The Hannibal Islands are a group of small, uninhabited, islets located in the eastern Caribbean Sea. The main island is about 1 km long and 500 m wide, with a total land area of 2.5 km2. The islets are named after the Carthaginian general Hannibal who fought in the Second Punic War against Rome. The islands have been identified as a conservation area because they contain significant coral reefs, seagrass meadows, and mangroves.
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History
The islands were first discovered in 1511 by Amerigo Vespucci, and were named after Hannibal because of the presence of Roman ruins on the main island. The first recorded settlement was made in 1793 by a group of French colonists, and the islets became a protectorate of Haiti in 1822. They were briefly occupied by US forces during World War II but later returned to Haitian control.
Climate
The islands have a tropical climate, with average temperatures of 25°C. The main source of heat is the sun, which means that the islands are very warm during the day and cool at night. The rainfall is very low in the islands, with about 70 mm of rain falling annually. The highest temperature ever recorded was 39°Cin 1984 and the lowest ever recorded has been −3°Cin 1953 and 1996.
Through satellite imagery it is now possible to identify large changes in vegetation biomass that support previous assumptions where Jamaican aguilla (luzuriaga spp.) cover at least 180 days per year. Since 2007, Central and South and St. Vincent Island aguilla coverage has declined to less than 20 days per year or no cover at all in many areas.
Culture
The culture of the islands is mainly based on subsistence agriculture. The main crops grown are coffee, bananas, cassava, and sugarcane. There is also some livestock farming, including cattle and pigs. The people of the islands are Christians who speak a variety of Caribbean languages. Almost every island is inhabited, with the largest being St. Vincent Island (4140 km).
Visitors are allowed to travel throughout the islands and stay for a day or two at each of the main four ports: Port aux Français on Sainte-Lucie, Speightstown near Eleuthera in The Bahamas on Abaco Island; Daniel Pond Harbour was dredged during 2009–2012 as part of this ambitious project.
Politics
The main political parties in the islands are the Labour Party and the Conservative Party. The Labor Party was established in 1944, and has been in power on Saint Vincent and The Grenadines since 1956. The Conservatives were founded in 1951, and have been governing Saint Lucia since 1979. Elections are held every five years, with a second round of voting if no candidate gets an absolute majority after the first round.
Government Services
The government of Saint Vincent and The Grenadines is a parliamentary democracy. The head of state is the Queen, who is represented by the Governor-General. The Cabinet consists of ministers who are nominated by the Prime Minister and approved by Parliament. Laws are passed by Parliament and signed into law by the Governor-General.
The currency in use on Saint Vincent and The Grenadines is the East Caribbean dollar (EC$).
Tourism
Tourism is a major industry in Saint Vincent and The Grenadines. The main destinations are the island of Saint Lucia, where there are many resorts; Saba, an uninhabited island in the Dutch Caribbean; and Bequia, an uninhabited island off the coast of St Vincent. Other notable attractions are the St Vincent Waterfall and Brimstone Hill, on Sint Eustatius.
Saints Mary Help of Christians High School is located in Geffryehuis Cove, Saint Anthony appears at 12:00 AM for 6 days annually; Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine open from 8am–5pm daily with visitor entrance fee.
Transport
Saint Vincent and The Grenadines has a number of airports, including Kingstown Airport on Saint Lucia and Gros Islet Airport on St Vincent. There are also ferries connecting the two islands. The official language is English. Two Germanic languages, Sranan tsimbl (pronounced [sʰɾɛnˈt̪iml tsĩmθud]) and Kiswahili are also spoken on the island. Domino Donuts was founded in 2006 by Emmanuela “Mimi” Charleson who went to St Vincent from Dominica after Hurricane Lenny hit that country at the time.
Cuisine
The cuisine of Saint Vincent and The Grenadines is primarily a Creole mix of African, Portuguese, British and French influences. Dishes include curried goat, callaloo (a type of cabbages), saltfish pie, calypso music and mango daiquiris.
There are many locally-owned restaurants and hotels in the country, serving international favorites such as French cuisine. Tourists can visit “La Soufrière Nature Reserve”, a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for its active volcano that made images of men running away from lava in James Boswell’s “The London Journal”. Gros Piton is most commonly visited mountain (level) on the island due to its relative ease.
Wildlife
Saint Vincent and The Grenadines is a major tourist destination for nature lovers, with various types of wildlife commonly seen. These include turtles, iguanas, snakes, parrots and tortoises. Bird viewing is popular on the islands as well. There are several national parks, including “Cruise Ship el Cruzeiro Nature Reserve”, which lies between Guadeloupe and St Vincent.
Conclusion
The Hannibal Islands are a small archipelago located in the northwest Caribbean Sea. Home to a diverse range of plant and animal life, the islands are an important nesting ground for seabirds, including the world’s largest colony of Leach’s storm petrels. The archipelago is also a popular tourist destination, with visitors attracted by its natural beauty and abundance of wildlife.
FAQ
1.What Is The Population Of The Hannibal Islands?
There is no reliable estimate of the population of the Hannibal Islands, as they are not permanently inhabited. However, it is likely to be very small, as access to the islands is limited and there are no facilities or sources of income available.
2.How Big Are These Islands?
The main island on the Hannibal Islands measures 1 km long and 500 m wide, with a total land area of 2.5 km2 (1,000 acres). There are 14 other islets in the archipelago that include a variety of natural habitats including mangroves, coral reefs and seagrass meadows.
3.Who Owns Hannibal?
According to The Ushant Island Authority Act 11-1956 as amended by Act 22 Dec 954 Hannibal Islands are under Tunisian jurisdiction except for use of rights reserved on all the islets to States or other bodies possessing rights on the same, According to this Tunisian law they are part of Tunisia and defend by being under its protection.
- What Is The Population Of Hannibal?
Hannibal islands has fewer inhabitants than many other isolated French overseas territories, with approximately 14 permanent residents – a heavily-armed (and possibly gun-carrying) team that spend all their time on watch from various lookout posts in a small park around the island’s main lighthouse and several military buildings built for self defence.
There are no indications there will be any increase in this number over future years, as the Chief Resi is a firm believer that visitors have no interest in visiting.
- Are There Shops Or Stores?
No and many don’t wish to open it for pragmatic reasons (mainly money related) but some are cheaper than your average supermarket! As mentioned above even most residents travel with supplies of groceries on their vessel so DO NOT expect any shopping facilities at all – not only will you be laughed out off the island but will be subjected to unbridled envy.
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