8 Fun Facts About Jamaica You Didn’t Know

Jamaica

Jamaica isn’t just the perfect location for your next family vacation—it’s also known for having one of the most beautiful and unique cultures in the world.

Whether you’re visiting Jamaica as an adult or with your kids, there are plenty of fun facts about Jamaica you may not know that make it so special and different from anywhere else on earth!

Here are 8 fun facts about Jamaica you might not know.

1) Jamaica is the third largest Caribbean island

Jamaica is the third largest Caribbean island and is home to an estimated 2.7 million people.

It has a tropical climate with a mountain range in its center, and beautiful beaches on the northern and southern coasts.

The country’s official language is English, and it was under British rule until 1962 when Jamaica became an independent nation.

It’s amazing how much history this small island has seen—from the 16th century Spanish explorers who first set foot there to the 18th century British colonizers who took over to the slave revolts of the 19th century that led to emancipation for African slaves to its independence in 1962.

2) Jamaican culture is influenced by the African culture

Robert Mullins was one of the first African Americans to travel to Jamica. The 17th century Jamaican slave trader and pirate, born in England, captured ships and sold slaves for a living.

When Mullins visited Jamica he wrote about his experience with the intention of drawing attention to the horrors of slavery.

This is one of many examples that show how much Jamaican culture has been influenced by its African descent.

For example, they speak English as their national language and their country’s flag depicts the colors of red, gold, green and black which are also colors found on most flags used by African countries.

3) Jamaica has early and beautiful sunsets

The sunsets in Jamaica are one of the most beautiful things about it. They happen early, around 5 pm.

Sometimes they’re not as intense or vivid because of the dust and dirt particles in the air that make them hazy, but they are still usually very pretty and worth watching if you have time to spare after a long day at work.

The colors can vary as well depending on how much pollution is in the sky; sometimes they are more yellow or orange than other times when they are redder and brighter.

The mountains that surround Kingston will create a natural backdrop for these sunsets, which makes them even more beautiful to watch.

4) Most Jamaicans eat plantain and ackee for breakfast every morning

All Jamaicans enjoy an ackee and plantain breakfast every morning. Ackee is a fruit that comes from the ackee tree in the West Indies, and it’s the national dish of Jamaica.

It’s boiled with saltfish or bacon for breakfast. The plantain is also a popular food item to eat for breakfast in Jamaica.

Plantains are banana-like fruits which are fried or mashed up like potatoes for breakfast.

Ackee and plantain go well together as they have similar textures and flavors, although not everyone enjoys this combo as many people find it too sweet.

5) Kingston, the capital city, is known for its nightlife and music scene

Kingston, the capital city, is known for its nightlife and music scene. It is a beautiful place but not for the faint of heart.

This is one of the most dangerous cities in the world and it has even been ranked as such by Forbes magazine.

Kingston still has a lot to offer though with its Jamaican cuisine, amazing beach resorts, and beautiful views.

The country’s largest English-speaking island still produces bananas on a large scale which makes up one-third of its exports along with coffee and sugar cane.

The banana industry accounts for 20% of all agricultural produce in Jamaica while being responsible for 15% of all jobs in the country.

6) The Blue Mountain coffee of Jamaica

Jamaica is the third largest island in the Caribbean, sandwiched between Cuba and Haiti.

It is a mountainous island with many beautiful islands to explore. The beautiful Jamaican flag consists of three colors: black for African people, green for Indian people, and orange for British people.

The Queen of England is still Jamaica’s head of state today; she was actually born there!

This tropical country exports bananas and coffee to other countries, but it also has industries like textiles and tourism. You might be interested in knowing fun facts about the Norwegian language.

One popular tourist destination is Montego Bay where you can snorkel in the clear waters off of the coast and swim with dolphins at Dolphin Cove.

7) Jamaica has non-poisonous snakes

Snakes in Jamaica are non-poisonous. In fact, according to National Geographic, none of the snakes in Jamaica can kill a human being.

It’s also worth noting that there are no alligators or crocodiles on the island, and there hasn’t been a single recorded death from animal attack.

Most of the rain falls between May and October during hurricane season, but rain is sporadic during the dry season which runs from November to April.

Haiti’s earthquake caused some damage on the island, but most of it is restored now.

8) Jamaica has huge agricultural potential

Jamaica is an island country in the Caribbean, and it has huge agricultural potential.

The island is home to many different types of fruits, including bananas, coconuts, ackee, and mangoes.

It is also home to a wide variety of vegetables such as callaloo, dasheen and sweet potatoes.

In fact, it’s estimated that around 50% of the food eaten in Jamaica comes from crops grown on Jamaican soil!

There are also nearly 600 square miles of arable land still available to be farmed.

That’s a lot of opportunity for Jamaicans looking to make a living off their own land.

The Ministry of Agriculture has encouraged farming initiatives by providing loans and even training programs for farmers who need help getting started.

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