The Grenadines ( / ˈ ɡ r ɛ n ə d iː n z / ) is a chain of small islands that lie on a line between the larger islands of Saint Vincent and Grenada in the Lesser Antilles . Nine are inhabited and open to the public (or ten, if the offshore island of Young Island is counted): Bequia , Mustique , Canouan , Union Island , Petit St Vincent , Palm Island and Mayreau , all in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, plus Petite Martinique and Carriacou in Grenada. Several additional privately owned islands, such as Calivigny , are also inhabited. Notable uninhabited islands of the Grenadines include Petit Nevis , used by whalers , and Petit Mustique , which was the centre of a prominent real estate scam in the early 2000s.
8-455: Mayreau is the smallest inhabited island of the Grenadines , with an area of about 0.46 sq. miles and a population of about 271. The population is centered in an unnamed village, located on Station Hill , a hilltop in the south-west of the island. It is an isolated community, accessible only by boat. Electricity was only recently (2002) provided by a central generator located on Saline Bay. There
16-484: Is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Grenadines The northern two-thirds of the chain, including about 32 islands and cays, is part of the country of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines . The southern third of the chain belongs to the country of Grenada. Carriacou is the largest and most populous of the Grenadines. The islands are politically divided between the island nations of Saint Vincent and
24-530: Is a single-lane concrete road leading from the wharf on Saline Bay through the village to Saltwhistle Bay . The top of the island is crested with the small elementary school; the telecommunications building; the brick and stone Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception, christened on May 12, 1930, and a Pentecostal church. From the crest of the hill behind the Catholic Church, there is an overlook of
32-671: The Tobago Cays , Canouan and Union Island . The island gets much of its water from three catchments set on the east side of the island. One serves the resort at Saltwhistle Bay and two serve the village. Saline Bay is named for the salt pond just east of the sandy beach. Salt was harvested and exported in times past but is now harvested only for local use. The island is populated mostly by fishermen and supported by tourism. The school has about 50 students from kindergarten to Grade 6. Upon completing their primary/elementary education, students attend secondary schools on neighbouring Union Island or
40-628: The British took over in 1762 there were a fair number of French plantations on Bequia and Carriacou. In 1791 the islands were divided between Grenada and Saint Vincent. The total population of the Grenadine islands within Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is estimated to be 10,234. The following islands make up the Grenadines Parish : Carriacou and Petite Martinique is a dependency of Grenada and has
48-489: The Grenadines and Grenada . They lie between the islands of Saint Vincent in the north and Grenada in the south. Neither Saint Vincent nor Grenada are Grenadine islands. The islands north of the Martinique Channel belong to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and the islands south of the channel belong to Grenada. The history of the Grenadines is not well studied due to their relative lack of geopolitical importance,
56-425: The main island, St. Vincent . Mayreau also has a small resort area on Saltwhistle Bay, a very popular spot for anchoring yachts. The Grenadines mail boat calls at Mayreau, but boarding can be difficult, as the vessel remains in deeper waters, with passengers being required to embark and leave through the use of smaller craft, which land on the nearby beach. This Saint Vincent and the Grenadines location article
64-621: The paucity of original documents and lack of serious research. The islands were sparsely populated by the Caribs, who used them mainly for fishing and food gathering. When the French claimed Grenada in 1650, the Grenadines were included (St Vincent to the north remained Carib country). Because of their small size, dangerous reefs and lack of fresh water, the French used them mainly for fishing, turtle catching and lime-making. They were also used by smugglers and pirates. Permanent settlements began about 1740. When
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