Editing Geography of Trinidad and Tobago

{{Short description|none}}
{{Infobox country geography
| name                 = Trinidad and Tobago
| image name           = 
| image size           = 
| image caption        = 
| image alt            = 
| map                  = File:Trinidad Topography.png
| map size             = 
| map_alt              = Topography of Trinidad and Tobago
| continent            = 
| region               = [[Caribbean]]
| coordinates          = {{coord|11|00|N|61|00|W|type:country}}
| area ranking         = 
| km area              = 5,128
| miles area           = 
| percent land         = 
| percent water        = 
| km coastline         = 362
| miles coastline      = 
| borders              = 
| highest point        = [[El Cerro del Aripo]]<br/>940 m
| lowest point         = 
| longest river        = 
| largest lake         = 
| climate              = 
| terrain              = 
| natural resources    = 
| natural hazards      = 
| environmental issues = 
}}
[[File:td-map.gif|thumb|Map of Trinidad and Tobago]]
'''[[Trinidad and Tobago]]''' is an [[archipelago|archipelagic]] [[republic]] in the southern [[Caribbean]] between the [[Caribbean Sea]] and the [[North Atlantic Ocean]], northeast of [[Venezuela]]. They are southeasterly islands of the [[Lesser Antilles]], [[Monos]], [[Huevos (island)|Huevos]], [[Gaspar Grande]] (or Gasparee), [[Little Tobago]], and [[Saint Giles Island|St. Giles Island]]. [[Trinidad]] is {{convert|11|km|mi|1|abbr=on}} off the northeast coast of Venezuela and {{convert|130|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} south of the [[Pudding|Grenadines]].{{Citation needed|date=May 2021}} The island measures {{convert|4768|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on}} in area (comprising 93.0% of the country's total area) with an average length of {{convert|80|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} and an average width of {{convert|59|km|mi|0|abbr=on}}.{{Citation needed|date=May 2021}} The island appears rectangular in shape with three projecting peninsular corners.<ref name="IotCC">{{Cite encyclopedia|title=Islands of the Commonwealth Caribbean: a regional study|publisher=[[Federal Research Division]], [[Library of Congress]]|location=Washington, D.C.|url=https://www.loc.gov/item/88600483/|last1=Meyerson|first1=Beatrice Berle|date=1987|editor1-last=Meditz|editor1-first=Sandra W.|pages=174–177|language=English|oclc=49361510|postscript=. {{PD-notice}}|last2=Seyler|first2=Daniel J.|last3=Hornbeck|first3=John F.|entry=Trinidad and Tobago: Geography|editor2-first=Dennis M.|editor2-last=Hanratty}}</ref>  Tobago is {{convert|30|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} northeast of Trinidad and measures about {{convert|298|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on}} in area, or 5.8% of the country's area, {{convert|41|km|mi|1|abbr=on}} in length and {{convert|12|km|mi|1|abbr=on}} at its greatest width.{{Citation needed|date=May 2021}} The island is cigar-shaped in appearance, with a northeast–southwest alignment.

==Physical geography==

Trinidad is traversed by three distinct mountain ranges that are a continuation of the Venezuelan coastal cordillera.<ref name="IotCC" /> The [[Northern Range]], an outlier of the Andes Mountains of Venezuela, consists of rugged hills that parallel the coast.<ref name="IotCC" /> This range rises into two peaks.<ref name="IotCC" /> The highest, [[El Cerro del Aripo]], is {{convert|940|m|ft|0}} high; the other, [[El Tucuche]], reaches {{convert|936|m|ft|0}}.<ref name="IotCC" /> The [[Central Range, Trinidad|Central Range]] extends diagonally across the island and is a low-lying range with swampy areas rising to rolling hills; its maximum elevation is {{convert|325|m|ft|0}}.<ref name="IotCC" /> The Caroni Plain, composed of alluvial sediment, extends southward, separating the Northern Range and Central Range.<ref name="IotCC" /> The Southern Range consists of a broken line of hills with a maximum elevation of {{convert|305|m|ft|0}}.<ref name="IotCC" />

There are numerous rivers and streams on the island of Trinidad; the most significant are the [[Ortoire River]], {{convert|50|km|mi|1}} long, which extends eastward into the Atlantic, and the {{convert|40|km|mi|1|adj=on}}-long [[Caroni River (Trinidad and Tobago)|Caroni River]], reaching westward into the Gulf of Paria.<ref name="IotCC" /> Most of the soils of Trinidad are fertile, with the exception of the sandy and unstable terrain found in the southern part of the island.<ref name="IotCC" />

