Today we have the pleasure of visiting the island nation of Jamaica，
a tropical paradise situated in the Caribbean Sea. The third largest island in the Greater Antilles of the West Indies，it is about １４５ kilometers south of Cuba and １９１ kilometers west of Hispaniola Island，which comprises the nation states of Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
Beautiful Jamaica is known for its gracious people，rich cultural heritage，exquisite wildlife，and lush foliage，among other wonders.
The total area of Jamaica is nearly １１，０００ square kilometers. Like many other islands in the region，it came into being through prehistoric volcanic and seismic activity. Lava and ash from an
undersea volcano created the base of the island １３０ million years ago.
Later on， about ５０ million years ago，layers of limestone formed by the remains of sea creatures
piled up on the rocks. Due to the grinding activity between the Caribbean and
North American plates，the land of Jamaica Island was elevated and emerged from the sea about １０ million years ago. As a result，８０％ of the island is mountainous and the average elevation
is ３０５ meters above sea level.