Liguanea Island

Liguanea Island is a small, uninhabited island located in the Dutch Caribbean Sea. The island is only accessible by boat, and is known for its rich bird life, includes a wide variety of seabirds and waterfowl. In recent years, the island has become a popular destination for windsurfing.

History

Liguanea Island was first encountered by Europeans in 1525, when the Spanish explorer Alonso de Ojeda sighted it during his expedition of discovery. The island remained relatively isolated until the late 19th century, when it began to be developed as a holiday destination by Dutch colonists. Despite its popularity today, Liguanea remains mostly unspoiled and is one of the least visited islands in the Dutch Caribbean.

Liguanea was named after a Portuguese fishing vessel known as the “Épõe Ligeira”, that first put into an anchorage in 1609. At the time, it is estimated that there were some 200 inhabitants on St. Martin (see Guadeloupe), which included both whites and free persons of color from West Africa; about 100 of these had migrated to Dominica shortly before Ojeda’s arrival.

Climate

Liguanea has a tropical climate with heavy rainfall year-round. The island is humid, with an average relative humidity of 35-70%. Mean monthly temperature ranges from about 70 degrees Fahrenheit at low tide and 64.6 degrees F on high sea tides to 92.2 F near the coast during hot season (July–October).

A warm spell that began in June 2014 brought tropical storm conditions to Liguanea before it moved northward far off its eastern margin through 2015 bringing heavy rains causing severe flooding throughout Dominica. By mid September 2015, the island was declared a disaster area in advance of its October 1 storm season deadline to complete relief efforts and attract donors especially since Liguanea also suffered extensive damage from Hurricane Tomas in June 2012.

Culture

In the 1800s, Liguanea was home to several Dutch churches and a few hundred people of mixed European descent. Today, there are only a handful of residents on the island who maintain traditional African-Caribbean cultural practices; most visitors arrive for its white-sand beaches and clear blue waters.

Dominica is one of the least developed countries in Caribbean with natural resources including rich oil reserves located adjacent to St Martin which has spurred strong economies and has attracted many businesses to the area.

Politics

Dominica has a presidential system of government. The president is elected by popular vote for a five-year term and cannot be re-elected. The prime minister is appointed by the president, with the approval of parliament. There are no religious parliaments or judicial courts on Dominica.

Economy

The economy of Dominica is heavily reliant on agriculture, which employs more than 60% of the workforce.. Other main sectors include tourism (especially spas) and manufacturing (domestic equipment related to construction, frozen food, textiles).

Education

Schooling begins at the age of five or six in rural areas and continues through 5th grade in cities. By sixth grade if students are continuing on full-time education into Junior High School it is common for parents to encourage children to return home early for development purposes as opposed their local schools can’t afford enough teachers during school hours; Domin ica has heavy teacher shortages often resulting in students being taught via correspondence.

Dominica also has a significant proportion of its population with little to no education the result of either emigration or alcoholism (every second person is completely illiterate). In January 1993, Hurricane David hit and damaged many schools causing teachers difficulties during repairs that followed; like most institutions on the island 9 out 10 people have never even been to school with estimates by 2013 showing only 50% of overall population had made it out of school with that percentage even edging down to 49.2 However studies are being carried on as the country commits itself to improving education

Healthcare

As of 2013 Healthcare was in a state which is considered “causing harm” though improvement through implementing changes and increasing care quality show some hope breakthroughs were approaching by 2020 but only if massive aid isn’t needed for infrastructure repairs or disaster clean up. Literacy is at 85% with most village’s across the countryside still having no school facilities. Healthcare on Dominica is heavily underserved though it could be worse such as El Salvador, who has just a 25% literacy rate and an average life expectancy of only 68.

Government services

Dominica has a government led by an elected prime minister and parliament. The effective, functioning and transparent government is lacking in many sectors of Dominica’s society while aid organizations are working to alleviate the situation.

In terms of infrastructure there is still much need for improvement which makes it difficult for businesses to operate as they often have to pay high taxes preventing them from growing or expanding their operations

Energy and telecommunications are also areas in urgent need of improvement with only 42% of Dominicans having access to electricity, 15.7% have superfast Internet and a shocking 1.6% can receive mobile phone signals. Education is not improving all that much when considered strictly from the numbers as studies show just 10 out of 10 people are literate while an estimated another 100,000 children don’t even grow up being able to read or write.

Tourism

Tourism is Dominica’s most valuable industry and with good reason as the island offers pristine natural beauty, a lively nightlife with lots of pubs and clubs as well as some great golf courses. However, Dominica remains relatively undeveloped which makes it difficult for tourists to find basic necessities like clean water or toilets. Moreover, there are only a handful of resorts on the island catering to luxury travellers making it hard for people who work in tourism to get a decent and regular income.

Transport

Since Dominica is a small island it has no transport links to the rest of the world which makes importing and exporting goods difficult as well as leading to increasing prices for essential commodities. Additionally, there are only a few roads winding their way through the bumpy landscape making moving around the island cumbersome and time consuming.

Conclusion

Liguanea Island is a small, uninhabited island located in the Ross Sea off the coast of Antarctica. It is one of the most remote islands in the world and was discovered by a French Antarctic Expedition in 1895. The island was first named by the Argentine captain Julio Cesar land based on sightings made from the Argentine ship San Martin by members of the British Graham Land Expedition, 1934-35.

FAQ

What Are The Primary Activities On Liguanea Island?

The primary activities on Liguanea island include bird watching, windsurfing and sailing.

How Do I Get To The Island?

The only way to reach the island is by boat. Visitors must hire a boat operator to take them there. There is no airstrip or dock facilities on the island, so visitors must arrive by sea.

What Forms Of Transport Are Available?

There is no plane or airfield on Liguanea Island, so visitors may arrive by sea and sail to the island. Visitors must hire a boat operator for inland travel from King George VI Passage in Antarctica where there are designated dock facilities. There is also limited helicopter access in Antarctic summer (Nov-Jan).

Is Any New Development Underway?

Liguanea Island is part of the French-Antarctic territorial claim and there are currently no development plans in place.

How Should I Dress To Visit Liguanea Island?

Liguanea can snow blow at any time, so visitors should plan accordingly as they may be stranded on the island for a period of time during winter weather conditions. Masks and warm clothing is recommended when visiting during cold temperatures .