Basseterre is the capital of the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis, the administrative center of an independent state within the Commonwealth led by the United Kingdom. Basseterre is situated on the shore of a natural bay on the southern coast of the island of Saint Kitts (Saint Christopher), which is of volcanic origin.
The city’s name is translated from French as “lowland” or “low-lying area.” And perhaps it’s the only French touch in the city’s portrait: everything else here is typically British. This is reflected in the city’s architecture and even in the layout of its streets.
But this city is beautiful not only because of its architecture. It also offers excellent beaches, great conditions for active recreation, and-simply-magnificent nature… In general, the city feels like a slice of paradise that you absolutely have to visit!
The State of Saint Kitts and Nevis is located on the territory of the eponymous islands in the northern part of the Leeward Islands group. To the east, it borders Antigua and Barbuda; to the south-east, it borders Montserrat; to the north-west, it borders the Netherlands Antilles (Sint Eustatius); to the north, it borders Saint Barthélemy, which is part of French Guadeloupe (all borders are maritime). The entire country is washed on all sides by the waters of the Caribbean Sea (the total length of the coastline is 135 km). The total area of the state is 261.6 sq. km (Saint Kitts 168 sq. km, Nevis 93 sq. km). This is the smallest country in the Western Hemisphere.
Saint Kitts Island stretches 37 km from the north-west to the south-east. In the same direction, along its central axis, stand highly rugged, peak-like mountains with the country’s highest point-a dormant volcano, Mount Liamuiga (1155 m)-in whose crater there is a lake. The south-eastern part of the island is a flat peninsula (height no more than 22 m), dotted with many salt lakes and an irregular coastline that forms many bays with sandy beaches. The sand on some beaches is dark, almost black.
Nevis Island lies 3 km south of Saint Kitts and is separated from it by the narrows of The Narrows. The island has a rounded shape; almost the entire mass of Nevis is formed by volcanic rocks from ancient eruptions, mainly of Mount Nevis (the island’s highest point, 985 m), as well as its side vents-Saddle Hill and Hurricane Hill. Along the coast runs a band of sandy beaches.
ClimateThe tropical climate of this region is shaped by the trade winds and ocean breezes, which reduce the heat. The temperature hardly changes by season, staying within +26° C; a drop to +18° C and a rise to +32° C occur only extremely rarely. Precipitation falls throughout the year evenly, with an average amount of 950 mm. Like other Leeward Islands, Saint Kitts and Nevis are within the belt where strong tropical hurricanes pass, which are most likely from August to October.
