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Lying fourteen miles north of virgin Gorda, remote
Anegada is the odd virgin out - a flat coral and
limestone atoll almost completely surrounded by the
Horseshoe Reef, one of the world's largest. The waters
are treacherous to shipping - a plethora of wrecked crafts
litter the reef - but this only adds to the already
excellent snorkeling and diving that draws
day-trippers by the boatloads. Anegada is also famed for its
lobster, miles of undeveloped beaches and some
of the best bone fishing in the world.
The best of the beaches, miles of pristine white sand, and
snorkeling are on the north coast. At Loblolly Bay, a
picture-postcard Caribbean paradise with a bar and
restaurant, the waters teem with schools of mojarra,
needlefish and mantis shrimp. On the western side of the
beach, the dark reef area in middle of the lagoon contains
three small caves and a wreck, among which you'll spot
Elkhorn and brain coral, angelfish, snapper and huge
grouper.
Cow Wreck Beach, six miles to the west, is another
good snorkeling spot; it has a changing room, plus food and
drinks. Anegada's natural assets aren't limited to its
reefs; the whole island is a wildlife sanctuary,
home to turtles, birdlife, including flamingo and osprey,
and the endangered rock iguanas, which are bred and
protected in its carefully monitored reserves.
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Anegada Harbor, on the southwest coast, is nothing much to speak of - just
a long, thin dock with lobster traps tied to its side - but
it's a good place to base yourself for exploring the island.
The area, which includes Pomato Point and Setting Point, has
plenty of lodging, restaurants, bars and gift-shops.
The little Pomato Point Museum (phone 284/495-8038)
is worth a visit for its small but evocative display of
items recovered from shipwrecks around the island, ranging
from cannons to gin bottles. Around four miles east of here
(southeast of the airport) is The Settlement, where
most of the island's 150 inhabitants lie. You'll find
diners, bakeries, a post office and a police station here.
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British virgin
Islands
travel guide
British virgin Islands
Best of British virgin Islands
Getting around
virgin Islands restaurants
& bars
Anegada
Anegada
diving, fishing, windsurfing
Jost an Dyke
Jost an Dyke
Taxis
Jost an Dyke food & parties
Islands accessible from
Tortola that are
worth a visit:
Peter Island, Cooper Island,
Marina Cay, Norman Island
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