Trinidad and Tobago Neighbouring Countries and Caribbean Islands

Geographic Location

Trinidad and Tobago Overview

Trinidad and Tobago, lively twin islands, hang out in the southern Caribbean, chilling northeast of Venezuela and northwest of Guyana. They form the southernmost part of the Caribbean’s necklace of islands. These islands waved goodbye to British rule in 1962 and went full republic in 1976.

Proximity to South America

With just 11 kilometers of blue between Trinidad and Venezuela, these islands are practically neighbors with South America. Tobago, hanging a bit farther out, is west of Barbados and 130 kilometers south of Grenada. Nestled between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic, the islands have the Gulf of Paria, Bocas del Dragón, and the Serpent’s Mouth keeping them close, yet distinct, from the South American mainland.

If you’re curious about how other countries handle their close knit neighborhood vibes, check out our articles on Venezuela’s neighboring vibes and Guyana’s neighbors.

Neighboring Countries

Understanding Trinidad and Tobago’s geographical spot means knowing who’s next door. Located in the southeastern Caribbean, they rub shoulders, or rather waters, with a few fellow nations.

Venezuela: Western Neighbor

Just a hop, skip, and a 7-mile jump westward across the sea, and you find yourself in Venezuela. This South American country sits just 11 kilometers away from Trinidad’s Chaguaramas Peninsula to Venezuela’s Paria Peninsula (Wikipedia).

With a signed treaty drawing the lines on the map, these nations have more than just proximity in common. This closeness has paved the way for vibrant cultural and economic exchanges throughout history.

Barbados: Northeast Neighbor

Heading northeast, Barbados is the next port of call. Although it’s a bit of a sail away at about 300 kilometers (186 miles) (Wikipedia), they’re still good mates in the region.

Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados often sync up on cultural exchanges and are active players in regional groups promoting Caribbean unity and growth. They also sit down at the table to chat about the big blue sea territory and trade.

Neighboring Country	Direction	Approximate Distance
Venezuela	West	11 kilometers (7 miles)
Barbados	Northeast	300 kilometers (186 miles)

Keen on discovering who else is next to whom? Check out pieces on Sao Tome and Principe’s neighbors, South Korea’s neighbors, and Venezuela’s neighbors.

Historical Disputes

Boundary Dispute with Barbados

The skirmish over ocean space between Trinidad and Tobago, and Barbados kicked off due to clashing maritime boundaries. Back in 1990, a treaty with Venezuela inked some ocean area as Trinidad and Tobago’s turf, much to Barbados’ dismay. This whole kerfuffle wound its way to an important legal face-off in 2006.

Barbados hauled Trinidad and Tobago to a legal panel, known as an arbitral tribunal, to settle this ocean tiff. All said and done, the tribunal sliced the sea almost evenly between the two, veering a bit toward Trinidad and Tobago’s stance (Wikipedia).

Year	Event	Outcome
1990	Treaty with Venezuela	Trinidad nabbed more ocean space
2006	Tribunal Judgment	Sea split almost down the middle

Roll on over for extra digs on this tale in our piece on Trinidad and Tobago neighboring countries.

Maritime Boundary Treaty with Venezuela

That 1990 treaty between Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago wasn’t just some paper shuffle; it sorted who got what out in those ocean expanses (Wikipedia). Both sides needed clear lines for fishing and snagging black gold—oil and natural gas, that is.

Year	Treaty	What’s the Big Deal?
1990	Treaty on Seas	Cleared up who gets what feeds and fuels

Even though it kicked up a dust cloud with Barbados, this agreement locked in some solid borders and marked a hefty stride in relations for these pals huddled in that chunk of the world.

Dig deeper with our lineup of reads, including Venezuela neighboring countries and Trinidad and Tobago neighboring countries.

Diplomatic Relations

United States Relationship

Trinidad and Tobago’s bond with the United States is pretty friendly. They focus on getting more business going, making sure energy keeps flowing, and tackling issues like drugs, health, and legal matters together. The U.S. set up its embassy in Port of Spain back in 1962, marking the start of this diplomatic friendship.

Brazil Relations

Brazil and Trinidad and Tobago are pals in the diplomatic world. They’ve been shaking hands since 1942. The two countries often see visits from their leaders and collaborate, especially in energy matters (Wikipedia).

Canada Connections

Trinidad and Tobago and Canada have a strong link, with around 68,000 folks from Trinidad and Tobago living in Canada. Their diplomatic chats have been on a smooth track over the years (Wikipedia).

Country	Number of Immigrants
Canada	68,000

France Ties

The friendship with France has been going strong for almost 200 years. There’s a French embassy in Port of Spain, and Trinidad and Tobago covers its bases in France through their embassy in Brussels. Investment deals between the two nations keep this relationship steady.

