For other uses, see Leeward Islands (disambiguation). Charlotte Amalie, St Thomas, US Virgin Islands The Leeward Islands are the northern islands of the Lesser Antilles chain of islands, east of Puerto Rico and running southward to Dominica, being part of the West Indies. They are situated where the northeastern Caribbean Sea meets the western Atlantic Ocean. The southern part of the Lesser Antilles chain is called the Windward Islands. Contents 1 Explanation of name 2 Geography 3 History 4 List of the Leeward Islands 5 See also 6 External links Explanation of name

These islands are referred to as "leeward" because the prevailing winds in the area blow from the east (see trade wind). Thus these islands are downwind from, or leeward of, the southeasternmost Windward Islands, the group of islands that first meet the trade winds. Geography This section requires expansion.

The Leeward Islands fall under a number of national administrations. There is some active vulcanism within the islands, with a notable eruption in Montserrat in the recent past. History This section requires expansion. Anciently, the islands were inhabited by the Carib people, who gave their name to the Caribbean, and the Taíno people. Some descendants of these groups still survive in the islands.

The islands were amongst the first parts of the Americas to fall under the control of Spanish Empire. European contact commenced with Christopher Columbus' second voyage, and many placenames originate from this period, e.g. Montserrat is for Santa Maria de Montserrate, after the Blessed Virgin of the Monastery of Montserrat, which is located on the Mountain of Montserrat, the national shrine of Catalonia. List of the Leeward Islands The Leeward Islands (northmost group) in the Lesser Antilles Overview of the southernmost Leeward Islands Overlooking Sandy Ground, Anguilla

From generally northwest to southeast: Puerto Rican Virgin Islands: Vieques, Culebra U.S. Virgin Islands: St. Thomas, St. John, St. Croix, Water Island (U.S.) British Virgin Islands: Jost Van Dyke, Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Anegada (U.K.) Anguilla (U.K.) Saint Martin/Sint Maarten (Fr./Neth.) Saint-Barthélemy (Fr.) Saba (Neth.) Saint Eustatius (Neth.) Saint Kitts Nevis Barbuda Antigua Redonda Montserrat (U.K.) Guadeloupe (Fr.) Dominica (sometimes included)

The small and remote Isla Aves may perhaps be included with this group for convenience. See also Geography portal Antilles Leeward Antilles British Leeward Islands External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Leeward Islands The Leeward Islands Gazette, with full page images and full searchable text is freely and openly available in the Digital Library of the Caribbean Antigua, Montserrat and Virgin Islands Gazette, with full page images and full searchable text is freely and openly available in the Digital Library of the Caribbean