- Leeward side - west coast, e.g. Waianae
- Windward side - east coast, e.g. Kailua
- North shore - north coast, e.g. Haleiwa
- South shore - south coast, e.g. Honolulu
- Central Oahu - interior highlands, e.g. Mililani
Which countries are in the Leeward Islands?
What Are the Windward Islands?
- Dominica: The northernmost island, the British government held this territory until 1978 and considered it part of the Leeward Islands. ...
- Martinique (France)
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Vincent and The Grenadines
- Grenada
Why is the Windward Island called Windward Islands?
“As for conditions, they are called the Windwards for a reason, and in the winter months, sailors can expect a steady wind from the east between fifteen to twenty-five knots,” he adds. “Temperatures remain very comfortable even in winter, varying between seventy-five to eighty degrees Fahrenheit.”
What is the largest Windward Islands?
What is the largest of the Windward Islands? The Windward Islands, in the West Indies, was made up of the British possessions of Grenada, St Vincent and St Lucia. Grenada, the smallest, is the southernmost island and St Lucia, the largest, is the northernmost island.
What country does Leeward Island belong to?
The Leeward Islands, a cluster of isles in the Caribbean under United States, British, Dutch and French flags, are strung out in a 400-mile‐long arc between Puerto Rico and Martinique.
What are the Windward Islands and Leeward Islands?
In English, the term Leeward Islands refers to the northern islands of the Lesser Antilles chain. The more southerly part of this chain, starting with Dominica, is called the Windward Islands.
What are the 4 Windward Islands?
The Windward Islands are comprised of the four independent States of Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Lucia and Dominica.
Why is it called Windward Islands?
Windward Islands Overview These islands are called Windward because they are more windward to arriving Caribbean cruise ships than the Leeward Islands in the North of the Lesser Antilles. Windward means upwind from a given reference point and leeward means down wind from a given reference point.
Where are leeward and Windward Islands located?
Though both archipelagos are located east and south of Puerto Rico, where the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean meet, the Leeward Islands are the more northerly in the group, and the Windward Islands are located farther south. The Windward Islands comprise Barbados, Grenada, the Grenadines, Martinique, St. Lucia, St.
What is the largest windward island?
St LuciaOverview. The Windward Islands, in the West Indies, was made up of the British possessions of Grenada, St Vincent and St Lucia. Grenada, the smallest, is the southernmost island and St Lucia, the largest, is the northernmost island.
Why are they called the Antilles?
The name 'Antilles' refers to a semi-mythical land called Antilia which can be found on many medieval maps. This was before Europeans traveled all the way across the Atlantic, but they did have an idea that some land was across the seas to the west, though it was often depicted as a large continent or island.
What country is the Leeward Islands?
The Leeward group includes: the U.S. Virgin Islands, the British Virgin Islands, Anguilla, Saint Martin, Saint-Barthelemy, Saba, Sint Eustatius, Saint Kitts, Nevis, Barbuda, Antiqua, Redonda, Montserrat and Guadeloupe.
Who lives on the Leeward Islands?
The citizens of the Leeward Islands are largely descended from the African slaves introduced in the 18th and early 19th centuries to work in the sugar cane plantations, and most islands have more than 90% of their population derived from this ethnic group.
Is Jamaica a leeward island?
These include the West Indian islands of St. Kitts, Nevis, Anguilla, Antigua, Montserrat (this group is called the Leeward Islands), Grenada, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Dominica (This group is called the Windward Islands), Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago and the French islands of Martinique and Guadeloupe.
Why are the islands called the Leeward Islands?
Call 1.800.344.6118 The Leeward Islands earned their name because they lie in the lee of the wind: the prevailing trade winds are blowing towards them from the east north east. They are situated near the meeting point of the Caribbean sea and the Atlantic Ocean.
Which islands are in the Leeward Islands?
Redonda IslandSaint‑Bart... IslandSint EustatiusSabaPetite MartiniqueMayreauLeeward Islands/Islands
Where are the Windward Islands?
the Caribbean SeaThe Windward Islands are located in the foot of the Caribbean Sea. The islands form part of the easternmost boundary of the Caribbean Sea. Since there are over seven thousands Caribbean islands islets reefs and cays the diversity among them is pronounced.
Is Puerto Rico a windward island?
The Spanish named all islands east of Puerto Rico as Islas de Barlovento which translates to “windward islands” while the islands south of Puerto Rico were referred to as “Sotavento” meaning “leeward islands.” Most of these islands were initially French colonies and were referred to as the French Antilles.
Where are the Leeward Islands?
the Caribbean SeaLeeward Islands, French Îles Sous-le-Vent, Spanish Islas de Sotavento, an arc of West Indian islands that constitute the most westerly and northerly of the Lesser Antilles, at the northeastern end of the Caribbean Sea, between latitudes 16° and 19° N and longitudes 61° and 65° W.
