Physical Features of the Caribbean

 

 
One of the ways in which Caribbean lands are alike physically is the fact that they are located in the same general area. Caribbean lands also have similar landforms and climate. Below are some similarities and differences among Caribbean lands.
 

1. Caribbean lands are surrounded or share borders with the same major water bodies. These water bodies are the Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico.
    

2. Most of the Caribbean region is located in the tropical Zone. this means that most of the countries are near to the Equator and places near to the Equator are generally sunny. There are some factors however, that cause the climate to vary from place to place within each climatic zone. Countries in the Caribbean therefore experience what is called a Tropical Marine Climate. This means that they are usually hot but at the same time they are open to the cooling effects of the sea.
    

3. Another similarity is the fact that many of the countries in the region are completely surrounded by water. These are called islands. The remaining countries are called mainland countries. The Caribbean Sea washes the coast of the mainland countries.
    

4. Caribbean islands experience the same kind of natural disasters such as floods, droughts, earthquakes, hurricanes and volcanic eruptions.
    

5. Caribbean countries vary in size and shape. Some are relatively big while others are quite tiny.  Jamaica is the third largest island in the Greater Antilles.
    

6. Landform is also different throughout the region. Some territories are mountainous while others are flat. Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago for example, have high mountain ranges while islands such as Barbados, Turks and Caicos and the Cayman Islands are very flat. All the territories on the mainland have high mountain ranges and large low land areas. In the Eastern Caribbean, the smaller islands where volcanic activities have occured are also very mountainous.
    

7. While the terrain of Caribbean countries varies, the landmasses are almost similar in thier make up. They are made up of limestone and coral. Caribbean territories can be placed into five main physical groups – mountainous islands, limestone islands, volcanic islands, coral islands and low lying mainland countries.