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All the signs pointed towards Antigua. The largest of the British
Leeward Islands had warm, steady winds, a complex coastline of
safe harbours, and a protective, nearly unbroken wall of coral
reef. It would make a perfect place to hide a fleet. And so in
1784 the legendary Admiral
Horatio Nelson sailed to Antigua and established Great Britain's
most important Caribbean base. Little did he know that over 200
years later the same unique characteristics that attracted the
Royal Navy would transform Antigua and Barbuda in to one of the
Caribbean's most sought after destinations.
The signs are still there, they just point to different things.
The Trade Winds that once blew British men-of-war safely into English
Harbour now fuel one of the world's foremost maritime events, Sailing
Week. The expansive, winding coastline that made Antigua difficult
for outsiders to navigate is where today's trekkers encounter a
tremendous wealth of secluded, powdery soft beaches.
The coral reefs, once the bane of marauding enemy ships, now attract snorkelers
and scuba divers from all over the world. And the fascinating
little island of Barbuda - once
a scavenger's paradise because so many ships wrecked on its reefs
- is now home to one of the region's most significant bird sanctuaries.
 Size:
Antigua, the largest of the British Leeward Islands, is about
14 miles long and 11 miles wide, encompassing 108 square miles.
Its highest point is Boggy Peak (1319 ft.), located in the
southwestern corner of the island. Barbuda, a flat coral island
with an area of only 68 square miles, lies approximately 30
miles due north. The nation also includes the tiny (0.6 square
mile) uninhabited island of Redonda, now a nature preserve.
The current population for the nation is approximately 68,000
and its capital is St. John's on
Antigua.
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| The sun symbolises the new era of independence in the
history of the island. The colors represent its African
heritage - black. Blue for hope. Red for the dynamism of
the people. The "V" stands for victory. The yellow,
blue and white indicate the country's main tourist attractions
- the sun, sea and sandy beaches. |
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Antigua (pronounced An-tee'ga) and Barbuda are located
in the middle of the Leeward Islands in the Eastern Caribbean,
roughly 17 degrees north of the equator. To the south
are the islands of Montserrat and Guadaloupe, and to
the north and west are Nevis, St. Kitts, St. Barts, and
St. Martin.
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Antigua and Barbuda enjoys an average of eight and a
half hours of sunlight every day. Temperatures generally
range from the mid-seventies in the winter to the mid-eighties
in the summer. Annual rainfall averages only 45 inches,
making it the sunniest of the Eastern Caribbean Islands,
and the northeast trade winds are nearly constant, flagging
only in September. Low humidity year-round.
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Why not
tell your friends about a forthcoming holiday, wedding
or other event in Antigua and Barbuda. Our virtual postcards
are simple to use and will get your message across!