Nature of Antigua - national parks and reserves for active recreation

The state of Antigua and Barbuda is located on several Islands. Antigua is the largest of them. It is treeless and mostly flat. Its highest point reaches only 402 meters above the sea. This is the volcanic cone of a long-dormant volcano. Barbuda is covered with forests. Redonda is an uninhabited rocky island in the Caribbean Sea. Guano was extracted earlier here. The shores of the Islands are cut by bays and lagoons. The coast is surrounded by reefs and shoals. There is very little fresh water here. There are no large lakes or rivers on the Islands. There are only a few fairly large streams there.

The climate is tropical and arid on the islands. Quite a bit of precipitation falls even in the rainy season. However, storms and hurricanes are possible here. Hurricane Irma destroyed 95% of the buildings on the island in 2017. The environment is not in the best condition. Most of the forests were cut down in Antigua during the colonial period. Forests are severely affected by the construction of hotels and infrastructure today. In addition, the Europeans were introduced to non-native plant species of the region. This led to a disastrous situation. The situation is much better on the smaller Islands. They have become a real haven for the wildlife of Antigua and Barbuda.

White-headed pigeon, boobies, and Cuban whistling duck are found here. Redonda Island has become a haven for many species of birds. Several endemic species of lizards live on the island. The island has been turned into a nature reserve today. It is a sheer, bare rock rising 200 meters above sea level. It lies between the Islands of Nevis and Montserrat at 56 kilometers South-West of Antigua. Guano was mined on the island from the 1860s until the First World War. It was used as a valuable fertilizer. Unfortunately, the workers brought goats and rats to the island. They destroy birds ' nests and damage nature. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Redonda wood lizard, Redonda skink, Redonda iguana, and Redonda Anolis live on the Redonda. They are only found here. Also, a new species of Gecko is seen here. It doesn't have a name yet. The island is a nesting site for the beautiful frigate, masked booby, red-legged booby, and red-billed Phaeton. Some of them are endangered.

Codrington Lagoon is a National Park on Barbuda. The largest colony of frigates in the Caribbean lives on a small island in the middle of the lagoon. This place is the main attraction of ecotourism in Barbuda. Frigates are called "military" because of their habit of taking the fish they feed on from other birds. The same name is given to the island itself.

The Devil's Bridge National Park aims to preserve the unique geological formation of the region. The bridge was formed due to water erosion. The place has played a role in the country's history. According to scientists, prehistoric people used the bridge for fishing. According to legend, slaves committed suicide here. Swimming near the bridge is prohibited due to heavy surf. Also, you cannot climb it because it is always wet and slippery from splashes.

Green Castle Hill was created to protect important archaeological finds. This is one of the highest hills in Antigua. The climb to the hill is quite difficult. It requires the skills of hiking. The hill is named after a sugar plantation. It played a role both in the prehistoric period and after it. Megaliths installed on the hill were used by the Indians as shrines. Some stones even have their own names. Beautiful views of the island open from the top of the hill. One of the governors loved this place so much that he bequeathed to be buried here.

The Nelson’s Dockyard, along with Clarence House and the Shirley Heights Fort, is part of the Nelson’s Dockyard National Park. It is named after Admiral Horatio Nelson, who lived here from 1784 to 1787. The purpose of creating the park is to preserve the cultural heritage of the island. The buildings located here are old. It is forbidden to build modern buildings on the territory. The place for the fleet base was required after Antigua came under the British protectorate. Nelson's Dockyard in English Harbour was this place.

The position of the Harbour made it possible to protect ships from hurricanes. The first ship entered the Harbour in 1671. The Dockyard began to be actively built up in the 1740s. Many of the buildings from that period have survived to the present day. This is the Governor's House, warehouses, and residential buildings. Hotels, restaurants, cafes, and a museum are located in them today. Historical forts have also been preserved. Documents and things that tell about the history of English Harbour, models of ships, and various old navigation devices are collected in the museum. The Shirley Heights Fort provided additional protection for the Harbour. The Governor's house Clarence house was built in the nineteenth century. It is a real gem of Georgian architecture.