Is Dominica a windward or leeward island?
Similarly, Barbados (east of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines) is not physiographically part of the chain but is usually grouped with the Windward Islands. Dominica was formerly administered by the British government as part of the Leeward Islands, rather than the Windwards.
What is the difference between windward and leeward?
Windward and leeward are two terms used to give the position or orientation relative to the direction of the wind and one’s own position or another reference. Windward means on the side of something from which the wind is blowing. Leeward means the side opposite to which the wind is blowing.
What is the leeward side of an island?
The leeward side is protected from the prevailing wind by the elevation of the island and is typically the drier side than the windward side. Therefore, leeward or windward nature is an important weather and climate defining factor on oceanic islands.
Which vessel has the right of way over the windward vessel?
Therefore, the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea rule 12 states that the leeward vessel has the right of way (priority) over the windward vessel.
Why is the lee side important?
Windward and leeward directions are important factors to think about when sailing a ship because the direction of the wind affects the maneuverability of the vessel.
Why do Hawaiian Islands have damp windward and drier leeward sides?
As an example, the Hawaiian Islands have damp windward sides and drier leeward sides most of the time as a result of the Pacific Ocean’s northeasterly trade winds.
What does "windward" mean in sailing?
Did you know? In sailing terminology, windward means "upwind," or the direction from which the wind is blowing. A windward vessel refers to one that is upwind of another vessel; a leeward vessel is downwind.
Why did windward ships have the advantage?
In naval warfare during the Age of Sail, windward ships had the advantage due to much greater maneuverability than their leeward (downwind) foes. An island’s windward side faces the prevailing, or trade, winds, whereas the island’s leeward side faces away from the wind, sheltered from prevailing winds by hills and mountains.
Which side of an island is wetter?
As the air moves to the other side of the island, it warms up and dries out. Thus, an island’s windward side is wetter and more verdant than its drier leeward side.
What happens when trade winds blow across the ocean?
As trade winds blow across the ocean, they pick up moist air from the water. Once the damp air makes landfall on an island, it ascends hills and mountains to form condensation, clouds, and precipitation.
What is the difference between windward and leeward?
The air heats and dries as it travels to the other half of the island. Thus, the windward side of an island is wetter and more verdant than the leeward side , which is dryer. This disparity is referred to by meteorologists as the orographic effect.
Why are the Hawaiian Islands windward?
For instance, the Hawaiian Islands typically have damp windward sides and dry leeward sides due to the Pacific Ocean’s northeasterly trade winds. Generally, windward locations are lush and verdant. The islands’ more sheltered leeward shores are home to famously sunny beaches such as Oahu’s Waikiki and Maui’s Wailea.
Why won't my sails work?
The sails won’t work if there isn’t enough wind on the windward side to fill the sail. Like a flag, they’ll flap in the wind.
How do sails generate power?
As sails generate power from the wind, they both generate lift and push. To have an efficient flow of wind power, the sails are placed at an angle to the apparent wind, which is the wind felt by a moving ship. To the degree that genuine wind direction can be felt from a fixed location, the route with regard to the actual wind direction is called a point of sail.
What does "wind push" mean?
Wind push is intuitive. This means that the wind is pushing the sail in the same direction.
Which side of an island faces away from the wind?
The windward side of an island confronts the predominant, or trade, winds, whereas the leeward side faces away from the wind, protected from it by hills and mountains. As the trade winds travel across the ocean, they gather up moisture from the surrounding sea.
What is Sail Shape?
Sailing science begins with the sail’s rounded, triangular shape. The sail’s frontmost edge links with the mast, while the bottom edge travels horizontally along the boom. A very slight curve has been applied to the sail, which allows it to billow ever so slightly.
Why do we call some islands Windward and some other Leeward ?
If you’ve been in the sailing world a bit, you’ll notice that some islands are defined as Windward, while other are called Leeward.
What are the Leeward Islands?
The Leeward Islands consist of the mountainous volcanic islands of Raiatea, Tahaa, Huahine and Bora Bora, as well as the atolls of Maupiti, Maupihaa, Tupai, Manuae and Motu One. Cape Verde, located off the African coast, consists of a group of 9 inhabited islands, one uninhabited island, and islets. These islands are divided into two groups: the ...
What are the islands of the Caribbean?
And the set of islands is subdivided: to the north, the Leeward Islands, and to the south the Windward Islands.
Why were the Windward Islands called Windward Islands?
British sailors called these islands “Windward Islands” because they had to beat to windward to get there from their other possessions. Exposed to the trade winds, coming from the East, navigation from north to south is facilitated there.
What are the Windward Islands of Cape Verde?
The Windward Islands of Cape Verde consist of the islands of Santo Antão, São Vicente, Santa Luzia (uninhabited), São Nicolau, Sal, and Boa Vista, and the islets Branco and Raso.
What is the name of the northern islands of the Lesser Antilles?
