Saba
Encyclopedia
Saba is a Caribbean
island and the smallest special municipality (officially public body
) of the Netherlands
.(Law on the public bodies of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba) |work=Dutch Government |url=http://www.eerstekamer.nl/wetsvoorstel/31954_wet_openbare_lichamen |accessdate=14 October 2010}} It consists largely of the potentially active volcano Mount Scenery
(877 m), the highest point of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
and the Netherlands proper.
Saba, including the islet of Green Island, became a special municipality within the country of the Netherlands after the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles on 10 October 2010.
The island has a land area of 13 km² (5 sq. miles). At the 2001 Netherlands Antilles census, the population was 1,349 inhabitants, which means a population density of 104 inhabitants per km². In 2004 the population was estimated at 1,424 inhabitants. Its current major towns and settlements include The Bottom
, Windwardside
, Hell's Gate
and St. Johns.
As the island is part of the Netherlands, Dutch
is the official language. Despite the island's Dutch affiliation, English
is the principal language spoken on the island and has been used in its school system since the 19th century. English can therefore be used in communications of and to the government although there is a local dialect
. Since January 1, 2011, the U.S. dollar has been the official currency, replacing the Netherlands Antillian Guilder.
Saba is home to the Saba University School of Medicine
, which was established by American expatriates in coordination with the Netherlands government. The school adds over 300 residents when classes are in session, and it is the prime educational attraction. A.M. Edwards Medical Center is the major provider of healthcare for local residents.
ba\ is of Greek and Arabic (colloquial Arabic Saba سابا and classical Arabic سبأ ) origin, and its meaning is from Sheba: "morning". Saba refers to the Biblical queen of Sheba. Christopher Columbus
is said to have sighted Saba on November 13, 1493, but he did not land, as the island's perilously rocky shores were a major deterrent to Columbus and his crew. In 1632 a group of shipwrecked Englishmen landed upon Saba; they stated they found the island uninhabited when they were rescued. However, there has been some evidence found indicating that Carib or Arawak Indians may have been on the island.
In 1635 a stray Frenchman claimed Saba for Louis XIII of France
and around the year 1640, the Dutch Governor of the neighboring island of St. Eustatius sent people over to colonize the island for the Dutch West India Company
. In 1664, these settlers were evicted to St. Maarten by Thomas Morgan
, The Netherlands
have been in continuous possession of Saba since 1816 after numerous flag changes (British-Dutch-French) during the previous centuries.
In the 17th and 18th centuries its major industries were sugar
and rum
, and later fishing
, particularly lobster fishing. In the 17th century Saba was believed to be a favorable hideout for Jamaica
n pirates. England also deported its "undesirable" people to live in the Caribbean colonies. They too became pirates, taking haven on Saba. The most notable native Saban pirate was Hiram Beakes, who famously quipped, "Dead men tell no tales." Legitimate sailing and trade later became important and many of the island's men took to the seas, during which time Saba lace became an important product made by the island's women.
The remains of the 1640 settlements can be found on the west side at Tent Bay. They were destroyed by a landslide in the 17th century.
trees until a hurricane in the 1960s destroyed many of the trees. These are Freziera undulata [Theaceae], and unrelated to other Mahogany species, one of which is, however, planted at lower levels on the island small-leaved mahogany, Swietenia mahagoni [Meliaceae]. The Mahogany
trees are considered to be at risk of going extinct on the island. Visitors refer to Saba's forests as "the Elfin Forest
" because of its high altitude mist, and mossy appearance. Since then there has been a woodland reserve created and aptly named "Elfin Forest Reserve". Saba's lush plant and animal wildlife are diverse and are looked after by the Saba Conservation Foundation.
4.3 km southwest of Saba is the Saba Bank
, a large submerged atoll
of rich biodiversity, and a prime fishing ground, particularly for lobster.
The population of Saba (the Sabans) consists of only 1,424 people who come from all over the world. The island's small size has led to a fairly small number of island families, who can trace their last names back to around a half-dozen families. This means that many last names are shared around the island, the most numerous being Hassell and Johnson. Most families are a rich intermixing of Dutch
, Scottish
, and Africa
n heritage. The population is also descended from the Irish
who were exiled from that country after the accession of King Charles I of England in 1625; Charles exiled these Irish to the Caribbean in an effort to quell rebellion after he had forcibly procured their lands for his Scottish noble supporters.
