Carriacou is the second-largest island in the Caribbean nation of Grenada. The only signficant town is Hillsborough.


Carriacou Island in the Caribbean Sea, is the largest island of the Grenadines, an archipelago in the Windward Islands chain. The island is 13 sq miles (34 km²), and a dependency of Grenada with a population of 4,595 (1991 census).
The main settlements on the island are Hillsborough, L'Esterre, Harvey Vale, and Windward.

The neighbouring island of Petite Martinique is 2 1/2 miles away from Carriacou, and also a part of Grenada. With its 586 acres (2.4 km²), population 900, it is relatively smaller than Carriacou. The residents of this island live by boat-building, fishing and seafaring.

The Grenadine islands to the north of Carriacou and Petite Martinique are dependencies of St Vincent.

Geography

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Carriacou, known as "the island surrounded by reefs" is the largest of the Grenadines. Its natural beauty and relaxed lifestyle lead to its international reputation to be among the friendliest, safest and most beautiful islands in the Caribbean. Miles of empty white sand beaches, deep aqua bays, spectacular hill views of surrounding Grenadine islands, nature trails, gorgeous reefs and safe anchoring harbours attract people from all over the world.

Carriacou has no rivers. The water supply for the island comes from its rainfall. The driest time of the year is between January and June.

The short distance between islands and the complete lack of active border patrol mean that it is possible to move between nations relatively easily - a common situation in the Caribbean.

History

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The earliest settlers, the Amerindians, called Carriacou "Kayryouacou", meaning "the land of reefs."

Carriacou was settled by the French, but in 1763 was ceded with Grenada to the British when they captured neighbouring Grenada. The majority of the inhabitants today are of African descent. There still is a British influence on the island as it was colonised by the British Empire and it is part of Grenada, a Commonwealth state. There is also still a French influence which is demonstrated in village names, such as L'Esterre, La Resource, Beausejour, et cetera, and the local patois is still spoken.

The inhabitants of Carriacou perform the "Big Drum" or "Nation" dance which celebrates their West African ancestors that were brought to the island during slavery times. These Big Drum dances are usually performed at "Maroons" village festivals or fetes, where food and drink are prepared. They can also be danced at wakes and tombstone feasts in honour of dead relatives.

There still is a traditional boat-building culture located in the village of Windward, in the northeastern side of the island, where Carriacou's Scottish and Irish ancestors are concentrated.

Carriacouans have migrated to the United Kingdom (many to the county town of Bedford; it is said that if you live on Carriacou you will have a family member in Bedford and if you live in Bedford you will know someone from Carriacou), other English locations where Kyaks congregate are Huddersfield and South London (Lewisham) where the rector of St Stephens is the Archbishop of Canterbury's visitor to...