|RConstitution:|N Republic. Member of the Commonwealth of Nations.
|RNational holiday:|N Independence Day, August 31.
|RNature and climate:|N Two islands off the coast of Venezuela. Trinidad has an area of 5000 km² and Tobago 300 km².
Trinidad is low but have a mountainchain in the north, reaching at most 940 m.a.s.l. These mountains have lush forests, but on the rest of the island most of the vegetation is savannah.
Tobago have an elevation between 400 and 600 metres.
Tropical climate with an average temperature between 25 and 27°C throughout the year.
Percipitation 2000 mm.
|RPeople:|N 43% blacks, 40% East Indians, a few europeans and Chinese and 14% a mix of the different peoples.
|REconomy:|N Rich resources of oil and natural gas is the backbone of the economy. Trinidad have the worlds largest deposits of natural asphalt.
Oil accounts for 90% of export revenues.
The oil industry dominates followed by chemical plants and tourism.
Agriculture produces sugarcanes, cacao, cocos and citrusfruits for export while important foodstuff must be imported.
|RHistory:|N The uninhabited islands were discovered by Columbus 1498 and colonized by Spain.
In 1797 Great Britain occupied Trinidad and in 1802 Tobago.
In 1889 the two islands had a joint administration and status of crown colonies. Trinidad and Tobago became an independent country in 1962.
In 1990 militant muslims seized the prime minister and several other ministers and other leading persons. The administration was paralyzed and wild riots started. Order was reestablished when the government promised some reforms.
