"West Indian" redirects here. For the western part of India see West India. "West Indies" redirects here. For other uses of the phrase see West Indies (disambiguation). For other uses see Caribbean (disambiguation). Caribbean Area 2754000 km2 (1063000 sq mi) Land Area 239681 km2 (92541 sq mi) Population (2010) 363140001 Density 151.5 /km2 (392 /sq mi) Ethnic groups Afro-Caribbean Indo-Caribbean 2 Amerindians (Arawak Caribs Tainos) European Asian Demonym West Indian Caribbean person Caribbean Languages Spanish English French Dutch and many others Government 13 sovereign states 17 dependent territories Largest cities Santo Domingo Havana Santiago de los Caballeros Port-au-Prince Kingston Santiago de Cuba San Juan Holguin Internet TLD Multiple Calling code Multiple Time zone UTC-5 to UTC-4

The Caribbean3 is a region consisting of the Caribbean Sea its islands (most of which are enclosed by the sea) and the surrounding coasts. The region is located southeast of the Gulf of Mexico and North America east of Central America and to the north of South America.

Situated largely on the Caribbean Plate the region comprises more than 7000 islands islets reefs and cays. These islands called the West Indies generally form island arcs that delineate the eastern and northern edges of the Caribbean Sea.4 These islands are called the West Indies because when Christopher Columbus landed there in 1492 he believed that he had reached the Indies (in Asia).

The region consists of the Antilles divided into the larger Greater Antilles which bound the sea on the north the Lesser Antilles on the south and east (including the Leeward Antilles) the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands or the Lucayan Archipelago which are in fact in the Atlantic Ocean north of Cuba not in the Caribbean Sea.

Geopolitically the West Indies are usually regarded as a subregion of North America5678 and are organized into 30 territories including sovereign states overseas departments and dependencies. From January 3 1958 to May 31 1962 there was a short-lived country called the Federation of the West Indies composed of ten English-speaking Caribbean territories all of which were then UK dependencies. The West Indies cricket team continues to represent many of those nations. Contents 1 Etymology 2 Definition 3 Geography and climate 3.1 Island groups 3.2 Historical groupings 3.3 Modern day island territories 3.4 Continental countries with Caribbean coastlines and islands 4 Biodiversity 5 Demographics 5.1 Indigenous tribes 5.2 Language 5.3 Religion 6 Politics 6.1 Regionalism 6.1.1 United States effects on regionalism 6.1.2 European Union effects on regionalism 7 Regional institutions 8 Cuisine 8.1 Favorite or national dishes 9 See also 10 References 11 Further reading 12 External links Etymology

The region takes its name from that of the Carib an ethnic group present in the Lesser Antilles and parts of adjacent South America at the time of European contact.9 Definition Central America and the Caribbean

The word "Caribbean" has multiple uses. Its principal ones are geographical and political. The Caribbean can also be expanded to include territories with strong cultural and historical connections to slavery European colonisation and the plantation system. Physiographically the Caribbean region consists mainly of the Caribbean Sea to north bordered by the Gulf of Mexico the Straits of Florida the Northern Atlantic Ocean which lies to the east and northeast and a chain of islands surrounding the Caribbean Sea; the coastline of the continent of South America lies to the south. Politically "Caribbean" may be centred on socio-economic groupings found in the region. For example the block known as the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) contains both the Co-operative Republic of Guyana and the Republic of Suriname found in South America along with Belize in Central America as full members. Bermuda and the Turks and Caicos Islands which are found in the Atlantic Ocean are Associate members of the Caribbean Community and the same goes for the Commonwealth of the Bahamas which is a full member of the Caribbean Community. Alternately the organisation known as the Association of Caribbean States (ACS) consists of almost every nation in the surrounding regions which lie on the Caribbean plus El Salvador which lies solely on the Pacific Ocean. According to the ACS the total population of its member states is some 227 million people.10 Geography and climate Detail of tectonic plates from: Tectonic plates of the world.

The geography and climate in the Caribbean region varies. Some islands in the region have relatively flat terrain of non-volcanic origin. These islands include Aruba (possessing only minor volcanic features) Barbados Bonaire the Cayman Islands Saint Croix The Bahamas or Antigua. Others possess rugged towering mountain-ranges like the islands of Cuba Hispaniola Puerto Rico Jamaica Dominica Montserrat Saba Saint Kitts Saint Lucia Saint Thomas Saint John Tortola Grenada Saint Vincent Guadeloupe Martinique and Trinidad & Tobago.

