<p>Antigua is a twin-island country with Antigua, (pronounced An-tee-ga, Spanish for "ancient") being the largest of the English speaking islands of 440 sq. kms., 108 sq. miles. &nbsp;Its twin Barbuda (Spanish for "bearded") is 62 sq. miles; also surrounded by several smaller islands. This country has nicknamed itslef ‘land of 365 beaches’ due to its many beaches. Barbuda was separated from Antigua by about 28 miles back in 10,000 BC when the sea levels of the world had risen considerably. The Islands are &nbsp;located where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Caribbean Sea in the middle of the Leeward Islands. The shorelines of both islands are greatly indented with beaches, lagoons, and natural harbours and are rimmed by reefs and shoals created by volcanic activity in the past.&nbsp;</p>

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<p>Capital: St. John's &nbsp;with two dependencies namely, Barbuda and Radonda</p>

<p>Language: English.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Population: 103,050 &nbsp;(Antigua's count is approximately 80,000+ with Barbuda being much less at close to 20,000)</p>

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<p>The flag of Antigua and Barbuda was created in 1997 and &nbsp;presents with &nbsp;colours that &nbsp;illustrate sun, sea and sand; Black for African heritage and rich soil; Blue - for hope; &nbsp;and the Yellow Sun that demonstrates a &nbsp;new era; &nbsp;its &nbsp;V shape &nbsp; with red incorporated reflects the blood of the many slaves who died &nbsp;working for the rich British and European planters.</p>

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<p>Prior to European colonization, the lands encompassing present-day Antigua and Barbuda were inhabited by varied successive Amerindian societies who planted tobacco. &nbsp;The island &nbsp;was explored by Christopher Columbus in 1493 and named for the Church of Santa María La Antigua. It was later colonized by English settlers in 1632, until raided by the French in 1666. Barbuda island was first colonized in 1678. &nbsp;The Crown granted it to the Codrington family in 1685 who intended to use it as a save breeding colony. &nbsp;Somehow however, the imported slaves got to live self-reliantly in their own community. In 1784 Admiral Horatio Nelson used the bays to hide his fleet and set up Great Britain's most important Caribbean base. &nbsp;Due to the economic problems related to 2 hurricanes &nbsp;and the labour issues related to the emancipation of the slave trade &nbsp;in 1834 Barbuda reverted back to the Crown and &nbsp;eventually became a dependency of Antigua in the late 19th century. It was not until &nbsp;1958 &nbsp;that Antigua and Barbuda joined the West Indies Federation; and acquired full self-government &nbsp;of internal affairs as an associated state to the UK in 1967. Finally in Nov 1981 Antigua and Barbuda &nbsp;achieved independence. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

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<p>Economically the country &nbsp;struggled with the decline of the sugar industry &nbsp;earlier introduced by the Europeans, until the development of tourism. &nbsp;Manufacturing plays a small role in the economy mostly of clothing and textiles and concrete blocks. &nbsp;Barbudans have traditionally been fishermen and subsistence farmers some of which is still done today.&nbsp;</p>