Saint kitts and nevis on the map. Saint Kitts and Nevis

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	Official name:	Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis
	Capital:	Buster
	The area of ​​the land:	261.6 sq. km
	Total population:	49.9 thousand people
	Composition of the population:	90% are Africans, 8% are Europeans.
	Official language:	English.
	Religion:	80% - Anglicans, 20% - Catholics.
	Internet domain:	.kn
	Mains voltage:	~230 V, 60 Hz
	Phone country code:	+1-869
	Country barcode:

Climate

Tropical trade winds, hot and very even. Fluctuations in average monthly temperatures are insignificant - from +18 C to +24 C, and the air temperature in summer rarely drops below +27 C even at night and rarely exceeds +30 C in the daytime.

Precipitation falls from 700 to 1200 mm per year. The nature of the distribution of rain directly depends on the height of the place above sea level and its geographic location. The maximum rain falls in the period from May to October-November, and during this period up to 70% of the annual rainfall can fall on the northeastern slopes of the mountains (in some years - up to 2000 mm), and in the south the weather differs little from the rest of the year . The relatively dry season runs from December to April.

Like other Leeward Islands, St. Kitts and Nevis is in the path of strong tropical hurricanes, which are most likely from August to October.

Geography

The state of Saint Kitts and Nevis is located on the territory of the islands of the same name, lying in the northern part of the Leeward Islands group. From the east they border on Antigua and Barbuda, from the southeast - from Montserrat, in the northwest - from the Netherlands Antilles (Sint Eustatius), in the north - from Saint Barthelemy, which is part of French Guadeloupe (all maritime borders). Washed on all sides by water caribbean(total length coastline- 135 km). total area states - 261.6 sq. km (Saint Christopher - 168 sq. km, Nevis - 93 sq. km). It is the smallest country in the Western Hemisphere.

Flora and fauna

Vegetable world. The slopes of the mountains are occupied by plantations of sugar cane and cotton, higher - shrubs and small mountain rainforests.
Vegetation in the inner mountainous regions of the islands is represented by dense tropical rainforests (lianas, mangoes, breadfruit and cinnamon trees, tamarind, avocados, bananas, papaya grow). On the tops of the mountains, forests give way to meadows, and in the lower parts they are reduced and replaced by plantations of sugar cane and other crops. They are especially common in the northern part of the island of St. Kitts, which is a gently undulating hills. The southern slopes are steeper and mostly covered with dense forests and orchards.
On the western slopes of the island of Nevis, rows of palm trees rise, forming a real coconut forest. The eastern slopes have retained more natural forms of local vegetation and are mostly occupied tropical forests, shrub massifs and relatively small agricultural lands.

Animal world. Numerous tropical birds and butterflies live in the forests, as well as monkeys. Many seabirds nest on the coast, including pelicans. The waters abound with fish.

sights

The islands known today as Saint Kitts and Nevis were inhabited by Indians from South America long before the new millennium. For Europeans, they were discovered by Columbus in 1493, and since the beginning of the 17th century they have become an arena of confrontation between Great Britain and France, with some participation of the Spanish crown. In 1628, the British colonized the island of Nevis, and in 1783 - St. Christopher (St. Kitts), thus becoming the first British colony in the West Indies. The French settlements that also existed on the islands were either withdrawn from the islands under the Treaty of Paris in 1783 or came under British jurisdiction, and by the beginning of the 19th century the islands had become a flourishing center of the sugar industry in the eastern Caribbean. In 1816, Saint Kitts and Nevis became part of a single colony with Anguilla and the British Virgin Islands, having formed a powerful center of influence of the metropolis on the countries of the region. In 1958, Great Britain attempted to unite Saint Kitts and Nevis with other islands into the Federation of the West Indies, but failed - the population of Anguilla categorically opposed such a merger, and after numerous attempts to restore the unity of the three islands, lasting almost two decades, September 19, 1983 Saint Kitts and Nevis gained independence.

Today, these two small islands are perhaps one of the quietest and most pastoral places in the region, being one of the few places in the West Indies where agriculture still prevails over tourism, and commerce recedes under the pressure of tradition. Calm and relaxed lifestyle local residents remains practically unspoiled by the influence of civilization, and the beauty of nature is only emphasized by the pristine beaches, sea, sunlight and fantastically abundant vegetation.

Saint Christopher Island
Buster

The small and unremarkable capital of the islands lies on the shores of a wide bay surrounded by green hills, being home to almost half the population of St. Christopher (this is the traditional name for the island itself, which is part of the Federation under the name of St. proportions). The city's name, meaning "lowland" or "lowland", is one of the few remaining traces of a French presence in the islands. The dominant European influence in Basseterre is unequivocally British, which is reflected in the buildings and even in the layout of the streets of the city. Buster is surrounded by the Sökes ring road, but even with the naked eye you can see that the place in front of the bronze clock of the Berkeley Memorial is copied from Piccadilly, and even the traffic seems to be the same (only older cars, but no traditional London smog). Although most of Buster's historic buildings were destroyed in the fire of 1867, a number of stone Victorian buildings survive, with second floors made of wood and adorned with intricate trellises or fine, lavish stucco work. Many of these houses were built with a certain amount of fantasy and ingenuity, most evident in Fort Street, where the old ramparts were simply incorporated into the structures of the houses during construction. Some buildings seem to be very ancient, but this impression is deceptive, since they were built at the end of the 19th century from sooty stones left over from the city ravaged by fire.

The center of the city is Independence Square - a small public park with a fountain in the center, previously this place was used as a slave market (1790), and now - as a reminder of the colonial past of the island. Topped with a statue of a virgin, the fountain is a gift from Queen Elizabeth II on Independence Day (1983) and marks the very site where the center of the largest slave market in the Antilles used to be. The facade of the square overlooks the two-domed Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (1927). The French parish of Notre Dame (1670), which originally stood on this site, was burned by the British in 1706, and an Anglican church was built in its place in 1856-1859, of which only the Gothic window openings on the first floor of the modern cathedral have survived. .

Part of the city's history is displayed in the St. Christopher Heritage Sisayeti Museum, which contains a large collection of historical photographs, shell tools and shards of pottery from the Carib Indians who inhabited these islands before the arrival of Europeans. The domed colonial building of the Treasury rises on the coastline as a reminder of the important place that the island's sugar industry occupied in the past (St. Christopher was the largest supplier of sugar and tobacco to the European market in the 17th and 18th centuries). Almost the entire trade turnover of the island and, until recently, all its visitors passed through its arches.

Also noteworthy in the capital area are the House of Crafts, the Primate Research Center and the volcanic crater of Mount Liamuiga or Misery (1156 m). Liamuiga ("fertile land" - as the Carib Indians called the whole island) rises above the city blocks like a huge natural frame around a painter's painting, and today the lush volcanic peak of this mountain is one of the favorite places for active rest of the inhabitants of the island, there are many hiking trails, horse trails, bike trails and easy climbing sites (however, access to its northern and northeastern slopes is limited by local environmental legislation).

Old Road Town

The northern part of St. Christopher is framed around the entire perimeter by the Shackle Island Road, which can be driven, and in some places even walked, in just a day. A narrow-gauge railway passing next to the road, old "sugar trains" still towing cargo from nearby cane plantations, as well as numerous fields and factories (rather "factories") form a rather impressive landscape for which the places adjacent to Cycle Island Road are famous .

