Saint Kitts and Nevis, officially the Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis, is an island country in the Leeward Islands chain of the Lesser Antilles, it is the smallest sovereign state in the Western Hemisphere, in both area and population, as well as the world’s smallest sovereign federation. The country is a Commonwealth realm, with Charles III as King and head of state. It is the only sovereign federation in the Caribbean. The capital city is Basseterre, located on the larger island of Saint Kitts, while the smaller island of Nevis lies approximately 3 km to the southeast, across a shallow channel called The Narrows. The population is around 53,000.

NOTED GEOGRAPHY: Both islands are of volcanic origin, with large central peaks covered in tropical rainforest, with the majority of the population living along the flatter coastal areas. Saint Kitts and Nevis contains two terrestrial ecoregions: Leeward Islands moist forests and Leeward Islands dry forests.

NOTED NATURE: The national bird, one of 176 species reported on the islands, is the Brown Pelican. There’s a rich ecosystem both on land, and under the sea, with many beautiful coral reefs surrounding them.

NOTED CULTURE: Tourism and agriculture mark the island’s main sources of revenue, as with many others in the region. Popular sports are football and cricket (sensing a trend yet?), and wreck diving is common. A popular attraction is Brimstone Hill, the largest fortress ever built in the Caribbean. In 1782, it was the site of a battle between British defenders and French attackers. Despite being outnumbered almost 3 to 1, they held on for a month.