Form 1 Geography Trinidad and Tobago – NOTES Mr.

Seemungal

Instructions – Please take down the notes posted here on Trinidad and Tobago (P.S. You DO NOT need to
take down the map – it is just here for reference).

The Mountains (Highlands)

2. The Central Range-

 Generally under 200 m high, with the highest peak being Mt. Tamana (308 m).
 It lies in the center of Trinidad and trends in a SW to NE direction.

3. The Trinity Hills:

 These hills are located towards the southeastern part of Trinidad.

 These were the first peaks sighted by Columbus who named the island ‘Trinity’.
 The hills are between 100-200 m high.
 Sometimes identified as part of the Southern Range.

Tobago has one main highland region :

The Main Ridge –

 Towards the center of the island (more NE) with lowlands around (especially to the SW).
 The Main Ridge comprises of a series of valleys and ridges, and rises over 400 m with the
highest peak being Centre Hill (565 m).
 The Main Ridge has the ‘Oldest Forest Reserve’ in the Western Hemisphere.

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LOWLAND FEATURES :

A. SWAMPS :

 A wetland area (covered with water at times) with associated vegetation.

 In T & T most of the swamps are coastal and consist of ‘mangrove vegetation’.
 They are important ecological areas and should be conserved.

There are THREE large swamps in Trinidad.

1. The Caroni Swamp

 The largest.
 It lies in the Northwest.
 It is drained by the Caroni River and its tributaries which empty into the Gulf of Paria.
 It has a National Park –The Caroni Bird Sanctuary (Tourist Attraction).

2. The Nariva Swamp

 It lies to the East (Cocos Bay)

 It is drained by several rivers which drain into Cocos Bay (Atlantic Ocean).
 Utilized for fishing and agriculture.

3.The Oropouche Lagoon (Coastal stretch of shallow salt water)

 It is located to the Southwest just beyond San Fernando.

 It is drained by the South Oropouche River which empties into the Gulf of Paria.
 It is an important farming area.

B. PLAINS

There are TWO main plains in Trinidad:

1. The Caroni Plains

 This lies between the Northern and Central Range.

 It is a wide expanse of almost flat land.
 It has many rivers flowing over it, the main one being the Caroni River.
 In the past it was cultivated mainly with sugar cane.
 Today its uses include settlements, industries and agriculture.

2. Naparima Plains

 Located to the south of the Central Range towards the west.

 It is not as flat as the Caroni Plains (undulating plain – low gently rising hills).
 Previously cultivated with sugar cane.
 The Naparima Hill in San Fernando stands isolated on this plain (National Landmark).

P.S. : In the eastern part of south Trinidad just near the Nariva Swamp lies the Nariva Plains.

Note : In Tobago there is a fairly flat small plain towards the SW (on which the airport is built) which is
called LOWLANDS.
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C. RIVERS

There are many small rivers flowing into all surrounding water bodies.

The main rivers flow from the mountain ranges down onto the plains and through the swamps.

Some of the main rivers in Trinidad are:

 The Caroni River.

 The Navet River.
 The Oropouche River (2)
 The Ortoire River (Guatuaro River)

These rivers are joined by numerous tributaries

THE CARONI RIVER

 It is the largest river system in Trinidad.

 Its tributaries flow down the Northern Range and also part of the Central Range (source).
 It drains most of the Caroni Plains west of Arima and flows westwards through the Caroni
Swamp into the Gulf of Paria (mouth).
 Its tributaries include the Aripo and Guanapo Rivers.

Note :

 Tobago has numerous small rivers that run down the Main Ridge.
 Many are used as tourist attractions because of their waterfalls e.g. Rainbow, Agile