The old town (rather a seaside village) Old Road Town, which lies just a few kilometers west of Basseterre, is considered one of the best historical and natural attractions of St. Christopher. The town grew up on the very spot where the first British settlers landed in 1623. Sir Thomas Warner, who led them, established here the first permanent European settlement in the Leeward Islands. Oddly enough, the inhabitants of the colony were able to establish good neighborly relations with the Caribs (although such friendship did not last long) and began to grow tobacco here, which created the wealth of the Warner clan and the island itself. Until 1727, Old Road Town served as the capital of St. Christopher, and after the transfer of capital functions to Buster, it became just a beautiful and calm town that retained most of its colonial charm, although only the Red Brick and Marble Government House survived from all its old buildings. the crypt of Sir Warner himself, lying in the old cemetery in the courtyard of the modest church of St. Thomas, 1.5 km north of main road.

On the surrounding rocks, there are an abundance of petroglyphs of the Carib Indians, who settled here long before the new era and had a fairly developed and original civilization by the 10th century. The batik produced in Old Road Town is also famous, here you can watch the process of creating a fabric, its design and painting, as well as buy a finished product at the Karibel Batik factory, located north of Old Road Town, in the suburb of Wingfield - Estate. Initially, the Romney Manor sugar plantation (XVII century), in which the complex is now located, belonged to the great-grandfather of Thomas Jefferson, a prominent lawyer and third US president. Around "Karibel-Batik" there is a small botanical garden, the main decoration of which is a 350-year-old adobe tree (the oldest on the island). And from the ruins of a sugar plantation owned by William Jefferson (Thomas Jefferson's brother) and its picturesque aqueduct (the only one in the entire Caribbean region), many excursions to the nearby rainforests begin.

7 km north of Buster, between the capital and Old Road Town, lies the picturesque island of Middle Island and the village of Challengers - the site of the brutal beating of the Carib Indians in 1626. Here, among the green rocks, lie huge boulders and even entire plots stone walls, many of which bear ancient petroglyphs, widely known for their unique compositional structure - scientists believe that these are the first cartoons on Earth, in the sequence of signs of which some religious or historical events of the Indian peoples are narrated.

Brimstone Hill Fortress

Brimestone Hill Fortress National Park is located approximately 13 km northwest of Basseterre. The basis of the park was not forests or reefs, but a large and rather chaotic eponymous fort of the 18th century, known in its time as the "Gibraltar of the West Indies". The main British outpost in the region was built on top of a 244-meter ancient volcanic massif, and its walls are surrounded by sulfuric outcrops, which, apparently, gave the fort additional impressiveness in the face of a potential enemy. Moreover, the fort was built for almost a hundred years - it was laid in 1690 and until the very capture of it by the French troops (the fort capitulated in 1782 after only one month of siege, however, a year later the French themselves left both the island and the fortress) new walls were constantly erected here and bastions. After the catastrophic fire of 1867, which engulfed almost the entire neighborhood of Basseterre, some of the fort's structures were partially dismantled, and the stones were used to rebuild the capital. main tower fortresses - The citadel is equipped with 24 guns and provides an excellent panorama of Sint Eustatius and Sandy Point. Inside the old barracks of the Citadel is now the Museum of Colonial History, which displays cannonballs, blades and other weapons and equipment from that period. There is also a small collection of Native American period items, a few pottery fragments, and recovered fragments of petroglyphs from Old Road Town. In 2000, the entire complex of fortifications was included in the List world heritage UNESCO.

The town of Sandy Point is the second largest settlement in St. Christopher. In the 17th century, Sandy Point was the largest center of the tobacco trade on the island, so its main attraction is the large warehouses for storing tobacco, built at the same time by the Dutch West India Company. There seems to be nothing else to see here, but the nearby coral reef is considered one of the best places on the island for diving. And the coastline between Newton Ground and Sandy Bay evokes the era of colonization of the New World, with its shores not protected from the wind, fantastic ocean vistas, fields of wild sugar cane and plantation ruins, many of which (surviving, of course) have been rebuilt today to inns. The northernmost bay of the island - Dieppe Bay marks the beginning of the Atlantic coast, and a little to the south begins one of the main natural attractions of St. Christopher - Black Rocks. Black waves of solidified lava fall right into the sea here, forming a chaotic and bewitching landscape.

South East Peninsula

The southeastern peninsula of St. Christopher stretches in a long and flat strip from the mountainous northern part of the island to Nevis. At the isthmus, the coast is squeezed by Frigate Bay (or rather, by four bays, each of which differs from its neighbor only by a prefix to the name indicating its geographical position), and to the south it expands noticeably, forming the “blade” of St. Thomas Lowland. The peninsula is wild and strikingly beautiful. Dotted with barren salt ponds, grassy hills and sparse vegetation, it is inhabited for the most part only by vervet monkeys, whose flocks sometimes even manage to block the only major road here, deer and feral goats grazing on the hilly plain of the southeastern region. The shores of the South East Peninsula were quite recently difficult to reach, but the construction of the road brought some elements of civilization here, although the development of the region as a tourist site is artificially restrained by the country's authorities. The country has quite stringent protection standards. environment, therefore, these snow-white shores and virgin reservoirs are planned to be left natural nature reserve, developing tourism only within the framework of respect for nature (now only 3 resort complexes are open here).

Frigate Bay, the main resort and beach area on the island, spans the northern end of the peninsula. Here are located best shores islands - Turtle Beach (besides the most beautiful beach area, there is a colorful Ash Turtle restaurant), the coast of Booby Island (a great place for aquatic species rest), Cockleshell Beach, the modest white beach of White House Bay (one of the best places for snorkeling on the island), North Fries Bay and South Fries Bay, the longest beaches of Sand Bank Bay and many more. Stunning pink saltwater pools, of which there are many in this part of St. Christopher, are a bright alternative to the colorful seashores. The color of the water is determined by the myriads of tiny crustaceans that inhabit these "lakes". This sheltered and little-visited area is also home to vast numbers of tropical birds, white-tailed deer and monkeys.

Nevis Island

The island of Nevis (area 93 sq. km) lies south of St. Christopher, approximately 350 km southeast of Puerto Rico and 80 km west of Antigua. The Indians called this island Wali ("Land of beautiful waters"), and the first British settlers - Dulcina ("Sweet"). It received its modern name from the light hand of Christopher Columbus, who in 1493 named it Nuestra Señora de Las Nevis ("Virgin of the Snow" - Columbus considered that this peak, hidden by clouds, was covered with snow). Since the 18th century, the island of Nevis has been known as the "Queen of the Caribbean", becoming one of the most fashionable resort areas on the planet over the past 100 years. The fertile soil and warm climate made it possible to form here the richest plantation "patrimony", which, along with prosperity and peace, allowed the islanders to quite calmly survive the earthquake and tsunami of 1680, which almost completely destroyed its capital, Jamestown. Intensive clearing of forests for plantations has led to the fact that many areas of the once green island have become noticeably deserted ( East Coast, for example, almost completely lost its forests and even part of the coral reefs), but with the fading of the sugar industry, the island gradually began to regain its natural charm, becoming one of the most colorful places in the region. Moreover, unlike its northern neighbor, farmland is not visible on the island at all, which further enhances its natural charm.

