Sint Eustatius
Sint Eustatius or Statia, the name ‘Statia’ comes from St Anastasia, as it was named by Columbus, but the Dutch later changed it to Sint Eustatius. The island is dominated by the long-extinct volcano called ‘The Quill’ at the south end, inside which is a lush rainforest where the locals hunt land crabs at night. Visitors are advised, however, to go there only during the day. The north part of the island is hilly and uninhabited except for Statia Terminals, a fuel depot; most people live in the central plain which surrounds the airport. Statia is a very poor island and has a run down appearance. If you are coming from Saba, you will be struck by the contrast in cleanliness and the state of repair of people’s houses.
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Statia is quiet and friendly and the poorest of the three Windward Islands, with only 2,100 people living on the 30.6 sq km island. A variety of nationalities are represented, the island having changed hands 22 times in the past, but the majority are of black African descent. Everybody speaks English, although Dutch is the official language and is taught in schools.
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