Editing Bridgetown (section)

== Geography and climate ==
=== Geography ===
[[File:Bridgetown aerial.JPG|thumb|Aerial view of Bridgetown]]
As established in the early 17th century, Bridgetown's centre was originally composed of a [[swamp]], which was drained and filled in to make way for development.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Smith |first=S.D. |date=2007-01-01 |title=Paying the levy: Taxable wealth in Bridgetown, Barbados, 1680–1715 |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1016/j.hisfam.2007.08.004 |journal=The History of the Family |volume=12 |issue=2 |pages=116–129 |doi=10.1016/j.hisfam.2007.08.004 |issn=1081-602X}}</ref>

=== Boundaries ===
The earliest boundaries of Bridgetown are contained by way of an Act passed on 4 April 1660 called, "to prevent the danger which may happen by fire, in or about any of the seaport towns of the Island".<ref name="Historic Bridgetown settlement" /> The southern limit was declared to be the River (Careenage), whilst the western limit was declared to be the western boundary of St. Michael's (now St. Mary's) Churchyard, and extending in a direct line to the seaside. The town's other limits consisted of properties of certain citizens' names in this statute, the location of which cannot now be determined with certainty.<ref name="Historic Bridgetown settlement" /> The boundaries were not redefined until 1822.{{Citation needed|date=October 2023}}<ref>{{cite web |title=1376-ICOMOS-1786-en.pdf |url=https://whc.unesco.org/document/152514&usg=AOvVaw1aoTJqbiHCgPe54yjz2sUF&opi=89978449|website=ICOMOS |publisher=ICOMOS |access-date=2 March 2024}}</ref>

Through Statutory Instrument (S.I) 1984 No. 141, Road Traffic Act, CAP. 295, ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATIONS, and under Schedule Sec. No. 6: The Boundaries of Bridgetown, Speightstown, Holetown and Oistin are cited as follows: 1) "City of Bridgetown" – "Bridgetown" – "The City":<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://208.109.177.6/en/showdoc/cr/1984_141/se:105?splitmode=true#Pd61946487e5056 |title=Road Traffic Act |access-date=17 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180218090249/http://208.109.177.6/en/showdoc/cr/1984_141/se:105?splitmode=true#Pd61946487e5056 |archive-date=18 February 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
{{blockquote|The area bounded by Highway 7 at the junction of Bay Street with Jemmotts Lane; thence in a north easterly and northerly direction following Jemmotts Lane, Martindales Road and Halls Road to the junction of Halls Road not including the said boundary roads; thence in a westerly direction following Tweedside Road and Roebuck Street to the junction of Country Road with Roebuck Street; thence in a northerly, westerly, and south-westerly direction following Country Road and Passage Road and Westbury Road to the junction of Westbury Road with President Kennedy Drive; thence in a southwesterly direction following President Kennedy Drive to its junction with Samuel Jackman Prescod Boulevard not including President Kennedy Drive; thence in a southerly and westerly direction following Samuel Jackman Prescod Boulevard to its junction with Princess Alice Highway not including Samuel Jackman Prescod Boulevard; thence continuing in a westerly direction to a point on the sea-coast; thence in a south-easterly direction following the sea coast to the junction of Bay Street with Jemmotts Lane.{{Citation needed|date=February 2018}} }}

Beyond the boundary outlined, the wider Greater Bridgetown metropolitan area technically occupies most of the parish of Saint Michael, an area which covers around {{convert|39|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}. The above portion for the Road Traffic Act also omits much of the 90 acres of new land originally formed by completion of the Port of Bridgetown in 1961.{{Citation needed|date=October 2023}}

=== Careenage ===
At the heart of Bridgetown is the Careenage and [[Constitution River]]. The Careenage can be considered a [[marina]] for boaters entering or exiting the inner basin located directly in front of the Parliament buildings of Barbados. This body of water provides the city with direct access from medium-sized [[yacht]]s or [[Pleasure craft|small craft]] boats. Although moderately shallow, the Careenage slices Bridgetown into two parts. During the rainy season the Constitution River flows into the Careenage area and acts as an outflow for water from the country's interior [[storm drain]]age network. Flowing into the Carlisle Bay on the southwest coast of the island.{{Citation needed|date=October 2023}}

=== Climate ===
Bridgetown features a [[tropical savanna climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''Aw''), with relatively constant temperatures throughout the course of the year. While fairly hot, Bridgetown is cooled somewhat by the trade winds that affect weather in Barbados in general. Bridgetown's record high of {{convert|33.1|°C|1}} in September 2005 and record low of {{convert|16.5|°C|1}} on 2 January 1984.<ref name=BMS /> Bridgetown features distinct [[wet season|wet]] and [[dry season|dry]] seasons, with a relatively lengthy wet season and a shorter dry season. Its wet season is from June through December, while the dry season covers the remaining months.{{Citation needed|date=October 2023}}