Historically, the island was traded among the many European nations that fought for power in the region. Slaves were also imported to work on Saba. Both English
and Dutch
are used on the island and taught in schools. In more recent years Saba has become home to a large group of expatriates, and around 250 immigrants who are either students or teachers at the Saba University School of Medicine
.
Sabans are mostly Roman Catholic by faith; however, there is also a Wesleyan Church
Holiness community on the island. Other religions practiced on the island include Anglican, Seventh-day Adventist
, Muslim
, and Jewish faiths.
The island is small and consists almost entirely of steep slopes, which makes farming very difficult, so many Sabans took to the sea, making their living as legitimate sailors. Their seafaring traditions made it not uncommon for many men to seek better employment in the United States Navy. It was not uncommon for men to forge their birth certificates to enter the U.S. Navy without obstruction. Although the details of his early personal biography are virtually unknown, it is possible that Chief Boatswain Edwin J. Hill
was one of these Saban sailors. He received the United States' highest military honor, the Navy version of the Medal of Honor
, posthumously, for heroism during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor
in 1941, in which he died. Because of the commonplace practice of forging a birth certificate to enter the U.S. Navy, Hill's Saban birth cannot be absolutely proven; however, it is known that his immediate and extended family were Saban.
engineers, believed that a road could be built. He took a correspondence course in civil engineering
, and started building the road with a crew of locals in 1938. After five years of work, the first section of the road, from Fort Bay
to The Bottom, was completed. It was not until 1947, however, that the first motor vehicle arrived. In 1951, the road to Windwardside and St. Johns was opened, and in 1958 the road was completed. Driving "The Road" is considered to be a daunting task, and the curves in Windwardside are extremely difficult to negotiate. Driving is on the right hand side.
In 1963 the island built a 400 metre landing strip for easier trips to the island using aircraft: Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport
. This landing strip is reputed to be the shortest commercial runway in the world, and as such, only three models of airplane are able to land there regularly. Consistent air service from Sint Maarten and Sint Eustatius is available through Windward Islands Airways
(Winair). The small airport comes equipped with a fire station and an air control tower.
In 1972 a pier was completed in Fort Bay
to access the island and this has made it easier for visitors to come visit the island. Travel is also provided by ferry services to and from Sint Maarten with the Dawn II and The Edge.
Of note in The Bottom area, are 800 steps carved from stone, that go from Ladder Bay to The Bottom
. Everything was carried to the island by hand until the late 20th century. These steps are still there today and are frequently used by tourists wishing to experience an intense climb.
convent in Venezuela
for study – where she learned the difficult craft. The lacework spread through the island. The women of Saba began a mail-order business, and would copy addresses of businesses off shipping containers from the United States, and write to the employees. Often they would get orders for the lacework, and it started a considerable cottage industry. By 1928, the women were exporting around $15,000 (USD) worth of lace products each year.
. Because the island is relatively new to the tourism industry, it only sees about 25,000 visitors each year. Saba is increasing in its popularity as a vacation destination because of its excellent scuba diving
, climbing
and hiking
. Even though Saba is a small island, it supports two hyperbaric chambers in case of diving emergencies. Additionally, soon a ship equipped with another hyperbaric chamber will be stationed outside of Fort Bay
to assist in diving emergencies at sea.
There are few anchorages, and a small airport
with service from St. Maarten
and Sint Eustatius. There is also a ferry service from St. Maarten
. The ferries Dawn II and The Edge both travel to Saba three times a week. Saba's brilliantly colorful and pristine coral life make it one of the most sublime places to scuba dive in the world, and is often listed as one of the Top 10 diving destinations in the world. Many attribute the underwater life's purity to the island's remoteness and the caring of the people. The waters around the island were designated as the Saba National Marine Park
in 1987, subject to government regulation to preserve its coral reefs and other marine life. Thus, Saba is known as "The Unspoiled Queen" of the Caribbean
. Saba has inns, hotels, rental cottages and restaurants.
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
island and the smallest special municipality (officially public body
Public body (Netherlands)
In the Netherlands, the term public body is the general denomination for administrative divisions within the Dutch state, such as the central government, a province, a municipality or a water board...
) of the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
.(Law on the public bodies of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba) |work=Dutch Government |url=http://www.eerstekamer.nl/wetsvoorstel/31954_wet_openbare_lichamen |accessdate=14 October 2010}} It consists largely of the potentially active volcano Mount Scenery
Mount Scenery
Mount Scenery is a potentially active volcano in the Caribbean Netherlands. Its lava dome forms the summit of the Saba island stratovolcano. At an elevation of 877 m, it is the highest point in both the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and, since the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles on 10...
