View source for Anegada

{{Short description|Northernmost of the British Virgin Islands}}
{{For|the body of water|Anegada Passage}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2015}}
{{more citations needed|date=November 2011}}
{{Infobox islands
| name = Anegada
| image_name = AnegadaWestEndAerial.jpg
| image_caption = Unlike the other British Virgin Islands, Anegada is a low-lying [[coral island]] rather than a [[volcanic island]].
| island_type = 
| location = [[Atlantic Ocean]]
| image_map = Anegada BVI.svg
| map = British Virgin Islands#Caribbean
| map_caption = The location of Anegada within the British Virgin Islands
| area_sqmi = 14
| coordinates = {{coord|18|44|N|64|20|W|region:VG_type:isle|display=title,inline}}
| archipelago = [[Virgin Islands]]
| country = [[United Kingdom]]<br />[[British Virgin Islands]]
| country_admin_divisions_title     = [[British Overseas Territory]]
| country_admin_divisions           = [[British Virgin Islands]]
| population = 450
| population_as_of = 2024
| population_footnotes = <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bvi.gov.vg/sites/default/files/resources/virgin_islands_population_and_housing_census_2010.pdf |title=Virgin Islands 2010 Population and Housing Census Report |page=6 |access-date=7 January 2019}}</ref>
| timezone1 = [[Atlantic Time Zone|AST]]
| utc_offset1 = -4
| iso_code = VG
| module = {{Infobox lighthouse|embed=yes|qid=Q106116758}}
}}
'''Anegada''' {{IPAc-en|,|ae|n|@|'|g|A:|d|@}} is the northernmost of the [[British Virgin Islands]] (BVI), a group of islands that form part of the [[archipelago]] of the [[Virgin Islands]]. It lies about {{convert|15|mi|km}} north of [[Virgin Gorda]]. Anegada is the only inhabited British Virgin Island formed from [[coral]] and [[limestone]],<ref>Arguably Saba Rock, with a part-time hotel on it, is also inhabited.  The only other significant coral and limestone island in the Territory is Sandy Spit.</ref> rather than of [[volcano|volcanic]] origin. While the other islands are mountainous, Anegada is flat and low. Its highest point is only about {{convert|28|ft|m}} above sea level, earning it its name, which is from the Spanish for "flooded land", ''tierra anegada''.<ref>[http://www.bvitourism.com/anegada "Anegada, a world apart"] BVI Tourist Board website.  Accessed: 11 December 2014</ref>

Additionally, Anegada is the only sliver of land directly south of [[Bermuda]], another British overseas territory. Anegada lies directly west of [[Mauritania]] in [[Africa]] and east of all other islands in the [[British Virgin Islands]]. 

At about 15 square miles (38 square kilometers), Anegada is the second-largest of the British Virgin Islands. With a population of 450 as of the 2024 census.<ref>The BVI Beacon "Portrait of a population: 2024 Census published" pg. 4, 20 November 2014</ref> Most of Anegada's residents live in the only village, [[The Settlement (BVI)|The Settlement]].

==Economy==
[[File:Anegada Horseshoe Reef.jpg|thumb|Horseshoe Reef extends southeastward from Anegada]]
The primary business of Anegada is tourism. On a typical day during the tourist season, the island has 200 to 300 visitors. Commercial fishing is also a substantial business on Anegada, with local fishermen providing most of the fresh fish and lobster catch for the rest of the British Virgin Islands. Its miles of south shore flats have a large population of [[bonefish]], making Anegada a popular destination for [[fly fishing]].

From 2008 to 2013 Anegada was home to one of the tallest Christmas trees in the Caribbean and had an official tree lighting ceremony and party each year.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mainstayinsurance.ca/mainlinkimages/Anegadaflyer09.pdf |title=2009 Anegada 'Christmas Tree' Flotilla |website=www.mainstayinsurance.ca |access-date=4 August 2021}}</ref> The tree, donated by Adrian Johnson, was intended to help bring visitors to the island and provided a flotilla destination for many sailors.

