Port of Spain

Port of Spain
City (pop., 1996 est.: 43,396), seaport, and capital of Trinidad and Tobago.

Formerly the capital of the West Indies Federation, it is located in the northwestern part of the island of Trinidad on the Gulf of Paria. It is an air transport centre for the Caribbean and has a diversified economy, producing rum, beer, and lumber. It is also a principal port and shipping centre; exports include oil, sugar, citrus, and asphalt.

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also spelled  Port-of-Spain  
 capital city and chief port of Trinidad and Tobago, southeastern West Indies. It is on the western coast of the island of Trinidad below the northern peninsula on the Gulf of Paria (Paria, Gulf of), which separates the island from the northeastern coast of Venezuela. The city is laid out in geometric patterns with parks and squares; on the hills behind Port of Spain are residential suburbs. At the centre of the city is the business district, near the Gothic-style Holy Trinity Cathedral and the Queen's Park Savannah—the city's largest open space and a popular site for recreation. From this area radiate many of the most important streets, and around it are several buildings of historical and architectural interest, including the President's House, which stands in the grounds of the Botanical Gardens; Whitehall, which houses the office of the prime minister; the house of the Roman Catholic archbishop of Port of Spain; the Knowsley Building, which accommodates some government ministries; All Saints' Church (Anglican); and the neo-Renaissance Red House, rebuilt in 1906, which contains the Parliament and government offices. There are Muslim and Hindu houses of worship in the city. Among the educational institutions are three well-established secondary schools: Queen's Royal College, Fatima College, and St. Mary's College. One of the campuses of the University of the West Indies is situated at St. Augustine, about 10 miles (16 km) east of the city.

      Port of Spain is not dependent on tourism, as are many Caribbean islands, but has a diversified industrial base, including the production of rum, beer, margarine and oils, cigarettes, plastics, and building materials. There are also sawmills, textile mills, and citrus canneries. Angostura aromatic bitters, a popular ingredient in cocktails, is produced only in Port of Spain, its formula a closely guarded secret. Technical institutes train workers for various industries. Port of Spain is linked by good roads with other parts of Trinidad. The port has a key position on world shipping routes and is a centre of trade within the West Indies. At Piarco, about 15 miles (25 km) east of the city, is the country's chief airport. Pop. (2000) 49,031.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Port of Spain — • Archdiocese and town in Trinidad Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006. Port of Spain     Archdiocese of Port of Spain     † …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • PORT OF SPAIN — PORT OF SPAI Capitale et ville principale de l’État indépendant de Trinité et Tobago, Port of Spain n’est, dans ses limites municipales, que l’élément le plus important d’une très vaste agglomération; celle ci s’étire sur plus de 30 kilomètres au …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Port of Spain — ist die Hauptstadt von Trinidad und Tobago mit 50.700 Einwohnern, als Agglomeration 264.000 (Stand jeweils 1. Januar 2004), gelegen am Golf von Paria im Nordwesten der Insel Trinidad. Sie beherbergt den wichtigsten Hafen des Landes und ein… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Port-of-Spain — Port d Espagne Port d Espagne Administration Pays …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Port of Spain — Port d Espagne Port d Espagne Administration Pays …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Port-of-Spain — [pôrt′əv spān′] capital of Trinidad and Tobago: seaport on NW Trinidad: pop. 58,000: also Port of Spain …   English World dictionary

  • Port of Spain —   [englisch pɔːt əv speɪn], Hauptstadt und Haupthafen von Trinidad und Tobago, auf Trinidad, am Golf von Paria, (1995) 45 300 Einwohner; Sitz eines katholischen Erzbischofs und eines anglikanischen Bischofs; Nationalmuseum und archiv,… …   Universal-Lexikon

  • Port of Spain — (spr. pōrt os ßpën, Puerto de España), Hauptstadt der britisch westind. Insel Trinidad, an der Westküste und am Golf von Paria, ist Ausgangspunkt von Eisenbahnen nach San Fernando und ins Innere, Sitz eines deutschen Konsuls, hat einen prächtigen …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • Port of Spain — (spr. spehn), Puerto d España, Spanish Town, Hauptstadt der brit. Kleinen Antille Trinidad, 54.500 E …   Kleines Konversations-Lexikon

  • Port-of-Spain — Port′ of Spain′ n. geg a seaport on NW Trinidad, in the SE West Indies: national capital of Trinidad and Tobago. 58,400 …   From formal English to slang

  • Port of Spain — Infobox Settlement official name = City of Port of Spain other name = native name = nickname = settlement type = motto = |700px imagesize = image caption = Port of Spain, viewed from the harbour, 2007 flag size = image seal size = image shield =… …   Wikipedia

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