Tobago is mountainous and dominated by the [[Main Ridge (Tobago)|Main Ridge]], which is {{convert|29|km|mi|0}} long with elevations up to 550 meters.<ref name="IotCC" /> There are deep, fertile valleys running north and south of the Main Ridge.<ref name="IotCC" /> The southwestern tip of the island has a coral platform.<ref name="IotCC" /> Although Tobago is volcanic in origin, there are no active volcanoes.<ref name="IotCC" /> Forestation covers 43% of the island.<ref name="IotCC" /> There are numerous rivers and streams, but flooding and erosion are less severe than in Trinidad.<ref name="IotCC" /> The coastline is indented with numerous bays, beaches, and narrow coastal plains.<ref name="IotCC" />

Tobago has several small satellite islands.<ref name="IotCC" /> The largest of these, Little Tobago, is starfish-shaped, hilly, and {{convert|1.2|km²|sqmi|abbr=on}}.<ref name="IotCC" />

Because it was once part of continental South America, Trinidad has an assortment of tropical vegetation and wildlife considerably more varied than that of most Caribbean islands.<ref name="IotCC" /> Tobago has a generally similar but less varied assortment.<ref name="IotCC" />

===Geology===
{{Main|Geology of Trinidad and Tobago}}
[[Geology|Geologically]], the islands are not part of the [[Lesser Antilles Volcanic Arc]].<ref name="IotCC" /> Rather, Trinidad was once part of the South American mainland and is situated on its [[continental shelf]], and Tobago is part of a sunken island arc chain related to the Pacific-derived Caribbean Plate.<ref name="IotCC" /> The islands are separated from the continent of South America by the [[Gulf of Paria]]; [[Bocas del Dragón]], a {{convert|19|km|mi|1|adj=on}}-wide northern passage; and [[Serpent's Mouth]], a {{convert|14|km|mi|1|adj=on}}-wide southern passage.<ref name="IotCC" />

The Northern Range consists mainly of Upper Jurassic and [[Cretaceous]] [[metamorphic rock]]s.<ref>{{Cite book|url=http://sp.sepmonline.org/content/sepspecpub/sepsppag/1.toc|title=Paleogeographic Evolution and Non-Glacial Eustacy, Northern South America|date=1998|publisher=SEPM (Society for Sedimentary Geology)|isbn=978-1-56576-041-7|language=en|doi=10.2110/pec.98.58.0087|s2cid=131385286 }}</ref> The Northern Lowlands ([[East–West Corridor]] and Caroni Plains) consist of younger shallow marine [[clastic sediment]]s.{{Citation needed|date=May 2021}} South of this, the [[Central Range, Trinidad|Central Range]] [[fold and thrust belt]] consists of Cretaceous and [[Eocene]] [[sedimentary rock]]s, with [[Miocene]] formations along the southern and eastern flanks.{{Citation needed|date=May 2021}} The Naparima Plains and the [[Nariva Swamp]] form the southern shoulder of this uplift.{{Citation needed|date=May 2021}}

The Southern Lowlands consist of Miocene and [[Pliocene]] sands, clays, and gravels.{{Citation needed|date=May 2021}} These overlie oil and natural gas deposits, especially north of the Los Bajos Fault.{{Citation needed|date=May 2021}} The Southern Range forms the third [[Anticline|anticlinal]] uplift.{{Citation needed|date=May 2021}} It consists of several chains of hills, most famous being the [[Trinity Hills]].{{Citation needed|date=May 2021}} The rocks consist of [[sandstone]]s, [[shale]]s, [[siltstone]]s and clays formed in the Miocene and uplifted in the [[Pleistocene]].{{Citation needed|date=May 2021}} [[tar sands|Oil sands]] and [[mud volcano]]es are especially common in this area.{{Citation needed|date=May 2021}}

==Political geography==
[[File:Regional corporations and municipalities of Trinidad and Tobago.svg|thumb|right|Regional corporations and municipalities of Trinidad and Tobago]]
Trinidad is split into 14 [[Regional Corporations and Municipalities of Trinidad and Tobago|regional corporations and municipalities]], consisting of 9 regions and 5 municipalities, which have a limited level of autonomy.{{Citation needed|date=May 2021}} The various councils are made up of a mixture of elected and appointed members. Elections are due to be held every three years with the last elections held in 2019.{{Citation needed|date=May 2021}} The island of Tobago is administered by the [[Tobago House of Assembly]].{{Citation needed|date=May 2021}}

== Climate ==

[[File:Koppen-Geiger Map Caribbean present.svg|thumb|Köppen climate map of the islands of the West Indies, with the climate of Trinidad and Tobago visible in the southeast corner.]]

