By Toby Orton, From Gold Coast Bulletin

BEFORE embarking on a trip, most of us will do our best to brush up on information about the destination we’re heading to, even if it’s just the basic currency tidbits, language essentials, and unmissable tourist hot spots.

But there’s a lot more to discover beyond that.

Take the Caribbean, for example – the vast, diverse region has plenty more to uncover aside from its pretty facade of sunny beaches, lush rainforests, and mountains. For instance, did you know that just 2 per cent of the Caribbean islands are inhabited? Or that there are – on average – 340 days of sunshine per year?

Whether you’re considering an adventurous holiday or just want to impress friends and family at dinner parties, Oyster.com has compiled some facts about the Caribbean.

1. JAMAICA WAS THE BIRTHPLACE OF JAMES BOND

The White River in Ocho Rios, near Ian Fleming’s house in Jamaica.

After visiting Jamaica for a naval conference during World War II, Ian Fleming decided then and there that island life was going to be for him. Three years later, when the war was over, he kept his word and bought a house in Jamaica, where he decided to “swim in the sea and write books”.

From his home, which was called GoldenEye, Fleming penned the James Bond series that brought fame to both him and Jamaica. The first Bond film, Dr. No, was also filmed on location there. Fleming’s house is now a boutique hotel that goes by the name GoldenEye Hotel & Resort, so you can return to the source of where it all started.

And while we’re on the subject of Jamaica, the island is also home to the greatest concentration of churches per square mile than anywhere in the world (it boasts 1600 places of worship).

2. SABA HAS THE SHORTEST COMMERCIAL RUNWAY ON EARTH

The runway on Saba is just 396 metres long.

If you have a fear of flying, look away now because the runway on the Caribbean island of Saba is not a place you’ll like the sound (or sight) of, given that it’s one of the world’s most extreme places to take off and land. Officially the world’s shortest commercial runway, the strip is just 396 metres long. Flanked by water and rocky cliffs, a flight to Saba is the closest most will ever come to the feeling of landing on an aircraft carrier.

3. TOBAGO INSPIRED DANIEL DEFOE’S ROBINSON CRUSOE

If you’re relaxing on a beach, watching the crystal clear waves roll in on the small island of Tobago, and think that it might not be so bad to be stranded there forever, then know that you’re in good company.

Tobago, the sister island of Trinidad, was the inspiration for Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe, the novel in which a shipwrecked sailor washes up on a tropical island where he encounters cannibals, mutineers, and captives. These days, you’ll just find great snorkelling, amazing waterfalls, and remote beaches at the destination.

4. ONE OF THE WORLD’S HOTTEST CHILLIS GROWS IN TRINIDAD

The Trinidad Scorpion Butch T chilli once held a Guinness World Record.

If you’ve ever watched the television show Man v. Food, then you know that chillis are a big deal. And when it comes to chillis, the biggest deal of all is the moruga scorpion chilli, which is native to Trinidad. Although the Carolina Reaper is currently the hottest chilli pepper in the world, the moruga scorpion chili comes in at a close second (it also once held the title as the hottest in the world). And that’s not surprising, given that it has a heat of more than two million Scoville heat units (SHUs).

5. BARBADOS WAS GEORGE WASHINGTON’S ONLY FOREIGN TRIP

Only one in five Americans travels abroad, which means that the majority of them have something in common with George Washington. Not one to globe-trot, Barbados was the only foreign destination that the former president ever visited. Not a bad place to choose, if you ask us.

6. ST. LUCIA HAS A DRIVE-IN VOLCANO

There are lots of volcanos on Saint Lucia, also known as the ‘West Indies’.

Known locally as Sulphur Springs, the volcano last erupted in the late 18th century, which means the natural phenomenon is now considered dormant. However, while lava and molten rock eruptions might be a thing of the past, the bubbling, boiling mud and steaming sulphur of the volcano’s hot springs keep things interesting for tourists.

7. YOU CAN RIDE AN OSTRICH IN CURACAO

While some Caribbean fantasies might involve riding a majestic white horse along a deserted sandy beach, on the island country of Curacao, you can swap the horse for an ostrich.

The Curacao Ostrich Farm is a popular family attraction, where folks can pet the animals, test the strength of their eggs by standing on them, and climb on and ride an ostrich – provided you weigh less than 80kg.

8. ARUBA HAS SUBMARINE REEF TOURS

Why bother with PADI scuba courses when you can stay dry below the surface in a submarine? Atlantis Submarines offers tours that allow you to witness the reef life off Aruba. Dropping to depths of 130 feet below the Caribbean Sea, the submarine tour is the ultimate tourist trip on the island, offering unique views of the ocean life that you might not see otherwise.

9. THE CAYMAN ISLANDS HAS MORE BUSINESSES THAN PEOPLE

There is some serious money to be made in the Cayman Islands.

In addition to representing a cosmopolitan mix of tropical paradise and developed luxury, the Cayman Islands hold claim to being one of the few places in the world that hosts more businesses than people. And while Grand Cayman is a thriving, wealthy imitation of South Florida, don’t expect to find all those businesses among the island’s malls and upmarket strips – most of the businesses are there for the tax laws above all else.

10. PLANES PASS JUST 100 FEET ABOVE THE BEACH ON ST. MAARTEN

Dutch airline KLM has only just stopped flying 747s to St Maarten.

The sight of a commercial jumbo jet swooping in and passing just 30 metres above the beach is one of the most iconic Caribbean images.

And while you’re not likely to spot a KLM Boeing 747 flying overhead these days, St. Maarten is still home to one of the most epic sights in aviation. Maho Beach even attracts a mix of sunbathers and plane buffs to watch its amazing display.

RELATED:

• Best Boutique Hotels in the Caribbean

• Where to Go in Jamaica: 5 Destinations You Can’t Miss

• The 5 Caribbean Destinations You Never Think Of

This article originally appeared on Oyster.com

For more on this story go to: http://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/surprising-facts-about-the-caribbean/news-story/edd86cf28536e42188772243f33a9fbe