(877 m), the highest point of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Kingdom of the Netherlands
The Kingdom of the Netherlands is a sovereign state and constitutional monarchy with territory in Western Europe and in the Caribbean. The four parts of the Kingdom—Aruba, Curaçao, the Netherlands, and Sint Maarten—are referred to as "countries", and participate on a basis of equality...
and the Netherlands proper.
Saba, including the islet of Green Island, became a special municipality within the country of the Netherlands after the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles on 10 October 2010.
The island has a land area of 13 km² (5 sq. miles). At the 2001 Netherlands Antilles census, the population was 1,349 inhabitants, which means a population density of 104 inhabitants per km². In 2004 the population was estimated at 1,424 inhabitants. Its current major towns and settlements include The Bottom
The Bottom
The Bottom is the capital and largest town of the island of Saba, the Caribbean Netherlands, and is the first stop on the way from Saba's Port in Fort Bay towards the rest of the island...
, Windwardside
Windwardside
Windwardside is the second largest town on the island of Saba, aptly named for being on the windward side of the island. The hike up the stairs to the top of Mount Scenery can begin from the road just outside Windwardside. Two banks and several dive shops as well as multiple grocery stores, gift...
, Hell's Gate
Hell's Gate, Saba
Hell's Gate is the first town one reaches on the Caribbean island of Saba after leaving the Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport, the smallest commercial airport in the world. Hell's Gate was officially named "Zion's Hill" after complaints from the church forced the Island's government to change the name....
and St. Johns.
As the island is part of the Netherlands, Dutch
Dutch language
Dutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
is the official language. Despite the island's Dutch affiliation, English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
is the principal language spoken on the island and has been used in its school system since the 19th century. English can therefore be used in communications of and to the government although there is a local dialect
Virgin Islands Creole
Virgin Islands Creole, or Virgin Islands Creole English, is an English-based creole spoken in the Virgin Islands and the nearby SSS islands of Saba, Sint Eustatius and Saint Martin, where it has been known as Netherlands Antilles Creole English....
. Since January 1, 2011, the U.S. dollar has been the official currency, replacing the Netherlands Antillian Guilder.
Saba is home to the Saba University School of Medicine
Saba University School of Medicine
Saba University School of Medicine is a for-profit medical school located in The Bottom, Saba, in the Caribbean. Saba confers upon its graduates the Doctor of Medicine degree...
, which was established by American expatriates in coordination with the Netherlands government. The school adds over 300 residents when classes are in session, and it is the prime educational attraction. A.M. Edwards Medical Center is the major provider of healthcare for local residents.
History
The origin of the name "Saba" is often mistakenly believed to be derived from the Arawak Indian word for "rock", which was "siba". However, the true source of the name Saba \s(a)-ba\ is of Greek and Arabic (colloquial Arabic Saba سابا and classical Arabic سبأ ) origin, and its meaning is from Sheba: "morning". Saba refers to the Biblical queen of Sheba. Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus was an explorer, colonizer, and navigator, born in the Republic of Genoa, in northwestern Italy. Under the auspices of the Catholic Monarchs of Spain, he completed four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean that led to general European awareness of the American continents in the...
is said to have sighted Saba on November 13, 1493, but he did not land, as the island's perilously rocky shores were a major deterrent to Columbus and his crew. In 1632 a group of shipwrecked Englishmen landed upon Saba; they stated they found the island uninhabited when they were rescued. However, there has been some evidence found indicating that Carib or Arawak Indians may have been on the island.
In 1635 a stray Frenchman claimed Saba for Louis XIII of France
Louis XIII of France
Louis XIII was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and of Navarre from 1610 to 1643.Louis was only eight years old when he succeeded his father. His mother, Marie de Medici, acted as regent during Louis' minority...
and around the year 1640, the Dutch Governor of the neighboring island of St. Eustatius sent people over to colonize the island for the Dutch West India Company
Dutch West India Company
Dutch West India Company was a chartered company of Dutch merchants. Among its founding fathers was Willem Usselincx...
. In 1664, these settlers were evicted to St. Maarten by Thomas Morgan
Thomas Morgan
Thomas Morgan may refer to:*Thomas Morgan , confident and spy of Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots*Sir Thomas Morgan, 1st Baronet , general of the English Civil War...
