The southernmost part of the West-Indian arc starting from Puerto Rico is indicated like the Lesser Antilles in opposition to the Greater Antilles. It is about a long chain of islands separating the sea Caraïbe from the Atlantic Ocean.

List islands of the Lesser Antilles

The Windward Islands

(of north in the south):

• Culebra (the US Commonwealth)
• Vieques (the US Commonwealth)
• Anegada (GB)
• Virgin Gorda (GB)
• Tortola (GB)
• Holy John (US)
• Holy Thomas (US)
• Holy Cross
• Anguilla (GB)
• Saint Martin's day/Sint-Maarten (FR) + (PB)
• Holy Barthelemy (FR)
• Sheba (PB)
• Saint-Eustace (PB)
• St Kitts (ex-GB)
• Nevis (ex-GB)
• Barbuda (ex-GB)
• Antigua (ex-GB)
• Redonda (ex-GB)
• Montserrat (GB)
• Guadeloupe (FR)
• Désirade (FR)
• Marie-Gallant (FR)
• Islands of Holy the (FR)
• Dominique (ex-GB)
• Isla de Aves (asserted by the Venezuela and the Dominique)
• Martinique (FR)
• St Lucia (ex-GB)
• Barbados (ex-GB)
• the Grenadines (ex-GB)
• Saint-Vincent (ex-GB)
• Grenade (ex-GB)
• Tobago (ex-GB)
• Trinidad (ex-GB)

The Leeward Islands

(of the east in the west):

• Margarita (VZ)
• Blanquilla (VZ)
• Tortuga (VZ)
• Orchila (VZ)
• Los Castlings (VZ)
• Bonaire (PB)
• Curaçao (PB)
• Aruba (PB)

The Dutch West Indies are divided into groups in the North-East and south-west, with various conventions of name.

Geography

• the highest top is the Soufrière (1467 m) which is in Guadeloupe.
• the underwater Fosse deepest of the Atlantic (- 9210 m) is located in northern edge of the United States Virgin Islands.
• In 2005, total population of the Lesser Antilles east close to 3,23 million inhabitants including 1,1 million on Trinity-and-Tobago.

Geology

• Historical rapid: According to the Plate tectonics , that of the South Atlantic being inserted by Subduction under the Caraïbe plate produces along this edge a succession of volcanic islands forming a interior arc and an external arc of Accrétion. The mineral matters which emerged from the ocean built the islands of the Lesser Antilles.
• Ores: Although concealing a large variety of Minerai S (Copper, Sulfur, Iron, Manganese, etc) the extractable quantities would be limited too much to develop an exploitation of it.
• Of the active Volcanisme is observable on certain islands in the form of warm water or of gas release sulfurous such on Sheba, Saint-Eustace, Guadeloupe, Dominique, Névis, Martinique, etc

Time with other, one of the volcanos enters in eruption. This eruption can be magmatic eruption phreatic or what is much more dangerous. The type of volcanos of the Antilles is known as explosive Péléen i.e. which can produce volcanic clouds able all to devastate on its passage. Such was the case with Saint-Pierre (Martinique) in 1902.

In 1995 the volcano of the island Montserrat strongly awoke completely destroying the principal city and its airport. The half of the population had to be evacuated and to date the eruption is not finished.

Ethnology

• Their population is of African black origin more or less métissée of Europeans and Amerindian S the Caribbean, from large original Community in India and Pakistan, of the Lebanon, China.
• In general, the inhabitants assert of a creole cultural community inter islands known as “”, but each one remains very marked by their colonial culture of origin.
• Due to the history of the Colonization, the official languages of these islands are by order of importance: the English and its Pidgin, the French and its creole, the Dutch, the Papiamento, the Spanish .
• religions: Christian (Catholic S, Anglican S, Méthodiste S, Adventist S, Baptists Evangelists, Pilot of Jéhovah,…), Moslem S, Hindouisme,…

Climate

The heat tropical Climat is agreeably softened by the winds rather constant Alizés throughout the year. These winds are only stopped by some Tempête S on the Atlantic Ocean. Inside the grounds, the climate little hotter but is refreshed with altitude, just like the moisture which increases thus.

However one notices two types of seasons there:

• the Saison dries and fresh, (December at June) known as period of the Lent.
• the wet Season and heat, (June at December) known as cyclonic period .

See too

• Dutch West Indies
• the Antilles

External bonds

Chart of the Lesser Antilles

Simple: To injure the Antilles

Random links:

Arthur Ashe | North-Ubangi (district) | Studio Backlot Turn | Odon de Crussol | Tambakounda