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Saint Kitts and Nevis
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Capital: Basseterre
Population: 52,823
Brief History of Saint Kitts and Nevis:
Saint Kitts and Nevis is a two island country in the Caribbean. It is the smallest country in the Americas both in area and population.
Christopher Columbus discovered the islands in 1493. He landed on Saint Kitts and named it after St. Christopher, which was later shortened to St. Kitts. He also named the other island Nevis because it looked like a snow capped mountain and the Spanish word for snow is nieves. When Columbus arrived the islands were inhabited by the warrior Native American tribe the Caribs.
The English began to settle the islands in 1623 and St. Kitts was the first English colony in the Caribbean. Over the next several years the English and the French would fight over the island. Eventually the English took full control. The islands became an independent country in 1983.
The Geography of Saint Kitts and Nevis
Total Size: 261 square km
Size Comparison: 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Geographical Coordinates: 17 20 N, 62 45 W
World Region or Continent: Central America
General Terrain: volcanic with mountainous interiors
Geographical Low Point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
Geographical High Point: Mount Liamuiga 1,156 m
Climate: tropical, tempered by constant sea breezes; little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season (May to November)
Major cities: BASSETERRE (capital) 13,000 (2009)
The People of Saint Kitts and Nevis
Type of Government: parliamentary democracy
Languages Spoken: English
Independence: 19 September 1983 (from UK)
National Holiday: Independence Day, 19 September (1983)
Nationality: Kittitian(s), Nevisian(s)
Religions: Anglican, other Protestant, Roman Catholic
National Symbol: brown pelican
National Anthem or Song: Oh Land of Beauty!
Economy of Saint Kitts and Nevis
Major Industries: sugar processing, tourism, cotton, salt, copra, clothing, footwear, beverages
Agricultural Products: sugarcane, rice, yams, vegetables, bananas; fish
Natural Resources: arable land
Major Exports: machinery, food, electronics, beverages, tobacco
Major Imports: machinery, manufactures, food, fuels
Currency: East Caribbean dollar (XCD)
National GDP: $875,000,000
** Source for population (2012 est.) and GDP (2011 est.) is CIA World Factbook.
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