, The Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
have been in continuous possession of Saba since 1816 after numerous flag changes (British-Dutch-French) during the previous centuries.
In the 17th and 18th centuries its major industries were sugar
Sugar
Sugar is a class of edible crystalline carbohydrates, mainly sucrose, lactose, and fructose, characterized by a sweet flavor.Sucrose in its refined form primarily comes from sugar cane and sugar beet...
and rum
Rum
Rum is a distilled alcoholic beverage made from sugarcane by-products such as molasses, or directly from sugarcane juice, by a process of fermentation and distillation. The distillate, a clear liquid, is then usually aged in oak barrels...
, and later fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
, particularly lobster fishing. In the 17th century Saba was believed to be a favorable hideout for Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
n pirates. England also deported its "undesirable" people to live in the Caribbean colonies. They too became pirates, taking haven on Saba. The most notable native Saban pirate was Hiram Beakes, who famously quipped, "Dead men tell no tales." Legitimate sailing and trade later became important and many of the island's men took to the seas, during which time Saba lace became an important product made by the island's women.
The remains of the 1640 settlements can be found on the west side at Tent Bay. They were destroyed by a landslide in the 17th century.
Geography and ecology
The environment of Saba is mainly composed of woodland forest with ferns and damp soil, and many mango trees. There used to be forests of Mountain MahoganyMahogany
The name mahogany is used when referring to numerous varieties of dark-colored hardwood. It is a native American word originally used for the wood of the species Swietenia mahagoni, known as West Indian or Cuban mahogany....
trees until a hurricane in the 1960s destroyed many of the trees. These are Freziera undulata [Theaceae], and unrelated to other Mahogany species, one of which is, however, planted at lower levels on the island small-leaved mahogany, Swietenia mahagoni [Meliaceae]. The Mahogany
Mahogany
The name mahogany is used when referring to numerous varieties of dark-colored hardwood. It is a native American word originally used for the wood of the species Swietenia mahagoni, known as West Indian or Cuban mahogany....
trees are considered to be at risk of going extinct on the island. Visitors refer to Saba's forests as "the Elfin Forest
Elfin forests
Elfin forest is a nickname given to several similar dwarfed plants ecosystems, mainly in coastal Temperate Californian and montane Tropical regions, that are host to communities of dwarfed and tiny plants, insects, and rodents, such as the California Kangaroo Rat.-California:In Northern California,...
" because of its high altitude mist, and mossy appearance. Since then there has been a woodland reserve created and aptly named "Elfin Forest Reserve". Saba's lush plant and animal wildlife are diverse and are looked after by the Saba Conservation Foundation.
4.3 km southwest of Saba is the Saba Bank
Saba Bank
Saba Bank in the Caribbean Netherlands is the largest submarine atoll in the Atlantic Ocean and has some of the richest diversity of marine life in the Caribbean Sea....
, a large submerged atoll
Atoll
An atoll is a coral island that encircles a lagoon partially or completely.- Usage :The word atoll comes from the Dhivehi word atholhu OED...
of rich biodiversity, and a prime fishing ground, particularly for lobster.
People and culture
Dutch people
The Dutch people are an ethnic group native to the Netherlands. They share a common culture and speak the Dutch language. Dutch people and their descendants are found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in Suriname, Chile, Brazil, Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and the United...
, Scottish
Scottish people
The Scottish people , or Scots, are a nation and ethnic group native to Scotland. Historically they emerged from an amalgamation of the Picts and Gaels, incorporating neighbouring Britons to the south as well as invading Germanic peoples such as the Anglo-Saxons and the Norse.In modern use,...
, and Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
n heritage. The population is also descended from the Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
who were exiled from that country after the accession of King Charles I of England in 1625; Charles exiled these Irish to the Caribbean in an effort to quell rebellion after he had forcibly procured their lands for his Scottish noble supporters.
Historically, the island was traded among the many European nations that fought for power in the region. Slaves were also imported to work on Saba. Both English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
and Dutch
Dutch language
Dutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
are used on the island and taught in schools. In more recent years Saba has become home to a large group of expatriates, and around 250 immigrants who are either students or teachers at the Saba University School of Medicine
Saba University School of Medicine
Saba University School of Medicine is a for-profit medical school located in The Bottom, Saba, in the Caribbean. Saba confers upon its graduates the Doctor of Medicine degree...
.
