Barbados explained to kids

Barbados is an island in the Lesser Antilles of the Caribbean, northeast of Venezuela and west of Trinidad and Tobago. Barbados is the easternmost island in the Caribbean. It is also the farthest south of all the islands in the Lesser Antilles. The island of Barbados is about 166 square miles, or 43 kilometers long and 23 kilometers wide. It is the 53rd largest island in the world and the 29th largest island nation. The capital and largest city is Bridgetown. The population of Barbados is about 284,000. The island of Barbados is located in the Atlantic Ocean, about 100 miles, or 161 kilometers, east of the Caribbean Sea. The island is about 34 miles, or 55 kilometers, long and about 14 miles, or 23 kilometers, wide. The island is mostly flat with some rolling hills. The highest point is Mount Hillaby, which is 1,120 feet, or 342 meters, above sea level. The island has many beaches, coral reefs, and lagoons. The climate of Barbados is tropical with trade winds blowing from the northeast. The average temperature is 79 degrees Fahrenheit, or 26 degrees Celsius. The island is made up of coral and limestone. There are no rivers or lakes on the island. The economy of Barbados is based on tourism, agriculture, and manufacturing. The main crops grown on the island are sugarcane, corn, and potatoes. The official language of Barbados is English. The island of Barbados was first inhabited by the Arawak and Carib peoples. The first European to visit Barbados was Portuguese explorer Pedro a Campos in 1536. Barbados was claimed by the British in 1625 and was made a colony in 1627. Barbados was the first British colony in the Americas. Barbados was an important base for the British during the American Revolutionary War and the Napoleonic Wars. Barbados was also an important stop on the Underground Railroad, which helped slaves escape from the United States to freedom in the British Empire. Barbados became an independent nation in 1966 and a member of the Commonwealth of Nations in 1968.