Five-star resorts among sparse scrub oak forests and beautiful beaches sound great, right?One of the most interesting facts about Anguilla is that it is named after an Italian word that means eel. If you look closely, that’s exactly what this island looks like!Did you know that Anguilla is a British territory in the Caribbean? This small island has a population of just over 15,000 people, and it is known for its white-sand beaches and crystal clear waters. Anguilla is a great place to relax on the beach or go swimming, snorkeling, and diving. There are also plenty of restaurants and bars, as well as a few casinos. If you’re looking for something more active, there are several golf courses and tennis courts on the island. If you’re thinking about vacationing in the Caribbean, be sure to add Anguilla to your list!Anguilla LocationAnguilla is one of the more famous luxury tourist locations in the world, which is why people often head there to spend their holidays with family and friends. There are a couple of ways to get to this island, including an international airport.Anguilla is a part of the Eastern Caribbean.It is considered to be the northernmost cay of the Leeward Islands.It is located just east of Puerto Rico.It is also located quite close to Saint Martin and Saint Kitts.People often take chartered flights to get to this beautiful island.The Clayton J. Lloyd Airport is the main airport that services the island.The most common way of reaching Anguilla is by taking a ferry from St. Maarten.The ferry ride is cheap and extremely quick.To get to Anguilla from St. Maarten, it only takes a 20-minute ride through stunning waters.Due to its proximity to large water bodies, the people of Anguilla rely heavily on the consumption of seafood.One of the most amazing facts about this island is that there are no income taxes in Anguilla.There are, however, a number of licensing taxes that the citizens pay.Another interesting and lesser-known fact about the island of Anguilla is that Chuck Norris previously owned a residence here.The population of the island is very small, although it has been steadily increasing.One of the factors which contribute towards attracting more and more tourists to this island is that people there are extremely polite.Another factor would be that the main island as well as the cays that surround Anguilla are largely free of all crime.The natural resources of this island are sparse, which is why people depend on imports.Living in Anguilla is quite expensive since most of the commodities are imported from far-off lands.The main imports come from the United States of America, the United Kingdom, as well as from Puerto Rico.When in Anguilla, people are often taken by surprise by the rustic charm of the place.This is because there are hardly any retail stores on the island.The people of Anguilla head off-shore to places such as Puerto Rico to shop for items such as clothes.There is a standard departure charge in Anguilla, which stands at $10.The currency of this island is the Eastern Caribbean dollar, but the U.S. dollar is also accepted in most of the stores, hotels, and restaurants.Eating joints on this island are quite expensive given the fact that most of their resources are not home-grown.Since most places depend on imports, eating in Anguilla can be quite heavy on the pocket.Anguilla is also described as a luxury vacation destination, which is one of the reasons why accommodations are also quite expensive.Some of the resorts and villas can cost up to $35,000 for a week-long stay.Although this island is quite small, it is best to visit for at least a week to enjoy the beauty of all the sandy beaches.Anguilla was a British colony and is now a self-governing dependency under Britain.The rightful head of the state of Anguilla currently is Queen Elizabeth II.The acting head of the state is the governor, appointed by the queen herself.The office of the governor, as well as all the important offices of the region, are located in the capital.The capital of the island is known as The Valley.The street food in The Valley is also quite famous.One of the best things to do to spend less money on food would be to take advantage of great-tasting street food in the capital!Anguilla also consists of many other still smaller islands and cays.The other islands are largely uninhabited.Anguilla was primarily colonized in order to turn it into a sugar plantation.However, this plan was largely unsuccessful due to the simple fact that the soils in Anguilla are not nearly as fertile as those of the other islands of the Caribbean.This is one of the reasons why agriculture is not one of the things that thrive in Anguilla.Anguilla is essentially a low-lying island.The layer of soil on this island is known to be quite thin.Anguilla is classified as a coral and limestone island.The coral reefs around the island of Anguilla may not be as impressive as some of the ones that are visible around the world, but they are stunning nonetheless.This is one of the reasons why snorkeling is one of the main attractions of the area.History Of AnguillaAnguilla has a history that is flecked with stories of domination and attacks.The first inhabitants of Anguilla were the Arawak IndiansThey migrated to the island from South America in the early 1200s.The Spanish discovered Anguilla