What rock is Barbados made of?

85% of the exposed rocks are Pleistocene reef limestones; the remaining 15% are Tertiary sedimentary rocks of marine origin, which crop out in a triangular region in the northeast of Barbados in an area called the Scotland District, covering an area of 40km2 (Figs.



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85% of the exposed rocks are Pleistocene reef limestones; the remaining 15% are Tertiary sedimentary rocks of marine origin, which crop out in a triangular region in the northeast of Barbados in an area called the Scotland District, covering an area of 40km2 (Figs.

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Instead, the island of Barbados is the exposed part of the Barbados Ridge Accretionary Prism, left as deep ocean sediments scraped to the surface as the Atlantic oceanic crust subducted beneath the Caribbean Plate. The oldest rocks are in the Scotland Formation and include Eocene age turbidite and radiolarites.

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Unlike most of the other islands in the Eastern Caribbean, Barbados is not volcanic in origin, and is therefore relatively flat. It was formed instead by sediment being scraped off the South American plate as it slowly plunges below the Caribbean plate.

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In addition to gorgeous beaches, rich marine life, and breathtaking coastal scenery, Barbados is famed for the dramatic Harrison's Cave, a limestone cavern discovered in the 18th century, just outside the village of Holetown. You can travel through the cave system, which stretches a mile long, by electric tram.

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Many tourists in Barbados complain about being harassed by people selling narcotics, which are illegal in the country. Drug-related violence, however, is usually confined to drug dealers and their associates, especially in more populated tourist areas that also tend to higher-level security.

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Barbados receives its freshwater supply from the frequency in rainfall and the islands' unique landform. Due to Barbados' shallow land structure and abundant coral-based surfaces, the island has trouble supplying its freshwater. A major provider to the island's potable water comes from underwater aquifers.

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