Tobago

Tobago is the smaller of the two main islands of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, a Caribbean nation off the coast of Venezuela. Covering about 300 square kilometers, Tobago has a population of around 60,000. The island’s capital is Scarborough, on the southwest coast, and Crown Point International Airport serves international and domestic flights. A short ferry links Tobago with Trinidad from Port of Spain.

The island has hilly terrain with limestone karst and coastal plains. The Main Ridge Forest Reserve, established in 1776, is the oldest legally protected rainforest in the Western Hemisphere. The Buccoo Reef Marine Park protects a coral reef system along the southwest coast. Popular beaches include Pigeon Point, Mount Irvine, and Englishman’s Bay, and the Nylon Pool is a shallow pool in the reef near the coast.

Tourism is the cornerstone of Tobago’s economy, supplemented by fishing and some agriculture such as coconuts and fruits. The island attracts nature lovers, divers, and beachgoers, with attractions including the Buccoo Reef, Pigeon Point, the Tobago Cocoa Estate historic sites, and cultural events such as Tobago Carnival.

Tobago was inhabited by Amerindian groups before European contact and changed hands among colonial powers before joining Trinidad to form the modern state of Trinidad and Tobago in 1962. Politically, Tobago has its own local government body, the Tobago House of Assembly, established in 1980, responsible for regional matters while national government handles wider policy.