Which are windward and leeward islands

Plan My Trip. Windward Islands Overview. Customize any aspect of your Caribbean trip. Help Me Plan My Trip. Talk with an expert Ask a Question. These islands are called Windward because they are more windward to arriving Caribbean cruise ships than the Leeward Islands in the North of the Lesser Antilles.

Windward means upwind from a given reference point and leeward means down wind from a given reference point. Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago are sometimes put in this group as they are more windward than other Caribbean islands and are located in close proximity to the established Windward Islands.

The island nation of Dominica was governed as part of the Leeward Islands while being under British colonial rule. The islands have had a history of volcanic activity some of which are still active. The May eruption of Mount Pelee was one of deadliest in the island's history and killed over 30, people. The climate experienced on the islands is the usual warm and wet tropical climate with an alternating wet-dry season. During the Transatlantic Slave Trade, ships would first encounter these islands before moving to North America.

The ancient traders who used sailing ships used wind to navigate their vessels hence the reference. The islands derive their name from their location away from the wind.

Mostly small islands, they are called the Leeward Islands because they are away from the wind "lee". The Virgin Islands. The northern set of islands are territories of the United Kingdom and the southern set are territories of the United States.

British Virgin Islands. There are over 50 small islands in the British Virgin Islands territory, though only 15 are inhabited. The following are the largest islands. Virgin Islands. Also made up of around 50 small islands, the U. Virgin Islands are a small unincorporated territory. These are the largest islands listed by size. As you might expect, there are many tiny islands in this area of the Caribbean and only the largest are inhabited. Working south from the Virgin Islands, here are the rest of the Leeward Islands, many of which are territories of larger countries.

To the west of the Windward Islands is a stretch of islands known as the Leeward Antilles. These are farther apart from each other than the islands of the other two groups. It includes more of the popular destination Caribbean islands and runs along the Venezuelan coast. From west to east, the major islands of the Leeward Antilles include the following and, collectively, the first three are known as the "ABC" islands.

Venezuela has a number of other islands within the Leeward Antilles. Many, like the Isla de Tortuga, are uninhabited.

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