- Flag of Saint Kitts and Nevis
The Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis is a former British colony in the eastern Caribbean Sea. It consists of two small islands lying side by side. The capital and largest city is Basseterre on the island of Saint Kitts. GeographySaint Kitts, sometimes called Saint Christopher, is oval in shape except for a long, narrow peninsula to the southeast. It is about twice the size of Nevis, the round island that lies to the southeast. Together the two islands occupy a land area of 104 square miles (269 square kilometers). They are separated by a channel called The Narrows that is 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) wide. Saint Kitts and Nevis' island neighbor to the north is Anguilla. Montserrat lies southward, and Antigua and Barbuda lie eastward. All these islands are part of the Lesser Antilles, an island group in the West Indies. Saint Kitts and Nevis were formed by volcanoes erupting in the sea many thousands of years ago. A volcanic mountain chain dominates the central part of both islands. The highest point on the islands is an inactive volcano on Saint Kitts that rises 3,792 feet (1,156 meters). Called Mount Liamuiga (formerly Mount Misery), it has a lake in its forested crater. Nevis consists almost entirely of Nevis Peak, a mountain that is 3,232 feet (985 meters) high. Saint Kitts has beaches of black volcanic sand. Nevis has fine white sands. The climate of both islands is tropical. Temperatures average about 80° F (27° C) all year long. Sea breezes help keep the islands from getting uncomfortably hot. The islands are occasionally struck by damaging hurricanes. Plants and animalsBoth islands have lush grasslands and rain forests in the mountains. At lower elevations much of the natural vegetation has been cleared to make room for farming. The islands' wildlife includes green vervet monkeys and wild deer. Monkeys were first brought to the islands during the colonial period. Another animal introduced to the islands is the mongoose, which was brought in to kill snakes. The islands' many birds include hawks, herons, and egrets. In the surrounding waters are spiny lobsters, queen angelfish, parrot fish, and the odd-looking hammerhead shark. People and cultureMost of the people of Saint Kitts and Nevis are of black African ancestry. They are descended from slaves brought to the islands by European colonists. The country also has small groups of Europeans and Asians. The great majority of the population is Christian, with most belonging to Protestant churches. English is the official language. EconomyFor centuries the economy of the islands has depended heavily on the growing and export of sugarcane. The crop grows all over Saint Kitts. Nevis grows mostly cotton, vegetables, and coconuts. In the late 20th century the government tried to lessen the country's dependence on sugarcane by encouraging the development of other industries. As a result manufacturing, banking, and especially tourism gained in importance. In addition to sugar refining, the country's manufacturing industries include the production of electronics, beverages, and clothing. HistoryThe early inhabitants of Saint Kitts and Nevis were American Indians, including the Arawak and the warlike Caribs. Christopher Columbus visited the islands in 1493. He named the bigger island Saint Christopher after his patron saint. The name Nevis comes from the Spanish word nieves, meaning “snows.” Columbus thought of snow when he saw white clouds against the island's mountaintop. The Spanish did not settle on the islands. French and British rivalryBritish settlers arrived on Saint Christopher in 1623. There they established the first successful English colony in the West Indies. They shortened the island's name to Saint Kitts. In 1628 the British settled Nevis. The French set up their own colony on Saint Kitts in 1627. Constant fighting between the British and the French slowed the island's economic growth. In 1713 a treaty gave the British full control of Saint Kitts. The French made a final attempt to retake the island in 1782, but they were driven back. Meanwhile, Nevis prospered under the British settlers. It became the richest sugar colony in the Caribbean, called the Queen of the Caribbees. The plantation work was done by slaves brought from Africa until slavery was outlawed in the 19th century. IndependenceIn 1882 the British combined Saint Kitts, Nevis, and Anguilla into one colony to rule them more conveniently. In 1967 the islands were given self-governing status. Anguilla was unhappy with the union and broke away in 1971. Saint Kitts and Nevis became an independent nation in 1983. In the 1990s the people of Nevis threatened to separate from Saint Kitts. They believed that the government favored Saint Kitts over their island. Nevertheless, they voted against independence by a narrow margin in 1998. Population (2001 estimate), 38,800. |