Jamaica, is an island nation in the West Indies. Jamaica lies about 480 miles (772 Kilometers) south of Florida and is the largest island in the Caribbean Sea. Only Cuba and Hispaniola are largest.
Capital: Kingston
Area: 4,243 sq.mi (10,990 km). Greater distances-(east-west) 146mi (235km) 51 mi. (82 km)
Elevation: Highest- Blue Mountain Peak, 7,402 ft. (2,256 I), Above sea level lowest,a long the coast.
Jamaica is part of the Greater Antilles, A group of island in the West Indies. The island has three land regions: coastal plains, central hills ad rise to 7,402 feet (2,256 meters) at Blue Mountains Peak.
Limestone formations in northwestern Jamaica include many deep depressions called cockpits, and the area is called the cockpit country.  Jamaica has many springs, streams, and waterfalls. Swift-flowing rivers run north and south from the mountains.

Background: Jamaica gained full independence within the British Commonwealth in 1962.
Location: Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, south of Cuba
Geographic coordinates: 18 15 N, 77 30 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area total:10,990 sq km
Land:10,830 sq km
Water:160 sq km
Area: comparative slightly smaller than Connecticut
Coastline: 1,022 km
Climate: tropical; hot, humid, temperate interior
Terrain: mostly mountains, with narrow, discontinuous coastal plain
Elevation: extremes lowest point Caribbean Sea 0 m
Highest point Blue Mountain Peak 2,256 m
Natural resources: bauxite, gypsum, limestone
Natural hazards: hurricanes (especially July to November)
Environment: current issues heavy rates of deforestation; coastal waters polluted by industrial waste, sewage, and oil spills; damage to coral reefs; air pollution in Kingston results from vehicle emissions
Population: 2,652,689 (July 2000 est.)
Nationality: Jamaican(s)
Ethnic groups: black 90.9%, East Indian 1.3%, white 0.2%, Chinese 0.2%, mixed 7.3%, other 0.1%
Religions: Protestant 61.3% (Church of God 21.2%, Baptist 8.8%, Anglican 5.5%, Seventh-Day Adventist 9%, Pentecostal 7.6%, Methodist 2.7%, United Church 2.7%, Brethren 1.1%, Jehovah's Witness 1.6%, Moravian 1.1%), Roman Catholic 4%, other, including some spiritual cults 34.7%
Languages: English, Creole
Literacy definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 85%
male:80.8%
Labor force: 1.13 million (1998)
Labor force: by occupation services 60%, agriculture 21%, industry 19% (1998)
Unemployment rate: 15.5% (1998)
Industries: tourism, bauxite, textiles, food processing, light manufactures, rum, cement, metal, paper, chemical products
Agriculture: products sugarcane, bananas, coffee, citrus, potatoes, vegetables; poultry, goats, milk