Antigua and Barbuda Facts for Kids

Antigua and Barbuda is a twin-island country in the Americas lying between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.
The country is made of two major islands and several small islands including Great bird, Green, Guiana, long, Maiden and York Islands and further south, is the island of Redonda.
The word Antigua is Spanish for “Ancient” and Barbuda is Spanish for “Breaded”.
As of Jan 1 2016, the total population of Antigua and Barbuda was about 92,295 people.

The total area of the country is 442 sq km (171 sq miles).
People living in Antigua and Barbuda are called Antiguans or Barbudans, depending on which island they are from.
The capital and the largest city of Antigua and Barbuda is Saint John’s on Antigua and it covers an area of 4 sq miles and had a population of 22,000 as of 2014.
There isn’t much climate change on the islands as they mostly always enjoy a tropical maritime climate.

The national sport of the country is Cricket;
Other sports include football, boat racing and surfing.
The national dish is fungie (pronounced “foon-jee”) and pepper pot. This is a dish that’s just like the Italian polenta, made mostly with cormeal.

A mixture of West African and British cultural influences is the resulting culture of Antigua and Barbuda with the Calypso and Soca Music, both originating primarily out of Trinidad is important in Antigua and Barbuda.
The Antigua and Barbuda national cricket team represented the country at the commonwealth games in 1998 but Antiguan cricketers otherwise play for the leeward islands cricket team in domestic matches and the west indies cricket team internationally.
Investment banking and financial services also make up an important part of the economy.
World banks including the royal bank of Canada and scotiabank are major banks with offices in Antigua.
Financial services corporations with offices in Antigua include pricewatercoopers.
The twin island nation’s agricultural production is focused on its domestic market and blocked by limited water supply and a labor shortage stemming from the lure of higher wages in tourism and construction work.
Manufacturing is made up of enclave type assembly of export, the major products being bedding, handicrafts and electronic components
A popular opinion is that most islands have their terrains influenced by volcanoes but this is not true with Antigua and Barbuda, as the terrain has been influenced more by limestone formations
The island’s highest point is called Mount Obama (Named after former U.S president during his birthday). It is the remnant of a volcanic crater that raised 402meters (1319 feet).
Both islands do not have enough fresh groundwater and as such they do not have any permanent river and lakes of noticeable size as the rainfall is barely enough for few streams.
Both islands have reefs and shoals at the edges, the islands have a lot of natural harbors, beaches and lagoons
It is called the “land of 365 beaches” because of its many beaches surrounding the islands
On the southwest coast of Barbuda, there is a beach called the “pink sand beach”. This champagne colored sand is because of the crushed coral.
English Harbor is a natural harbor on the southern side of Antigua. The name is gotten from the royal navy that established its base of operation in that area during the eighteenth century
Christopher Columbus explored the island of Antigua in 1493 and
Both islands are not known for having a large number of wildlife but you can see the occasional deer, boars, mongooses and racer snakes with as well as migrating birds.
St. John’s Cathedral is an Anglican church perched on a hilltop in St. John ’s in Antigua. In 1845, the present cathedral with its imposing white twin towers was built on a fossilized reef as it is the third incarnation, the first and second was destroyed in an earthquake.

The fort at the entrance to the St. John’s is named Fort James and it was built by the British in the 18th century to guard St. john’s harbor
Both islands are mostly low lying and made from coral and limestone, although there are some higher volcanic area
The national carnival held each august celebrates the abolition of slavery in the British West Indies, although on some islands, carnival may be celebrate the coming of lent. Its festive pageants, shows, contests and other activities are a major tourist attraction