Geography of Trinidad and Tobago

Trinidad is traversed by three distinct mountain ranges that are a continuation of the Venezuelan coastal cordillera. The Northern Range, an outlier of the Andes Mountains of Venezuela, consists of rugged hills that parallel the coast. This range rises into two peaks. The highest, El Cerro del Aripo, is {{convert|940|m|ft|0}} high; the other, El Tucuche, reaches {{convert|936|m|ft|0}}. The Central Range extends diagonally across the island and is a low-lying range with swampy areas rising to rolling hills; its maximum elevation is {{convert|325|m|ft|0}}. The Caroni Plain, composed of alluvial sediment, extends southward, separating the Northern Range and Central Range. The Southern Range consists of a broken line of hills with a maximum elevation of {{convert|305|m|ft|0}}.

There are numerous rivers and streams on the island of Trinidad; the most significant are the Ortoire River, {{convert|50|km|mi|1}} long, which extends eastward into the Atlantic, and the {{convert|40|km|mi|1|adj=on}}-long Caroni River, reaching westward into the Gulf of Paria. Most of the soils of Trinidad are fertile, with the exception of the sandy and unstable terrain found in the southern part of the island.

Tobago is mountainous and dominated by the Main Ridge, which is {{convert|29|km|mi|0}} long with elevations up to 550 meters. There are deep, fertile valleys running north and south of the Main Ridge. The southwestern tip of the island has a coral platform. Although Tobago is volcanic in origin, there are no active volcanoes. Forestation covers 43% of the island. There are numerous rivers and streams, but flooding and erosion are less severe than in Trinidad. The coastline is indented with numerous bays, beaches, and narrow coastal plains.

Tobago has several small satellite islands. The largest of these, Little Tobago, is starfish shaped, hilly, and {{convert|1.2|km²|sqmi|abbr=on}}.

Because it was once part of continental South America, Trinidad has an assortment of tropical vegetation and wildlife considerably more varied than that of most Caribbean islands. Tobago has a generally similar but less varied assortment.

{{Main|Geology of Trinidad and Tobago}}

Geologically, the islands are not part of the Lesser Antilles Volcanic Arc. Rather, Trinidad was once part of the South American mainland and is situated on its continental shelf, and Tobago is part of a sunken island arc chain related to the Pacific-derived Caribbean Plate. The islands are separated from the continent of South America by the Gulf of Paria; Bocas del Dragón, a {{convert|19|km|mi|1|adj=on}}-wide northern passage; and Serpent's Mouth, a {{convert|14|km|mi|1|adj=on}}-wide southern passage.

The Northern Range consists mainly of Upper Jurassic and Cretaceous metamorphic rocks.{{Cite book|url=http://sp.sepmonline.org/content/sepspecpub/sepsppag/1.toc|title=Paleogeographic Evolution and Non-Glacial Eustacy, Northern South America|date=1998|publisher=SEPM (Society for Sedimentary Geology)|isbn=978-1-56576-041-7|language=en|doi=10.2110/pec.98.58.0087|s2cid=131385286 }} The Northern Lowlands (East–West Corridor and Caroni Plains) consist of younger shallow marine clastic sediments.{{Citation needed|date=May 2021}} South of this, the Central Range fold and thrust belt consists of Cretaceous and Eocene sedimentary rocks, with Miocene formations along the southern and eastern flanks.{{Citation needed|date=May 2021}} The Naparima Plains and the Nariva Swamp form the southern shoulder of this uplift.{{Citation needed|date=May 2021}}

The Southern Lowlands consist of Miocene and Pliocene sands, clays, and gravels.{{Citation needed|date=May 2021}} These overlie oil and natural gas deposits, especially north of the Los Bajos Fault.{{Citation needed|date=May 2021}} The Southern Range forms the third anticlinal uplift.{{Citation needed|date=May 2021}} It consists of several chains of hills, most famous being the Trinity Hills.{{Citation needed|date=May 2021}} The rocks consist of sandstones, shales, siltstones and clays formed in the Miocene and uplifted in the Pleistocene.{{Citation needed|date=May 2021}} Oil sands and mud volcanoes are especially common in this area.{{Citation needed|date=May 2021}}