in 1493.The British claimed it as a territory in 1650.For many years, Anguilla was used as a base for smuggling operations and piracy.In 1980, after years of protests and negotiations, Anguilla became an official British overseas territory.Today, Anguilla is known for its tourism industry.It accounts for more than 60% of its GDP.The island was colonized by the British in 1650.In the late 17th century, Anguilla faced many attacks from the French and Irish.The local military power, in addition to Britain’s military support, was able to keep these attacks in control.The colonizers are said to have faced a lot of setbacks in Anguilla because the island was not very fertile.The English settlers did not have to ever deal with the Indians since their settlements were previously wiped out by the Indians of the neighboring islands.In the early 18th century, the British settlers unsuccessfully tried to grow tobacco in the area.This venture was largely unsuccessful because of the low fertility of the soil.They then started with sugarcane, which yielded better outcomes from an economic point of view.Hence, Anguilla became a spot for growing sugarcane, instead of tobacco or cotton, which were not supported by the soil profile.In the later part of the 18th century, Anguilla started facing some of the repercussions of the unrest in the political scenario of Europe.As a result, the island was attacked twice by the French.The first attack took place in 1745 and the second happened in 1796.While the first was easily resisted by local troops, the island sustained heavy damages as a result of the second.A union was made between St Kitts and Anguilla in 1825.According to this union, Saint Kitts would make laws for Anguilla as well.For the longest time, there was no real development in Anguilla from any perspective.The idea of the union was a complete failure and even though slavery was abolished, the people of Anguilla struggled to find any work or means of sustenance.This led to a petition being launched by the people of Anguilla, asking for a dissolution of the union.The British ignored such requests, which plummeted Anguilla further into the mouth of poverty.When famine and drought hit the islands, there were imaginable damages and deaths.This happened towards the end of the 19th century.In the years to come, the people of Anguilla were so dissatisfied with the economic conditions of their motherland that many people decided to move to the Dominican Republic to find work.In the middle of the 20th century, Anguilla faced many changes in terms of the system of governance.Despite the wishes of the people, the island was put in a federation with the other Leeward Islands, which made the economy suffer further, pushing people into poverty and hardship.In 1980, after years of struggles and conflicts, Anguilla was officially accepted as a British overseas territory.Around the middle of the 20th century, Anguilla was also known as a part of the Federation of the West Indies.Population And Culture Of AnguillaLet’s dive into some of the interesting facts about the culture in Anguilla!The population of Anguilla is a little over 15,000 people.Since the population of Anguilla is so small, everyone seems to know everyone. On a trip to Anguilla, you are likely to notice how your guide might be meeting someone they know at nearly every corner!The population engages in some common economic activities such as boat building, offshore financial services, cattle raising, and fishing.The currency used in these islands is the East Caribbean Dollar, although the U.S. Dollar is also readily accepted.This is because the island is heavily dependent on the inflow of cash from North and Central America.The people of Anguilla are known to have very strong family values.People usually have two or three children in Anguilla.This is one of the reasons why the population of Anguilla has been increasing gradually.Goat is the most famous type of meat in Anguilla.People usually eat more meat and seafood since most vegetables and spices are imported at high costs.Families often go to other Eastern Caribbean islands such as Puerto Rico to buy essential items as well as clothes and other commodities.This is due to the lack of commercial outlets in this part of the Eastern Caribbean.Education is mandatory and free in Anguilla, for children from ages 5 to 17.Higher education in distance mode is allowed by the University of West Indies.The people of this island refer to themselves as Anguillians.The population speaks English.Beaches And Famous Attractions In AnguillaThe most famous attraction in Anguilla is probably its beaches. The island has more than 30 white sand beaches, and the water is clear and blue.There are 33 gorgeous beaches in Anguilla.Fortunately, all of these beaches are public.The Anguilla tourist board helps in maintaining the island’s image in such a way that more and more people are attracted to visit.Some of the places that you should visit while on a trip to Anguilla would be Maundays Bay, Cove Bay, Rendezvous Bay, Road Bay, and Shaddick Point.Anguilla is located 200 mi (322 km) east of Puerto Rico.This island is serviced by the Clayton J. Lloyd Airport, which was previously known as the Wallblake Airport.
Five-star resorts among sparse scrub oak forests and beautiful beaches sound great, right?
