanoes such as Grenada's, St. Vincent and St. Lucia. Some of these volcanoes are active and some of these volcanoes serve as tourist attractions. There are also some mountains and mountain ranges in the Caribbean and one of the largest mountain ranges in the Caribbean includes the Northern Range in Trinidad and the Blue Mountains in Jamaica. Another amazing attribute of the Caribbean is its waterfalls, one of which is located in Guyana, called the Kaieteur Falls. The Kaieteur Falls is a powerful waterfall due to its height and volume of water. Rainforests also make up parts of the Caribbean and are a great tourist attraction because of the lush green appearance making them great for eco-tourists and hikers. However, the beaches are arguably the main attraction for tourists because of the pristine white sand and beautiful clear water. The Caribbean also consists of a few coral reefs, one of which is located in Tobago, called Tobago's Bucoo Reef. It is a shallow reef that allows visitors to get a close view and walk on the corals. While there are many reasons to visit the Caribbean, it is also important to know some of the history and culture that helped mold the Caribbean.

Becoming more familiar with the history of the Caribbean will directly correlate to being able to understand its culture. Each of the Caribbean islands has their own unique cultural identity that was formed by the early European colonialists, the African slave trade, and the indigenous Indian tribes. Its rich culture and heritage, is what gives its lasting influence on travelers who visit the islands. The architecture, music, attitudes and local customs have, in many ways, been influenced by the unique physical landscape and climate of the Caribbean. Today the cultures of the Caribbean are a mixture of colonial mainstays accompanied by influences from major ethnic groups including the Africans and East Indians. Caribbean culture is at the heart of the Caribbean experience. While many tourists arrive in the Caribbean in search of the perfect paradise many leave with an appreciation for everything that the Caribbean truly has to offer, other than its unparalleled landscape.

In conclusion, the Caribbean is a much diversified region in many ways and there is a few things to keep in mind when planning to visit as aforementioned. Though, there are some reasons one may not want to visit, overall, the Caribbean is arguably still a region that many tourists do enjoy to visit and it is said to be a wonderful, affordable place to relax and meet some of the locals.

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