Charlestown

Most Big city, educational and commercial center on the island, Charlestown lies in the very middle west coast islands, between Fort Charles and Fort Black Rocks. The city is famous as a real open-air museum of colonial architecture - many small, but very well-preserved buildings of the 17th-19th centuries form its central part. Some of these have now been turned into museums, making Charlestown a good place to explore. local history. Numerous earthquakes, which repeatedly caused considerable damage to urban areas, led to the formation of a special architectural style- most of the old houses of the city are built on a stone foundation, but with wooden structures of the upper floors - such a "composite" is much more resistant to seismic activity.

The city center is quite compact - most of the historic neighborhoods are concentrated around Cotton Ginnery Mall, which houses most of Charlestown's retail outlets, and Main Street. Usually, all city tours begin with a visit to the Nevis Historical Museum, which occupies a Georgian building on the very site where the American statesman Alexander Hamilton was born in 1757 (the Hamilton house itself was destroyed by an earthquake in 1840). In addition to Hamilton's portraits, the museum contains a collection of photographs from the period and displays of Nevis culture and history. Another object very popular with guests of the island - the Horatio Nelson Museum lies in the southern part of the city, next to the Government House. The famous British admiral stayed on Nevis in the 80s of the XVIII century, fell in love with the niece of the governor of the island Fanny Nisbet and married her. The museum's collection largely consists of various utensils painted with portraits of the admiral, ceramic sculptures, and a few personal objects of Nelson. However, it contains the largest collection of Nelson memorabilia in the Western Hemisphere, as well as a rather interesting exhibition dedicated to the influence of the "Mistress of the Seas" on the fate of the Caribbean.

A short walk east of the city center, on Governmentment Road, is the small and largely forgotten Jewish Cemetery, which is a simple grassy field dotted with horizontal gravestones inscribed in Hebrew, English and Portuguese. The oldest graves date back to 1684-1768, when up to 25% of the free population on Nevis were Sephardic Jews. A path that runs around the cemetery, commonly known to the locals as the Juish Walk, leads from the cemetery to a nearby gray stone building (built in 1684), which scientists believe was the site of the first synagogue in the Caribbean. The memorial square, which lies a little closer to the city center, was created in honor of the citizens of the island who died on the fronts of the world wars.

The Bat House, a short walk south of downtown Charleston, is an old hotel dating back to 1778 (one of the oldest inns in the Leeward Islands). The complex was built over thermal spring, medicinal properties mineral water which were the main attraction of the island during the colonial years, when rich tourists came here even from Europe. Today it is still in operation, however, in order to swim in the hot waters of Hot Springs, you need to bring your own towel and other accessories, since there are no facilities on this moment there is no. Stretching between Market Road and the coast of Gallows Bay, Charlestown Market is a real commercial center and is open from Tuesday to Thursday and on Saturday mornings, when it seems that all the inhabitants of the city gather here.

Also noteworthy are the Courthouse (1825), the luxuriously finished building of the Public Library (XVIII century), the Alexandra Hospital building, the Nevis Philatelic Bureau (the stamps produced on the island are widely known among collectors all over the world), Eva Wilkin's studio, the Eden building -Brown Great House, Grave Park with its cricket fields, as well as Newcastle Pottery and a whole block of craft workshops south of Prince Charles Street. Some of the old plantation buildings, framing almost the entire perimeter of the city, have now been converted into cozy boarding houses, among which the Nisbet Hotel is the most famous.

The chaotic landscape of the area, which for obvious reasons received the name Gingerland ("country of ginger"), stretches south from the walls of Eden Brown Great House, skirting almost the entire southern coast of the island and even part of the western one. This area is famous for the greatest concentration of old sugar plantations, the calm charm of green hills and gently sloping seashores. The main attractions here are the recumbent north of the capital the island's Fig Tree Church (1680, wedding place of Nelson and Fanny Nisbet), botanical gardens Nevis (open from Monday to Saturday from 9.00 to 16.30) near the Montpellier Hotel, where terraces of purple orchids are interspersed with groves of tropical trees, as well as the once formidable Fort Charles (XVII-XIX centuries), guarding the southwestern part of the island.

The coast north of Charleston is adorned with a string of small forts and fortified settlements, the largest of which is Fort Black Rocks, and the most colorful is Fort Ashby, which was built tentatively in 1702. It is Fort Ashby that is considered the only surviving site of the old capital of the island - Jamestown, washed into the sea by an earthquake and tidal wave in 1680. Located almost on the very shore of the luxurious Pinni beach, it has preserved several of its old guns and partially restored walls.

Banks and currency

Banks are open from Monday to Thursday from 8.00 to 14.00, on Fridays - from 8.00 to 13.00 and from 14.00 to 16.00-17.00, however, some banks stop working with individuals as early as 13.00. Some bank offices in the airport and seaports are open from Monday to Friday from 07.00 to 17.00, and exchange offices - from 8.00 to 12.00 and from 15.00 to 17.00 on weekdays.

Currency can be exchanged at almost any bank in the country, with the best rate usually offered for US dollars and euros.

Credit cards (Eurocard, MasterCard, Visa, American Express, etc.) are accepted for payment in most restaurants, in almost all hotels and in many large stores. ATM machines can be found in most banks in the country.

Travel checks can be cashed almost everywhere - in bank offices, hotels and large stores. To avoid additional conversion costs, it is recommended to use traveler's checks in US dollars.

East Caribbean dollar (XCD or EC$), equal to 100 cents. In circulation are banknotes in denominations of 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5 dollars and coins in denominations of 1 dollar, 50, 25, 10, 5, 2 and 1 cent. The East Caribbean dollar is pegged to the US dollar and has not changed since 1976 (EC$2.7 = US$1).

The US dollar circulates freely on the islands, many prices are indicated both in US dollars and in East Caribbean dollars.

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Geographical position

Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis is a country located in the eastern part of the Caribbean Sea. It consists of two islands - Saint Kitts and Nevis.
The total area of ​​the country is 261 km². The capital is the city of Baster, located on the island of St. Kitts.
In terms of area and population, Saint Kitts and Nevis is the smallest state in the Western Hemisphere.
This state is a member of the British Commonwealth, headed by the Queen of Great Britain.
In the east, the country borders on Antigua and Barbuda, in the southeast - on Montserrat, in the northwest - on Sint Eustatius (a special municipality of the Netherlands), in the north - on Saint Barthelemy (overseas community of France). All borders are maritime.
The total length of the coastline of the country is 135 km.
The area of ​​the island of St. Kitts is 168 km², the island of Nevis is 93 km². Both of them are of volcanic origin and mountainous terrain.
On the island of St. Kitts is dormant volcano Liamiuga, whose height is 1155 meters. There is a lake in its crater. In the southeast of the island there are many salt lakes and bays with sandy beaches.
Nevis Island is 3 km away south of the island Saint Kitts and is separated from it by The Narrows. The highest point of the island is the volcano Nevis, its height is 985 meters.
Both islands are surrounded by coral reefs, which are most extensive near the northern and western coasts.