The climate of the region is tropical but rainfall varies with elevation size and water currents (cool upwellings keep the ABC islands arid). Warm moist tradewinds blow consistently from the east creating rainforest/semidesert divisions on mountainous islands. Occasional northwesterlies affect the northern islands in the winter. The region enjoys year-round sunshine divided into 'dry' and 'wet' seasons with the last six months of the year being wetter than the first half.

The waters of the Caribbean Sea host large migratory schools of fish turtles and coral reef formations. The Puerto Rico trench located on the fringe of the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea just to the north of the island of Puerto Rico is the deepest point in all of the Atlantic Ocean.11 Hurricanes which at times batter the region usually strike northwards of Grenada and to the west of Barbados. The principal hurricane belt arcs to northwest of the island of Barbados in the Eastern Caribbean. The region sits in the line of several major shipping routes with the man-made Panama Canal connecting the western Caribbean Sea with the Pacific Ocean. Island groups Lucayan Archipelago Main article: Lucayan Archipelago  Bahamas  Turks and Caicos Islands Greater Antilles Main article: Greater Antilles  Cuba Hispaniola  Dominican Republic  Haiti  Jamaica  Cayman Islands (United Kingdom)  Puerto Rico (U.S. Commonwealth) Lesser Antilles Main article: Lesser Antilles Leeward Islands Main article: Leeward Islands  U.S. Virgin Islands Saint Croix Saint Thomas Saint John Water Island  British Virgin Islands (United Kingdom) Tortola Virgin Gorda Anegada Jost Van Dyke  Anguilla (United Kingdom)  Antigua and Barbuda Antigua Barbuda Redonda Saint Martin  Saint Martin (French Antilles France)  Sint Maarten (Kingdom of the Netherlands) Saba (BES islands Netherlands) Saint Eustatius (BES islands Netherlands)  Saint Barthlemy (French Antilles France)  Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Kitts Nevis  Montserrat (United Kingdom)  Guadeloupe (French Antilles France) Windward Islands Main article: Windward Islands  Dominica  Martinique (French Antilles France)  Saint Lucia  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Saint Vincent The Grenadines  Grenada  Barbados  Trinidad and Tobago Tobago Trinidad Leeward Antilles Main article: Leeward Antilles  Aruba (Kingdom of the Netherlands)  Curaao (Kingdom of the Netherlands) Bonaire (BES islands Netherlands) Historical groupings Main article: History of the Caribbean Political evolution of Central America and the Caribbean from 1700 to present The mostly Spanish-controlled Caribbean in the 16th century All islands at some point were and a few still are colonies of European nations; a few are overseas or dependent territories: British West Indies/Anglophone Caribbean Anguilla Antigua and Barbuda Bahamas Barbados Bay Islands Belize British Virgin Islands Cayman Islands Dominica Grenada Guyana Jamaica Montserrat Saint Croix (briefly) Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Trinidad and Tobago (from 1797) and the Turks and Caicos Islands Danish West Indies present-day United States Virgin Islands Dutch West Indies Aruba Curaao Saba Saint Eustatius Sint Maarten Virgin Islands Saint Croix (briefly) Tobago and Bay Islands (briefly) French West Indies Anguilla (briefly) Antigua and Barbuda (briefly) Dominica Dominican Republic (briefly) Grenada Haiti Montserrat (briefly) Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Saint Eustatius (briefly) Sint Maarten St. Kitts (briefly) Tobago (briefly) Saint Croix the current French overseas dpartements of Martinique and Guadeloupe (including Marie-Galante La Dsirade and Les Saintes) and the current French overseas collectivities of Saint Barthlemy and Saint Martin Portuguese West Indies present-day Barbados known as Os Barbados in the 16th century when the Portuguese claimed the island en route to Brazil. The Portuguese left Barbados abandoned in 1533 nearly a century prior to the British arrival to the island. Spanish West Indies Cuba Hispaniola (present-day Dominican Republic Haiti(until 1609 to France) Puerto Rico Jamaica (until 1655 to Great Britain) the Cayman Islands(until 1670 to Great Britain) Trinidad (until 1797 to Great Britain) and Bay Islands (until 1643 to Great Britain) with coastal island of Central America (Mexico Guatemala Honduras Nicaragua Costa Rica and Panama) and South America (Venezuela and Colombia). Swedish West Indies present-day French Saint-Barthlemy and Guadeloupe (briefly). Courlander West Indies Tobago (until 1691) The British West Indies were united by the United Kingdom into a West Indies Federation between 1958 and 1962. The independent countries formerly part of the B.W.I. still