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Location: Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, east of
Puerto Rico
Geographic coordinates: 18 15 N, 63 10 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 91 sq km
land: 91 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: about half the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 61 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 3 nm
Climate: tropical; moderated by northeast trade winds
Terrain: flat and low-lying island of coral and limestone
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Crocus Hill 65 m
Natural resources: salt, fish, lobster
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 100% (mostly rock with sparse scrub oak, few trees,
some commercial salt ponds)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: frequent hurricanes and other tropical
storms (July to October)
Environment - current issues: supplies of potable water
sometimes cannot meet increasing demand largely because of poor
distribution system
Background: Colonized by English settlers from Saint Kitts
in 1650, Anguilla was administered by Great Britain until the early
19th century, when the island - against the wishes of the inhabitants
- was incorporated into a single British dependency along with Saint
Kitts and Nevis.
Several attempts at separation failed. In 1971, two years after
a revolt, Anguilla was finally allowed to secede; this arrangement
was formally recognized in 1980 with Anguilla becoming a separate
British dependency.
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