The country has a tropical trade wind, hot climate, which is characterized by very small temperature differences. Fluctuations in average monthly temperatures range from +18 C to +24 C. In summer, the air temperature rarely drops below +27 C even at night, and rarely rises above +30 C during the day.
The average annual rainfall is between 700 and 1200 mm per year. Precipitation is distributed depending on the height of the place above sea level and its geographical location. The maximum amount of precipitation falls from May to October-November. Moreover, about 70% of the annual precipitation falls on the northern slopes of the mountains. The relatively dry season lasts on the islands from December to April.
Saint Kitts and Nevis is in the zone of passage of strong tropical hurricanes, their greatest probability falls on the period from August to October.
The best time to visit the country is from June to August when the weather is relatively dry and cool.

Visas, entry rules, customs rules

To visit the country, Russian citizens need to obtain a visa. It can be done online. To do this, you need to fill out a questionnaire on the website of the government of the islands.
There are no diplomatic missions of the islands of St. Kitts and Nevis in Russia, their interests are represented by the British Embassy.
If a positive decision is made, a visa confirmation will be sent to the applicant's e-mail address, which must be printed out and presented along with the passport when entering the country.
A visa is usually issued within 1-3 days. The validity period of the visa is determined in accordance with the terms specified in the visa application form.
The import of national and foreign currencies is not limited, but a declaration is required. The export of local and foreign currencies is limited to the amount declared in the entry declaration.
Persons over 18 years of age may import duty-free a large number of cigarettes, tobacco products, alcoholic products.
It is forbidden to import weapons and drugs, some medicines and non-canned food into the country. Without a special permit, objects and things of historical and artistic value cannot be exported from the country. This is especially true for objects found at the bottom of the sea, rare species of corals and products made from them.
At the airport, tourists must pay an airport tax and an environmental tax. Passengers in transit and children under the age of 12 are exempt from paying this fee.

Population, political condition

The population of the state is 49.9 thousand people.
The official language is English.
This country is a democratic parliamentary state within the British Commonwealth. The head of state is the Queen of Great Britain, who is represented by the Governor General. The head of government is the prime minister. This post is held by the leader of the majority party or coalition that won the last election. Cabinet members are appointed by the Governor General after consultation with the Prime Minister.
Legislative power in the country is exercised by the Parliament, which is a unicameral National Assembly. The island of Nevis has its own parliament and the right to secede from the federation.
Administratively, the country is divided into 14 districts: 9 on the island of St. Kitts and 5 on the island of Nevis.
The British government retained defense and international relations issues within its purview.
The Federation has its own system of Magistrates' Courts and the Supreme Court.

What to see

The capital of Saint Christopher Island is Basseterre. This small town is nothing special. It is spread out on the banks of a wide bay, which is surrounded by green hills.
The name of the city means "lowland" or "lowland" in French. But the British influence is clearly visible in the architecture of the city. The city is surrounded by the Sökes ring road. It is easy to see that the place in front of the bronze clock of the Berkeley Memorial is copied from Piccadilly.
Most of the city's historic buildings were destroyed in a fire in 1867. Only a small number of stone Victorian buildings can be seen here. Their second floors are made of wood and decorated with bizarre lattices or stucco. On Fort Street, the old ramparts were incorporated into the structures of the houses during construction. Some buildings look very old, but they were simply built from sooty stones that were left over from the city ravaged by fire.
The center of the city is the Independence Square. Previously, this place was used as a slave market. The fountain in the square is decorated with a statue of a virgin. It was a gift from Queen Elizabeth II for the Islands' Independence Day in 1983. This fountain stands on the site where the largest slave market in the Antilles was located.
The two-domed Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception was built in 1927. It overlooks the square. Originally, the French parish of Notre Dame was located on this site, which was built in 1670. But it was burned down by the British in 1706. They built an Anglican church in its place in 1856-1859. At present, only the Gothic window openings on the ground floor have been preserved from it.
In the Museum of St. Christopher Heritage Sisayeti, tourists can get acquainted with the history of the city. It has a fairly large collection of historical photographs, as well as household items of the Carib Indians who used to live on these islands.
The shoreline is dominated by the domed colonial Treasury building. Also in the area of ​​​​the capital, the House of Crafts, the Center for Primate Research deserve attention. It is worth seeing the volcanic crater of Mount Liamuiga or Misery (1156 meters).
Liamuiga ("fertile land") rises above the city blocks. There are excellent opportunities for various types of outdoor activities.
The northern part of the island is framed around the entire perimeter by the Sackle Island Road strip. Here you can see the old "sugar trains", which are still hauling goods from nearby cane plantations, as well as numerous fields and factories.
Old Road Town is a small town. It is located just a few kilometers west of Basseterre. This city is considered to be one of the best historical and natural attractions of St. Christopher. It was built on the very spot where the first British settlers landed in 1623. They were led by Sir Thomas Warner, who founded the first permanent European settlement here. The first settlers managed to establish good relations with the Caribs. They began to grow tobacco here, thanks to which the Warner clan was able to earn a large fortune.
Until 1727, this city was the capital of the island. And then it became just a pretty colonial town. Of the old buildings, the Government House, built of red brick, has been preserved here.
In the old cemetery in the courtyard of the modest St. Thomas Church, 1.5 km north of the main road, tourists can see the marble crypt of Sir Warner himself.
On the surrounding rocks you can see a large number of petroglyphs of the Carib Indians.
Excellent batik is produced in this city, here you can watch the process of creating fabric and painting it. The finished product can be purchased at the Caribel Batik factory, which is located north of Old Road Town, in the suburbs of Wingfield Estate.
This complex is located on the site of the Romney Manor sugar plantation, which dates back to the 17th century. It belonged to the great-grandfather of Thomas Jefferson, a prominent lawyer and the third President of the United States. There is a small botanical garden around the factory. Its main decoration is considered to be a 350-year-old adobe tree, which is the oldest on the island.
The picturesque island of Middle Island is located 7 km north of Buster, between the capital and Old Road Town. Here is also the village of Challengers, which is known as the site of the brutal beating of the Carib Indians in 1626.
Here, on the ruins of stone walls, you can see ancient petroglyphs, which are famous for their unique compositional structure. Scientists consider these petroglyphs to be the first animation on Earth.
Brimestone Hill Fortress National Park is located approximately 13 km northwest of Basseterre. Its basis is a large fort of the same name, built in the 18th century. It was once known as the "Gibraltar of the West Indies". It was the main British outpost in the region. This fort was built on top of a 244-meter ancient volcanic massif.
It was built for almost a hundred years. The fort capitulated in 1782 after only one month of siege. But a year later, the French themselves left the island and the fortress.
After a catastrophic fire in 1867, which engulfed almost the entire neighborhood of Basseterre, some of the fort's structures were partially dismantled. New buildings in the capital were built from its stones.
The main tower of the fortress - the Citadel is equipped with 24 guns. Inside her old barracks is now the Museum of Colonial History. In it, tourists can see the weapons and equipment of that period. There is also a small collection of items from the Indian period.
In 2000, the entire complex of fortifications was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The town of Sandy Point is the second largest locality islands. In the 17th century, it was the largest center of the tobacco trade on the island. Its main attraction can be called large warehouses for storing tobacco, dating back to that time.
The nearby coral reef is a great place for diving. The island's northernmost bay, Dieppe Bay, marks the beginning of the Atlantic coast. A little further south you can see Black Rocks - black waves of solidified lava fall right into the sea here.
The southeastern peninsula of St. Christopher stretches towards Nevis. At the isthmus, the coast is clamped by Friget Bay. The peninsula attracts with its wild and picturesque nature.
Frigate Bay is the main resort area on the island, covering the northern end of the peninsula. Here are the best beaches of the island. Turtle Beach is considered the best beach area, the coast of Booby Island and Cockleshell Beach are also popular. The white beach of White House Bay is best place for snorkeling on the island.
In this part of the island there are a lot of pink salt water reservoirs. The color of the water in them is due to the presence of the smallest crustaceans that live in these reservoirs.
Nevis Island is located south of St. Christopher, approximately 350 km southeast of Puerto Rico and 80 km west of Antigua. This island got its name from Christopher Columbus, who named it Nuestra Señora de Las Nevis ("Virgin of the Snows"). Columbus thought that this peak, hidden by clouds, was covered with snow.
Now this island is one of the fashionable resort areas of the planet.
Charlestown is the largest city, educational and commercial center on the island. It is located in the middle of the island's west coast, between Fort Charles and Fort Black Rocks. This city is interesting for tourists as an open-air museum of colonial architecture. In its central part, a large number of buildings of the 17th-19th centuries have been preserved. Some of them are now museums.
Due to frequent earthquakes, the buildings in this city were built on a stone foundation, but with wooden structures on the upper floors.
The historic neighborhoods are centered around Cotton Ginnery Mall and Main. They also house most of the city's shops.
The Nevis Historical Museum is housed in a Georgian building. It stands on the site where the American statesman Alexander Hamilton was born in 1757. This house itself was destroyed by an earthquake in 1840.
It is worth visiting the Horatio Nelson Museum, which is located in the southern part of the city, next to the Government House. The famous British admiral stopped in Nevis in the 1880s, fell in love with the niece of the governor of the island, Fanny Nisbet, and married her. The museum's collection represents the largest collection of Nelson memorabilia in the Western Hemisphere.
Not far, east of the city center, on Governmentment Road, is a small Jewish cemetery. The oldest graves here date back to 1684-1768. Near the cemetery there is a building made of gray stone, e in 1684. According to scientists, it housed the first synagogue in the Caribbean. Somewhat closer to the city center lies a memorial square, which was created in honor of the citizens of the island who died on the fronts of world wars.
The Bat House is a short walk south of downtown Charleston. It was built in 1778 and is one of the oldest inns in the Leeward Islands. His complex was erected over a thermal spring. The healing properties of this mineral water are widely known.
Charlestown Market is located between Market Road and the coast of Gallows Bay.
The court house was built in 1825. It is worth seeing the building of the Public Library, luxuriously decorated from the inside, as well as the Alexandra Hospital building, the Nevis Philatelic Bureau, the Eden Brown Great House building, Grave Park with its cricket fields.
On the south coast of the island stretches an area called Gingerland ("country of ginger"). This area is interesting for a large number of old sugar plantations and picturesque nature.
North of the capital of the island lies the Fig Tree Church, built in 1680. It is known as the wedding place of Nelson and Fanny Nisbet. Nevis Botanical Gardens, located near the Montpellier Hotel, are also worth a visit.
Fort Charles (XVII-XIX centuries) used to guard the southwestern part of the island.
The coast north of Charleston is interesting with a string of small forts. The largest of these is Fort Black Rocks. The most colorful can be called Fort Ashby, which was built around 1702. It is he who is considered to be the only surviving site of the old capital of the island - Jamestown. In 1680, this city was washed away to sea by an earthquake and tidal wave. It is located almost on the very shore of the luxurious Pinni beach.