have a joint cricket team that competes in Test matches One Day Internationals and Twenty20 Internationals. The West Indian cricket team includes the South American nation of Guyana the only former British colony on that continent. In addition these countries share the University of the West Indies as a regional entity. The university consists of three main campuses in Jamaica Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago a smaller campus in the Bahamas and Resident Tutors in other contributing territories such as Trinidad. Modern day island territories Islands in and near the Caribbean Main article: List of islands in the Caribbean See also: Caribbean South America and Caribbean basin  Anguilla (British overseas territory)  Antigua and Barbuda  Aruba (Kingdom of the Netherlands)  Bahamas  Barbados  Bonaire (special municipality of the Netherlands)  British Virgin Islands (British overseas territory)  Cayman Islands (British overseas territory)  Cuba  Curaao (Kingdom of the Netherlands)  Dominica  Dominican Republic  Grenada  Guadeloupe (overseas department of France)  Haiti  Jamaica  Martinique (overseas department of France)  Montserrat (British overseas territory)  Puerto Rico (commonwealth of the United States)  Saba (special municipality of the Netherlands)  Saint Barthlemy (overseas collectivity of France)  Saint Kitts and Nevis  Saint Lucia  Saint Martin (overseas collectivity of France)  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines  Saint Eustatius (special municipality of the Netherlands)  Sint Maarten (Kingdom of the Netherlands)  Trinidad and Tobago  Turks and Caicos Islands (British overseas territory)  United States Virgin Islands (territory of the United States) Continental countries with Caribbean coastlines and islands  Belize Ambergris Caye Belize City Big Creek Caye Caulker Glover's Reef Dangriga Hicks Cays Hopkins Lighthouse Reef Placencia Punta Gorda St. George's Caye South Water Caye Turneffe Islands  Colombia Archipelago of San Andres and Providencia Barranquilla Cartagena Riohacha Santa Marta  Costa Rica  Guatemala  Guyana  Honduras Guanaja Roatn tila Cayos Cochinos Swan Islands  Mexico Quintana Roo Cancn Chetumal Isla Contoy Isla Cozumel Isla Mujeres Cozumel  Nicaragua Corn Islands Cayos Miskitos Pearl Cays  Panama Kuna Yala Islands (comprising more than 1300 islands) Bocas del Toro Archipelago (archipelago with approximately 300 islands)  Suriname  United States Florida Keys Navassa Island  Venezuela Isla Margarita Coche Island Cubagua Island Los Monjes Archipelago Las Aves Archipelago Isla Aves Los Hermanos Archipelago Islas Los Frailes Los Roques Archipelago La Sola Island La Tortuga Island La Orchila Blanquilla Island Los Testigos Islands Isla de Patos The nations of Belize and Guyana although on the mainland of Central America and South America respectively are former British colonies and maintain many cultural ties to the Caribbean. They are members of CARICOM. Nicaragua's Caribbean Coast often referred to as the Mosquito Coast was also a former British colony. It maintains many cultural ties to the Caribbean as distinct from the Pacific coast. Guyana participates in West Indies cricket tournaments and many players from Guyana have been on the West Indies Test cricket team. The Turneffe Islands (and many other islands and reefs) are part of Belize and lie in the Caribbean Sea. The nation of Suriname on the mainland of South America is a former Dutch colony and also a member of CARICOM. Biodiversity This section requires expansion. The Caribbean islands are classified as one of Conservation International's biodiversity hotspots because they support exceptionally diverse terrestrial and marine ecosystems ranging from montane cloud forests to cactus scrublands. The region also contains about 8% (by surface area) of the world's coral reefs12 along with extensive seagrass meadows13 both of which are frequently found in the shallow marine waters bordering island and continental coasts off the region. Many of these ecosystems have been devastated by deforestation pollution and human encroachment. The arrival of the first humans is correlated with extinction of giant owls and dwarf ground sloths.14 The hotspot contains dozens of highly threatened species ranging from birds to mammals and reptiles. Popular examples include the Puerto Rican Amazon two species of solenodon (giant shrews) in Cuba and the Hispaniola island and the Cuban crocodile. The hotspot is also remarkable for the diversity of its fauna. Saona Island Dominican Republic The region's coral reefs which contain about 70 species of hard corals and between 500-700 species of reef-associated fishes15 have undergone rapid decline in ecosystem integrity in recent years and are considered particularly