The Caribbean or West Indies is a region of the American continent consisting of the Caribbean Sea, its islands, and the surrounding coasts. The region is located to the east of Central America between North and South America. Situated largely on the Caribbean Plate, the caribbean islands form a 2,500 miles long, arc shaped, archipelago that contains more than 7,000 islands, islets, reefs, and cays.

The Caribbean is best known for its beautiful weather (“endless summer”), white sandy beaches, azure waters, picturesque islands, mountains, and the fun loving people swinging to the rhythm of "kompa, reggae, calipso".

The temperature vary little all over the year with relatively low humidity, making the Caribbean climate perfect for year round travel and the region, a favorite tourist destination. Tourism represents a major industry in the region with 31.1% of its GDP and provides nearly three million jobs.

The region's name "Caribbean" derives from the Caribs, an ethnic group who inhabited the region at the time of the arrival of Christopher Columbus and the Europeans. Columbus also believed that he had found a west path to the Indies, hence the name "West Indies".

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