islands of theWest Indies and the coasts
of Central and South America. It is a
section of the Atlantic Ocean. The sea
was named after the Carib Indians. The
Carib lived on islands in the sea hundreds
of years ago.
The Caribbean Sea has a mainly tropical
climate. Temperatures are warm yearround.
Tropical storms are common in
summer in the northern Caribbean.
Hurricanes often strike Caribbean
islands between June and November.
The Caribbean region has mostly tropical
plants. Rain forests grow in the high
parts of Cuba, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, and
other islands. Coconut palms are typical
on the sandy shores of the islands. Monkeys,
cats, sloths, parrots, and toucans
live in the forests. In the sea itself, many
fishes and other sea animals live along
coral reefs.
The Caribbean economy depends
heavily on tourism.With its sunny climate,
the Caribbean is one of the
world’s most popular vacation places.
Fishing is also important to the
economy. Tuna, sardines, and spiny lobsters
are valuable catches. Caribbean
countries ship coffee, sugar, and bananas
to the United States and Canada.
#More to explore
Atlantic Ocean • Carib • Coral •West
Indies
Caribou
#see Reindeer.
Many visitors come to the Caribbean Sea to
look at wonders beneath the surface of the
water.
BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Caribou 41
Carnation
The carnation is a flower that is often
used in bouquets and corsages. People
have grown carnations in gardens for
more than 2,000 years. The scientific
name of the carnation is Dianthus caryophyllus.
Carnations originally grew wild in the
area around the Mediterranean Sea.
Today most carnations are grown in
gardens and greenhouses.
Carnation plants range from 1 to 3 feet
(30 to 90 centimeters) in height. The
stems are stiff. The flowers may be
small or large. They have fringed petals.
The first carnations had pink flowers.
Growers developed white and deep red
varieties in the early 1500s. The
hundreds of kinds grown today include
purple and yellow shades. Some
carnations are striped.
Carnations often have a spicy smell. In
the past people used carnations to spice
wine. Carnations also were used to treat
fevers. In 1907 the pink carnation was
chosen as a symbol for Mother’s Day.
#More to explore
Flower
Carp
Carp is the name of several fish in the
carp family. One of the best-known carp
is the common carp, a large freshwater
fish. Goldfish and minnows also belong
to the carp family.
Carp live in ponds, lakes, and rivers all
over the world. Carp prefer warm, calm
waters, but they can survive in nearly
any type of fresh water.
Carp may be brownish yellow, greenish,
or gray in color. Most types of carp have
feelers, called barbels, at the corners of
the mouth. The barbels help the carp
find food in dark, muddy water. Different
types of carp vary in size. The com-
The carnation is a pretty flower
with a pleasant smell.
Colorful carp swim in a pond in Japan. This
type of carp, called koi, is popular in backyard
and garden ponds.
42 Carnation BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA
mon carp may grow longer than 40
inches (100 centimeters). But it is usually
only about 14 inches (35 centimeters)
long.
Carp eat both plants and animals. When
carp feed, they suck up everything from
the bottom and spit out the dirt. This
behavior muddies the water and can
disturb other fish.
Carp live alone or in small groups.
Female carp lay thousands of eggs each
year. The eggs hatch within several days,
and the baby carp grow quickly.
Carp is a popular food in Asia and
Europe. People also eat carp in the
United States and Australia. But many
people in these countries consider carp
to be pests.
#More to explore
Fish • Goldfish
Carroll, Lewis
The English author Lewis Carroll wrote
the children’s classics Alice’s Adventures
inWonderland and Through the Looking-
Glass. These books are beloved for their
unusual settings, lively characters, and
clever wordplay.
Carroll was born in Daresbury, England,
on January 27, 1832. His real name was
Charles Lutwidge Dodgson. He studied
mathematics at Oxford University in
England. For most of his life he lived at
Oxford while teaching mathematics. He
wrote books on mathematics and logic.
One day in 1862 Dodgson told three
young girls tales about a child named
Alice. Later he used the tales to write
Alice’s Adventures inWonderland. It was
published as a book in 1865. In the
story Alice crawls into a rabbit hole and
meets all sorts of interesting creatures.
Another book about Alice, Through the
Looking-Glass, appeared in 1871. Dodgson
wrote the books under the name
Lewis Carroll.
Dodgson also used the name Lewis Carroll
to write books of poetry for children.
In 1876 he published a famous
nonsense poem, The Hunting of the
Snark. He died in Guildford, England,
on January 14, 1898.
#More to explore
Literature for Children
Carrot
Carrots are roots that people eat. They
are highly valued for their sweet flavor.
An illustration by John Tenniel shows Lewis
Carroll’s most famous character, Alice, as
she grows larger and larger.
BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Carrot 43
Many carrots are also a good source of
vitamins.
There are several types of carrot. The