File:Regional corporations and municipalities of Trinidad and Tobago.svg

Trinidad is split into 14 regional corporations and municipalities, consisting of 9 regions and 5 municipalities, which have a limited level of autonomy.{{Citation needed|date=May 2021}} The various councils are made up of a mixture of elected and appointed members. Elections are due to be held every three years with the last elections held in 2019.{{Citation needed|date=May 2021}} The island of Tobago is administered by the Tobago House of Assembly.{{Citation needed|date=May 2021}}

File:Koppen-Geiger Map Caribbean present.svg

The country lies in the tropics, enjoying a generally pleasant maritime tropical climate influenced by the northeast trade winds. In Trinidad the annual mean temperature is {{convert|26|°C|1}}, and the average maximum temperature is {{convert|34|°C|1}}. The highest temperature ever was 37.8 degrees Celsius. The lowest (coldest felt) temperature recorded in Trinidad was {{convert|16.1|°C|}} in January 1964.{{Citation needed|date=May 2021}} The humidity is high, particularly during the rainy season, when it averages 85 to 87%. The island receives an average of {{convert|2110|mm|in|1|sp=us}} of rainfall per year, usually concentrated in the months of June through December, when brief, intense showers frequently occur. Precipitation is highest in the Northern Range, which may receive as much as {{convert|3810|mm|in|sp=us}}. During the dry season, drought plagues the island's central interior. Tobago's climate is similar to Trinidad's but slightly cooler. Its rainy season extends from June to December; the annual rainfall is {{convert|2500|mm|in|1|sp=us}}. The islands lie outside the hurricane belt;{{Cite web|date=May 3, 2021|title=Trinidad and Tobago|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/trinidad-and-tobago/|access-date=May 13, 2021|website=World Factbook|publisher=Central Intelligence Agency}} despite this, Hurricane Flora damaged Tobago in 1963. The hurricane killed 18 people on Tobago and caused $30:million in crop and property damages (1963 USD).{{cite web|author1=C. B. Daniel |author2=R. Maharaj |author3=G. De Souza |year=2002 |title=Tropical Cyclones Affecting Trinidad and Tobago, 1725 to 2000 |publisher=Trinidad and Tobago Meteorological Service |access-date=November 28, 2006 |url=http://nema.gov.tt/resources/downloads/tropicalcyclones.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050523100912/http://nema.gov.tt/resources/downloads/tropicalcyclones.pdf |archive-date=May 23, 2005 |df=mdy }} Tropical Storm Alma hit Trinidad in 1974, causing damage before reaching full strength. Wind gusts reached 91 mph (147 km/h) at the Savonette gas field during the storm.{{cite report|url=http://nema.gov.tt/resources/downloads/tropicalcyclones.pdf |title=Tropical Cyclones Affecting Trinidad and Tobago 1725-2000 |publisher=Trinidad and Tobago Meteorological Service via the Internet Wayback Machine |date=2002-05-02 |access-date=2011-10-13 |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051223215859/http://nema.gov.tt/resources/downloads/tropicalcyclones.pdf |archive-date=December 23, 2005 }}