Guyana Partnership

Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago share more than border neighbor vibes. Their bond goes way back, featuring friendly gestures like oil export credits and forgiving debts. In 2018, they inked an agreement to work together on energy matters. Trinidad and Tobago has had Guyana’s back in many areas (Wikipedia).

Curious about nearby nations of Trinidad and Tobago’s friends? Check out our other reads on Venezuela neighboring countries, Guyana neighboring countries, and Canada neighboring countries.

Geological Characteristics

Digging into the geological aspects of Trinidad and Tobago helps you appreciate these islands’ unique rock stories and natural quirks. Here’s the lowdown on what makes each island tick, and a peek at how they’re positioned with hurricanes.

Geology of Trinidad

Trinidad’s got personality with its three mountain bunches: the Northern, Central, and Southern Ranges. These ranges keep the vibe going from the Venezuelan coastline.

Mountain Range	Highlight Reel
Northern Range	An Andes encore, with El Cerro del Aripo reaching 940 meters
Central Range	Not as towering but rich with wildlife and greenery
Southern Range	Mostly limestone, building block deluxe

Once upon a time, Trinidad was snug in South America’s embrace but is now lounging on its continental shelf, playing hard to get across the Gulf of Paria, Bocas del Dragón, and the Serpent’s Mouth. Discover more geological gossip in places like Suriname neighboring countries.

Geology of Tobago

Tobago stands proudly hilly, led by the Main Ridge strutting a 29-kilometer stretch, peaking at 550 meters. It’s got roots tied to a submerged island arc chain hitchhiked by the roving Caribbean Plate from the Pacific side of things.

Feature	Description
Main Ridge	Marches 29 km long, capped at 550 meters high
Connection	Part of a sunk island chain, balancing on the Caribbean Plate

Tobago’s unique geological style and Main Ridge reserve sculpt a landscape like no other. Stack this against geological tales from other spots like Sao Tome and Principe neighboring countries.

Hurricane Belt Status

While technically missing the hurricane party zone, Trinidad and Tobago have had their share of nasty storms dropping by unexpectedly. Here’s a couple of throwbacks:

Event	Details
Hurricane Flora (1963)	Whacked Tobago, led to 18 lost lives, $30 million hit in damages
Tropical Storm Alma (1974)	Gave Trinidad a wild ride with 91 mph gusts

Even though they sit outside the usual hurricane hangout, the islands haven’t been off the weather hook. For weather chaos elsewhere, check out Somalia neighboring countries.

This geological glimpse gives you a leg up on understanding Trinidad and Tobago’s natural set-up and hazards. Get more geo-know-how from our reads on Senegal neighbouring countries and Seychelles neighbouring countries.

Biodiversity

Trinidad and Tobago are little jewels of the Caribbean, bursting with wildlife and lush ecosystems thanks to their spot near South America and a lively geological past.

Diverse Fauna and Flora

Trinidad and Tobago snagged themselves a fantastic blend of creatures courtesy of their South American ties. You’ve got 472 bird types flitting about, with stars like the Scarlet Ibis and the mysterious Oilbird stealing the show. On the mammal side, there’s a host of about 100 critters, including the elusive Ocelot and those loud Red Howler Monkeys that love a good treetop gossip. Reptiles? Around 90, with the Green Iguana and majestic Leatherback Turtle making appearances. Amphibians are a cozy community of about 30, with little guys like the Golden Tree Frog inviting awe. Fish fans won’t be disappointed either, with some 50 freshwater varieties and a whopping 950 kinds of marine fish, all doing their thing in the island’s waters.

Species Type	Number of Species	Notable Examples
Birds	472	Scarlet Ibis, Oilbird
Mammals	~100	Ocelot, Red Howler Monkey
Reptiles	~90	Green Iguana, Leatherback Turtle
Amphibians	~30	Golden Tree Frog, Toads
Freshwater Fish	~50	Tarpon, Tilapia
Marine Fish	~950	Parrotfish, Snapper

Unique Ecosystems

These islands are home to a mosaic of habitats that’ll make a nature lover’s heart sing. Think mangroves, coral reefs, towering mountain ranges, and dense forests, each playing host to special plant and animal life.

• Trinidad:

• Northern Range: It’s part of Venezuela’s coastal mountains and a haven for an exciting mix of life.

• Central Range: This area is all about the tropical forest, showing off its diverse plant life.

• Southern Range: Its striking landforms aren’t just eye-catching—they house a wealth of biodiversity.

• Tobago:

• Main Ridge: Stretching over 29 kilometers and reaching heights of 550 meters, this spot is a green paradise of rainforest and unique plants.

Get a peek into how neighboring nations and geology jazz things up for Trinidad and Tobago, making them hotspots for species to thrive. Check out more about the biodiversity scene compared to Jamaica and the Dominican Republic in our other articles.