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Caribbean Islands Geography
Antigua and Barbuda lies in the eastern arc of the Leeward
Islands of the Lesser Antilles, separating the Atlantic Ocean from
the Caribbean Sea (see fig. 1). Antigua is 650 kilometers southeast
of Puerto Rico. Barbuda lies forty-eight kilometers due north of
Antigua, and the uninhabited island of Redonda is fifty-six
kilometers southwest of Antigua (see fig. 14). The largest island,
Antigua, is 21 kilometers across and 281 square kilometers in area,
or about two-thirds the size of New York City. Barbuda covers 161
square kilometers, while Redonda encompasses a mere 2.6 square
kilometers. The capital of Antigua and Barbuda is St. John's,
located at St. John's Harbour on the northwest coast of Antigua.
The principal city of Barbuda is Codrington, located on Codrington
Lagoon.
Antigua and Barbuda both are generally low-lying islands whose
terrain has been influenced more by limestone formations than
volcanic activity. The highest point on Antigua, however, is Boggy
Peak, the remnant of a volcanic crater rising 399 meters. This
mountain is located amid a bulge of hills of volcanic origin in the
southwestern part of the island. The limestone formations in the
northeast are separated from the southwestern volcanic area by a
central plain of clay formations. Barbuda's highest elevation is
44.5 meters, part of the highland plateau east of Codrington. The
shorelines of both islands are greatly indented, with beaches,
lagoons, and natural harbors. The islands are rimmed by reefs and
shoals. There are few streams, as rainfall is slight. Both islands
lack adequate amounts of fresh groundwater.
The islands' tropical climate is moderated by fairly constant
northeast tradewinds, with velocities ranging between thirty and
forty-eight kilometers per hour. There is little precipitation,
however, because of the islands' low elevations. Rainfall averages
ninety-nine centimeters per year, but the amount varies widely from
season to season. In general, the wettest period is September
through November. The islands generally experience low humidity and
recurrent droughts. Hurricanes strike on an average of once a year.
Temperatures average 27°C, with a range from 23°C in the
winter to
30°C in the summer and fall; the coolest period is December
through
February.
Data as of November 1987
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