Tobago information
- Location:
Tobago, the gem of the Caribbean, was linked politically to Trinidad since
1888. This country lies some 26 miles to the north east, forming the last
link of the high mountain ranges extending eastwards from Venezuela Coastal
cordillera. Tobago lies directly on the edge of the continental shelf where
it is separated from Trinidad by shallow waters.
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- General:
Tobago is roughly 26 miles long and 7,5 miles wide at its east point. It
also consists of a mountain range reaching a height of 1890 feet which is
connected to the main back bone of the country to form the most dominant
feature of this country. This is the Main Ridge Reserve which has been protected
since 1765 making the forest the oldest Reserve area in the Western Hemisphere.
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- Climate
and Rainfall: Because
Tobago has such undisturbed forest areas with lots of trees, the climate
varies at times on the northeastern side of Tobago because we have a constant
flow of the northeast Trade Winds blowing steadily, the humidity is lower
than the southern side. The average rainfall ranges from 93 inches to 150
inches of rainfall in a year.
Tobago experiences two seasons: 1. dry, 2. wet. The first 5 months is considered
the dry season where most of the deciduous plants shed their leaves so that
their seeds can catch the last seven months which is classified as the Wet
season necessary for the forest to replenish itself.
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- About
the Rainforest: Tobago
planters in the 1770´s cleared the land and replaced the rainforest
with sugar cane estates and at the rate they were destroying the rainforest
some one had to take action. In order to save the forest, a member of Parliament
for Cambridge and a member of the Lords Commissioner for Trade and Plantation
was concerned about the amount of the forest that was being destroyed for
timber, so Miss Soame Jerrys worked hard for eleven years to enact a law
that would put an end to the destruction.
Tobago Rain Forest Reserve, as it is now called, was established in 1776
by the Governor, Sir William Young. On April 13th 1776 the ordinance was
signed making the Main Ridge Reserve the oldest of its kind in the Western
Hemisphere. All together, the Forest Reserve was 10.000 acres until some
4.000 was added later to make up a total of 14.000 acres.
The Tobago Main Reserve is presently home to 210 bird species, 16 lizards,
123 butterfly and 17 bat, plus other animals.
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Wayne Gray, tobago tour
guide