Jamaica is the third largest island and the fourth largest
country in the Caribbean. The island is home to the Blue Mountains inland and is surrounded by a
narrow coastal plain. Most major towns and cities are located on the coast. Chief towns and cities
include the capital Kingston, Portmore, Spanish Town, Mandeville, Ocho Ríos, Port Antonio, Negril,
and Montego Bay. The Kingston Harbour is one of the largest natural harbours in the world. There are
several tourist attractions scattered across the country, including Dunn’s River Falls in St.
Ann, YS Falls in St. Elizabeth, the Blue Lagoon in Portland, and Port Royal, which was the site of
an earthquake that helped form the island’s Palisadoes.
The climate in Jamaica is
tropical, with hot and humid weather, although higher inland regions are more temperate. Some
regions on the south coast, such as the Liguanea Plain and the Pedro Plains, are relatively dry
rain-shadow areas. Jamaica lies in the hurricane belt of the Atlantic Ocean; as a result, the island
sometimes experiences significant storm damage. Hurricanes Charlie and Gilbert hit Jamaica directly
in 1951 and 1988, respectively, causing major damage and many deaths. In the 2000s, hurricanes Ivan,
Dean, and Gustav also brought severe weather to the island.
