Antigua
and
Barbuda is
an
independent
state
since
1981. The
island of
Antigua is
a
low-lying,
semiarid,
limestone
island of
the Lesser
Antilles.
Antigua
has
severely
eroded
volcanic
remnants
along its
forested
southwestern
quadrant,
which has
a maximum
elevation
of only
402 meters
above sea
level.
Although
Antigua
receives
approximately
40 inches
(100
centimeters)
of
precipitation
annually,
wide
fluctuations
in
rainfall
amounts
occasionally
create
serious
water
shortages,
especially
for the
agricultural
industry.
Some of
the larger
hotels
transport
water by
barge from
nearby
islands
when water
supplies
become
critically
low. At
one time
Antigua’s
economy
was based
largely on
the
sugarcane
industry,
but light
manufacturing
and
tourism
are now
the
leading
contributors
to the
island’s
economy.
St.
John’s,
the
country’s
capital,
is located
along the
northwest
coast,
adjacent
to one of
the
Antigua’s
many
natural
harbors.
More than
half of
the
country’s
population
of almost
70.000
live in
the St.
John’s
area. The
island of
Antigua is
approximately
25 km
east-west
and 19 km
north-south
(NASA).
Antigua
and
Barbuda Map
English
Harbour,
Antigua.
Source: U.S.
Central Intelligence Agency.
Country
Maps - Americas
