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Saint Kitts & Nevis
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Nevis |
St. Kitts
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The Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis
(or the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis),
located in the Leeward Islands is a unitary
island nation in the Caribbean, and the smallest
nation in the Western Hemisphere. The
capital-city and government for the federated
state, is mainly on the larger island of, Saint
Kitts (formerly named: Saint Christopher). The
smaller state of Nevis (formerly named: Nuestra
Señora de las Nieves) lies about 3km southeast
of Saint Kitts. Historically the British
dependency of Anguilla was also a part of this
union, which was then known collectively as
Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla.
Given that Saint Kitts and Nevis are
geographically within the Leeward Islands, they
are relatively close to a cluster of several
other islands. To the north-north west lie the
islands of Saint Eustatius, Saba, Saint
Barthélemy and Saint Martin. To the north-east
lie Antigua and Barbuda, and to the south-east
lies Montserrat.
Both the names Saint Christopher and Saint Kitts
are given in the Constitution.
History
Main article: History of Saint Kitts and Nevis
Originally colonies of the United Kingdom, Saint
Kitts and Nevis along with Anguilla, became an
associated state with full internal autonomy in
1967. Anguilla rebelled and was allowed to
secede in 1971. St. Kitts and Nevis achieved
independence in 1983. In August 1998, a vote in
Nevis on a referendum to separate from St. Kitts
fell short of the two-thirds majority needed. In
late September 1998, Hurricane Georges caused
approximately $445 million in damages and
limited GDP growth for the year.
Alexander Hamilton, the first United States
Secretary of the Treasury, was born on Nevis and
spent his childhood there and on the island of
St. Croix.
Geography
Map of Saint Kitts and NevisMain article:
Geography of Saint Kitts and Nevis
The country has two main islands, Saint Kitts
and Nevis. The highest peak is Mount Liamuiga,
which tops at 1 156 m.
The islands are of volcanic origin, with large
central peaks covered in jungle; the steep
slopes leading to these peaks are mostly
uninhabited. The vast majority of the population
on both islands live close to the sea where the
terrain flattens out. There are numerous rivers
descending from the mountains of both islands,
which provide fresh water to the local
population. St. Kitts also has one very small
lake.
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Background:
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First settled by the British in 1623, the islands
became an associated state with full internal
autonomy in 1967. The island of Anguilla rebelled
and was allowed to secede in 1971. Saint Kitts and
Nevis achieved independence in 1983. In 1998, a vote
in Nevis on a referendum to separate from Saint
Kitts fell short of the two-thirds majority needed.
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Location:
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Caribbean, islands in the Caribbean Sea, about
one-third of the way from Puerto Rico to Trinidad
and Tobago |
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Geographic coordinates:
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17 20 N, 62 45 W
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Map references:
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Central America and the Caribbean |
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Area:
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total: 261 sq km (Saint Kitts 168 sq km;
Nevis 93 sq km)
water: 0 sq km
land: 261 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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1.5 times the size of Washington, DC |
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Climate:
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tropical tempered by constant sea breezes; little
seasonal temperature variation; rainy season (May to
November) |
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Terrain:
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volcanic with mountainous interiors |
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Geography - note:
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with coastlines in the shape of a baseball bat and
ball, the two volcanic islands are separated by a
three-km-wide channel called The Narrows; on the
southern tip of long, baseball bat-shaped Saint
Kitts lies the Great Salt Pond; Nevis Peak sits in
the center of its almost circular namesake island
and its ball shape complements that of its sister
island |
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Nationality:
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noun: Kittitian(s), Nevisian(s)
adjective: Kittitian, Nevisian |
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Ethnic groups:
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predominantly black some British, Portuguese, and
Lebanese |
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Religions:
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Anglican, other Protestant, Roman Catholic |
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Languages:
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English |
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Currency:
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East Caribbean dollar (XCD) |
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Currency code:
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XCD |
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Exchange rates:
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East Caribbean dollars per US dollar - 2.7000 (fixed
rate since 1976) |
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Internet country code:
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.kn
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