About St. Kitts & Nevis

Features

The Federation of Saint Kitts, correctly known as St. Christopher, and Nevis are located at 17ᵒ20′N, 62ᵒ49′W.Saint Kitts covers 65mi²/168km² and Nevis 35mi²/93km², the latter dominated by a single dormant volcano (Nevis Peak).The highest point in Saint Kitts is also a dormant volcano – Mount Liamuiga (formerly Mt. Misery) rising to 3,792ft/1,156m. The two islands are separated by a narrow 2mi/3km shallow channel; but during the last ice age, both islands, and the nearby Sint Eustacius, were all one piece of land! Saint Kitts was originally known as St. Christopher Island, thanks to Columbus sailing by in 1493, but in pre-European times, it was called Liamuiga – meaning ‘fertile ground’. Nevis was known as Oualie (Land of Beautiful Waters) by the Caribs and Dulcina (Sweet Island) by the early British settlers. The name, Nevis, is derived from the Spanish, Nuestra Señora de las Nieves (Our Lady of the Snows). Fun things to do in Saint Kitts – try the unique narrow gauge St. Kitts Scenic Railway, a 30 mile 3 ½ hour circle tour of the island, swim with the dolphins, dive, sky dive, zipline, watch Batik being made, hike through (dormant!) volcanic craters, visit historical sites, and much more! Nevis is your destination if you fancy a dip in hot mineral springs.

History and Culture

Around 100BC the island was inhabited by the agricultural Saladoid people. Around 800AD they were replaced by the Igneri’s, members of the Arawak group. The fierce Caribs (or Kalinago) arrived around 1300 forcing everyone off the island and naming it Liamuiga.

The new arrivals

Christopher Columbus did not stop off at the island he named after his patron saint, but the English landed in 1624 with an intent to stay. Not to be outdone, the French arrived a year later and between them both, killed off all the Caribs at Bloody Point in 1626. The English took over Nevis some two years later. As per usual for these islands, a tussle ensued for dominance over the next 100 years. Sugar was king and both Saint Kitts and Nevis produced impressive good quality cane and rum due to slave labour. The Treaty of Paris, signed in 1783, finally ceded both islands to Britain.
Slavery was abolished in 1807.

Even for its small size, Nevis is resplendent with history. Amongst many notable names is the young Admiral Horatio Nelson, who fell in love with and married Frances Nisbett; and a founding father of the United States, Alexander Hamilton was born and spent his childhood on the island. His home now houses the Museum of Nevis History.

A new era

On September 19, 1983 Saint Kitts and Nevis were granted independence from Britain. The twin-island Federation remains a member of The Commonwealth.