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(opens in new window) Much of this island was devastated and
two-thirds of the population fled abroad because of the eruption of the
Soufriere Hills Volcano that began on 18 July 1995. Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea,
southeast of Puerto Rico 16 45 N, 62 12 W total: 102 sq
km territorial sea:
3 nm tropical; little daily or seasonal
temperature variation volcanic island, mostly mountainous, with
small coastal lowland lowest point:
Caribbean Sea 0 m severe hurricanes (June to November);
volcanic eruptions (Soufriere Hills volcano has erupted continuously since
1995) land erosion occurs on slopes that have
been cleared for cultivation the island is entirely volcanic in origin
and contains seven active volcanoes 9,245 black, white Anglican, Methodist, Roman Catholic,
Pentecostal, Seventh-Day Adventist, other Christian denominations
English overseas territory of the UK English common law and statutory law
Severe volcanic activity, which began in
July 1995, has put a damper on this small, open economy. A catastrophic
eruption in June 1997 closed the airports and seaports, causing further
economic and social dislocation. Two-thirds of the 12,000 inhabitants fled
the island. Some began to return in 1998, but lack of housing limited the
number. The agriculture sector continued to be affected by the lack of
suitable land for farming and the destruction of crops. Prospects for the
economy depend largely on developments in relation to the volcano and on
public sector construction activity. The UK has launched a three-year $122.8
million aid program to help reconstruct the economy. Half of the island is
expected to remain uninhabitable for another decade. cabbages, carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes,
onions, peppers, livestock products tourism, rum, textiles, electronic
appliances electronic components, plastic bags,
apparel, hot peppers, live plants, cattle US, Antigua and Barbuda machinery and transportation equipment,
foodstuffs, manufactured goods, fuels, lubricants, and related materials
US, UK, Trinidad and Tobago, Japan, Canada
Country Policy Plan (2001) is a three-year
program for spending $122.8 million in British budgetary assistance (2002
est.) East Caribbean dollar (XCD) 70 (1994) total: 227 km
Plymouth (abandoned), Little Bay
(anchorages and ferry landing), Carr's Bay none 1 (2003 est.) total: 1 defence is the responsibility of the UK
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