The country lies in the tropics, enjoying a generally pleasant maritime tropical climate influenced by the northeast trade winds.<ref name="IotCC" /> In Trinidad the annual mean temperature is {{convert|26|°C|1}}, and the average maximum temperature is {{convert|34|°C|1}}.<ref name="IotCC" /> The highest temperature ever was 37.8 degrees Celsius. The lowest (coldest felt) temperature recorded in Trinidad was {{convert|16.1|°C|}} in January 1964.{{Citation needed|date=May 2021}} The humidity is high, particularly during the rainy season, when it averages 85 to 87%.<ref name="IotCC" /> The island receives an average of {{convert|2110|mm|in|1|sp=us}} of rainfall per year, usually concentrated in the months of June through December, when brief, intense showers frequently occur.<ref name="IotCC" /> Precipitation is highest in the Northern Range, which may receive as much as {{convert|3810|mm|in|sp=us}}.<ref name="IotCC" /> During the dry season, drought plagues the island's central interior.<ref name="IotCC" /> Tobago's climate is similar to Trinidad's but slightly cooler.<ref name="IotCC" /> Its rainy season extends from June to December; the annual rainfall is {{convert|2500|mm|in|1|sp=us}}.<ref name="IotCC" /> The islands lie outside the hurricane belt;<ref name="IotCC" /><ref name="CIA Factbook">{{Cite web|date=May 3, 2021|title=Trinidad and Tobago|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/trinidad-and-tobago/|access-date=May 13, 2021|website=[[World Factbook]]|publisher=[[Central Intelligence Agency]]}}</ref> despite this, [[Hurricane Flora]] damaged Tobago in 1963. The hurricane killed 18 people on Tobago and caused $30:million in crop and property damages (1963 USD).<ref name="Flora">{{cite web|author1=C. B. Daniel |author2=R. Maharaj |author3=G. De Souza |year=2002 |title=Tropical Cyclones Affecting Trinidad and Tobago, 1725 to 2000 |publisher=Trinidad and Tobago Meteorological Service |access-date=November 28, 2006 |url=http://nema.gov.tt/resources/downloads/tropicalcyclones.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050523100912/http://nema.gov.tt/resources/downloads/tropicalcyclones.pdf |archive-date=May 23, 2005 |df=mdy }}</ref> [[Tropical Storm Alma (1974)|Tropical Storm Alma]] hit Trinidad in 1974, causing damage before reaching full strength.<ref name="IotCC" /> Wind gusts reached 91&nbsp;mph (147&nbsp;km/h) at the [[Savonette gas field]] during the storm.<ref>{{cite report|url=http://nema.gov.tt/resources/downloads/tropicalcyclones.pdf |title=Tropical Cyclones Affecting Trinidad and Tobago 1725-2000 |publisher=Trinidad and Tobago Meteorological Service via the Internet Wayback Machine |date=2002-05-02 |access-date=2011-10-13 |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051223215859/http://nema.gov.tt/resources/downloads/tropicalcyclones.pdf |archive-date=December 23, 2005 }}</ref>

{{Weather box
|width = auto
|location = [[Port of Spain]]
|single line = Yes
|metric first = Yes
|collapsed = Yes 
|Jan record high C = 33.2
|Feb record high C = 33.0
|Mar record high C = 34.9
|Apr record high C = 34.9
|May record high C = 35.3
|Jun record high C = 34.4
|Jul record high C = 33.5
|Aug record high C = 34.2
|Sep record high C = 37.0
|Oct record high C = 35.5
|Nov record high C = 33.8
|Dec record high C = 33.2
|year record high C = 37.0
|Jan high C = 28.0
|Feb high C = 28.9
|Mar high C = 30.3
|Apr high C = 31.0
|May high C = 33.1
|Jun high C = 31.5
|Jul high C = 31.3
|Aug high C = 31.7
|Sep high C = 32.2
|Oct high C = 32.2
|Nov high C = 31.5
|Dec high C = 31.1
|year high C =
|Jan low C = 17.0
|Feb low C = 19.2
|Mar low C = 20.7
|Apr low C = 22.0
|May low C = 23.0
|Jun low C = 23.3
|Jul low C = 23.0
|Aug low C = 23.0
|Sep low C = 23.1
|Oct low C = 22.6
|Nov low C = 22.3
|Dec low C = 21.0
|year low C =
|Jan record low C = 14.6
|Feb record low C = 16.1
|Mar record low C = 16.7
|Apr record low C = 17.2
|May record low C = 18.9
|Jun record low C = 19.7
|Jul record low C = 18.3
|Aug record low C = 18.9
|Sep record low C = 19.4
|Oct record low C = 19.4
|Nov record low C = 17.9
|Dec record low C = 15.7
|year record low C =
|rain colour = green
|Jan rain mm = 42.9
|Feb rain mm = 39.8
|Mar rain mm = 16.9
|Apr rain mm = 27.7
|May rain mm = 67.5
|Jun rain mm = 155.6
|Jul rain mm = 193.6
|Aug rain mm = 244.0
|Sep rain mm = 190.5
|Oct rain mm = 143.3
|Nov rain mm = 210.5
|Dec rain mm = 75.7
|year rain mm = 1408.0
|unit rain days = 0.1 mm
|Jan rain days = 11
|Feb rain days = 10
|Mar rain days = 6
|Apr rain days = 6
|May rain days = 11
|Jun rain days = 20
|Jul rain days = 21
|Aug rain days = 19
|Sep rain days = 16
|Oct rain days = 15
|Nov rain days = 18
|Dec rain days = 13
|year rain days = 166
|Jan humidity = 81
|Feb humidity = 80
|Mar humidity = 77
|Apr humidity = 77
|May humidity = 79
|Jun humidity = 84
|Jul humidity = 84
|Aug humidity = 84
|Sep humidity = 84
|Oct humidity = 85
|Nov humidity = 86
|Dec humidity = 84
|year humidity = 82
|Jan sun = 241.3
|Feb sun = 231.3
|Mar sun = 248.3
|Apr sun = 237.5
|May sun = 233.2
|Jun sun = 183.7
|Jul sun = 205.9
|Aug sun = 212.5
|Sep sun = 197.1
|Oct sun = 207.4
|Nov sun = 197.7
|Dec sun = 214.5
|year sun = 2610.4
|source 1 = [[World Meteorological Organization]]<ref name="WMOPoS">{{cite web
| url = http://www.worldweather.org/027/c00100.htm
| title = World Weather Information Service–Port of Spain
| publisher = World Meteorological Organization
| access-date = 10 December 2013}}</ref>
|source 2 = NOAA (sun, extremes and humidity)<ref name="NOAAPoS">{{cite web
| url = ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG_IV/TD/78970.TXT
| title = Piarco INTL AP Climate Normals 1961–1990
| publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]
| access-date = 10 December 2013}}</ref>
}}

{{Weather box
| width = auto 
| location     = [[Scarborough, Tobago]]
| single line  = Yes
| metric first = Yes
| collapsed = Yes 
| Jan high F = 85
| Feb high F = 86
| Mar high F = 87
| Apr high F = 88
| May high F = 88
| Jun high F = 87
| Jul high F = 86
| Aug high F = 87
| Sep high F = 87
| Oct high F = 87
| Nov high F = 86
| Dec high F = 85
| year high F = 86
| Jan low F = 72
| Feb low F = 72
| Mar low F = 73
| Apr low F = 75
| May low F = 76
| Jun low F = 76
| Jul low F = 75
| Aug low F = 75
| Sep low F = 75
| Oct low F = 75
| Nov low F = 74
| Dec low F = 73
| year low F = 74
| Jan precipitation inch = 1.9
| Feb precipitation inch = 1.9
| Mar precipitation inch = 1.7
| Apr precipitation inch = 1.8
| May precipitation inch = 2.5
| Jun precipitation inch = 5.8
| Jul precipitation inch = 7.4
| Aug precipitation inch = 6.4
| Sep precipitation inch = 6.7
| Oct precipitation inch = 8.7
| Nov precipitation inch = 8.1
| Dec precipitation inch = 6.3
| year precipitation inch = 59.27
| rain colour = green
| source 1 = Weatherbase<ref name=WeatherbaseScarborough>
{{cite web
|url =http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather.php3?s=592631&cityname=Scarborough-Tobago-Trinidad-and-Tobago |title =Weatherbase: Historical Weather for Scarborough, Trinidad and Tobago
|publisher=Weatherbase
|year=2013
}}
Retrieved on April 15, 2013.
</ref> 
| date     = April 2013
}}

