West indies
West Indies
The West Indies (pronunciation: /wɛst ˈɪndiz/) is a region of the North Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean that includes the island countries and surrounding waters of three major archipelagos: the Greater Antilles, the Lesser Antilles, and the Lucayan Archipelago.
Etymology
The name "West Indies" originated from Christopher Columbus's idea that he had landed in the Indies (then meaning all of south and east Asia) when he had actually reached the Americas. The term "West" was later added to distinguish this region from the "East Indies", which referred to South and Southeast Asia.
Related Terms
- Greater Antilles: The northern islands of the Caribbean, including Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola (Haiti and the Dominican Republic), and Puerto Rico.
- Lesser Antilles: The smaller islands of the Caribbean, located south and east of Puerto Rico.
- Lucayan Archipelago: The archipelago on the north of the Caribbean, comprising the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands.
- Caribbean: A region of the Americas that includes the Caribbean Sea, its islands, and the surrounding coasts.
- Americas: A landmass comprising the totality of North and South America.
- Christopher Columbus: An Italian explorer who completed four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean, opening the way for widespread European exploration and the eventual conquest of the Americas by Europeans.
- East Indies: The former name for the islands of Southeast Asia, including what is now Indonesia and parts of the Malay Archipelago.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on West indies
- Wikipedia's article - West indies
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