The original inhabitants of the island of St. Kitts were the Carib Indians.

These islands were discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1493. The Spaniards did not colonize them.

The old name for St. Kitts was St. Christopher. In 1623, an English settlement was founded on it, which was the first in the West Indies. In 1624, the first French settlement appeared there.

Since 1625, together with the island of Anguilla, the island became a colony of Great Britain. This colony became the base for the country to conquer other islands in the region. For this, she was called "the mother of the English colonies in the West Indies."

Joint French-English punitive forces in 1623 staged a massacre of the local Indian population. Then up to 4,000 people were killed. This happened in the river valley, which after this event began to be called Bloody.

Since the 17th century, there has been a struggle between Great Britain and France for possession of the islands. Finally, under the Treaty of Versailles, concluded in 1783, these islands finally came under the rule of the British.

Since 1871, these islands have been included in the British colony of the Leeward Islands, and since 1958 - the West Indies Federation.

Saint Kitts, Nevis and Anguilla in 1967 received the status of a "state associated with Great Britain" with internal self-government. Questions of foreign policy and defense remained within the competence of Great Britain. In 1980, Anguilla seceded from the federation of three islands.

On September 19, 1983, these islands became an independent state Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis.

In 1998, a referendum was held on the issue of secession of the island of Nevis from the federation and the formation of an independent state on it. This was supported by 62% of voters, but the final decision was never made. To make a positive decision on the law, at least 2/3 of voters must vote "for".

International trade

The country exports: sugar, cotton, molasses, beverages, cotton and coconut oil, fruits and tobacco products. The main export partners are the following countries: America, Malaysia and Canada.

The state imports equipment, foodstuffs, oil products, industrial products. The main import partners are: USA, Trinidad and Tobago, UK.

It is a member of the international organization of ACT countries.

The shops

Shops in the country are usually open from 8.00 to 16.00, on Saturday - from 8.00 to 13.00. Some supermarkets are open daily from 8.00 to 18.00.
As souvenirs, tourists usually bring sea souvenirs, products of local artisans, batik and products from this country from this country.

Demography

The population is 49.9 thousand people, of which 37 thousand live on the island of St. Kitts, 13 thousand - on the island of Nevis.
The annual population growth of the country is 0.84%.
The birth rate is 14.2 per 1000 (fertility - 1.79 births per woman).
Mortality - 7.1 per 1000; immigration - 1.3 per 1000.
The ethnic composition of the population is dominated by blacks, their share is about 90.4%. They are the descendants of African slaves who were brought to work on the plantations.
Also, mulattoes (5.0%), Indians (3.0%), others (1.6%) - whites (English, Portuguese, Spaniards, etc.) and people from the Middle East live in the country.
The share of the urban population is 32%, rural - 68%. largest cities are: the capital Basseterre (population 11.6 thousand people) and Charlestown (1.3 thousand people). The vast majority of the population of the islands lives in the low-lying coastal areas and in the capital.

