Geography

Jamaica is the third largest of the Caribbean islands. Situated in the Caribbean Sea, it lies 965.4 km (600 miles) south of Florida, 160.9 km (100 miles) southwest of Haiti and 144.81 km (90 miles) south of Cuba.

The island's 28,389.2 km2 (4,411 square miles) are dominated by magnificent mountains. The principal range runs east to west, and the country's summit, Blue Mountain Peak, at approximately 2,256 metres (7,402 feet), stands near its eastern end.

The mountains boast a variety of minerals, chiefly limestone. Economically however, the most important mineral is bauxite (aluminum ore), and there are also deposits of gypsum and high grade calcium carbonate. There are many mineral springs, including the world renowned Milk River Baths in Clarendon.

The country is divided into three counties--Cornwall, Middlesex and Surrey--which are subdivided into 14 parishes: Kingston, St. Andrew, St. Thomas, Portland, St. Mary, St. Ann, Trelawny, St. James, Hanover, Westmoreland, St. Elizabeth, Manchester, Clarendon and St. Catherine.

Each parish has a capital town which is its centre of Local Government administration. Kingston, situated in the south-eastern part of the island, is the capital city. The other city, Montego Bay, is the leading tourist resort and is located on the island's north-western coast. Other important towns include Spanish Town, the former capital; Mandeville, in the heart of the bauxite mining area; May Pen; and the tourism centres of Ocho Rios and Port Antonio.