Overview
The Lesser Antilles, also called the Caribbees, are a long, curving chain of islands that separates the eastern edge of the Caribbean Sea from the western Atlantic Ocean. They lie to the east and south of the Greater Antilles and extend in an arc from the Virgin Islands in the north down toward the coast of Venezuela. For a simple map or basic orientation see a regional location guide: map of the Lesser Antilles.
Geography and geology
Geographically the Lesser Antilles are commonly divided into two main groups: the Leeward Islands in the north and the Windward Islands farther south, with several smaller island groups and offshore islets. The chain forms the eastern boundary of the Caribbean Sea and faces the Atlantic on its windward side. Many islands are volcanic in origin, produced by subduction-related activity at the edge of the Caribbean tectonic plate; others are coral islands or uplifted limestone platforms.
Principal islands and political status
The Lesser Antilles include well-known islands and multi-island territories. Major components are the Leeward group, the Windward group, and the islands off the northern coast of South America. They are administered by a mix of sovereign states and overseas departments or territories, resulting in diverse systems of governance, languages and legal frameworks. For geographic context: relation to the Greater Antilles and the adjacent bodies of water such as the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.
History, culture and languages
Indigenous peoples inhabited these islands prior to European contact. From the late 15th century onward the islands became focal points of European exploration, colonization and the transatlantic trade. As a result, the cultural landscape is multilingual and multicultural, with influences from Indigenous, African, European and South American traditions. Widely spoken languages include various forms of English, French, Dutch, Spanish and creoles derived from them.
Economy, environment and hazards
Today economies in the Lesser Antilles rely on tourism, agriculture, financial services and shipping to differing degrees. The islands are biodiverse and feature coral reefs, tropical forests and unique coastal ecosystems, which also face pressures from development, erosion and climate change. Natural hazards include hurricanes and volcanic activity on some islands. A number of smaller islands lie close to the northern coast of South America, which influences ecological and economic connections across the region; see further regional information: northern South America proximity.