==Access==
Access to the island is via the small [[Auguste George Airport]] (NGD), thrice-weekly [[ferry|ferries]], and private boat. Charter flights run directly to Anegada from [[Tortola]], [[Virgin Gorda]], [[San Juan, Puerto Rico|San Juan]], [[St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands|St. Thomas]], [[Antigua]], and [[St. Maarten]].<ref>[http://www.bvitourism.com/more-anegada "More on the island of Anegada] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150219013522/http://www.bvitourism.com/more-anegada |date=19 February 2015 }} BYI Tourist Board website.  Accessed: December 11, 2014</ref>{{check quotation}}
==Horseshoe Reef==
Anegada is known for miles of white sand beaches and the {{convert|18|mi|km|adj=on}}-long Horseshoe Reef, one of the [[Caribbean Sea|Caribbean]]'s largest barrier [[coral reefs]]. The reef makes navigation to Anegada difficult. While charter boats freely sail among most of the other Virgin Islands, charter companies often forbid clients to sail to Anegada to avoid running aground on the reef.

The reef has caused hundreds of shipwrecks,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blytmann.com/wrecks1.htm|title=The Saga of the Anegada Island Shipwrecks, 1500–1899|author=Blytmann, Tage W.|access-date=7 August 2014|archive-date=5 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305105200/http://www.blytmann.com/wrecks1.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> including [[HMS Astraea (1781)|HMS ''Astraea'']] in 1808,<ref>{{cite web|author=Blytmann, Tage W.|url=http://www.blytmann.com/anegada.htm|title=The Saga of the Anegada Island Shipwrecks|access-date=March 25, 2006| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20060410094346/http://www.blytmann.com/anegada.htm| archive-date= 10 April 2006 | url-status= live}}</ref> the [[St Phillip's Church, Tortola#History|''Donna Paula'']] (1819), and the MS ''Rocus'' (1929).<ref>Better known as the "Bone Wreck"</ref> As such, it was once an important [[scuba diving]] destination. In an effort to protect the reef, the BVI government has made anchoring on Horseshoe Reef illegal.

==Fauna==
{{unreferenced section|date=February 2017}}
Anegada is also known for the large [[salt evaporation pond|salt ponds]] that cover much of its west end. These ponds, which support unique fauna, were designated a [[Ramsar Convention|Ramsar Site]] on 11 May 1999. In the 1830s, thousands of [[Caribbean flamingo]]s lived in these ponds, but they were hunted for food and feathers throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries and disappeared by 1950. They have since been re-established. As of 2016, the flamingo flock numbers approximately 200. The birds are another tourist draw, but officials are trying to keep the number of visitors to the flamingo areas at a level that allows the birds to flourish. [[BirdLife International]] has recognized the western salt ponds and south-eastern coastal mangroves as an [[Important Bird Area]] (IBA).<ref name=bli>{{cite web |url=http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/anegada:-western-salt-ponds-and-coastal-areas-iba-virgin-islands-(to-uk)|title= Anegada: western salt ponds and coastal areas|author=<!--Not stated--> |date=2020|website= BirdLife Data Zone|publisher= BirdLife International|access-date= 16 December 2020}}</ref>

Other rare or endangered animals include the Anegada rock iguana (''[[Cyclura pinguis]]'') and several species of [[turtle]]. [[Conch]], Caribbean lobster (''[[Metanephrops binghami]]''), and many species of fish can be found near Anegada, particularly in the deep waters off the North Drop, north of the island.

The [[Fort Worth Zoo|Ft. Worth Zoo]] now maintains an Anegada Rock "Headstart" facility in the Settlement. Newly hatched iguanas are caught in the wild, brought to the facility, and raised until they are large enough to defend themselves against the feral cats that are their only predator on Anegada. As of 2016, over 200 iguanas have been released from the Headstart program back into the wild. In addition, an annual Iguana Festival is held outside the Iguana Headstart Facility to celebrate the island's native species.

