Tobago

Tobago is the smaller of the two next to Trinidad main islands located off the northern coast of South America island state of Trinidad and Tobago.

Geography

The island in the Lesser Antilles and is located between the southern Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, about 30 km northeast of Trinidad. The next Antilles island is approximately 150 km in the northwest Grenada. After the delimitation of the IHO, the Lesser Antilles and thus Tobago lie within the Caribbean Sea.

The island is 40.7 km long and 11.9 km wide. More than half of the island is covered by a wooded mountain range, the highest point is the peak Pigeon with 576 m. While in the south west, the island is flat and sandy, the rocky north presents. The coastline here is very rugged, punctuated by sandy coves.

Tobago has an area of 300 km ² ( with a minor islands Little Tobago and St. Giles Iceland, Iceland and Goat Sisters ' Rock 303 km ²). The island comprises two of the eleven administrative regions of the state as a whole.

The climate is tropical and characterized by high temperatures around 28 ° C with slight variations.

Population

Most of the 50,000 inhabitants live in the densely populated western part of the island between Crown Point and the island's capital, Scarborough, also the capital of the Western Region Tobago. In this well served by roads urban ribbon many villages merge into one another, as Crown Point, Canaan, Bon Accord and Lowlands. In the mountainous eastern part there is next to Roxborough, capital of the Eastern Region Tobago, only small towns in the bays along the coast, which are accessible via narrow roads. In the north, for example, Castara, Parlatuvier and L'Anse Fourmi, in the east Charlottesville and Speyside.

90 % of residents are black, the rest are mixed race, white and Indian. The religious affiliations are distributed as follows: 35 % are Anglican, Methodist 11%, 10 % Moravians ( Moravians ), 10% Adventists, 8% Catholics and 1 % Hindu.

Structure

Tobago is divided into seven historic parishes - three in the Western Region and four in the Eastern Region (each with population census of 15 May 2000 and largest city):

• Western Tobago ( 37345, Scarborough ) Saint Andrew ( 15830, Scarborough )
• Saint Patrick ( 14011, Bon Accord )
• Saint David ( 7504, Moria )

• Saint George ( 5364, Mount St. George )
• Saint Mary ( 2965, Goodwood )
• Saint Paul ( 5412, Roxborough )
• Saint John ( 2998, Charlottesville )

The Parishes were established in 1763 at the beginning of the British colonial administration. You now no longer have administrative function, but are used as a regional reference units of official statistics.

Environment

Although Tobago south of the hurricane-prone zone of the Caribbean Sea, the island on September 30, 1963, was ravaged by Hurricane Flora - many plantations were destroyed. 2004 Tobago by Hurricane Ivan - but far less - affected.

Before the island are the southernmost coral reefs in the Caribbean. The " Buccoo Reef Trust ( BRT) " is trying to promote a non-profit organization sustainable development of the underwater world. The place Speyside on the north - east coast is a center for scuba divers.

On the north coast of Tobago put on some beaches the endangered leatherback turtles lay their eggs from. The non-profit organization "Save Our Sea Turtles" trying to improve the protection for these animals.

A special feature is probably the oldest nature reserve in the world: since April 13, 1776, the rain forest is the territory of the " Main Ridge Forest Reserve and Creation Site" under protection. Thus, the deforestation of the rainforest was prevented by British plantation owners, who wanted to use the deforested land for sugar cultivation. This circumstance, it is thanks to them that Tobago has an impressive biodiversity, especially in birds exhibit.

The small neighboring islands of Little Tobago and St. Giles are seen as important nesting areas for birds.

Policy

Tobago has its own parliament since 1980 ( Tobago House of Assembly (THA ) ) with 15 members, elected by those 12. Two parties dominated since the body: the People's National Movement ( PNM ) and the Tobago Organisation of the People ( TOP), to the PNM won all 12 constituencies in the election on 21 January 2013.

