- Alternative meaning: Anguilla is a genus of freshwater eel (sole genus in the family Anguillidae ).
Anguilla is the most northerly of the Leeward Islands in the Lesser Antilles, and is a British dependency with Queen Elizabeth II as its head of state, represented by a Governor. The locally elected Chief Minister of the island serves as head of government. The United Nations Committee on Decolonization lists Anguilla as one of the 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories of the world since 1945.
First colonized by English settlers in 1650, Anguilla was incorporated into a single British dependency along with the neighbouring islands of Saint Kitts and Nevis in the early 19th century, much to the objections of many Anguillans. In 1980, however, Anguilla formally withdrew from the territory, becoming a separate British dependency, which it remains.
The island's main industries are fishing and tourism, with offshore banking playing an increasing role in the economy. Military defence is the responsibility of the United Kingdom. The majority of Anguillans are Protestant and are of African descent.
See also:
From the CIA World Factbook 2000. Slightly edited, not completely Wikified.
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