vulnerable to global warming and ocean acidification.16 Demographics Beach in Tobago A linen market in Dominica in the 1770s Cuban school children The population of the Caribbean is estimated to have been around 750000 immediately before European contact although lower and higher figures are given. After contact genocide and disease led to a decline in the Amerindian population.1718 From 1500 to 1800 the population rose as slaves arrived from West Africa19 such as the Kongo Igbo Akan Fon and Yoruba as well as military prisoners and captured slaves from Ireland who were deported during the Cromwellian reign in England.20 Immigrants from Britain Italy. France Spain the Netherlands Portugal and Denmark also arrived although the mortality rate was high for both groups.21 The population is estimated to have reached 2.2 million by 1800.22 Immigrants from India China and other countries arrived in the 19th century.23 After the ending of the Atlantic slave trade the population increased naturally.24 The total regional population was estimated at 37.5 million by 2000.25 Puerto Cruz beach in Margarita Island Venezuela The majority of the Caribbean has populations of mainly Africans in the French Caribbean Anglophone Caribbean and Dutch Caribbean there are minorities of mixed-race and European peoples of Dutch English French Italian and Portuguese ancestry. Asians especially those of Chinese and Indian descent form a significant minority in the region and also contribute to multiracial communities. All of their ancestors arrived in the 19th century as indentured laborers. Grand Anse beach St. George's Grenada The Spanish-speaking Caribbean have primarily mixed race African or European majorities. Puerto Rico and Cuba (largest Caribbean island) have a European majority with a mixture of SpaniardsEuropean Amerindians and some West African. One third of Cuba's population is of African descent with a sizable Mulatto (mixed AfricanEuropean) population. The Dominican Republic has a largely mixed majority who are primarily descended from West Africans and Spaniards with some Amerindians. Larger islands such as Jamaica have a large African population in addition to a very large mixed race Chinese Europeans Indian Lebanese Latin American and Syrian populations. This is a result of years of importation of slaves and indentured labourers and migration. Most multi-racial Jamaicans refer to themselves as either mixed race or simply Black. The situation is similar for the Caricom states of Guyana Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago. Trinidad and Tobago has a multi-racial cosmopolitan society due to the arrival of the Africans Indians Chinese Syrians Lebanese Native Amerindians and Europeans. This multi-racial mix has created sub-ethnicities that often straddle the boundaries of major ethnicities and include Chindian and Dougla. Indigenous tribes Tano Kalinago Ciboney Ciguayo Galibi Garifuna Igneri Lucayan Macorix Language Main article: Caribbean Languages Spanish English French Dutch Haitian Creole and Papiamento are the predominant official languages of various countries in the region though a handful of unique Creole languages or dialects can also be found from one country to another. Religion See also: :Category:Religion in the Caribbean The largest religious groups in the region are: Christianity Hinduism Islam Rastafari Santera and Voodoo among others. Politics Regionalism Caribbean societies are very different from other Western societies in terms of size culture and degree of mobility of their citizens.26 The current economic and political problems which the states face individually are common to all Caribbean states. Regional development has contributed to attempts to subdue current problems and avoid projected problems. From a political economic perspective regionalism serves to make Caribbean states active participants in current international affairs through collective coalitions. In 1973 the first political regionalism in the Caribbean Basin was created by advances of the English-speaking Caribbean nations through the institution known as the Caribbean Common Market and Community (CARICOM).27 Certain scholars have argued both for and against generalizing the political structures of the Caribbean. On the one hand the Caribbean states are politically diverse ranging from communist systems such as Cuba toward more capitalist Westminster-style parliamentary systems as in the Commonwealth Caribbean. Other scholars argue that these differences are superficial and that they tend to undermine commonalities in the various Caribbean states. Contemporary Caribbean systems seem to reflect a "blending of traditional and modern patterns yielding hybrid systems that exhibit significant structural