Anegada is the northern most of the British Virgin Islands. It is about fifteen miles north of Virgin Gorda, and measures 10 miles long by 2 1/2 miles wide. Anegada is the second largest of the British Virgin Islands, but it is also the most sparsely populated of the main islands, with a population of 285 as at the 2010 Census. Most of the population on Anegada lives in The Settlement.
Unlike the other islands which were formed from volcanic and seismic events, Anegada was formed from coral and limestone. It also differs from the other islands by being extremely flat ” (Anegada is only 28 feet above sea level at its highest point) giving it the moniker, “The Drowned Island”. While the primary business of Anegada is tourism, commercial fishing is also a substantial business, with local fishermen providing the majority of the fresh seafood for the entire Virgin Islands.
Anegada has miles of white sand beaches and the 29km (18 mile) long Horseshoe Reef, is the largest barrier coral reef in the Caribbean, and the fourth largest on earth. The reef makes navigation to Anegada difficult by boat and has claimed hundreds of shipwrecks over the past centuries. Given that the island is surrounded by underwater caves, tunnel formations and age-old shipwrecks, it has become a popular destination for snorkelers and scuba divers. Snorkeling, especially in the waters around Loblolly Bay on the north shore, is an exhilarating experience. One can float in shallow, calm water just a few feet from shore and see many coral formations shimmering with colorful fish.
Nature enthusiasts will also discover much to love on Anegada, thanks to a largely isolated ecosystem that is a habitat to several interesting native species (such as rock iguanas, wild orchids, lush tropical vegetation and colorful exotic birds such as herons, flamingos, terns and ospreys).
Apart from the miles of white sand beaches, Anegada is also known for the large naturally formed salt ponds which cover much of the of the island, and unique fauna. In the 1830s, thousands of Caribbean Flamingos lived in these ponds, but they were hunted for food and feathers throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries and disappeared by 1950. In 1992 they were reintroduced to the island with 22 birds being brought from Bermuda and released into the salt ponds. Today, the flock numbers in the hundreds, and is a striking spectacle to witness as another tourist attraction.
