Sandy Island, Anguilla facts for kids
![]() Sandy Island
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The location of Sandy Island within Anguilla
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Geography | |
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Location | Atlantic Ocean |
Coordinates | 18°12′45.35″N 63°7′5.92″W / 18.2125972°N 63.1183111°W |
Archipelago | Antilles |
Administration | |
United Kingdom
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British Overseas Territory | Anguilla |
Additional information | |
Time zone | |
ISO code | AI |
Sandy Island is a small, beautiful island located in Anguilla. Anguilla is a British Overseas Territory, which means it's a special part of the United Kingdom, even though it's far away. This island is part of the Lesser Antilles, a group of islands in the sunny Caribbean Sea.
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Discover Sandy Island's Charm
Sandy Island is quite small, about 250 meters long and 75 meters wide. It has soft, round white sands. In the middle, you'll find a few shrubs and palm trees. A local restaurant is also located on the island.
You can reach Sandy Island from Sandy Ground, Anguilla, in about 15 minutes. The restaurant owner often provides a free boat ride for visitors.
Why Tourists Love Sandy Island
Many tourists enjoy visiting Sandy Island. They love the rich undersea world, which is great for snorkeling and diving. The beach has very fine sand and coral, making it a lovely place to relax. The island is also famous for its bar and restaurant, which is well-known in the area.
Sandy Island and Tropical Storms
Sandy Island has faced some tough challenges from strong tropical storms over the years.
Hurricane Luis's Impact in 1995
In 1995, a powerful storm called Hurricane Luis caused the island to be covered by water for a few days. The buildings on the island were badly damaged. During one of these storms, a boat even got stuck on the island's shore. After the storms passed, the buildings were rebuilt.
Damage to Plants and Trees
The island's plants were also hurt by the tropical storms. Strong winds pulled up palm trees and shrubs. This made the island look much more bare, with almost no plants left.
Rebuilding and New Challenges
The restaurant on Sandy Island was rebuilt in 2007. However, in 2017, another very strong storm, Hurricane Irma, hit the island. This hurricane destroyed the buildings and most of the plants again. After Hurricane Irma, Sandy Island was left as mostly a bare sand bar.