{{Weather box

|width = auto

|location = Port of Spain

|single line = Yes

|metric first = Yes

|collapsed = Yes

|Jan record high C = 33.2

|Feb record high C = 33.0

|Mar record high C = 34.9

|Apr record high C = 34.9

|May record high C = 35.3

|Jun record high C = 34.4

|Jul record high C = 33.5

|Aug record high C = 34.2

|Sep record high C = 37.0

|Oct record high C = 35.5

|Nov record high C = 33.8

|Dec record high C = 33.2

|year record high C = 37.0

|Jan high C = 28.0

|Feb high C = 28.9

|Mar high C = 30.3

|Apr high C = 31.0

|May high C = 33.1

|Jun high C = 31.5

|Jul high C = 31.3

|Aug high C = 31.7

|Sep high C = 32.2

|Oct high C = 32.2

|Nov high C = 31.5

|Dec high C = 31.1

|year high C =

|Jan low C = 17.0

|Feb low C = 19.2

|Mar low C = 20.7

|Apr low C = 22.0

|May low C = 23.0

|Jun low C = 23.3

|Jul low C = 23.0

|Aug low C = 23.0

|Sep low C = 23.1

|Oct low C = 22.6

|Nov low C = 22.3

|Dec low C = 21.0

|year low C =

|Jan record low C = 14.6

|Feb record low C = 16.1

|Mar record low C = 16.7

|Apr record low C = 17.2

|May record low C = 18.9

|Jun record low C = 19.7

|Jul record low C = 18.3

|Aug record low C = 18.9

|Sep record low C = 19.4

|Oct record low C = 19.4

|Nov record low C = 17.9

|Dec record low C = 15.7

|year record low C =

|rain colour = green

|Jan rain mm = 42.9

|Feb rain mm = 39.8

|Mar rain mm = 16.9

|Apr rain mm = 27.7

|May rain mm = 67.5

|Jun rain mm = 155.6

|Jul rain mm = 193.6

|Aug rain mm = 244.0

|Sep rain mm = 190.5

|Oct rain mm = 143.3

|Nov rain mm = 210.5

|Dec rain mm = 75.7

|year rain mm = 1408.0

|unit rain days = 0.1 mm

|Jan rain days = 11

|Feb rain days = 10

|Mar rain days = 6

|Apr rain days = 6

|May rain days = 11

|Jun rain days = 20

|Jul rain days = 21

|Aug rain days = 19

|Sep rain days = 16

|Oct rain days = 15

|Nov rain days = 18

|Dec rain days = 13

|year rain days = 166

|Jan humidity = 81

|Feb humidity = 80

|Mar humidity = 77

|Apr humidity = 77

|May humidity = 79

|Jun humidity = 84

|Jul humidity = 84

|Aug humidity = 84

|Sep humidity = 84

|Oct humidity = 85

|Nov humidity = 86

|Dec humidity = 84

|year humidity = 82

|Jan sun = 241.3

|Feb sun = 231.3

|Mar sun = 248.3

|Apr sun = 237.5

|May sun = 233.2

|Jun sun = 183.7

|Jul sun = 205.9

|Aug sun = 212.5

|Sep sun = 197.1

|Oct sun = 207.4

|Nov sun = 197.7

|Dec sun = 214.5

|year sun = 2610.4

|source 1 = World Meteorological Organization{{cite web

| url = http://www.worldweather.org/027/c00100.htm

| title = World Weather Information Service–Port of Spain

| publisher = World Meteorological Organization

| access-date = 10 December 2013}}

|source 2 = NOAA (sun, extremes and humidity){{cite web

| url = ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG_IV/TD/78970.TXT

| title = Piarco INTL AP Climate Normals 1961–1990

| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

| access-date = 10 December 2013}}

}}

{{Weather box

| width = auto

| location = Scarborough, Tobago

| single line = Yes

| metric first = Yes

| collapsed = Yes

| Jan high F = 85

| Feb high F = 86

| Mar high F = 87

| Apr high F = 88

| May high F = 88

| Jun high F = 87

| Jul high F = 86

| Aug high F = 87

| Sep high F = 87

| Oct high F = 87

| Nov high F = 86

| Dec high F = 85

| year high F = 86

| Jan low F = 72

| Feb low F = 72

| Mar low F = 73

| Apr low F = 75

| May low F = 76

| Jun low F = 76

| Jul low F = 75

| Aug low F = 75

| Sep low F = 75

| Oct low F = 75

| Nov low F = 74

| Dec low F = 73

| year low F = 74

| Jan precipitation inch = 1.9

| Feb precipitation inch = 1.9

| Mar precipitation inch = 1.7

| Apr precipitation inch = 1.8

| May precipitation inch = 2.5

| Jun precipitation inch = 5.8

| Jul precipitation inch = 7.4

| Aug precipitation inch = 6.4

| Sep precipitation inch = 6.7

| Oct precipitation inch = 8.7

| Nov precipitation inch = 8.1

| Dec precipitation inch = 6.3

| year precipitation inch = 59.27

| rain colour = green

| source 1 = Weatherbase

{{cite web

|url =http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather.php3?s=592631&cityname=Scarborough-Tobago-Trinidad-and-Tobago |title =Weatherbase: Historical Weather for Scarborough, Trinidad and Tobago

|publisher=Weatherbase

|year=2013

}}

Retrieved on April 15, 2013.