The Leeward Islands are the northern islands of the Lesser Antilles:
How did the Lesser Antilles Island arc form?
The formation of the Lesser Antilles island arc is influenced by numerous events, particularly those related to plate tectonics. The Windward Islands enjoy a particular geological formation and follow the limit of the subduction zone between the oceanic crust and the Caribbean plate. The two plates converge at this precise level. The Atlantic plate is sinking, each year, 2 to 4 cm below the Caribbean plate by subduction.
Why are the Leeward Islands called the Windward Islands?
They are referred to as the Windward Islands due to their location on the path of Northeastern trade winds. The Leeward Islands are composed of the many smaller islands that make up the Lesser Antilles, including Anguilla, Antigua, Barbuda, Guadeloupe, Montserrat, Nevis, Redonda, Saba, St. Barts, Saint Kitts, Saint Martin, Sint Eustatius, ...
Where are the Windward Islands located?
Though both archipelagos are located east and south of Puerto Rico, where the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean meet, the Leeward Islands are the more northerly in the group, and the Windward Islands are located farther south. The Windward Islands comprise Barbados, Grenada, the Grenadines, Martinique, St. Lucia, St.
What are the two islands that are common to cruise ships?
Two common island groups you might encounter are the Windward and Leeward Islands , as they contain many popular cruise ship port stops.
What are the islands in the Lesser Antilles?
Both the Windward Islands and the Leeward Islands are island chains that are part of the Lesser Antilles (together with the Leeward Antilles islands of Aruba, Curacao, Bonaire, Tortuga and Isla Margarita).
What are the ports in the Eastern Caribbean?
However, port stops in Barbados, St. Lucia, Antigua, Barbuda, St. Kitts and the Virgin Islands are not uncommon on Eastern Caribbean cruises with more mainstream cruise lines.
Why are windward and leeward important?
Windward and leeward aren't frivolous terms. When applied to mountains, they are important factors in weather and climate —one is responsible for enhancing precipitation in the vicinity of mountain ranges, while the other withholds it.
What does "windward" mean in meteorology?
In meteorology, "leeward" and "windward" are technical terms that indicate the direction in which the wind is blowing in regard to a specific point of reference. These points of reference can be a number of things, including ships at sea, islands, buildings, and—as this article will explore—mountains.
What is the windward side of a reference point?
In all circumstances in which the terms are used, the windward side of the reference point is the one that faces the prevailing wind. The leeward—or "lee"—side is the one sheltered from the wind by the reference point. Windward and leeward aren't frivolous terms. When applied to mountains, they are important factors in weather ...
Which side of the mountain range is sheltered from the wind?
Opposite from the windward side is the lee side—the side sheltered from the prevailing wind. This is often the eastern side of the mountain range because prevailing winds in the mid-latitudes blow from the west, but that is not necessarily always the case.
What are the winds that blow down the slope of a mountain called?
Winds that blow down the lee side of mountains are called "downslope winds." They not only carry low relative humidity but also rush down at extremely strong speeds and can bring temperatures more than 50 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than the surrounding air. "Katabatic winds" like the Santa Ana Winds in Southern California are an example of such winds; these are infamous for the hot, dry weather they bring in autumn and for fanning regional wildfires. "Foehns" and "chinooks" are other examples of these warming downslope winds.
Where are the Windward Islands?
227/km 2 (588/sq mi) The Windward Islands, also known as the Islands of Barlovento, are the southern, generally larger islands of the Lesser Antilles, within the West Indies. They lie south of the Leeward Islands, approximately between latitudes 10° and 16° N and longitudes 60° and 62° W.
Why are the Windward Islands called the Windward Islands?
The Windward Islands are called such because they were more windward to sailing ships (not the islands themselves) arriving to the New World than the Leeward Islands, given that the prevailing trade winds in the West Indies blow east to west. The trans-Atlantic currents and winds that provided the fastest route across the ocean brought these ships to the rough dividing line between the Windward and Leeward islands.
What is the name of the line of islands in the Caribbean Sea?
Encyclopædia Britannica. [A] line of West Indian islands constituting the southern arc of the Lesser Antilles, at the eastern end of the Caribbean Sea, between latitudes 12° and 16° N and longitudes 60° and 62° W.
What are the islands of the Lesser Antilles?
Islands of the Lesser Antilles, within the West Indies. This article is about the Caribbean island group. For the eastern islands of French Polynesia, see Windward Islands (Society Islands). For the main islands of Hawaii, see Hawaiian Windward Islands. Windward Islands.
Is Trinidad and Tobago part of the Windward Islands?
Though near the general area, Trinidad and Tobago (at the south end of the group) and Barbados (just east) are usually not considered part of the Windward Islands. ^ Chapter 4 - The Windward Islands and Barbados - U.S. Library of Congress. ^ "Windward Islands". Footprint Travel Guides. Retrieved 23 March 2013.