Sabans are mostly Roman Catholic by faith; however, there is also a Wesleyan Church
Wesleyanism
Wesleyanism or Wesleyan theology refers, respectively, to either the eponymous movement of Protestant Christians who have historically sought to follow the methods or theology of the eighteenth-century evangelical reformers, John Wesley and his brother Charles Wesley, or to the likewise eponymous...
Holiness community on the island. Other religions practiced on the island include Anglican, Seventh-day Adventist
Seventh-day Adventist Church
The Seventh-day Adventist Church is a Protestant Christian denomination distinguished by its observance of Saturday, the original seventh day of the Judeo-Christian week, as the Sabbath, and by its emphasis on the imminent second coming of Jesus Christ...
, Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
, and Jewish faiths.
The island is small and consists almost entirely of steep slopes, which makes farming very difficult, so many Sabans took to the sea, making their living as legitimate sailors. Their seafaring traditions made it not uncommon for many men to seek better employment in the United States Navy. It was not uncommon for men to forge their birth certificates to enter the U.S. Navy without obstruction. Although the details of his early personal biography are virtually unknown, it is possible that Chief Boatswain Edwin J. Hill
Edwin J. Hill
Edwin Joseph Hill was an American sailor who was stationed on the during the attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on December 7, 1941. He posthumously received the Medal of Honor for his heroism during the battle....
was one of these Saban sailors. He received the United States' highest military honor, the Navy version of the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
, posthumously, for heroism during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor
Attack on Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941...
in 1941, in which he died. Because of the commonplace practice of forging a birth certificate to enter the U.S. Navy, Hill's Saban birth cannot be absolutely proven; however, it is known that his immediate and extended family were Saban.
Transport
There is one road, aptly called "The Road". Its construction was masterminded by Josephus Lambert Hassell who, despite the common opinion of Dutch and SwissSwitzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
engineers, believed that a road could be built. He took a correspondence course in civil engineering
Civil engineering
Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including works like roads, bridges, canals, dams, and buildings...
, and started building the road with a crew of locals in 1938. After five years of work, the first section of the road, from Fort Bay
Fort Bay
Fort Bay is the official and only port on the island of Saba and sits on the south side of the island. The port is very important for the island as most of its supplies arrive here by boat. The port is small in size as it currently only has two piers...
to The Bottom, was completed. It was not until 1947, however, that the first motor vehicle arrived. In 1951, the road to Windwardside and St. Johns was opened, and in 1958 the road was completed. Driving "The Road" is considered to be a daunting task, and the curves in Windwardside are extremely difficult to negotiate. Driving is on the right hand side.
In 1963 the island built a 400 metre landing strip for easier trips to the island using aircraft: Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport
Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport
-External links:* - local airline* * of J. Irausquin Airport from Airliners* from YouTube* from World Airport Codes...
. This landing strip is reputed to be the shortest commercial runway in the world, and as such, only three models of airplane are able to land there regularly. Consistent air service from Sint Maarten and Sint Eustatius is available through Windward Islands Airways
Windward Islands Airways
Winair, an abbreviation of Windward Islands Airways, is a government-owned airline based in the Netherlands Antilles. Founded in 1961 by Georges Greaux, It has a fleet of four aircraft serving ten destinations, all within the Leeward Islands group of the Lesser Antilles in the North East Caribbean...
(Winair). The small airport comes equipped with a fire station and an air control tower.
In 1972 a pier was completed in Fort Bay
Fort Bay
Fort Bay is the official and only port on the island of Saba and sits on the south side of the island. The port is very important for the island as most of its supplies arrive here by boat. The port is small in size as it currently only has two piers...
to access the island and this has made it easier for visitors to come visit the island. Travel is also provided by ferry services to and from Sint Maarten with the Dawn II and The Edge.
Of note in The Bottom area, are 800 steps carved from stone, that go from Ladder Bay to The Bottom
The Bottom
The Bottom is the capital and largest town of the island of Saba, the Caribbean Netherlands, and is the first stop on the way from Saba's Port in Fort Bay towards the rest of the island...
. Everything was carried to the island by hand until the late 20th century. These steps are still there today and are frequently used by tourists wishing to experience an intense climb.
Economy
Saba lace (also known as "Spanish work") was a major export of Saba. In the 1870s, as a young lady, Mary Gertrude Hassell Johnson, was sent to a CaracasCaracas
Caracas , officially Santiago de León de Caracas, is the capital and largest city of Venezuela; natives or residents are known as Caraquenians in English . It is located in the northern part of the country, following the contours of the narrow Caracas Valley on the Venezuelan coastal mountain range...
convent in Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
for study – where she learned the difficult craft. The lacework spread through the island. The women of Saba began a mail-order business, and would copy addresses of businesses off shipping containers from the United States, and write to the employees. Often they would get orders for the lacework, and it started a considerable cottage industry. By 1928, the women were exporting around $15,000 (USD) worth of lace products each year.
