Trinidad and Tobago is an island country in the southeastern West Indies, consisting of two main islands, Trinidad and Tobago, and several smaller islands . It is located close to South America, northeast of Venezuela and northwest of Guyana . Trinidad is the larger island, with an area of about 1,850 square miles (4,800 square km), while Tobago is much smaller, with an area of about 115 square miles (300 square km) .
Trinidad and Tobago achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1962 and became a republic in 1976 . The capital is Port of Spain . The petroleum industry dominates the economy, with tourism and manufacturing also of great importance .
