Barbados snapshots, introduction, tourist attractions, and photographs

Barbados, an independent sovereign state within the Commonwealth, is located between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela. Barbados Island has total land area about 430 square kilometers, about 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC.

Barbados has 278,289 (2004 estimate) population, including 80% black, 4% white, and 16% other ethnic groups. English is the official language in Barbados.

The island was uninhabited when first settled by the British in 1627. Historically, the Barbadian economy had been dependent on sugarcane cultivation and related activities. After 1990s, tourism and manufacturing surpassed the sugar industry in economic importance. The start of the Port Charles Marina project in Speightstown helped the tourism industry continue to expand in 1996-99. Offshore finance and informatics are also important foreign exchange earners.

Barbados is a stable and friendly Caribbean nation which retains many British traditions. Afternoon tea, Cricket, polo, rolling green countryside and British tradition of dressing make Barbados a unique Caribbean island.

With tropical sunshine and more than 70 white and pink sandy beaches along its 97 kilometers coastline, Barbados offers visitors many sports and activities, including golfing, tennis, swimming, scuba diving, snorkeling, surfing, windsurfing, waterskiing, and para-sailing, in addition to Cricket and polo.

Barbados has many parks and gardens, museums, and historical attractions. Andromeda Gardens is one the most attractive tropical gardens in the world. This 6 acres gardens include beautiful plant specimens from around the world, water streams, ponds, and cliffs overlooking the Barbados coastline.

There are many superior to moderate beachfront resorts with tropical gardens, swimming pools and water sports, tennis courts, fitness centers, spa, restaurants and bars, entertainment, duty-free shops, and other modern facilities.

Barbados, the island nation with British traditions, is now one of the best vacation destinations in the tropical Caribbean.