Redonda

Approaching the east coast of Redonda.

Redonda is a very small Caribbean island. It is part of Antigua and Barbuda,. No people live here.

This small island is 56.2 kilometres (34.9 mi) southwest of Antigua. It is between the islands of Nevis and Montserrat.

Redonda seems like one very large rock. It is what is left of an ancient volcanic core. The land rises very steeply from sea level, mostly as sheer cliffs. There is no source of freshwater except rain. The only animals that live here are seabirds and a herd of feral goats. The goats live on the poor grazing on top of the island.

History

The island of Redonda as seen from Nevis with Montserrat faintly visible in the distance.

Christopher Columbus found Redonda in 1493 on his second journey. He said the island belonged to Spain. He named the island Santa María la Redonda, meaning Saint Mary the Round. The island looks round when viewed from the side. In the 1860s, the island became a British possession.

Redonda Media

• 

  Antigua and Barbuda map with Redonda (lower left).

• 

  The west (leeward) coast of Redonda consists almost entirely of sheer cliffs many hundreds of feet high, 2011

• 

  A small stone hut on the top of the island dates from the days when guano was mined there.

• 

  A detail of the west coast shows the reddish volcanic rock cliffs and a small rock islet with a visible intertidal algal zone, 2011