Barbados is a small, pear-shaped island, located about 250 miles (400 km) off the coast of South America. In the early 16th century, Portuguese and Spanish explorers often raided the island, capturing and enslaving the natives. By 1627, when the English established a colony on Barbados, the island was practically uninhabited. But the English colony thrived, and Barbados soon became known for its exports of sugarcane. Today, most of Barbados's 280,000 residents are descended from African slaves brought to the island to work on sugarcane plantations. The island gained independence from Great Britain in 1966. It has long been a popular destination for tourists, and each year more than a million visitors delight in the island's lush vegetation, stunning coral reefs, and sandy beaches. There's a lot to discover about Barbados!