variations and divergent constitutional traditions yet ultimately appear to function in similar ways."28 The political systems of the Caribbean states share similar practices. The influence of regionalism in the Caribbean is often marginalized. Some scholars believe that regionalism cannot not exist in the Caribbean because each small state is unique. On the other hand scholars also suggest that there are commonalities amongst the Caribbean nations that suggest regionalism exists. "Proximity as well as historical ties among the Caribbean nations has led to cooperation as well as a desire for collective action."29 These attempts at regionalization reflect the nations' desires to compete in the international economic system.29 Furthermore a lack of interest from other major states promoted regionalism in the region. In recent years the Caribbean has suffered from a lack of U.S. interest. "With the end of the Cold War U.S. security and economic interests have been focused on other areas. As a result there has been a significant reduction in U.S. aid and investment to the Caribbean."30 The lack of international support for these small relatively poor states helped regionalism prosper. Following the Cold War another issue of importance in the Caribbean has been the reduced economic growth of some Caribbean States due to the United States and European Union's allegations of special treatment toward the region by each other. United States effects on regionalism The United States under President Bill Clinton launched a challenge in the World Trade Organization against the EU over Europe's preferential program known as the Lom Convention which allowed banana exports from the former colonies of the Group of African Caribbean and Pacific states (ACP) to enter Europe cheaply.31 The World Trade Organization sided in the United States' favour and the beneficial elements of the convention to African Caribbean and Pacific states has been partially dismantled and replaced by the Cotonou Agreement.32 During the US/EU dispute the United States imposed large tariffs on European Union goods (up to 100% on some imports) from the EU in order to pressure Europe to change the agreement with the Caribbean nations in favour of the Cotonou Agreement.33 Farmers in the Caribbean have complained of their falling profits and rising costs as the Lom Convention weakens. Some farmers have faced increased pressure to turn towards the cultivation of illegal drugs which has a higher profit margin and fills the sizable demand for these illegal drugs in North America and Europe.3435 European Union effects on regionalism The European Union has also taken issue with US based taxation extended to US companies via the Caribbean countries. The EU instituted a broad labeling of many nations as tax havens by the France-based OECD. The United States has not been in favor of shutting off the practice yet mainly due to the higher costs that would be passed on to US companies via taxation. Caribbean countries have largely countered the allegations by the OECD by signing more bilateral information sharing deals with OECD members thus reducing the dangerous aspects of secrecy and they have strengthened their legislation against money laundering and on the conditions under which companies can be based in their nations. The Caribbean nations have also started to more closely cooperate in the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force and other instruments to add oversight of the offshore industry. One of the most important associations that deal with regionalism amongst the nations of the Caribbean Basin has been the Association of Caribbean States (ACS). Proposed by CARICOM in 1992 the ACS soon won the support of the other countries of the region. It was founded in July 1994. The ACS maintains regionalism within the Caribbean on issues which are unique to the Caribbean Basin. Through coalition building like the ACS and CARICOM regionalism has become an undeniable part of the politics and economics of the Caribbean. The successes of region-building initiatives are still debated by scholars yet regionalism remains prevalent throughout the Caribbean. Regional institutions Here are some of the bodies that several islands share in collaboration: Association of Caribbean States (ACS) Trinidad and Tobago Caribbean Association of Industry and Commerce (CAIC) Trinidad and Tobago36 Caribbean Association of National Telecommunication Organizations (CANTO) Trinidad and Tobago37 Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Guyana Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) Barbados Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency (CDERA) Barbados Caribbean Educators Network38 Caribbean Electric Utility Services Corporation (CARILEC) Saint Lucia39 Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) Barbados and Jamaica Caribbean Food Crop Society Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Caribbean Hotel Association (CHA) Puerto Rico40 Caribbean Initiative (Initiative of the IUCN) Caribbean Programme for Economic Competitiveness (CPEC) Saint Lucia Caribbean Regional Environmental Programme (CREP) Barbados41 Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) Belize42 Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery (CRNM) Barbados and Dominican Republic43 Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU) Trinidad and Tobago44 Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) Barbados Inter-American Economic Council (IAEC) Washington D.C. Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Saint Lucia Latin American and Caribbean Internet Addresses Registry (LACNIC) Brazil and Uruguay United Nations - Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) Chile and Trinidad and Tobago University of the West Indies Jamaica Barbados Trinidad and Tobago.45 In addition the fourth campus the Open Campus was formed in June 2008 as a result of an amalgamation of the Board for Non-Campus Countries and Distance Educationn Schools of Continuing Studies the UWI Distance Education Centres and Tertiary Level Units. The Open Campus has 42 physical sites in 16 Anglophone caribbean countries. West Indies Cricket Board Antigua and Barbuda46 Cuisine Main article: Caribbean cuisine Favorite or national dishes See also: Nationaldish#Country-Dish/Food 47 Anguilla - Rice and Peas and Fish Antigua and Barbuda - Fungee & Pepperpot Bahamas - Crack Conch with Peas and Rice48 Barbados - Cou-Cou and Flying fish British Virgin Islands - Fish and fungee Cayman Islands - Turtle Stew Colombian Caribbean - Rice with Coconut Milk arroz con pollo Sancocho Arab cuisine due to large Arab immigration Cuba - Platillo Moros y Cristianos Ropa Vieja Yuca Maduros Ajiaco Dominica - Mountain chicken Dominican Republic - arroz con pollo topped with stewed red kidney beans pan fried or braised beef and side dish of green salad or ensalada de coditos shrimp empanadas and/or tostones or the ever popular Dominican dish known as Mang which is mashed plantains. The ensemble is usually called bandera nacional which means "national flag" a term equivalent to the Venezuelan pabelln criollo. Grenada - Oil-Down Guyana - pepperpot coookup rice Roti and curry methem Haiti - Griot (Fried pork) served with Du riz a pois or Diri ak Pwa (Rice and beans) Jamaica - ackee and saltfish callaloo Montserrat - Goat Water Puerto Rico - Arroz con gandules with roasted pork shoulder arroz con pollo Mofongo and Many Fried Food Commonly made In the Beaches and Coast like Alcapurrias bacalaito piononos. Saint Kitts and Nevis - Coconut dumplings Spicy plantain saltfish breadfruit Saint Lucia - Green Bananas & Dried and salted cod Saint Vincent and the Grenadines - Roasted Breadfruit & Fried Jackfish Trinidad and Tobago - Doubles Roti and Curry Crab and dumpling Pelau United States Virgin Islands - Stewed goat oxtail or beef seafood callaloo fungee See also Main article: List of Caribbean-related topics Caribbean portal African diaspora Anchor coinage British Afro-Caribbean community Caribbean Countries Caribbean Spanish Caribbean English History of the Caribbean Indo-Caribbean Music of the Caribbean Piracy in the Caribbean Politics of the Caribbean Tourism in Caribbean NECOBELAC Project Geography: Islands of the Caribbean Caribbean Sea Americas (terminology) List of Indigenous Names of Eastern Caribbean Islands Middle America (Americas) Mountain peaks of the Caribbean Organisations: West Indies Federation CONCACAF Council on Hemispheric Affairs References https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2119rank.html McWhorter John H. (2005). Defining Creole. Oxford University Press US. p. 379. ISBN 0195166701. http://books.google.com/booksidzdxJJVY54nYC&pgPT387.  Pronounced /krbin/ or /krbin/. Both pronunciations are equally valid; indeed they see equal use even within areas of the Caribbean itself. Cf. Royal Caribbean which stresses the second syllable. In this case as a proper noun those who would normally pronounce it a different way may use the pronunciation associated with the noun when referring to it. More generic nouns such as the Caribbean Community are generally referred to using the speaker's preferred pronunciation. Spanish: Caribe; Dutch Caraben (helpinfo); French: Carabe or more commonly Antilles Asann Ridvan (2007). A Brief History of the Caribbean (Revised ed.). New York: Facts on File Inc.. p. 3. ISBN 0816038112.  