Jamaica, located in the Caribbean Sea, is an island country spanning 10,990 square kilometers (4,240 sq mi), making it the third-largest island in the Greater Antilles and the Caribbean, following Cuba and Hispaniola.
Situated approximately 145 km (90 mi) south of Cuba and 191 km (119 mi) west of Hispaniola (which comprises Haiti and the Dominican Republic), Jamaica is also positioned 215 km (134 mi) northwest of the British Overseas Territory of the Cayman Islands.
Originally inhabited by the Taíno peoples, Jamaica came under Spanish rule after Christopher Columbus’s arrival in 1494. The indigenous population faced significant decline due to disease and conflict, leading the Spanish to bring in African slaves as a labor force.
Spain retained control of the island, known as Santiago, until 1655, when it was conquered by England (later Great Britain) and renamed Jamaica. The island played a crucial role in the British West Indies, emerging as a major sugar exporter with a plantation economy heavily reliant on the importation of African slaves. Full emancipation of slaves occurred in 1838, after which many freed individuals opted for subsistence farming over plantation work. Starting in the 1840s, the British introduced Chinese and Indian indentured labor to the plantations. Jamaica gained independence from the United Kingdom on August 6, 1962.
Below is a complete list of live webcams in Jamaica
