Here are some interesting Barbados Facts which were chosen and researched by kids especially for kids.
Barbados is located on the North American continent and is the easternmost island of the Caribbean islands and part of the Lesser Antilles.
The country lies northeast of Venezuela in the North Atlantic Ocean. Barbados is located close to the equator.
The island is tiny and its circumference is only about 100 km/70 miles and can be driven around in just three hours. The country is roughly 2.5 times the size of the city of Washington D.C. in the USA.
The island is mostly flat and there are some rolling hills in the centre of the island.
32% of the country is agricultural land. Before the island was populated by settlers, the island was covered in dense rainforest. Wild pigs roamed this rainforest.
Thick dense rainforest can still be found in the country’s interior.
Most of the country’s surface geology is made up of coral limestone.
The country's climate is tropical and the average daytime high is 30 degrees Celsius/86 degrees Fahrenheit. The sea temperature is around 25 degrees Celsius on average! The dry season lasts from January to June. Hurricane season is from July to October. Barbados has around 3,000 sunshine hours per year.
Barbados is one of the Caribbean's most visited travel destinations due to its fine sandy beaches and colourful reefs. Among the most popular attractions are:
The people living in Barbados are called Barbadians or Bajans. English is the official language, but the locals communicate in an English creole language called Bajan.
Most Barbadians are of Afro-Caribbean or mixed descent.
Bridgetown is the biggest city of the island. One third of the population live in the island’s biggest towns such as Bridgetown, Speightstown or Holetown.
All children must attend school until the age of 16 years.
Cricket is considered the national sport. Several Barbadians play in the cricket team of the West Indies. The most famous cricket ground in Barbados is the ‘Kensington’ Oval. The Cricket World Cup was held in Barbados in 2007. Rugby, Volleyball, Netball and Basketball are also popular among locals.
The biggest cultural event of the year is the Crop Over festival, that includes a carnival and calypso music that is typical for the island.
The parliament of Barbados is the third oldest in the world, dating back to 1639.
Barbados has the wealthiest population in the Eastern Caribbean. However, more people leave the island than immigrate. The population growth rate is very low.
Barbados’ main ecosystems are the marine and coastal ecosystems. Barbados is home to turtles such as hawksbills and leatherback turtles. Land animals also include bats, lizards and green monkeys.
There are 270 bird species in Barbados, but just one is endemic, that means this species can only be found on this island. Most animals on the island were introduced by humans.
The main industries are tourism, sugar production and light manufacturing. Natural resources include petroleum, natural gas and fish. The most important agricultural products are vegetables, cotton and sugar cane.
The biggest import and export partners are the USA, Trinidad and Tobago and China. Barbados exports mainly sugar, molasses, rum and manufactured goods.
A traditional Bajan meal includes meat (mainly chicken or pork) or fish, that has been marinated in herbs and spices, a starchy side dish such as sweet potatoes and some spicy gravy, as well as salad and fruits.
Barbadian cooking is typically a mix of African and European (Portuguese, French, English) food traditions. The dishes usually have mixed influence, such as 'fish and chips' which also have a unique taste, as they have a strong local influence due to the spice mix batter and the use of different herbs.
The national dish is Cou-Cou and flying fish. Flying fish is a small fish species which is abundant in Barbadian waters.
Typical food in Barbados:
Picture credits on Barbados Facts: own or shutterstock.com
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