National Parks in Trinidad and Tobago

The National Parks of Trinidad and Tobago are government-protected areas aimed at preserving the biodiversity and culture of the country. Trinidad and Tobago, officially known as the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, is an independent island nation located in the Caribbean Sea, in the northern region of South America. It comprises the main islands of Trinidad and Tobago, as well as numerous smaller islands. It lies 130 kilometers south of Grenada and 11 kilometers off the northeastern coast of Venezuela.

Due to the expanse of the region, there are some significant parks, such as the Caroni Lagoon National Park on the western coast of Trinidad, preserving 15,000 acres as habitat for the region’s fauna and flora. It also features other areas of cultural interest like the Memorial Park, which narrates the country’s history, and the Queen’s Park Savannah, which not only conserves regional species but also holds significance in the colonial history of Trinidad and Tobago.

National Parks

Other Parks and Points of Interest

Sharing maritime borders with Barbados to the northeast, Grenada to the northwest, and Venezuela to the south and west, there are parks that are situated closer. In general, Trinidad and Tobago is considered part of the Antilles. There are various geographical definitions that include Trinidad and Tobago within the Windward Islands and the Lesser Antilles, while others regard them as part of the South American continent.

Trinidad was inhabited by Amerindian peoples for many centuries before becoming a colony of the Spanish Empire following Christopher Columbus’ arrival in 1498. In 1797, the Spanish governor José María Chacón handed over Trinidad to a British fleet led by Ralph Abercromby. On the other hand, Tobago changed hands between Spanish, British, French, and Dutch control multiple times throughout its history in the Caribbean. Trinidad and Tobago were ceded to Great Britain in 1802 under the terms of the Treaty of Amiens, and they were subsequently unified in 1889 as a single territory. The country achieved independence in 1962 and became a republic in 1976.