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Anguilla
Anguilla is a British overseas territory in the
Caribbean, one of the most northerly of the Leeward Islands in the
Lesser Antilles. It consists of the main island of Anguilla itself,
approximately 26 km (16 miles) long by 5 km (3 miles) wide at its
widest point, together with a number of much smaller islands and
cays with no permanent population. The island's capital is The Valley.
The total land area of the territory is 102 km² (39.4 square
miles), with a population of approximately 13,500 (2006 estimate).
Anguilla is a flat, low-lying island of coral and
limestone in the Caribbean Sea, east of Puerto Rico. The soil is
generally thin and poor, supporting only scrub vegetation.
Anguilla is noted for its spectacular and ecologically
important coral reefs. Apart from the main island of Anguilla itself,
the territory includes a number of other smaller islands and cays,
mostly tiny and uninhabited. Some of these are:
Anguilla has a tropical though rather dry climate,
moderated by northeast trade winds. Temperatures vary little throughout
the year. Average daily maxima range from about 27 °C (80 °F)
in December to 30 °C (86 °F) in July. Rainfall is erratic,
averaging about 90 cm (35 in) per year, the wettest months being
September and October, and the driest February and March. Anguilla
is vulnerable to hurricanes from June to November, peak season August
to mid-October.
The majority of residents (90.08%) are black, the descendants
of slaves transported from Africa. Growing minorities include whites
at 3.74% and people of mixed race at 4.65% (figures from 2001 census).
72% of the population is Anguillian while 28% is
non-Anguillian (2001 census). Of the non-Anguillian population,
many are citizens of the United States, United Kingdom, St Kitts
& Nevis, the Dominican Republic, or Jamaica and a very few Nigerians
ranging from 7-15.[clarify]
2006 and 2007 saw an influx of large numbers of
Chinese, Indian, and Mexican workers, brought in as labor for major
tourist developments due to the local population not being large
enough to support the labor requirements.
Information sourced from www.wikipedia.org
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