It is not known who chose this name for the island, but it is thought that white clouds which usually wreath the top of Nevis Peak reminded someone of the miracle. The current name Nevis is derived from a Spanish name Nuestra Señora de las Nieves, meaning " Our Lady of the Snows", a reference to the 4th-century Catholic miracle of a summertime snowfall on the Esquiline Hill in Rome. Ĭolumbus gave Nevis the name San Martín ( Saint Martin). In the 17th century, a common nickname for Christopher was Kit(t) hence, the island came to be informally referred to as Saint Kitt's Island, later further shortened to Saint Kitts. The first English colonists kept the English translation of this name, and dubbed it St. Saint Kitts was well documented as San Cristóbal by the 17th century. New studies suggest that Columbus named the island Sant Yago ( Saint James), and that the name San Cristóbal was in fact given by Columbus to the island now known as Saba, 32 km (20 mi) northwest. It is thought that Christopher Columbus, the first European to see the islands in 1493, named the larger island San Cristóbal, after Saint Christopher, his patron saint and that of travellers. The Kalinago, the pre-European inhabitants of Saint Kitts, called the island Liamuiga, roughly translating as "fertile land". It is also the most recent British territory in the Caribbean to become independent, gaining independence in 1983. Saint Kitts was home to the first British and French Caribbean colonies, and thus has also been titled "The Mother Colony of the West Indies". Saint Kitts and Nevis were among the first islands in the Caribbean to be colonised by Europeans. To the east and northeast are Antigua and Barbuda, and to the southeast is the small uninhabited island of Redonda (part of Antigua and Barbuda) and the island of Montserrat. The islands of Sint Eustatius, Saba, Saint Barthélemy, Saint-Martin/Sint Maarten and Anguilla lie to the north-northwest of the country. However, Anguilla chose to secede from the union, and remains a British overseas territory. The British dependency of Anguilla was historically also a part of this union, which was known collectively as Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla. The smaller island of Nevis lies approximately 3 km (2 mi) to the southeast of Saint Kitts, across a shallow channel called The Narrows. Basseterre is also the main port for passenger entry (via cruise ships) and cargo. The capital city is Basseterre, located on the larger island of Saint Kitts. It is the only sovereign federation in the Caribbean. The country is a Commonwealth realm, with Charles III as King and head of state. With 261 square kilometres (101 sq mi) of territory, and roughly 50,000 inhabitants, it is the smallest sovereign state in the Western Hemisphere, in both area and population, as well as the world's smallest sovereign federation. ˈ n iː v ɪ s/ ( listen)), officially the Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis, is an island country and microstate consisting of the two islands of Saint Kitts and Nevis, both located in the West Indies, in the Leeward Islands chain of the Lesser Antilles. Head to the fort's website for more information and assistance on planning your visit.Saint Kitts and Nevis ( /- ˈ k ɪ t s . Entry costs $10 for adults and $5 for children. The fortress, which is located in northwestern St. If you have the time you should devote at least two hours to walking its grounds: many were impressed with how well maintained it is and the stunning views it provides. It was designated a national park in 1985 and became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1999.Īccording to recent travelers, Brimstone Hill Fortress is worth more than just a stop on an island tour. If history is more your forte than photography, then you should note that Brimstone Hill Fortress is one of the best-preserved forts of the Americas. Or you could tour the fort's interior, stroll the grounds and snap images of nearby towns in the distance or the vibrant hues of the Caribbean Sea. If you climb to its top slopes on a clear day, you can see up to six other islands in the distance. This "Gibraltar of the West Indies" should be included on one day's itinerary for its photo ops.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |