Geography of the Northern Islands : Discover

Discover : Geography of the Northern Islands

Geography of Saint Kitts and Nevis

Basseterre

Capital city of the Federation of Saint Christophe and Nieves. Pierre Belain d’Esnambuc arrived to the bay of Basseterre in 1624, stumbling upon a French colony, which had originally planned to reach Guyana but had decided to remain in this small harbour of peace. The island is a mere 168 km2, its capital more of a village than a town, yet undeniably charming with is colourful and well-kept streets. Creole, French and English influence intertwine in the architecture of the city’s aged buildings, tourists marvel at the richness of its past and reputation. Strolling around in town, you will discover all about life on the island by observing a population of hawkers, schoolchildren and joyful groups of youngsters… You will also come across obvious fragments of British influence: telephone booths for instance are perfect copies of their London counterparts.

Nevis

A circular shaped island composed of volcanic rock, lush with tropical forests surrounded by magnificent beaches and palm trees. Colonial architecture is everywhere in Nevis, in particular in the capital city, Charlestown. The island hosts a large number of churches. Nevis and neighbouring St Kitts are linked by a federal constitution, and form an independent democratic state. The sole main road leaves Charlestown and leads around the whole island, a distance less than 30 km.