The nation of Jamaica is located on an island in the Greater Antilles in the Caribbean Sea. It lies northeast of Central America, near the islands of Cuba and Hispaniola in an area frequently subject to hurricanes. The island was previously known as Santiago under Spanish possession, and it later became the colony of Jamaica under the British West Indies Crown. In the Americas, its Anglophone population is only surpassed by the U.S. and Canada.
The geography of Jamaica is mostly comprised of the inland Blue Mountains and coastal plains. Its capital is Kingston, and other notable cities are Portmore, Spanish Town, Mandeville, Ocho Rios, Port Antonio, and Montego Bay. Most significant cities and towns are found along the coast.
Jamaica's climate is tropical, with hot humid weather on the coast and more temperate weather further inland. Some areas are dry due to rain shadow effect. The island is frequently ravaged by storms and hurricanes. Notably, Hurricanes Charlie in the 50s and Gilbert in the 80s caused significant damage and killed many people. The more recent hurricanes Ivan and Dean also caused severe damage and loss of life in the 2000s.