Title: Caribbean - Wikipedia
Headings: Caribbean
Caribbean
Caribbean
Contents
Etymology and pronunciation
Definition
Countries and territories
History
Foreign interventions by the United States
Foreign interventions by Cuba
Main article: Foreign interventions by Cuba
Geography and geology
Island groups
Lucayan Archipelago
Greater Antilles
Lesser Antilles
Historical groupings
Continental countries with Caribbean coastlines and islands
Climate
Dominican Republic: Latitude 18°N
Aruba: Latitude 12°N
Puerto Rico: Latitude 18°N
Cuba: at Latitude 22°N
Climate change
Biodiversity
Plants and animals
Demographics
Indigenous peoples
Language
Religion
See also: Religion in the Caribbean
Politics
Regionalism
United States-EU trade dispute
Caribbean Financial Action Task Force and Association of Caribbean States
Chinese relations
Bolivarian Alliance
Regional institutions
Cuisine
Favourite or national dishes
See also
Geography:
Notes
References
Bibliography
Further reading
External links

Content: However, the Bahamas is a full member state of the Caribbean Community and the Turks and Caicos Islands are an associate member. Belize, Guyana, and Suriname are also considered part of the Caribbean despite being mainland countries and they are full member states of the Caribbean Community and the Association of Caribbean States. Several regions of mainland South and Central America are also often seen as part of the Caribbean because of their political and cultural ties with the region. These include: Belize, the Caribbean region of Colombia, the Venezuelan Caribbean, Quintana Roo in Mexico (consisting of Cozumel and the Caribbean coast of the Yucatán Peninsula ), and The Guianas (Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, Guayana Region in Venezuela, and Amapá in Brazil ). A mostly tropical geography, the climates are greatly shaped by sea temperatures and precipitation, with the hurricane season regularly leading to natural disasters. Because of its tropical climate and low-lying island geography, the Caribbean is vulnerable to a number of climate change effects, including increased storm intensity, saltwater intrusion, sea level rise and coastal erosion, and precipitation variability. These weather changes will greatly change the economies of the islands, and especially the major industries of agricultural and tourism. The Caribbean was occupied by indigenous people since at least 6000 BC. When European colonization followed the arrival of Columbus, the population was quickly decimated by brutal labour practices, enslavement and disease and on many islands, Europeans supplanted the native populations with enslaved Africans.