Tourism
The island of Saba is known today for tourism, especially its ecotourismEcotourism
Ecotourism is a form of tourism visiting fragile, pristine, and usually protected areas, intended as a low impact and often small scale alternative to standard commercial tourism...
. Because the island is relatively new to the tourism industry, it only sees about 25,000 visitors each year. Saba is increasing in its popularity as a vacation destination because of its excellent scuba diving
Scuba diving
Scuba diving is a form of underwater diving in which a diver uses a scuba set to breathe underwater....
, climbing
Climbing
Climbing is the activity of using one's hands and feet to ascend a steep object. It is done both for recreation and professionally, as part of activities such as maintenance of a structure, or military operations.Climbing activities include:* Bouldering: Ascending boulders or small...
and hiking
Hiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
. Even though Saba is a small island, it supports two hyperbaric chambers in case of diving emergencies. Additionally, soon a ship equipped with another hyperbaric chamber will be stationed outside of Fort Bay
Fort Bay
Fort Bay is the official and only port on the island of Saba and sits on the south side of the island. The port is very important for the island as most of its supplies arrive here by boat. The port is small in size as it currently only has two piers...
to assist in diving emergencies at sea.
There are few anchorages, and a small airport
Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport
-External links:* - local airline* * of J. Irausquin Airport from Airliners* from YouTube* from World Airport Codes...
with service from St. Maarten
Saint Martin
Saint Martin is an island in the northeast Caribbean, approximately east of Puerto Rico. The 87 km2 island is divided roughly 60/40 between France and the Kingdom of the Netherlands ; however, the Dutch side has the larger population. It is one of the smallest sea islands divided between...
and Sint Eustatius. There is also a ferry service from St. Maarten
Saint Martin
Saint Martin is an island in the northeast Caribbean, approximately east of Puerto Rico. The 87 km2 island is divided roughly 60/40 between France and the Kingdom of the Netherlands ; however, the Dutch side has the larger population. It is one of the smallest sea islands divided between...
. The ferries Dawn II and The Edge both travel to Saba three times a week. Saba's brilliantly colorful and pristine coral life make it one of the most sublime places to scuba dive in the world, and is often listed as one of the Top 10 diving destinations in the world. Many attribute the underwater life's purity to the island's remoteness and the caring of the people. The waters around the island were designated as the Saba National Marine Park
Saba National Marine Park
The Saba National Marine Park encompasses the waters and sea bed encircling Saba, the Netherlands from the high water mark to 200 feet deep. In total, the marine park covers approximately five square miles...
in 1987, subject to government regulation to preserve its coral reefs and other marine life. Thus, Saba is known as "The Unspoiled Queen" of the Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
. Saba has inns, hotels, rental cottages and restaurants.
Notable Sabans
- Hiram Beakes – 18th Century pirate who originated the phrase, "Dead men tell no tales."
- Edwin J. HillEdwin J. HillEdwin Joseph Hill was an American sailor who was stationed on the during the attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on December 7, 1941. He posthumously received the Medal of Honor for his heroism during the battle....
– Recipient (posthumously) of the United States NavyUnited States NavyThe United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
Medal of HonorMedal of HonorThe Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
for heroism during the Japanese attack on Pearl HarborAttack on Pearl HarborThe attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941...
, December 7, 1941. (Believed to be a Saban native who forged a birth certificate in order to enter the U.S. Navy.) - Stewart A. Chipka – Orchid Research specialist who discovered multiple new and hybrid species on the island. Stewart died in his home on Saba, October 31, 2010.
See also
- Caribbean Netherlands
- Caribbean SeaCaribbean SeaThe Caribbean Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean located in the tropics of the Western hemisphere. It is bounded by Mexico and Central America to the west and southwest, to the north by the Greater Antilles, and to the east by the Lesser Antilles....
- Leeward IslandsLeeward IslandsThe Leeward Islands are a group of islands in the West Indies. They are the northern islands of the Lesser Antilles chain. As a group they start east of Puerto Rico and reach southward to Dominica. They are situated where the northeastern Caribbean Sea meets the western Atlantic Ocean...