THE NATURAL DIVISIONS OF THE CARIBBEAN

THE NATURAL DIVISIONS OF THE CARIBBEAN

The Caribbean islands, also known as the West Indies, are geographically divided into three main island groups: the Greater Antilles, the Lesser Antilles, and the Lucayan Archipelago (the Bahamas). 

The Greater Antilles

Located in the northwestern part of the Caribbean Sea, these four larger islands account for nearly 90% of the total landmass of the West Indies. Unlike the volcanic islands of the Lesser Antilles, the Greater Antilles are made of continental rock. 

• Cuba: The largest island in the Caribbean, known for its extensive limestone formations and mountain ranges.

• Hispaniola: The second-largest island, shared by the nations of Haiti (west) and the Dominican Republic (east).

• Jamaica: Situated to the south of Cuba, this island has a mountainous interior and extensive limestone plateaus.

• Puerto Rico: Found at the eastern end of the Greater Antilles, this island has a mountainous core and a northern karst region.

• Cayman Islands: A smaller British Overseas Territory located to the west of Jamaica. 

The Lesser Antilles

This grouping is an arc of smaller islands that forms the eastern boundary of the Caribbean Sea. Many of these islands are geologically younger and were formed by volcanic activity. The Lesser Antilles are further divided into three subgroups: 

1. The Leeward IslandsThe northern section of the Lesser Antilles, located where the Caribbean Sea meets the Atlantic Ocean. 

• Main islands include: The Virgin Islands (both U.S. and British), Anguilla, St. Kitts and Nevis, Antigua and Barbuda, and Montserrat. 

2. The Windward IslandsThe southern section of the Lesser Antilles, so named because they are exposed to the prevailing easterly trade winds. 

Main islands include: Dominica, Martinique, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, Barbados, and Trinidad and Tobago. 

 3. The Leeward AntillesA chain of islands situated just off the coast of Venezuela. 

• Main islands include: The Dutch "ABC" islands—Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao. 

The Lucayan Archipelago

This archipelago lies in the Atlantic Ocean, to the north of the Greater Antilles. It is distinct geologically from the Antilles, as it was formed from fossilized coral reefs. 

• Main islands include: The Bahamas, which consists of nearly 700 islands and cays, and the Turks and Caicos Islands. 

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Non-island divisions

In addition to the island groups, some geographers also include the following areas in the broader natural division of the Caribbean:

• Mainland coastal areas: Coastal regions of Central and South America bordering the Caribbean Sea, such as the Yucatán Peninsula, Belize, and the Guianas.

·        The Caribbean Sea: The sea itself is considered a major physical division, defined by its geological features, including oceanic trenches (like the Cayman and Puerto Rico Trenches), deep basins, and currents.