Antigua is the largest of the Leeward islands being 108 square miles. The coast is rugged and contains many bays with many fine white sand beaches. Elsewhere, especially on the west coats, there are small areas of mangroveswamp. A considerable portion of the island is fertile, and the climate is healthy, but there is a scarcity of water, there being no streams and few springs, droughts are not infrequent, and hurricanes are apt to cause serious loss and damage.The island is also surrounded by coral reefs. While the island is generally flat, the landscape is dotted with gently rolling hills with the highest point in the south-west, Boggy Peak, reaching 1,360 ft. The island is divided into seven parishes, with St John's, the capital city, located in the parish bearing the same name. The official language is English and the predominant religion is protestant.
The island was discovered by Columbus in 1493; the first settlement was made by the English in 1632. Since then, except for a short period of occupation by the French, it has been a British possession.
Abbreviations
Gazetteer
Research Antigua