{{climate chart
| [[Bridgetown, Barbados]]
|23.3|29.1|68.1
|23.0|29.2|41.7
|23.4|29.7|38.9
|24.2|30.2|58.1
|25.0|30.6|74.1
|25.2|30.7|101.2
|25.1|30.7|121.5
|24.8|30.9|150.6
|24.8|31.0|162.6
|24.7|30.8|179.6
|24.5|30.3|172.6
|23.9|29.6|91.0
|float=right
|clear=right
}}

{{Weather box
|width = auto
|location = Bridgetown ([[Grantley Adams International Airport]]) 1991–2020, extremes 1944–present
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
|Jan record high C = 32.0
|Feb record high C = 31.2
|Mar record high C = 31.9
|Apr record high C = 32.6
|May record high C = 33.1
|Jun record high C = 32.7
|Jul record high C = 32.4
|Aug record high C = 35.0
|Sep record high C = 33.3
|Oct record high C = 33.3
|Nov record high C = 33.3
|Dec record high C = 31.3
|year record high C = 35.0
|Jan high C = 29.1
|Feb high C = 29.2
|Mar high C = 29.7
|Apr high C = 30.2
|May high C = 30.6
|Jun high C = 30.7
|Jul high C = 30.7
|Aug high C = 30.9
|Sep high C = 31.0
|Oct high C = 30.8
|Nov high C = 30.3
|Dec high C = 29.6
|Jan mean C = 26.0
|Feb mean C = 25.9
|Mar mean C = 26.3
|Apr mean C = 27.0
|May mean C = 27.7
|Jun mean C = 27.8
|Jul mean C = 27.8
|Aug mean C = 27.9
|Sep mean C = 27.9
|Oct mean C = 27.7
|Nov mean C = 27.2
|Dec mean C = 26.6
|Jan low C = 23.3
|Feb low C = 23.0
|Mar low C = 23.4
|Apr low C = 24.2
|May low C = 25.0
|Jun low C = 25.2
|Jul low C = 25.1
|Aug low C = 24.8
|Sep low C = 24.8
|Oct low C = 24.7
|Nov low C = 24.5
|Dec low C = 23.9
|Jan record low C = 16.5
|Feb record low C = 18.0
|Mar record low C = 17.4
|Apr record low C = 19.0
|May record low C = 19.4
|Jun record low C = 20.0
|Jul record low C = 19.3
|Aug record low C = 19.1
|Sep record low C = 20.6
|Oct record low C = 20.6
|Nov record low C = 18.0
|Dec record low C = 17.4
|year record low C = 16.5
|rain colour = green
|Jan rain mm = 68.1
|Feb rain mm = 41.7
|Mar rain mm = 38.9
|Apr rain mm = 58.1
|May rain mm = 74.1
|Jun rain mm = 101.2
|Jul rain mm = 121.5
|Aug rain mm = 150.6
|Sep rain mm = 162.6
|Oct rain mm = 179.6
|Nov rain mm = 172.6
|Dec rain mm = 91.0
|year rain mm = 
|Jan rain days = 11
|Feb rain days = 9
|Mar rain days = 8
|Apr rain days = 8
|May rain days = 8
|Jun rain days = 11
|Jul rain days = 15
|Aug rain days = 16
|Sep rain days = 13
|Oct rain days = 15
|Nov rain days = 14
|Dec rain days = 11
|year rain days = 
|Jan humidity = 77
|Feb humidity = 76
|Mar humidity = 75
|Apr humidity = 76
|May humidity = 77
|Jun humidity = 79
|Jul humidity = 80
|Aug humidity = 81
|Sep humidity = 81
|Oct humidity = 82
|Nov humidity = 82
|Dec humidity = 78
|year humidity = 
|Jan sun = 263.5
|Feb sun = 248.6
|Mar sun = 272.8
|Apr sun = 261.0
|May sun = 263.5
|Jun sun = 225.0
|Jul sun = 251.1
|Aug sun = 260.4
|Sep sun = 234.0
|Oct sun = 238.7
|Nov sun = 228.0
|Dec sun = 254.2
|year sun = 
|Jand sun = 8.5
|Febd sun = 8.8
|Mard sun = 8.8
|Aprd sun = 8.7
|Mayd sun = 8.5
|Jund sun = 7.5
|Juld sun = 8.1
|Augd sun = 8.4
|Sepd sun = 7.8
|Octd sun = 7.7
|Novd sun = 7.6
|Decd sun = 8.2
|yeard sun =
|source 1 = Barbados Meteorological Services<ref name=BMS>{{Cite web
| url = http://www.barbadosweather.org/barbados-weather-climate-data.php
| title = Barbados Weather Climate Data
| publisher = Barbados Meteorological Services
| access-date = 6 January 2022
| archive-date = 26 December 2012
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121226031058/http://www.barbadosweather.org/barbados-weather-climate-data.php
| url-status = dead
}}</ref>
|source 2 = Meteo Climat (record highs and lows)<ref name = meteoclimat>{{Cite web
| url = http://meteo-climat-bzh.dyndns.org/index.php?page=stati&id=1505
| title = Station Grantley
| publisher = Meteo Climat
| language = fr
| access-date = 6 November 2016}}</ref>
|date=August 2010
}}