Caribbean · North AmericaSaint Kitts and Nevis
Discover Saint Kitts and Nevis - the smallest country in the Western Hemisphere, a two-island Caribbean nation with a scenic railway, fortress, and sugar legacy.
Where Is Saint Kitts and Nevis?
Saint Kitts and Nevis is a country in the Caribbean, North America. Its capital is Basseterre.
- Capital Basseterre
- Population 46.9K
- Area 261 km²
Saint Kitts and Nevis is the smallest country in the Americas and the smallest sovereign state in the Western Hemisphere by both area and population. Two volcanic islands separated by a three-kilometer channel, together they cover about 261 square kilometers - you could fit the entire country inside most mid-sized cities. But these tiny islands played an outsized role in Caribbean history, serving as the staging ground for British and French colonization of the entire region.
Brimstone Hill Fortress on Saint Kitts is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the best-preserved colonial fortifications in the Americas. The old sugar railway has been converted into a scenic tourist train that circles the island. Nevis, the smaller and quieter of the two, was the birthplace of Alexander Hamilton and remains one of the most relaxed islands in the Caribbean. The country's economy has pivoted from sugar - the last crop was harvested in 2005 after 350 years - to tourism and one of the world's first citizenship-by-investment programs.
At a glance
Largest cities in Saint Kitts and Nevis
Basseterre
Charlestown
Sandy Point Town
Famous people from Saint Kitts and Nevis
Alexander Hamilton
PoliticsBorn on Nevis, became a US Founding Father, first Secretary of the Treasury, and now star of the world's most famous musical
Kim Collins
Sport2003 World Champion in the 100 meters, the smallest country to ever win a World Championship sprint gold
Robert Bradshaw
PoliticsFather of the nation who led the sugar workers' movement and guided the islands toward independence
Traditional cuisine of Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Stewed Saltfish
- National dish of salted cod cooked with tomatoes, peppers, onions, and spices, served with johnnycakes or breadfruit
- Conch Fritters
- Deep-fried balls of conch meat mixed with batter and spices, a classic Caribbean appetizer
- Goat Water
- Rich and spicy goat stew considered the national dish of Nevis, slow-cooked with breadfruit and dumplings
- Pelau
- One-pot rice dish with chicken, pigeon peas, and caramelized sugar, reflecting the islands' creole cooking traditions
Nature and landmarks in Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Brimstone Hill FortressLandmark
- UNESCO World Heritage Site called the Gibraltar of the West Indies, a massive 17th-century fortress with panoramic views
- Mount LiamuigaMountain
- Dormant volcano on Saint Kitts rising to 1,156 meters with a crater lake, hikeable through tropical rainforest
- Nevis PeakMountain
- Volcanic peak at 985 meters that dominates the small island, often crowned with clouds that Columbus mistook for snow
- Southeast PeninsulaCoast
- Undeveloped southern tip of Saint Kitts with pristine beaches, salt ponds, and views across to Nevis
Sports in Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Cricket
- Part of the West Indies cricket team, the sport is deeply embedded in island culture with matches on every green space
- Athletics
- Kim Collins won the 2003 World 100m Championship, making Saint Kitts and Nevis the smallest country to win a world sprint title
Did you know?
Saint Kitts and Nevis is the smallest sovereign state in the Western Hemisphere by both area and population
Alexander Hamilton was born on Nevis in 1755 or 1757 (the exact year is debated) before moving to New York
Columbus named the islands after Saint Christopher (shortened to Saint Kitts) and the snow-capped peak he imagined seeing on Nevis (from nieves, Spanish for snow)
The country's citizenship-by-investment program, started in 1984, was the first of its kind in the world
The sugar industry ran continuously for 350 years before the last harvest in 2005, and the old railway is now a scenic tourist train
Read more about Saint Kitts and Nevis
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