Capital, Land & Climate
Land
The island of Trinidad, the larger of the two, has an area of 4,828 square kilometres (1,864 square miles) and is situated at 10.5 degrees north of the equator. Trinidad has a mountain range running along the north coast of the island with the highest peak rising to 940 metres (3,085 feet) and rolling hills in the south of the island. Much of the north coast is densely forested and is home to a number of wild animals. Many of the island's more popular beaches are located on the north coast. There is a flat central plain where sugar cane is grown and much of the island's wet lands can be found.
Tobago is 300 square kilometres (116 square miles) in area and is situated just 32 kilometres (20 miles) off the north-east coast of Trinidad, 11 degrees north of the equator. Tobago has a central hilly range with a flat area in the south and west of the island where much of the tourism has developed.
Trinidad and Tobago - The most southerly islands in the Caribbean
The population is mainly of South Asian or African descent (40% each), with a mixed-race minority. English is the official language, but Hindi, French, Spanish, and Chinese are also spoken. There are many religious groups, including Roman Catholic, Anglican, and other Christian churches, Hindus and Muslims.
Running across the centre of the island, from southwest to northeast, is the Central Range, the highest point of which is Mount Tamana (1,009 feet [308 metres]). A third row of mainly low hills, the Southern Range, adds further variety to the mostly flat or undulating surface of Trinidad.
The three mountain ranges determine the island’s drainage pattern. Rivers are numerous but short, the longest being the Ortoire in the south and the Caroni in the north. In low-lying areas swamps can be found; among them are the Caroni Swamp in the northwest and clusters along the eastern (notably the Nariva Swamp) and southern coasts.
An oil-bearing belt occupies the southern one-fourth of the island, extending west into the Gulf of Paria and east into the Atlantic Ocean. Gas and water seepages give rise to mud volcanoes of various types, the best-known of which is called the Devil’s Woodyard. In the southwest of the island is the deep asphalt deposit known as Pitch Lake.
Capital
The capital of Trinidad and Tobago and the main centre of government is Port of Spain, which is situated in the north-west of the island of Trinidad. Trinidad’s capital is Port of Spain with a population of approximately 46,000. The capital of Tobago is Scarborough, with a population of 1,389. San Fernando, the second largest city in the country, also situated in Trinidad, is considered "the industrial capital" of the country. The principal administrative centre of Tobago is Scarborough. This is situated in the south of the island.
Climate
The islands are warm all year round, with a mean air temperature ranging between 32 degrees Celsius (90 degrees Fahrenheit) at the maximum and 23 degrees Celsius (73 degrees Fahrenheit) at the minimum. There are only two seasons, a 'dry' that lasts from about January to May and a 'wet' that lasts from June to December. The annual rainfall is approximately 2,000 mm and the average number of hours of daylight is approximately 11 hours per day.
Balmy days and breezy nights may be the most appropriate description for Trinidad and Tobago’s weather conditions — no matter the time of year. Though there’s an official rainy season, which begins in June and lasts till December, downpours are not typically long-lasting, so it’s possible to "beach it" even during these wetter months. The average daytime temperature is 30°C (86°F). At night, temperatures may fall to 25°C (77°F) or less. Tobago is slightly cooler and less humid than Trinidad.