| date = April 2013

}}

{{Weather box

|location = San Fernando

|single line = Yes

|metric first = Yes

|width = auto

|collapsed = Yes

| Jan high C = 29.3

| Feb high C = 29.7

| Mar high C = 30.3

| Apr high C = 31.2

| May high C = 31.0

| Jun high C = 30.2

| Jul high C = 30.1

| Aug high C = 30.6

| Sep high C = 31.1

| Oct high C = 30.9

| Nov high C = 30.6

| Dec high C = 29.8

|Jan mean C = 25.0

|Feb mean C = 25.0

|Mar mean C = 25.6

|Apr mean C = 26.5

|May mean C = 26.9

|Jun mean C = 26.3

|Jul mean C = 26.2

|Aug mean C = 26.4

|Sep mean C = 26.7

|Oct mean C = 26.6

|Nov mean C = 26.3

|Dec mean C = 25.5

| Jan low C = 20.7

| Feb low C = 20.4

| Mar low C = 20.9

| Apr low C = 21.8

| May low C = 22.8

| Jun low C = 22.5

| Jul low C = 22.4

| Aug low C = 22.3

| Sep low C = 22.4

| Oct low C = 22.4

| Nov low C = 22.0

| Dec low C = 21.2

|rain colour = green

|Jan rain mm = 77

|Feb rain mm = 42

|Mar rain mm = 43

|Apr rain mm = 56

|May rain mm = 84

|Jun rain mm = 193

|Jul rain mm = 214

|Aug rain mm = 235

|Sep rain mm = 182

|Oct rain mm = 157

|Nov rain mm = 184

|Dec rain mm = 132

|source = Climate-data.org{{cite web| url = https://en.climate-data.org/north-america/trinidad-and-tobago/san-fernando/san-fernando-5797/

| title = San Fernando climate

| publisher = Climate-data.org

| access-date = February 29, 2020}}

}}

File:Trinidad and Tobago (orthographic projection).svg

File:TrinidadAndTobago2021OSM.png

Area:
total: 5,128 km²
land: 5,128 km²
water: negligible

Coastline: 362 km

Maritime claims:

contiguous zone: {{convert|24|nmi|km mi|1|abbr=on|lk=in}}
continental shelf: {{convert|200|nmi|km mi|1|abbr=on}} or to the outer edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone: {{convert|200|nmi|km mi|1|abbr=on}}
territorial sea: {{convert|12|nmi|km mi|1|abbr=on}}

Terrain: mostly plains with some hills and low mountains

Extreme points:

Northernmost point: Marble Island, Tobago{{Citation needed|date=May 2021}}

Southernmost point: Icacos, Siparia region, Trinidad Island{{Citation needed|date=May 2021}}

Westernmost point: Icacos, Siparia region, Trinidad Island{{Citation needed|date=May 2021}}

Easternmost point: Easternmost tip of Little Tobago, Tobago{{Citation needed|date=May 2021}}

Lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m{{Citation needed|date=May 2021}}

Highest point: El Cerro del Aripo, Trinidad 940 m{{Citation needed|date=May 2021}}

Natural resources:

petroleum, natural gas, asphalt

Land use:

arable land:

4.9%

permanent crops:

4.3%

permanent pasture: 1.4%

forest: 44%
other: 45.4% (2018 est.)

Irrigated land:

70 km² (2012)

Total renewable water resources:

3.84 billion m³ (2017)

• Trinidad and Tobago dry forests
• Biota of Trinidad and Tobago
• List of rivers of Trinidad and Tobago
• List of islands of Trinidad and Tobago

{{Trinidad and Tobago topics}}

{{Geography of North America}}

{{North America topic|Climate of}}