Saint Kitts: attractions and photos

Saint Kitts is an island, about which the average Russian tourist knows little. Rather, it is unlikely to say where he is. Some will suggest that somewhere in the tropics. And they will be right. But this island is not just heavenly. Unlike Eden, from which a man was once expelled, you can settle permanently in St. Kitts. For a certain bribe, of course. In this article we will tell you about the program of economic citizenship, operating in this country. Yes, the small Saint Kitts with the smaller island of Nevis is an independent state that is part of the British Commonwealth, headed by the Queen of Great Britain. It is not difficult to guess that the official language here is English, which simplifies communication between tourists and the local population. The currency is the East Caribbean Dollar, consisting of one hundred cents.

Where is the

The main island of Saint Kitts and Nevis photo taken from the air, is like two pearls on the boundless smoothness of the ocean. Two pieces of land form a federation. Moreover, Nevis has the right to freely withdraw from it. St. Kitts until recently called St. Cristofor. From this, on old maps, you can find another name for the state. Saint-Christopher and Nevis - the most dwarfish 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 the state of Saint Kitts and Nevis located? On the world map it should be sought in the Caribbean basin. It enters the archipelago of the Lesser Antilles (Windward) Islands. All borders of this state are marine. Saint Kitts and Nevis neighbors the same dwarf states. In the east, the islands border Antigua and Barbuda, in the north - with the overseas territory of France Saint Barthélemy, in the northwest - with the special municipality of the Kingdom of the Netherlands 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 of Narrows. The state can be called mountainous. Saint Kitts stretched from the south-east to the north-west for thirty-seven kilometers. Its entire area is dismembered by mountain ranges. The highest point of the island (and the whole dwarf country) is the extinct volcano of Llamiuga (one thousand one hundred and fifty five meters above the ocean level). In the south-eastern extremity, the relief is lowered and forms a flat plain occupied by salt lakes. The coastline here is uneven, full of bays and sandy beaches. Neighboring island Nevis has almost round outlines. It is built from the rocks of ancient eruptions. The highest point of this island is the Nevis volcano (almost one 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 caused by the tropical latitudes in which the island of Saint Kitts is located. The weather here is wonderful and practically does not change at any time of the year. Islands with confidence can be called the dream of Eden. The night temperature never falls below eighteen degrees, and in the summer days it does not rise above thirty. This is the most comfortable conditions for recreation. But do not forget about the second name, worn by the Lesser Antilles - Windward. The dwarf state lies on the path of the passage of tropical hurricanes. They do not happen every year and are most likely from August to October. In 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 zonality. In the mountains, rain falls from 2000 to 3,700 millimeters per year. In the coastal plains, the amount of precipitation is half that. As such, there is no "wet season" here. But most tourists prefer to come to rest to the tropical islands in winter - from November to April.

The history of the state

The island of Saint Kitts, like neighboring Nevis, was discovered in 1493 by Christopher Columbus. However, his expedition, searching for India, did not colonize these islands. For them, England did it. In 1623, she founded the first in West India colonial settlement on St. Christopher. The French also tried to "stake out" no-man's territory and founded their fort. Opinions of the local population, none of the Europeans did not ask: in 1626, British and French troops staged a massacre, destroying about four thousand Indians. In this regard, the river, on the shores of which there was a massacre, now bears the name of Bloody. In the north-west of St. Kitts, the fort of Brimstone remained, from where the British led the seizure of land in the Caribbean. This fortress is called the Gibraltar of the tropical seas. In 1783, France, according to the Treaty of Versailles, lost all rights to the islands of Saint Kitts and Nevis of Great Britain. Independence of the state was 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 handbooks, you can read that tourists from the CIS need a visa to be admitted to the island of St. Kitts. This information is obsolete. In June of two thousand and thirteen the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation reported on the diplomatic achievement. From now on, Russian citizens can visit the 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 a Russian tourist you need to have a set of documents: a foreign passport, the validity of which does not expire in the next six months, a tourist voucher, an extract from the bank card account that shows your solvency, and return tickets. The lion's share of tourists arrives and leaves the island by plane. It is necessary to pay a certain amount to leave a hospitable dwarf state without problems. When departing from the international hub, Golden Rock will need to pay an airport fee (forty one Caribbean dollars per person over the age of twelve) and an environmental tax (4 EC $).

Nature

The island state, located only two hundred and sixty square kilometers, accommodates everything a tourist dreams about in the tropics. On the slopes of the mountains are plantations of cotton and sugar cane. Even higher - virgin jungle with vines, cinnamon and breadfruit, mango, tamarind, bananas, papaya, avocado. Here and there the tops of the mountains 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. The rain forests of the two islands are inhabited by monkeys, but there are no dangerous predators. The silence of the jungle is echoed by the screams of tropical birds, huge butterflies flutter everywhere. The water area, owned by the state, will certainly be interesting for divers and fishing enthusiasts. Although the coastal areas seem arid, overgrown with shrubs, there are many rivers and streams on the islands.