History

Tobago as Trinidad discovered in 1498 by Christopher Columbus. He named the island Bella Forma, later it was renamed several times. The last name Tobago is probably derived from tobacco. The original Indian inhabitants were largely exterminated by the Spanish settlers, the survivors were assimilated. The island changed hands frequently; Cornelis was a Lampsins, the Baron of Tobago. Part of it was defended at great cost, sometimes just leave abandoned. France ( Name: Tobago), the Netherlands ( Name: Nieuw Walcheren ), United Kingdom ( Name: Tobago) and even the Duchy of Courland ( Name: Neukurland ) laid claim to the island and built fortified facilities. In the meantime, she was pirate base. 1763 the seven parishes were established. Georgetown was on the south coast in Saint George Parish 's capital from 1764 to 1769, and since then Scarborough. 1814 Tobago finally to the UK. From 1879 to 1899 Tobago formed an independent postal territory and issued stamps. 1888, she was were zusammengefasst.1958 with Trinidad into a colony both independently as part of the West Indies Federation, 1962 as Trinidad and Tobago.

Attractions

• Scarborough with the Fort King George. The island's capital Scarborough is located in the southwest of the island on the banks of rockly Bay. The city has a little under 20,000 inhabitants and is the bustling business center of the island. Above the town is the Fort King George, built in 1777-79 in the Gregorian style. The fort also houses the well-preserved Tobago Historical Museum offers a good view over the rockly Bay and Scarborough.
• Pigeon Point is the most famous beach in the west of the island of Tobago. The sand beach with palm trees towering over the blue water and the land with a palm-thatched hut is one of the classic photo opportunities throughout the Caribbean.
• Buccoo Reef. Far from Pigeon Point extends the coral reef Buccoo Reef, the abundance of fish attracts many snorkelers and tourists in glass bottom boats.
• Argyle Waterfall. The Argyle Waterfall is located in the southeast of the island, just inland from the town of Roxborough. In some basins of the waterfall swimming is possible. However, access to the waterfall is chargeable.
• Little Tobago. Little Tobago is a small uninhabited island off the eastern tip of Tobago. Little Tobago is particularly known for its bird richness.
• Charlottesville with Pirates Bay. Charlottesville is located at the Man O'War Bay is a small, picturesque fishing village in the far northeast of the island. A second, more direct north adjacent bay, Pirates Bay, is a former retreat of pirates and today a popular snorkeling spot.
• Tobago Forest Reserve. The rainforest of Tobago, which runs parallel to the north coast along the Main Ridge mountain range in the east of the island, is the oldest virgin rainforest in the Western Hemisphere and the oldest nature reserve in the world. The rain forest is crossed by a road in north-south direction between Parlatuvier on the north coast and Roxborough in the south, the small station " Main Ridge Forest Reserve and Creation Site" happens at the highest point of the Main Ridge, the starting point for guided walks serves through the rainforest.

Traffic

The only two-lane road on the island, the Claude Noel Highway leads from Scarborough to the airport. The Windward Road runs along the southern coast after Roxborough and on to Charlottesville. The Northside Road via Moriah on the north coast and thence to Castara, Parlatuvier and L'Anse Fourmi. The Parlatuvier Road crosses the island and connects with Roxborough Parlatuvier. Since 2007, connects the Hermitage Road Charlottesville with Parlatuvier.

From Scarborough blue - white painted buses (mostly by the Chinese company Higer Bus) of the Public Transport Service Corporation ( PTSC ). The main routes are: west to Crown Point and Black Rock, east to Charlottesville and head north towards Moriah, Castara and L' Anse Fourmi. The tickets are very cheap ( 3-8 TT $) and must be purchased before starting the journey.

The same routes are served by taxis - they are called here maxi taxi (blue- white painted minibuses with 8 seats ) and route taxis (cars with 4 seats ). Both types can be stopped on the open road.

In the southwest of Crown Point International Airport is located with daily connections to Port of Spain and some international flights, including to Frankfurt am Main.

The only port is located in Scarborough. From the ferry terminal and take fast ferries in 2.5 hours from Port of Spain in Trinidad.

Kitchen

The cuisine of Trinidad and Tobago is dominated by African as well as Indian influences. Likewise, of course, from the kitchens of the respective colonial powers. The result is a mixture of different directions. Famous dishes include rotis and Dumplings ( dumplings ). Both are usually filled with meat and curry sauces. Are widespread fish dishes.

Media

Appears on Tobago with Tobago News on Fridays own ( weekly ) newspaper. From Scarborough sends out the radio station Radio Tambrin 92.7 FM, which was founded in 1998 and remains the only radio station in Trinidad & Tobago, which has its focus on the smaller of the two sister islands.