The reef adjacent to the Settlement was once one of the Caribbean's more fertile conch grounds, but overfishing has wiped out its conch population. Visitors to the Settlement are greeted by the sight of mountains of empty conch shells on the shore.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shefchik |first=Claire |date=2019-07-16 |title=There's a Massive Conch-Shell Graveyard in the Caribbean |url=http://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/anegada-conch-british-virgin-islands |access-date=2025-08-11 |website=Atlas Obscura |language=en}}</ref>

There are also populations of [[feral]] [[cattle]], [[donkey]]s, [[goat]]s, [[cows]], and [[sheep]] that live in all areas of the island.

==Hurricanes==
{{unreferenced section|date=February 2017}}
Anegadians traditionally endured hurricanes by tying their dories to the trunks of mangroves with rope and covering them with tarps. Today, given sufficient warning, a few leave the island for [[Tortola]] until the storm passes.

On 30 August 2010, the eye of [[Hurricane Earl (2010)|Hurricane Earl]] passed {{convert|15|to|20|mi|km}} north of Anegada at category 4, with winds in excess of {{cvt|135|mph|m/s}}. The close passage led to significant damage on the island, with major flooding on the south side from the [[storm surge]] and breaking waves. The north side experienced no storm surge, and Horseshoe Reef protected it from breaking waves. 24 hours before the storm arrived, the forecast was for the storm to pass well to the north. By the time it was apparent that the hurricane was going to have a major impact, all transportation services from Anegada (air and ferry) had been suspended. There were no reported serious injuries on the island.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2010-08-31 |title=CDEMA Situation Report #2 - Hurricane Earl - Antigua and Barbuda {{!}} ReliefWeb |url=https://reliefweb.int/report/antigua-and-barbuda/cdema-situation-report-2-hurricane-earl |access-date=2025-08-11 |website=reliefweb.int |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2010-08-30 |title=Hurricane Earl Batters Caribbean Islands - CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/hurricane-earl-batters-caribbean-islands/ |access-date=2025-08-11 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

On 6 September 2017, the eye of [[Hurricane Irma (2017)|Hurricane Irma]] passed {{convert|12|mi|km}} south of Anegada at category 5, with winds in excess of {{cvt|185|mph|m/s}}. Irma's northern eyewall passed directly over Anegada, causing major damage to the island. Some people evacuated to [[Tortola]] before the storm struck, but most people remained on the island. There was some flooding on the south side from the [[storm surge]] and breaking waves. The north side experienced no storm surge, and Horseshoe Reef protected it from breaking waves. There were no reported serious injuries on the island.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-09-07 |title=Hurricane Irma: One of the most powerful Atlantic Ocean storms on record |url=https://www.rmets.org/metmatters/hurricane-irma-one-most-powerful-atlantic-ocean-storms-record |access-date=2025-08-11 |website=RMetS |language=en}}</ref>

==Education==
{{See also|Education in the British Virgin Islands}}
{{more citations needed section|date=January 2020}}
About 70 students attend school at the Claudia Creque Educational Centre,{{citation needed|date=January 2020}} formerly Anegada Primary and Secondary School.<ref name=Schoollist>{{cite web|url=http://www.bvi.gov.vg/products.asp?iProd=35&iCat=12&hierarchy=0|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090723081334/http://www.bvi.gov.vg/products.asp?iProd=35&iCat=12&hierarchy=0|url-status=dead|archive-date=2009-07-23|title=Schools|publisher=Government of the British Virgin Islands|date=2009-07-23|access-date=2020-01-20}}</ref> This self-contained school is the only school on Anegada and handles pre-school, primary, and secondary levels. It is funded and operated by the British Virgin Islands government.

==See also==
* [[List of lighthouses in the British Virgin Islands]]

==Further reading==

* Schomburgk, Robert Hermann (1832). "[https://www.jstor.org/stable/1797761 Remarks on Anegada]". ''The Journal of the Royal Geographical Society of London''. '''2''': 152–170.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*{{Wikivoyage-inline|Anegada}}

{{British Virgin Islands}}
{{Authority control | additional=Q106116758}}

[[Category:Anegada| ]]
[[Category:Ramsar sites in dependent territories of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Former English colonies]]
[[Category:Lighthouses in the British Virgin Islands]]
[[Category:Seabird colonies]]
[[Category:Important Bird Areas of the British Virgin Islands]]