Anguilla
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The point of a true vacation is to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. The body and mind crave the common bond of tranquility. This example of serenity can be found here in Anguilla. There are no high rises here, and everywhere you look your eyes will be pleased by the visceral splendor. So rest and enjoy sunbathing on one of the 30 bleached white beaches of Anguilla.

Present day Anguilla is a self-governed British colony that gained its independence in 1980. With each passing year more people discover how precious this island truly is, and a great deal of building is underway to accommodate all of the demand. However, Anguillians realize how important it is not to sacrifice the beauty and the natural resources of their treasured land, and as a result they have issued strict control on development.

There are many attractions offered on this gorgeous island the French nicknamed the eel long ago. Anguilla has about 70 scrumptious restaurants to choose from, and the open-air patios offer patrons premier outdoor dining. Browse through the museums and galleries, shop for souvenirs and then enjoy an exquisite afternoon on the beach. At night Anguilla is brimming with life, as you can see a live concert or go dancing any night of the week.

Geography
Anguilla is the most northerly of the Leeward Islands in the Lesser Antilles. Its territory includes nearby Scrub, Seal, Dog and Sombrero islands and Prickly Pear Cays. Saint Martin lies five miles to the south and St. Kitts about 60 miles to the southeast. The combined land area is about 91 sq. km. Anguilla is a relatively flat, coral and limestone island covered with sparse, dry woodlands and fringed by white sand beaches. The highest elevation is about 65 meters.

History
Anguilla was first colonized by the British in 1650. The territory was administered by the British as part of the Leeward islands after colonization and from 1825 it was closely associated with St. Kitts. Nevis and Anguilla were united as a single colony in 1882. Attempts at enslavement and colonization did not last very long because the limestone land was hardly fit for agriculture. Consequently, Anguilla does not bear the scars of slavery found in the other Caribbean countries. With the decline of the plantation system the slaves were allowed to leave the island to seek work overseas. They used their wages to buy their freedom and that of their families so that they could return, possess and settle the lands long deserted by plantation owners.

Economy
Anguilla has few natural resources and the economy depends heavily on luxury tourism, offshore banking, lobster fishing and remittances from emigrants. Agriculture also contributes to the economy since there is a high production of pigeon peas, corn, sweet potatoes, sheep, goats, pigs, cattle and poultry. The country's major exports are fish, lobster and other seafood. Anguilla can be said to be "a high-end" tourist destination with a growing offshore financial services industry. Strong economic growth is predicted for the medium term as capacity in the tourism sector expands and the offshore financial sector becomes further developed.

People & Culture
Most of the people of Anguilla are blacks and mulattos, the descendants of African slaves. The few white inhabitants are mostly of European descent. The official language is English and the largest religious memberships are in the Protestant denominations ( Anglican and Methodist). Cultural activities include the carnival Queen Coronation, the Prince and Princess show, street dancing and calypso competitions.