Eastern Caribbean, Leeward Islands

GMT - 4.

13 sq km (5 sq miles).

1466.

113 per sq km.

The Bottom.

Saba is one of three Windward Islands in the Netherlands Antilles, although geographically it is part of the Leeward Group of the Lesser Antilles, lying 265km (165 miles) east of Puerto Rico, 44km (27 miles) south of St Maarten and 21km (13 miles) west of St Eustatius. Saba is the peak of a submerged extinct volcano. Mount Scenery is thick with forest and rises to almost 900m (3000ft) in less than 2km (1.2 miles).

The Netherlands Antilles, Aruba and The Netherlands each have equal status within the Kingdom of the Netherlands as autonomous regions in internal affairs. The Dutch monarch is represented locally by a Governor, while the Netherlands Antilles are represented in the Government of the Kingdom by a Minister Plenipotentiary. Foreign policy and defence matters are decided by a Council of Ministers of the Kingdom, including the Plenipotentiary, and executed under the authority of the Governor. The internal affairs of the Netherlands Antilles are administered by the central government, based in Willemstad, Curaçao, which is responsible to the Staten or legislative assembly. Saba may elect by non-compulsory adult suffrage one of 22 members to the Staten. Routine local affairs on each island group (Bonaire, Curaçao and the Windward Islands) are managed by an elected Island Council, presided over by a Lieutenant-Governor.

Part of the Netherlands Antilles; dependency of The Netherlands. Gained internal autonomy in 1954. Head of State: HM Queen Beatrix of The Netherlands, represented locally by Governor Dr Fritz M de los Santos Goedgedrag. Head of Government: Prime Minister Etienne Ys since 2004.

Dutch is the official language. Papiamento (a mixture of Portuguese, African, Spanish, Dutch and English) is the commonly used lingua franca. English and Spanish are also widely spoken.

Roman Catholic majority; also Anglican and Wesleyan.

Dutch customs are still important throughout the Netherlands Antilles, but tourism on neighbouring St Maarten has brought some US influence to Saba (several businesses are US-owned). Dress is casual and lightweight cottons are advised.

110/220 volts AC, 60Hz.