The country of Jamaica is a beautiful island in the Caribbean just south of Cuba. With a population of over two and a half million and even more tourists visiting every year, there is a wide assortment of activities and places to visit within Jamaica. Aside from tourism, there are a number of facts about Jamaica that you are probably unfamiliar with.

To inform you of some basic facts about Jamaica, the capital of the country is Kingston. There are a number of other notable towns scattered across Jamaica whose names you may recognize. These are Montego Bay, Negril, Ocho Rios and Port Antonio.

You will notice the colour of the country's flag, which is green, black, and gold. The flag has two diamond green triangles facing each other with gold trim, and two black triangles on the left and right of the flag.

Each color on the flag has a meaning behind it. The black stands for hardships to be overcome and to be faced, the gold stands for natural wealth and beauty of sunlight, and green stands for hope and agricultural resources.

The head of state in the country is the governor-general, who is appointed by the monarch of England. As for the government, it is the Prime Minister that has control over the decisions of the country. The Prime Minister, who is elected by the people of Jamaica, is the leader of the majority party in the House of Representatives.

A surprising fact about Jamaica to most is that a majority of the people are Christian. It is a very open country regarding faith, unlike what many other countries have become. Children in Jamaica learn about God and the Bible at public school, and even have prayer in public school as well.

Because it is an English speaking country, it attracts a number of tourists from the United States. Another language that is widely spoken across the country is Patois, which is a dialect. If you do intend on traveling to Jamaica from the states, the exchange rate is approximately $68 Jamaican dollars to $1 US dollar. This will come in handy when it comes to purchasing those souvenirs.

What attracts so many tourists to this beautiful country is the warm climate and the ocean waters. The climate is hot and humid being that it is amidst the tropical Caribbean, but it is not too hot to enjoy. With an average temperature of just 82 degrees Fahrenheit, it is the perfect temperature to enjoy the oceanic waters of the Caribbean on vacation.

Jamaica has come to be known as a hot-spot for tourism, but to over two and a half million people it is home. With a few of the facts about Jamaica stated in this article, you now have a general understanding of this beautiful country that is a home to many and a tourist location for many more.