Industry

The country's industry is based on the processing of agricultural raw materials. The food industry produces copra, raw sugar, molasses, cottonseed and coconut oils. There are also small light and pharmaceutical industries. Recently, the country has begun to develop the electrical industry and electronics.

vegetable and animal world

The islands differ from each other in their nature.
The mountain slopes of the islands are occupied by plantations of sugar cane and cotton, shrubs and small mountain rainforests predominate above.
Dense tropical rainforests grow in the interior mountainous regions of the islands. In them, the main species are: creepers, breadfruit and cinnamon, mango, tamarind, bananas, avocados and papaya.
At the tops of the mountains, forests give way to meadows, and in the lower parts their place is taken by plantations of sugar cane and other crops. They are most widespread in the northern part of the island of St. Kitts, where gently undulating hills predominate. The southern slopes are steeper and are mostly covered with dense forests and orchards.
On the western slopes of the island of Nevis, rows of palm trees form a real coconut forest. On the eastern slopes, more natural forms of local vegetation have been preserved. They are occupied mainly by tropical forests, shrublands and relatively small farmland.
Numerous tropical birds and butterflies, as well as monkeys, are found in the forests of the islands. Many seabirds nest on the coast, including pelicans. Coastal waters are rich in fish.

Banks and money

Banknotes of Saint Kitts and Nevis / Currency Converter

The currency of the country is the East Caribbean dollar (XCD or EC$), which is equal to 100 cents. In circulation are banknotes in denominations of 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5 dollars and coins in denominations of 1 dollar, 50, 25, 10, 5, 2 and 1 cent. The East Caribbean dollar is pegged to the US dollar and has not changed since 1976 (EC$2.7 = US$1).
The American dollar has free circulation on the islands, many prices are indicated both in local currency and in US dollars.
Banks of the country usually work from Monday to Thursday from 8.00 to 14.00, on Fridays - from 8.00 to 13.00 and from 14.00 to 16.00-17.00. But some banks already at 13.00 stop working with individuals. Some bank offices located in airports and seaports are open from Monday to Friday from 07.00 to 17.00, and exchange offices - from 8.00 to 12.00 and from 15.00 to 17.00 on weekdays.
Tourists can exchange currency at almost any bank in the country, the most favorable rate is usually offered for US dollars and euros.
Major credit cards are accepted in most restaurants, hotels and major stores. ATM machines are available in most banks in the country.
Travel checks tourists can almost all bank offices, hotels and large stores. It is most advantageous to use traveler's checks in US dollars.

colonial color, majestic mountains, tropical forests, beaches, multi-star hotels, well-established transport routes (including through the airport). This is what attracts visitors to Saint Kitts and Nevis the most.

Embankment of the city of Basseterre, the capital of Saint Kitts and Nevis

And most importantly, the country makes it possible to acquire a second citizenship. Many people can get a passport of a state located in the sunny Caribbean. This is possible, first of all, thanks to investments in the region's economy.

One of the best places for quiet rest and real estate investment. So they say about the country of Saint Kitts and Nevis, the smallest in the Western Hemisphere in terms of area and number of inhabitants. The former English colony is located on two islands of the same name in the Caribbean Sea. Its inhabitants are subjects of the monarch of the United Kingdom.

Citizenship of Saint Kitts and Nevis has long been received by many Americans and Europeans who come to the Caribbean as if to a summer residence. Having just left the airport, they tend to the beaches or walks through forests full of birds and butterflies. The Russians have just begun to develop this direction as a second home.

Attractive destination

Going to the Caribbean, you need to remember that there is no direct flight between the Russian Federation and Saint Kitts and Nevis. Get there or Miami. The islands have their own airport (there are two in total). In particular, in the capital of the country - Basseterre, which is located on the territory of St. Kitts - is located international Airport Golden Rock.

Flights from American Airlines, British Airways, Delta and others fly there. From Britain to the destination, it takes about 10 hours to fly, and from - only 3. The second airport accepts passengers in the city of Newcastle.

Possibility to get to caribbean islands on the liner increases their attractiveness for tourists and businessmen. This allows you not to spend money on numerous transplants and save personal time. Leaving the airport, you can immediately go to sunbathe on the beach or for business negotiations.

detailed map Saint Kitts and Nevis showing all islands

Price spread

Holidays in Saint Kitts and Nevis in 2020 are expensive. For example, hotel prices start, on average, from 250 US dollars. The cost of a full package of luxury resorts can reach tens of thousands. Even more expensive are the rooms in hotels converted from old plantation estates. And in the peak tourist months (from December to February), you have to pay several times more for accommodation.

At the same time, buying real estate will cost much less than on other Caribbean islands.

Prices for one-room apartments start at $120,000, and for villas, from $240,000.

Of course, if we are talking about a small house with two bedrooms, and not huge mansions on the coast or buildings with plantations.

However, the acquisition of real estate allows you to obtain a second citizenship. Therefore, there are many who are willing (including many Russians) who are ready to spend money, despite the prices.

Seafront villa in Saint Kitts and Nevis

Reliability of economic citizenship

The opportunity to purchase a passport in exchange for investments in their economy has existed in St. Kitts and Nevis for many years. The country was the first in the world to apply for citizenship through investment. Until now, this program is recognized as one of the most stable and respected.

Its main advantages:

• enshrined in the Constitution;
• protected by the highest level of government;
• efficient and beneficial to all applicants.

Benefits of Citizenship

Why, then, those who are looking for a place for a second citizenship, opt for an island Caribbean state? His passport gives its holder the following benefits in 2020:

Attractive for applicants (including Russians) are the conditions for obtaining the main document of a Caribbean country:

How to get economic citizenship

You can do this in two ways:

1. Buying real estate.
2. By investing in the Sugar Industry Diversification Fund (SIDF).

In the first case, real estate is purchased from the list of objects approved by the authorities. In the second, money is transferred as a sponsorship contribution. The Fund's activities are aimed at providing jobs and helping local residents.
The applicants' documents are considered by a commission, which includes representatives of the government. In some cases, the applicant may be invited to the country for an interview.

Buying a property

This method is also suitable for those who want to stay on the islands of St. Kitts and Nevis all year round, and those who want to visit there exclusively on short trips. Often, housing is used only as a place to sleep, because immediately after the airport people go to sunbathe on the beach. To make real estate profitable, during the absence the house is rented out.

It is not necessary to purchase an already erected building. Can choose land plot on which there are no buildings. The main thing is that the cost of the purchased object should be at least $400,000. Also, it cannot be sold within 5 years.

Bank office in St. Kitts

You can get a second passport only through his mediation. Legal and professional services cost:

• 25 thousand $ from the applicant;
• 40 thousand $ for the applicant with his family.

In addition, all duties and fees associated with the purchase of real estate will require financial resources.

St. Kitts is an island about which the average Russian tourist knows little. Or rather, it is unlikely to say where he is. Some will speculate that somewhere in the tropics. And they will be right. But this island is not just paradise. Unlike Eden, from which a person was once expelled, one can settle in St. Kitts forever. For a fee, of course. In this article we will tell you about the program economic citizenship operating in this country. Yes, small Saint Kitts with the even smaller island of Nevis is independent state, which is part of the British Commonwealth, headed by the Queen of Great Britain. It is easy to guess that the official language here is English, which makes it easier for tourists to communicate with the local population. The currency is the East Caribbean dollar, which is divided into 100 cents.

