Landforms of the Caribbean

The Archipelago of San Andres, Providencia, and Santa Catalina is located in the western sector of the Caribbean Sea and belongs to the Republic of Colombia. The entire collection of 10 or so small coral atolls and a marine area was declared the Seaflower Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO.

The Blue and John Crow Mountains encompass a rugged and forested mountainous region in southeast Jamaica, which provided refuge first for the indigenous Tainos fleeing slavery and then for the formerly enslaved Maroons. It is a biodiversity hotspot for the Caribbean and a National Park.

The Caribbean Sea is a body of water and a suboceanic basin of the western Atlantic Ocean. The entire area of the Caribbean Sea, the numerous islands of the West Indies and adjacent coasts are collectively a region that is known as "The Caribbean."

The Caribbean Plate is a mostly-oceanic tectonic plate underlying much of Central America and the Caribbean Sea off the north coast of South America. These borders are regions of intense seismic activity, including frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

The Cayman Trench is a submarine trench on the floor of the western Caribbean Sea between Jamaica and the southeastern tip of Cuba. The Cayman Ridge is an undersea mountain range on the northern margin of the Cayman Trough and includes the Cayman Islands.

Ciénaga de Zapata (Zapata Swamp) is located within the Zapata Peninsula on the southern coast of Cuba. Both a National Park and Biosphere Reserve, it is one of the largest and most important wetlands in the Caribbean region with a marine borderline.

The Grenadines are a chain of islands and islets between Grenada and St. Vincent in the Lesser Antilles, noted for its beautiful scenery, spectacular beaches, and diverse marine habitats. Its cultural heritage results from blending African, Carib, East Indian, Portuguese, and European influences.

Hispaniola is the second largest and most populated island in the Caribbean region. It is located within the Greater Antilles and is divided politically into two sovereign nations: the Republic of Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

Saint Martin is an island in the northeastern Caribbean Sea. It lies at the northern end of the Leeward Islands group in the Lesser Antilles. The southern third of the island is tied historically and administratively with the Netherlands, and the northern two-thirds with France.

Jardines de la Reina is an archipelago off the southern coast of Cuba. The country's second-largest archipelago is formed by over 250 virgin coral islands and numerous cays. The island group is one of Cuba's largest protected areas, a marine reserve and a national park.