Lesser Antilles

island arc in the Caribbean Sea

The Lesser Antilles (also known as the Caribbees[1]) are a group of islands between the eastern edge of the Caribbean Sea and the western Atlantic Ocean. They are east and south of the Greater Antilles. Some of the islands are also just off the northern coast of South America. Unlike the Greater Antilles, which are made up of continental rock, the Lesser Antilles, are mostly young volcanic or coral islands.

Lesser Antilles
Location within the Caribbean.
Location within the Caribbean.
RegionCaribbean
Island States
Area
 • Total13,012 km2 (5,024 sq mi)
Population
 (2009)
 • Total3,735,636
 • Density290/km2 (740/sq mi)
DemonymLesser Antillean
Time zoneUTC−4 (AST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−3 (ADT)
Location of the Lesser Antilles (green) in comparison to the rest of the Caribbean.

References

change
  1. "West Indies." Merriam-Webster's Geographical Dictionary, 3rd ed. 2001. (ISBN 0-87779-546-0) Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster Inc., p. 1298.

14°14′N 61°21′W / 14.233°N 61.350°W / 14.233; -61.350