antillas

The Antillas, or Las Antillas, is the name given to the Caribbean archipelago that forms the Antilles. The chain lies between the Caribbean Sea to the south and west and the Atlantic Ocean to the north and east. It is commonly divided into the Greater Antilles—Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola (Haiti and the Dominican Republic), and Puerto Rico—and the Lesser Antilles, a long arc from the Virgin Islands to Trinidad and Tobago, including the Leeward and Windward Islands and the southern Caribbean islands.

Geology and environment: the Antilles sit largely along the boundary of the Caribbean Plate, with both volcanic and limestone islands. The region features mountainous interiors, tropical rainforests, coral reefs, and diverse coastal ecosystems. The climate is tropical maritime with a pronounced hurricane season.

History and politics: long colonized by European powers, the islands have diverse linguistic and cultural heritages. Independent states include several of the Greater and Lesser Antilles; others are territories or dependencies of European countries or the United States. The region has a shared history of plantation economies and slave trade, followed by varied paths to independence during the 19th and 20th centuries.

Economy and culture: tourism, services, and agriculture are important to many economies. The Antilles are culturally diverse, with languages including Spanish, English, French, and Dutch, and vibrant musical traditions such as calypso, reggae, salsa, and soca.