Jamaica

By Maranita

What is the capital of Jamaica?

The capital is Kingston. It is the largest English-speaking city that is located south of the United States. Kingston was established after Port Royal, the main city at the time, was destroyed in an earthquake.

What is the population of Jamaica?

Jamaica may be a small island country, but their population is bigger than Trinidad and Tobago. Jamaica's population in 2013, was estimated to be 3 million. Trinidad and Tobago's population in the same year was 1.34 million.

What is the currency of Jamaica?

Jamaica’s currency is called the Jamaican dollar. One Jamaican dollar is worth 0.014 N.Z dollars. If you bring 1400 New Zealand dollars to Jamaica, you are very rich. You would have about 1,000,000 Jamaican dollars.

What is the national bird of Jamaica?

Jamaica's national bird is the Hummingbird. Hummingbirds can only be found in Jamaica. There are about 320 Hummingbird species living in Jamaica. One of the Hummingbird species are called Doctor birds. Doctor birds are also known as Swallowtail birds.

History of Jamaica

Arawak Incas lived in Jamaica when Christopher Columbus discovered Jamaica in 1494. He named the island, St. Lago. Jamaica was under the Spanish rule for 161 years before Britain conquered it. Port Royal was used as a hide-out for pirates until the big earthquake caused it to sink in 1692. Black slaves were imported from Africa to work on sugar plantations when a horrible disease killed most of the native Indians. Jamaica became independent on August 6 1962. Michael Mendeley was the leader of the National party and he became the Prime Minister of Jamaica in 1972. Now, Jamaica's Prime Minister is Portia-Simpson Miller. She has been Prime Minister for 3 years.