On May 3, 1494, Christopher Columbus became the first European to see Jamaica. When his ships approached the island, Columbus described it as "the fairest island that eyes have beheld." Jamaica sits in the Caribbean Sea, south of Cuba. The island is about 146 miles long and 51 miles wide. Its terrain includes a central mountain ridge called the Blue Mountains, which rises over 7,400 feet. Lush tropical forests covered most of the island when Columbus arrived. When Europeans reached Jamaica, the island was not empty. The Taino people had lived there for over a thousand years. They called the island "Xaymaca," meaning "land of wood and water." The name was fitting. Jamaica had abundant rivers, streams, and rainfall that supported farming. The Taino grew cassava, sweet potatoes, and corn. They fished along the coastal reefs and traded with other islands. Columbus claimed Jamaica for Spain, and Spanish settlers arrived within a decade. The arrival of Europeans was devastating for the Taino. Disease and forced labor destroyed their population within a century. Today, Jamaica is an independent nation with nearly three million people. Its mountains, beaches, and warm climate make it a popular place to visit.