Caribe

Caribe, or the Caribbean, is a region that surrounds the Caribbean Sea and includes hundreds of islands, reefs, and coastal territories in the Americas. The area comprises major island groups such as the Greater Antilles (Cuba, Hispaniola, Jamaica, Puerto Rico) and the Lesser Antilles (the chain of smaller islands running from the Virgin Islands to the southern end of the region), along with nearby lands like parts of the mainland coasts and the Bahamas. In Spanish, Caribe can refer to both the region and the Caribbean Sea.

Historically, the region was inhabited by Indigenous peoples such as the Taíno and other Arawak groups before European contact. From the 15th century, colonial powers including Spain, Britain, France, and the Netherlands established settlements that relied on enslaved African labor for plantation economies. The region played a central role in the transatlantic slave trade. Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, many Caribbean states gained independence or autonomous status, while some territories remain overseas dependencies or constitutional ties with European or other nations.

Geographically, the Caribbean features a tropical climate with warm temperatures and distinct wet and dry seasons. It lies in the hurricane belt, making tropical cyclones a recurring natural factor. The region supports diverse ecosystems, including coral reefs, mangroves, and tropical forests, which underpin tourism, fishing, and ecological richness.

Economies in the Caribbean are highly oriented toward services, especially tourism and transportation. Agriculture has historically centered on crops such as sugar, bananas, and coffee, though its role varies by country. Linguistically diverse, the region uses Spanish, English, French, Dutch, and various creole languages. Cultural life reflects Indigenous, African, European, and other influences, shaping music, cuisine, and art across the Caribbean.