Information About Antigua and Barbuda

History of Antigua and Barbuda

Antigua was first inhibited by the Siboney, who were also known as the stone people. Thencame the Arawaks, who were the Native Americans from Venezuela. Over time the Arawaks migrated into the northern part of the islands. New crops like pineapples, corn, tobacco, and cotton were brought by them.

Around 1493, Christopher Columbus sailed for the islands. The largest island Santa Maria de la Antigua was named by him. Several years later, in 1632, the English set up colonies in the islands. They harvested large sugar plantations and brought in slaves to harvest the land.

Slavery was abolished in 1834, but for many years conditions were still poor for the local workers and labors. In 1981, Antigua and Barbuda,became an independent state of the British Commonwealth of Nations.

Geography of Antigua and Barbuda

Antigua and Barbuda, located in the Caribbean of North America in the eastern arc of the Leeward Islands of the Lesser Antilles, unravels the Atlantic Ocean from the Caribbean Sea. Antigua has a terrain of low-lying limestone and coral islands comprising some higher volcanic areas.
Antigua and Barbuda involves a total land area of 442.6 sq. kms with a coastline of 153km.
The highest point of Antigua and Barbuda Mount Obama (402m) and
The lowest point is the Atlantic Ocean (0m).

Climate of Antigua and Barbuda

Antigua has a tropical climate – theweather remains warm and mostly dry all year round. The winter months are December to March and still ensure an average pleasant daily temperature. October having the least amount of rainfall is the hottest month.

Natural Resources in Antigua and Barbuda

The main natural resource of Antigua and Barbuda is cotton.

Tourist Attraction in Antigua and Barbuda

The important cities of Antigua and Barbuda are

• St. John’s
• All Saints
• Piggotts
• Liberta
• Bolands
• Potters Village
• Codrington
• Parham
• Carlisle
• Cedar Grove

Tourist Attraction in Antigua and Barbuda

• Nelson’s Dockyard
• Falmouth Harbour
• Mount Obama
• Museum of Antigua and Barbuda
• Fort James, Antigua and Barbuda
• St. John’s Cathedral
• Government House
• Dockyard Museum
• Fort Barrington
• George Westerby Memorial
• Botanical Gardens

Famous Hotels in Antigua and Barbuda

The famous hotels of Antigua and Barbuda are:

• The Villas at Sunset Lane
• Jumby Bay, A Rosewood
• Beautiful Villa Genevieve
• Hermitage Bay

Antigua and Barbuda Cuisine

Antigua and Barbuda,being trodden by many a countries, have reflections of the parent cultures in their Creole dishes. American Fast Food like Kentucky Fried Chicken has also begun to be popular. The popular Creole dishes of Antigua and Barbuda are rice pudding, Antrobers (A preparation of eggplant – their national breakfast), salt fish, souse, bull foot soup, goat water, maw, clam(cockle) water, conch water and Dukuna.

The Specialities are:

• Fungee (A preparation of okraandcornmeal dumplings).
• Roti (A patties filled with chicken or beef and curried potatoes).
• Pepperpot (A hearty vegetable stew with salted meat often served with fungee).
• Tamarind balls (The local sweets).
• Ducana (grated sweet potato mixed with sugar, spices coconut and steamed in a banana leaf. Often served with chop-up mashed Aubergine, saltfishandokra).
• Callaloo (A dark green vegetable often served as soup).
• Antigua Black pineapple (The pineapples well-known throughout the East Caribbean for their unique, extra-sweet flavour).
• Johnny cakes (a kind of doughnut, usually served as breakfast with salted codfish).

International Airports in Antigua and Barbuda

The airports of Antigua and Barbuda are:

• V. C. Bird International Airport at St. Johns, Antigua
• Barbuda Codrington Airport at Codrington, Barbuda