Where is located

The main island of Saint Kitts and Nevis, a photo taken from the air, is like two pearls on the endless expanse of the ocean. Two pieces of land form a federation. Moreover, Nevis has the right to freely withdraw from it. St. Kitts until recently was called St. Christopher. From this, on old maps you can also find a different name for the state. Saint Christopher and Nevis is the smallest state in the Western Hemisphere. And the population in it is the smallest - fifty thousand people. Below we will describe the original method used by the government of the confederation to raise this figure. Where is Saint Kitts and Nevis located? On the world map, it must be sought in the Caribbean. It is part of the Lesser Antilles (Windward) Islands archipelago. All borders of this state are maritime. Saint Kitts and Nevis is adjacent to the same dwarf powers. In the east, the islands border on the north - with the French overseas territory of Saint Barthélemy, in the northwest - with the special municipality of the Kingdom of the Netherlands of Sint Eustatius, and, finally, in the southeast - with Montserrat.

Geography

The main island, St. Kitts, is located north of Nevis and is separated from it by the three-kilometer strait The Narrows. The state can be called mountainous. St. Kitts stretches from southeast to northwest for thirty-seven kilometers. Its entire area is divided mountain ranges. The highest point of the island (and the entire dwarf country) is the extinct volcano Liamiuga (one thousand one hundred and fifty-five meters above sea level). In the southeastern tip, the relief drops and forms a flat plain occupied by salt lakes. The coastline here is uneven, replete with coves and sandy beaches. The neighboring island of Nevis has an almost circular outline. It is composed of rocks of ancient eruptions. The most high point of this island is the volcano Nevis (almost a thousand meters above sea level). The state is surrounded on all sides by coral reefs. Therefore, tourists on the beaches can enjoy the tranquility of the turquoise lagoons.

Climate

It is determined by the tropical latitudes in which the island of St. Kitts is located. The weather here is wonderful and practically does not change at any time of the year. The islands can certainly be called the dream of Eden come true. The night temperature never drops below eighteen degrees, and in summer days does not rise above thirty. These are the most comfortable conditions for recreation. But do not forget about the second name that the Lesser Antilles bear - Windward. The dwarf state lies in the path of tropical hurricanes. They do not occur every year and are most likely from August to October. The rest of the time, warm trade winds blow over St. Kitts and Nevis. The amount of precipitation does not depend on the season, but on the altitudinal zone. In the mountains, rain falls from 2000 to 3700 millimeters per year. On the coastal plains, the amount of precipitation is half that. As such, the "wet season" is absent here. But most tourists prefer to come to rest to the tropical islands in winter - from November to April.

Brief history of the state

The island of St. Kitts, like neighboring Nevis, was discovered in 1493 by Christopher Columbus. However, his expedition, busy searching for India, did not colonize these islands. England did it for them. In 1623, she founded the first colonial settlement in the West Indies on St. Christopher. The French also tried to "stake out" no man's territory and founded their own fort. Opinions local population none of the Europeans asked: in 1626, English and French detachments jointly staged a massacre, destroying about four thousand Indians. In this regard, the river, on the banks of which the massacre took place, is now called Bloody. In the northwest of St. Kitts, Fort Brimstone has been preserved, from where the British were seizing land in Caribbean. This fortress is called the Gibraltar of the tropical seas. In 1783, France, according to the Treaty of Versailles, ceded all rights to the islands of St. Kitts and Nevis to Great Britain. The state gained independence in September 1983. But the Queen of Great Britain continues to be the nominal head of the country.

How to come to the dwarf state of the Caribbean

In old reference books, you can read that tourists from the CIS need a visa to be admitted to the island of St. Kitts. This information is outdated. In June 2013, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced a diplomatic achievement. From now on, Russian citizens can visit tropical islands without a visa. However, the total travel time should not exceed three months. However, you can extend your stay on the spot. With myself Russian tourist you must have a set of documents: a foreign passport, the validity of which will not expire in the next six months, an account statement bank card, which indicates your solvency, and return tickets. The lion's share of tourists arrive and leave the island by plane. It is necessary to pay a certain amount in order to leave the hospitable dwarf state without any problems. When departing from the Golden Rock international hub, you will need to pay an airport tax (forty-one Caribbean dollars for each person over twelve years old) and an environmental tax (4 EC$).

Nature

The island state, located on only two hundred and sixty square kilometers, contains everything that a tourist dreams of in dreams of the tropics. On the slopes of the mountains there are plantations of cotton and sugar cane. Even higher - virgin jungle with creepers, cinnamon and breadfruit, mango, tamarind, bananas, papaya, avocados. In some places the mountain peaks are covered with meadows. The island of St. Kitts in the north is a hilly plain occupied by farmland. On Nevis, especially in its western part, there are many coconut groves. Monkeys live in the rainforests of the two islands, but there are no dangerous predators. The silence of the jungle is announced by the cries of tropical birds, huge butterflies flutter everywhere. water area, state-owned, will certainly be of interest to divers and fishing enthusiasts. Although the coastal regions appear to be arid, overgrown with bushes, there are many rivers and streams on the islands.

Beaches

St. Kitts is an island whose coast is covered with an interesting black color. But on its southeastern outskirts there is a flat peninsula, composed of oceanic sediments. Therefore, the beaches here are golden. The coast of the island of Nevis is the epitome of dreams about relaxing by the tropical sea. The resort areas of the dwarf state satisfy all requests. St. Christopher (St. Kitts) has a lot of entertainment - golf clubs, nightlife, casinos. The capital of the state, the city of Baster, is especially famous for its evening life. On the island of Nevis, all conditions are created for a measured and a relaxing holiday. It's good to spend here romantic evening, walking along the promenade, sunbathe in the shade of palm trees. But if you wish, you can find entertainment on Nevis. Entertainment establishments are concentrated in the main city and the administrative center of the island - Charlestown. The sea near the beaches is always calm and serene, because the shores are protected from storms by a wall of coral reefs. The entry into the water is gentle, which is safe for swimming children.

Tourist infrastructure

The backbone of the economy of the dwarf state has long been the export of sugar cane. But in last years this industry was pushed back from the first place by tourism. All conditions are created here for foreign travelers. The island of St. Kitts has especially succeeded in pleasing vacationers. Reviews of tourists claim that its entire coast is occupied by luxury hotels and expensive magnificent villas. Buying property in is easy. There are no restrictions for foreigners, as in some countries. The staff of hotel complexes and restaurants is very kind and strives to fulfill any wish of customers. Like the reviews say, to their dialect in English gotta get used to it. Even the British do not always understand the locals. The chefs of St. Kitts have fully mastered European cuisine, and the Nevis culinary school gravitates towards the traditional local recipe. The number of serious crimes on the islands is quite low. But, tourists warn, pickpocketing is common, so it's best to keep valuables in your room safe.

Saint Kitts Tours

Of course, the sea and the beach are the main attractions of the dwarf state. But there are others. If you are relaxing on the island of Nevis, do not be too lazy to climb the peak of the same name. The height of this volcano is nine hundred and eighty-five meters above sea level. The reward for your work will be an unparalleled view of the two islands. And you can go down through the side vents of the volcano Hurricane Hill or Saddle Hill Transport connection well developed in the country. There is even a narrow gauge railway here. Nevis also has an airport - Newcastle.

