Exploring Jamaica

Written by: Natalie Yao

Geography and Nature

Located in the Caribbean Sea, Jamaica is a small island with a land area of about 45 hundred square miles. The island nation sits just 600 miles south of Florida. Jamaica is a part of the Greater Antilles, which is a chain of Caribbean islands. Other nations in this region include Hispaniola, Cuba, and Puerto Rico. Jamaica also has many tall mountains and its highest peak is the Blue Mountain Peak, which is over 7 thousand feet above sea level. Most of the island is covered in mountains that are over a thousand feet in elevation. The country also has beautiful coastal regions with beaches that are filled with tourists. In addition, Jamaica has many hills that make farming and agriculture prosper. 

The weather in Jamaica is always warm, though it does receive a lot of rain in particular regions. Jamaica’s rainforests are home to many plants like bamboo, orchids, and ferns. Some trees that can be found in Jamaica are ebony trees, mahogany trees, and rosewood trees. These regions are also the habitat to many animals like crocodiles, birds, bats, mongooses, frogs, and lizards.

People and Culture

The official language of Jamaica is English, but they also speak Jamaican Creole. Most Jamaicans are of African descent, but there are also people from China, India, and Germany that live there. There are many Jamaicans who do not follow a religion, and those who are religious mostly follow Christianity. There are also smaller populations of people who follow Hinduism, Judaism, and Islam. Most people live in coastal cities.

Jamaica is the home to reggae music, which originated in the time between 1950 and 1960. Some reggae musicians are Jimmy Cliff, Desmond Dekkar, Peter Tosh, and Burning Spear. The most famous of this genre’s musicians is Bob Marley and the Wailers. 

Jamaican cuisine reflects the diversity of the people who live there, their food having Taino, African, Indian, and Chinese influences. The vibrant cuisine’s commonly used ingredients are thyme, breadfruit, saltfish, and cassava.

Some popular dishes include:

• Ackee and Saltfish: the national dish of Jamaica, sauteed salt cod with ackee fruit

• Escovitch Fish: fried fish topped in pepper and pickled onion sauce

• Jerk Chicken and Pork: slow cooked meat marinated in peppers, pimento, and thyme

• Sweet Potato Pudding: a dense and spiced pudding that is made of sweet potato and yam, topped with a coconut custard

National Symbols

• National Flower: The Lignum

• National Bird: Red Billed Streamertail

• National Tree: The Blue Mahoe

• National Fruit: The Ackee

• National Colors: Black, Green, and Gold