Source: MAPS IN MINUTES™ © RH Publications (1997)

An island country in the Leeward Islands of the Caribbean.

Physical

Saint Kitts is an oval-shaped volcanic island crossed by rugged mountains. In the south-east a narrow isthmus enlarges to a knot of salt ponds. Three kilometres (2 miles) to the south-east, Nevis, is a smaller island. Both have an equable, tropical climate. The tiny island, Sombrero, is included in the group.

Economy

Tourism is the mainstay of the economy, having replaced sugar in the 1970s. The government is seeking to diversify the economy, and principal exports include machinery, food and drink, electronics, and tobacco. The sugar industry, dominant for more than 300 years, was closed down in 2005 after many years of losses.

History

Originally inhabited by Caribs, the islands were visited by Christopher Columbus in 1493, who named the larger island Saint Christopher. English settlers in the early 17th century shortened the name to Saint Kitts; this was the first successful English colony in the Caribbean. The islands, together with Anguilla, were united as a single colony in 1882. In 1958, they joined the West Indies Federation. Anguilla became a separate British dependency in 1980, while Saint Kitts and Nevis gained independence within the British Commonwealth in 1983. Nevis has its own legislature and retains the right to secede from Saint Kitts at any time should it so choose. In 1998 a referendum was held in which 60% of the voters favoured secession, which fell short of the two-thirds majority required for independence.