For ecotourists, the island of St. Kitts is of interest. Its attractions are not only natural. Going on a trip to the Golden Rock Plantation and Brimstone Hill Fortress, you can see the old British fort. In its barracks there is a museum, whose exposition tells about the colonial history and the traditional way of life of the islanders. On Nevis, you should visit the Historical Museum and the House of Entertainment on the islands - these are leisurely boat trips along the strait and lagoons, cycling, horseback riding. The country has a casino, many golf clubs.

Events

The population of the dwarf state is the descendants of African slaves who settled the islands after the almost total extermination of the indigenous people - the Indians. Therefore, the main religion is Christianity. The colonial period made its own adjustments to the religion of the locals. Most of them are Anglicans or Methodist Protestants. But there are also a large number of Catholics. The main colorful events are also connected with religion. The island of St. Kitts reviews recommend visiting at Christmas time. The twenty-fifth of December is celebrated here very beautifully. And on the second of January, a colorful festival takes place on the island. The beginning of Great Lent, Good Friday, the Resurrection of the Lord and Pentecost are also celebrated on a large scale. Of the secular holidays, special mention should be made of the birthday of the British Queen, which falls on June 12, Emancipation from Slavery (the first Monday of August) and Independence Day (the nineteenth of September).

Island of St. Kitts: Citizenship

Many tourists coming to this paradise country just fall in love with her. But you can stay permanently, replenishing fifty thousand of the population of a dwarf state. When global demand for cane sugar fell, the government of Saint Kitts and Nevis launched a program with the eloquent title of Citizenship by Investment. Anyone who makes a voluntary contribution to the country's Sugar Fund receives a passport of an island power without any problems. The amount of investment donations depends on the number of dependents in the applicant's family and ranges from two hundred and fifty to four hundred and fifty thousand US dollars. Some more amount (but not more than ten percent of the main fee) will be required to pay various government fees and notarial deeds. What is the citizenship of Saint Kitts and Nevis? First, this visa-free entry in one hundred and twenty states. Citizenship is inherited by children from their parents. You do not need to renounce citizenship of the country of your birth.

Citizenship through real estate

There is another way to get the coveted passport of the state. The islands of St. Kitts and Nevis have been overgrown with luxury housing in the last decade. On the shores and even on the shallow bottom of the lagoons, luxurious villas are being built on stilts that are just waiting for their customers. Have you dreamed of your own house by the sea? And not some Barents or Laptev, but the Caribbean? If you purchase real estate for an amount not less than four hundred thousand US dollars, the citizenship of Saint Kitts and Nevis will be a nice bonus for you. This way, reviews assure, is more profitable if you want to settle on the islands. After five years, you can sell your property without losing your citizenship. But there is a great danger of losing money due to online scams. The government of the country, in order to prevent this, has published on its website an official list of all dealers who have the right to purchase real estate in St. Kitts and Nevis.

Saint Christopher (Saint Kitts) and Nevis- a state in the eastern part of the Caribbean Sea, consisting of two islands of the Leeward Islands group.

The name of the country comes from the name of St. Christopher and the Spanish nevis, which means "snow".

Official name: Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis

Capital: Buster

The area of ​​the land: 261.6 sq. km

Total population: 49.9 thousand people

Administrative division: The state is divided into 14 districts.

Form of government: A constitutional monarchy.

Head of State: The Queen of Great Britain, represented by the Governor General.

Composition of the population: 90% - Africans, 8% - Europeans.

Official language: English.

Religion: 80% - Anglicans, 20% - Catholics.

Internet domain: .kn

Mains voltage: ~230 V, 60 Hz

Phone country code: +1-869

Climate

Tropical trade winds, hot and very even. Fluctuations in average monthly temperatures are insignificant - from +18 C to +24 C, and the air temperature in summer rarely drops below +27 C even at night and rarely exceeds +30 C in the daytime.

Precipitation falls from 700 to 1200 mm per year. The nature of the distribution of rain directly depends on the height of the place above sea level and its geographical location. The maximum rain falls in the period from May to October-November, and during this period up to 70% of the annual rainfall can fall on the northeastern slopes of the mountains (in some years - up to 2000 mm), and in the south the weather differs little from the rest of the year . The relatively dry season runs from December to April.

Like other Leeward Islands, St. Kitts and Nevis is in the path of strong tropical hurricanes, which are most likely from August to October.

Geography

The state of Saint Kitts and Nevis is located on the territory of the islands of the same name, lying in the northern part of the Leeward Islands group. From the east they border on Antigua and Barbuda, from the southeast - from Montserrat, in the northwest - from the Netherlands Antilles (Sint Eustatius), in the north - from Saint Barthelemy, which is part of French Guadeloupe (all maritime borders).

From all sides it is washed by the waters of the Caribbean Sea (the total length of the coastline is 135 km). The total area of ​​the state is 261.6 sq. km (Saint Christopher - 168 sq. km, Nevis - 93 sq. km). It is the smallest country in the Western Hemisphere.

Flora and fauna

Vegetable world

The slopes of the mountains are occupied by plantations of sugar cane and cotton, higher - shrubs and small mountain rainforests.

Vegetation in the inner mountainous regions of the islands is represented by dense tropical rainforests (lianas, mangoes, breadfruit and cinnamon trees, tamarind, avocados, bananas, papaya grow). On the tops of the mountains, forests give way to meadows, and in the lower parts they are reduced and replaced by plantations of sugar cane and other crops. They are especially common in the northern part of the island of St. Kitts, which is a gently undulating hills. The southern slopes are steeper and mostly covered with dense forests and orchards.

On the western slopes of the island of Nevis, rows of palm trees rise, forming a real coconut forest. The eastern slopes have retained more of the natural forms of native vegetation and are mostly occupied by tropical forests, scrublands and relatively little farmland.

Animal world

Numerous tropical birds and butterflies live in the forests, as well as monkeys. Many seabirds nest on the coast, including pelicans. The waters abound with fish.

Banks and currency

East Caribbean dollar (XCD or EC$), equal to 100 cents. In circulation are banknotes in denominations of 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5 dollars and coins in denominations of 1 dollar, 50, 25, 10, 5, 2 and 1 cent. The East Caribbean dollar is pegged to the US dollar and has not changed since 1976 (EC$2.7 = US$1).

The US dollar circulates freely on the islands, many prices are indicated both in US dollars and in East Caribbean dollars.

Banks are open from Monday to Thursday from 8.00 to 14.00, on Fridays - from 8.00 to 13.00 and from 14.00 to 16.00-17.00, however, some banks stop working with individuals as early as 13.00. Some bank offices in airports and seaports are open from Monday to Friday from 07.00 to 17.00, and exchange offices - from 8.00 to 12.00 and from 15.00 to 17.00 on weekdays.

Currency can be exchanged at almost any bank in the country, with the best rate usually offered for US dollars and euros.

Credit cards (Eurocard, MasterCard, Visa, American Express, etc.) are accepted for payment in most restaurants, in almost all hotels and in many large stores. ATM machines can be found in most banks in the country.

Travel checks can be cashed almost everywhere - in bank offices, hotels and large stores. To avoid additional conversion costs, it is recommended to use traveler's checks in US dollars.

Useful information for tourists

Hotels and restaurants add 7% tax and 10% service charge to bills. If the restaurant does not include payment for services, the tip is 10%, respectively.