{{Weather box
|location = [[San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago|San Fernando]]
|single line = Yes
|metric first = Yes
|width = auto
|collapsed = Yes 
| Jan high C  = 29.3
| Feb high C  = 29.7
| Mar high C  = 30.3
| Apr high C  = 31.2
| May high C  = 31.0
| Jun high C  = 30.2
| Jul high C  = 30.1
| Aug high C  = 30.6
| Sep high C  = 31.1
| Oct high C  = 30.9
| Nov high C  = 30.6
| Dec high C  = 29.8
|Jan mean C = 25.0
|Feb mean C = 25.0
|Mar mean C = 25.6
|Apr mean C = 26.5
|May mean C = 26.9
|Jun mean C = 26.3
|Jul mean C = 26.2
|Aug mean C = 26.4
|Sep mean C = 26.7
|Oct mean C = 26.6
|Nov mean C = 26.3
|Dec mean C = 25.5

| Jan low C  = 20.7
| Feb low C  = 20.4
| Mar low C  = 20.9
| Apr low C  = 21.8
| May low C  = 22.8
| Jun low C  = 22.5
| Jul low C  = 22.4
| Aug low C  = 22.3
| Sep low C  = 22.4
| Oct low C  = 22.4
| Nov low C  = 22.0
| Dec low C  = 21.2

|rain colour = green
|Jan rain mm = 77
|Feb rain mm = 42
|Mar rain mm = 43
|Apr rain mm = 56
|May rain mm = 84
|Jun rain mm = 193
|Jul rain mm = 214
|Aug rain mm = 235
|Sep rain mm = 182
|Oct rain mm = 157
|Nov rain mm = 184
|Dec rain mm = 132

|source = Climate-data.org<ref>{{cite web| url = https://en.climate-data.org/north-america/trinidad-and-tobago/san-fernando/san-fernando-5797/
| title = San Fernando climate
| publisher = Climate-data.org
| access-date = February 29, 2020}}</ref>
}}

==Statistics==
[[File:Trinidad and Tobago (orthographic projection).svg|thumb|right]]
[[File:TrinidadAndTobago2021OSM.png|thumb|Enlargeable comprehensive map]]

'''Area:'''<br>''total:'' 5,128&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup><ref name="CIA Factbook" /><br>''land:'' 5,128&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup><ref name="CIA Factbook" /><br>''water:'' negligible<ref name="CIA Factbook" />

'''Coastline:''' 362&nbsp;km<ref name="CIA Factbook" />

'''Maritime claims:'''
<br>''contiguous zone:'' {{convert|24|nmi|km mi|1|abbr=on|lk=in}}<ref name="CIA Factbook" /><br>''continental shelf:'' {{convert|200|nmi|km mi|1|abbr=on}} or to the outer edge of the [[continental margin]]<ref name="CIA Factbook" /><br>''exclusive economic zone:'' {{convert|200|nmi|km mi|1|abbr=on}}<ref name="CIA Factbook" /><br>''territorial sea:'' {{convert|12|nmi|km mi|1|abbr=on}}<ref name="CIA Factbook" />

'''Terrain:''' mostly plains with some hills and low mountains<ref name="CIA Factbook" />

'''Extreme points:'''

Northernmost point: Marble Island, [[Tobago]]{{Citation needed|date=May 2021}}

Southernmost point: Icacos, [[Siparia region]], [[Trinidad Island]]{{Citation needed|date=May 2021}}

Westernmost point: Icacos, [[Siparia region]], [[Trinidad Island]]{{Citation needed|date=May 2021}}

Easternmost point: Easternmost tip of [[Little Tobago]], [[Tobago]]{{Citation needed|date=May 2021}}

Lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m{{Citation needed|date=May 2021}}

Highest point: [[El Cerro del Aripo]], [[Trinidad]] 940 m{{Citation needed|date=May 2021}}

'''Natural resources:'''
[[petroleum]], [[natural gas]], [[Bitumen|asphalt]]<ref name="CIA Factbook" />

'''Land use:'''
<br>''arable land:''
4.9%
<br>''permanent crops:''
4.3%

''permanent pasture:'' 1.4%

''forest:'' 44%<br>''other:'' 45.4% (2018 est.)<ref name="CIA Factbook" />

'''Irrigated land:'''
70&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> (2012)<ref name="CIA Factbook" />

'''Total renewable water resources:'''
3.84 billion m³ (2017)<ref name="CIA Factbook" />

==See also==
* [[Trinidad and Tobago dry forests]]
* [[Biota of Trinidad and Tobago]]
* [[List of rivers of Trinidad and Tobago]]
* [[List of islands of Trinidad and Tobago]]

==References==
<references />
*

{{Trinidad and Tobago topics}}
{{Geography of North America}}
{{North America topic|Climate of}}

[[Category:Geography of Trinidad and Tobago| ]]