Standard Country and Area Codes Classifications (M49) United Nations Statistics Division North America Atlas National Geographic "North America" Atlas of Canada "North America". Britannica Concise Encyclopedia; "... associated with the continent is Greenland the largest island in the world and such offshore groups as the Arctic Archipelago the Bahamas the Greater and Lesser Antilles the Queen Charlotte Islands and the Aleutian Islands." "Carib". Encyclopdia Britannica. Archived from the original on 2008-07-11. http://www.webcitation.org/5ZDatLUlv. Retrieved 2008-02-20. "inhabited the Lesser Antilles and parts of the neighbouring South American coast at the time of the Spanish conquest."  Background of the business forum of the Greater Caribbean of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS) Uri ten Brink. "Puerto Rico Trench 2003: Cruise Summary Results". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/03trench/welcome.html. Retrieved 2008-02-21.  Spalding M. and E. Green. "World Atlas of Coral Reefs". University of California Press and UNEP/WCMC 2001 Littler D. and M. Littler. "Caribbean Reef Plants". OffShore Graphics Inc. 2000 "North American Extinctions v. World". Thegreatstory.org. http://www.thegreatstory.org/charts/NA-extinctions.html. Retrieved 2010-08-23.  "Caribbean Coral Reefs". http://www.coral-reef-info.com/caribbean-coral-reefs.html.  "Coral Reefs Under Rapid Climate Change and Ocean Acidification". Science. 2007-12-14. http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/short/318/5857/1737. Retrieved 2010-10-29.  p. 486 A Population History of the Caribbean Stanley L. Engerman pp. 483528 in A Population History of North America edited by Michael R. Haines and Richard Hall Steckel Cambridge University Press 2000 ISBN 0-521-49666-7. Stacy Goodling "Effects of European Diseases on the Inhabitants of the New World" Millersville University The Sugar Revolutions and Slavery U.S. Library of Congress To Hell or Barbados: The Ethnic Cleansing of Ireland O'Callaghan S Brandon Press 2001 ISBN 0-86322-287-0. pp. 488492 Engerman. Figure 11.1 Engerman. pp. 501502 Engerman. pp. 504 511 Engerman. Table A.2 Database documentation Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) Population Database version 3 International Center for Tropical Agriculture et al. 2005. Accessed on line February 20 2008. Gowricharn Ruben. Caribbean Transnationalism: Migraton Pluralization and Social Cohesion Lanham: Lexington Books 2006. pp. 5 Hillman Richard S. and Thomas J. D'agostino eds. Understanding the Contemporary Caribbean London: Lynne Rienner 2003. pp. 150 Hillman Richard S. and Thomas J. D'agostino eds. Understanding the Contemporary Caribbean London: Lynne Rienner 2003. pp. 165 a b Serbin Andres. "Towards an Association of Caribbean States: Raising Some Awkward Questions" Journal of Interamerican Studies and World Affairs (2004): pp. 1 Hillman Richard S. and Thomas J. D'agostino eds. Understanding the Contemporary Caribbean London: Lynne Rienner 2003. pp. 123 The U.S.-EU Banana Agreement See also: "Dominica: Poverty and Potential". BBC. http://www.bbc.co.uk/caribbean/news/story/2008/05/080516sanders190508.shtml. Retrieved 2008-12-06.  WTO rules against EU banana import practicesdead link "No truce in banana war". BBC News. 1999-03-08. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/293114.stm. Retrieved 2010-08-23.  "World: Americas St Vincent hit by banana war". BBC News. 1999-03-13. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/296008.stm. Retrieved 2010-08-23.  "Concern for Caribbean farmers". Bbc.co.uk. http://www.bbc.co.uk/caribbean/news/story/2005/01/050117ukparliament-concern.shtml. Retrieved 2010-08-23.  "CAIC". CAIC. http://www.caic.org.tt. Retrieved 2010-08-23.  "CANTO Caribbean portal". Canto.org. http://www.canto.org. Retrieved 2008-12-06.  "Caribbean Educators Network". CEN. http://www.caribbeaneducatorsnetwork.com. Retrieved 2008-12-06.  "Carilec". Carilec.com. http://www.carilec.com. Retrieved 2008-12-06.  http://www.caribbeanhotels.org "Caribbean Regional Environmental Programme". Crepnet.net. http://www.crepnet.net. Retrieved 2008-12-06.  "Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism". Caricom-fisheries.com. http://www.caricom-fisheries.com. Retrieved 2008-12-06.  "Official website of the RNM". Crnm.org. http://www.crnm.org. Retrieved 2008-12-06.  "c-t-u.org". c-t-u.org. http://www.c-t-u.org. Retrieved 2010-08-23.  "University of the West Indies". Uwi.edu. http://www.uwi.edu. Retrieved 2008-12-06.  "West Indies Cricket Board WICB Official Website". Windiescricket.com. http://www.windiescricket.com. Retrieved 2008-12-06.  Profile of Countries Caribbean Community (CARICOM) "National Dishes & Local Favorites from the Islands of the Caribbean<". Caribbeanamericanfoods.com. http://www.caribbeanamericanfoods.com/pageislanddishes. Retrieved 2010-08-23.  "Diversity Amid Globalization" 4th edition. Rowntree Lewis Price Wyckoff. Further reading Develtere Patrick. 1994. "Co-operation and development: With special reference to the experience of the Commonwealth Caribbean" ACCO ISBN 90-334-3181-5 Gowricharn Ruben. Caribbean Transnationalism: Migraton Pluralization and Social Cohesion. Lanham: Lexington Books 2006. Henke Holger and Fred Reno eds. Modern Political Culture in the Caribbean. Kingston: University of West Indies Press 2003. Heuman Gad. The Caribbean: Brief Histories. London: A Hodder Arnold Publication 2006 Hillman Richard S. and Thomas J. D'agostino eds. Understanding the Contemporary Caribbean. London: Lynne Rienner 2003. de Kadt Emanuel (editor). Patterns of foreign influence in the Caribbean Oxford University Press 1972 Knight Franklin W.. The Modern Caribbean. na: The University of North Carolina Press 1989. Kurlansky Mark. 1992. A Continent of Islands: Searching for the Caribbean Destiny. Addison-Wesley Publishing. ISBN 0-201-52396-5 Langley Lester D. The United States and the Caribbean in the Twentieth Century. London: University of Georgia Press 1989. Maingot Anthony P. The United States and the Caribbean: Challenges of an Asymmetrical Relationship. Westview P 1994. Ramnarine Tina K. "Beautiful Cosmos: Performance and Belonging in the Caribbean Diaspora". London Pluto Press 2007 Serbin Andres. "Towards an Association of Caribbean States: Raising Some Awkward Questions." Journal of Interamerican Studies and World Affairs (2004): 1-19. (This scholar has many articles referencing the politics of the Caribbean) External links Find more about Caribbean on Wikipedia's sister projects: Definitions from Wiktionary Images and media from Commons Learning resources from Wikiversity News stories from Wikinews Quotations from Wikiquote Source texts from Wikisource Textbooks from Wikibooks Caribbean at the Open Directory Project Wikitravel - The Caribbean Digital Library of the Caribbean Federal Research Division of the U.S. Library of Congress: Caribbean Islands (1987) Library of Congress definition of the West Indies West Indies papers Miscellaneous personal and estate records 16631929 University of Bristol Library Special Collections LANIC Caribbean country pages Latineos Latin America Caribbean arts and culture v d eRegions of the world Africa Northern  Sub-Saharan (Central  Southern  Western  Eastern) Oceania Australasia (Australia)  Melanesia  Micronesia  Polynesia America North (Northern  Middle  Central  Caribbean)  South (Southern  Northern  Western)  Anglo  Latin Polar Arctic  Antarctic Asia Central  Eastern (Northeastern)  Northern  Southeastern  Southern (Indian subcontinent)  Western (Middle East) Oceans World  Arctic  Atlantic  Indian  Pacific  Southern Europe Central  Eastern  Northern  Southeastern  Southern  Western Seas List of seas Related Continents of the world  List of seas  Physical Earth Coordinates: 143132N 754906W / 14.52556N 75.81833W / 14.52556; -75.81833 v d e Caribbean topics History Timeline Tano-Arawaks  West Indies (to 1763)  Spanish Caribbean (1492-1886)  Dutch Caribbean (1554-1863)  Under British Control (1586-1834)  French Caribbean (1625-1817) Post-Confederation (1867-1914)  World Wars and Interwar Years (1914-1945)  1945-1960  1960-1980  1980-1990  since 1990 Topics Constitutional   Crown & Independence   Economic   Former colonies & territories   Immigration Military   Monarchical   National Historic Sites   Persons of significance   Territorial evolution Government Law  Constitution  The Crown  Governor General  Parliament (Senate  House of Commons)  Prime Minister (List)  Courts (Supreme Court)  Military  Local Government  Foreign relations  Law enforcement Politics Elections  Gun politics  LGBT rights Geography Regions (west to east) Mountains in the Caribbean  Western Caribbean  Northern Caribbean  Caribbean Lakes  Central Caribbean  Caribbian Rain Forests  Atlantic Caribbean  Caribbean Sea Topics Animals  Cities  Extreme communities  Islands  Mountains  National parks  Plants  Regions  Rivers  Volcanoes Economy Agriculture  Banking  Banks of the Caribbean  Caribbean dollar  Communications   Television stations  Companies  Energy  Fishing  Oil  Stock Exchange  Taxation  Tourism  Transportation  Social programs  Poverty Society Education  Health care  Crime  Obesity Demographics Topics Immigration  Languages  Religion  1996 Census  2001 Census  2006 Census  Population by year Top 100s Metro areas  Urban areas  Municipalities Culture Architecture  Art  Cinema  Cuisine  People  Holidays  Identity  Literature  Music  Nationalism  Protection of  Sport  Theatre  Visitor attractions Symbols Coat of Arms  Flags  National Flag  Provincial and territorial  Regional dress  Royal symbols  Heraldry See also: the Caribbean Portal