Beaches

Saint Kitts is an island, the coast of which covers an interesting volcanic sand of black color. But on the southeast of its outskirts there is a flat peninsula, built up by oceanic deposits. Therefore, the beaches here are golden. The coast of the island of Nevis is the epitome of dreams of a holiday at the tropical sea. The resort areas of the dwarf state satisfy all requests. At St. Christopher (St. Kitts), a lot of entertainment - golf clubs, night entertainments, casinos. Particularly famous for its evening life is the capital of the state - the city of Basseterre. On the island of Nevis all conditions for a measured and quiet rest are created. It is good to spend a romantic evening, walking along the promenade, sunbathing in the shade of palm trees. But if you want, you can also find entertainment on Nevis. Recreation centers are located in the main city and the administrative center of the island - Charlestown. The sea near the beaches is always calm and serene, because the banks are protected from storms by a wall of coral reefs. Sunset in the water is gentle, which is safe for bathing children.

Tourist infrastructure

The staple of the economy of the dwarf state for a long time was the export of sugar cane. But in recent years, this industry has pushed tourism from the first place. For foreign travelers, all conditions are created here. Especially succeeded in satisfying the holidaymakers of the island of St. Kitts. Reviews of tourists claim that all of its coast is occupied by chic hotels and expensive magnificent villas. Buy property in the island state is easy. There are no restrictions for foreigners, as in some countries. The staff of the hotel complexes and restaurants is very kind and strives to fulfill any customers' wishes. As the reviews say, their dialect of English should be adapted. Even the British do not always understand the locals. Cooks of St. Kitts have fully mastered European cuisine, and the Nevis culinary school tends towards traditional local recipes. The number of serious crimes on the islands is quite low. But, tourists warn, pocket theft is common, so it's better to keep valuables in the safe.

St. Kitts: Excursions

Of course, the sea and the beach are the main attractions of the dwarf state. But there are others. If you rest on the island of Nevis, do not be lazy to make an ascent to the eponymous peak. The height of this volcano is nine hundred and eighty five meters above the 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. Transportation in the country is well developed. There is even a narrow-gauge railway. Nevis also has an airport - Newcastle.

For eco-tourists, the island of Saint Kitts is of interest. Its attractions are not only natural. Going on a trip to the reserve "Golden Rock Plantation" and the park of Braymstone Hill-Fortress, you can see the old British fort. In his barracks is a museum, whose exposition narrates 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 Horatio Nelson. Entertainments on the islands are leisurely walks on yachts along the strait and lagoons, cycling, horseback riding. There is a casino in the country, many golf clubs.

Developments

The population of the dwarf state is the descendants of African slaves, which were inhabited by the islands after the almost total extermination of indigenous people - the Indians. Therefore, the main religion is Christianity. The colonial period introduced its corrections into the faith of the local inhabitants. Most of them are Anglicans or Protestant Methodists. But there is also a large number of Catholics. The main colorful events are connected with the confession. The island of Saint Kitts reviews are recommended to visit during the Christmas season. The twenty-fifth of December is very beautiful here. And on January 2 there is a colorful festival on the island. The beginning of Lent, Good Friday, Resurrection of God and Pentecost are also celebrated with great scope. Of the secular holidays, it is worth mentioning the birthday of the British Queen, which falls on June 12, Liberation from Slavery (the first Monday in August) and Independence Day (nineteenth of September).

Saint Kitts Island: citizenship

Many tourists, having arrived in this paradise country, simply fall in love with it. But you can stay on the paradise islands for ever, replenishing the fifty thousand inhabitants of a dwarf state. When the world demand for cane sugar fell, the government of Saint Kitts and Nevis launched a program with the eloquent title "Citizenship through investments". Anyone who makes a voluntary contribution to the Sugar Fund of the country, gets the passport of the island state 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. A certain amount (but not more than ten percent of the basic contribution) will be required to pay various government fees and notarial acts. What does the citizenship of St. Kitts and Nevis give? Firstly, it is a visa-free entry into one hundred and twenty states. Citizenship is inherited by children from parents. You do not need to give up your country's citizenship.

Citizenship through real estate

There is another way of obtaining the state's treasured passport. The islands of Saint Kitts and Nevis in the last decade are overgrown with elite housing. On the banks and even on the shallow bottom of the lagoons on the piles, luxurious villas are built, which simply wait for their customers. And you did not dream of your house by the sea? And not some Barents or Laptevs, but the Caribbean? If you purchase real estate worth not less than four hundred thousand US dollars, the citizenship of Saint Kitts and Nevis will be a pleasant bonus for you. This way, they say, is more profitable if you want to settle on the islands. In five years you can sell your property, but you do not lose citizenship. But there is a great danger of losing money due to fraud on the Internet. The government of the country to prevent this, published on its website an official list of all dealers who have the right to make a purchase of real estate in St. Kitts and Nevis.