Saba (pronounced "Sah-ba") is the smallest island of the Netherlands Antilles, located at 17°38′N, 63°14′W. It consists largely of the dormant volcano, Mount Scenery (877 m), the highest point of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Saba has a land area of 13 km² (5 sq. miles). At the 2001 Netherlands Antilles census, the population was 1,349 inhabitants, which means a population density of 104 inhabitants per km². In 2004 the population was estimated at 1,424 inhabitants.
Its current major settlements include The Bottom, Windwardside, Hell's Gate and St. Johns. Despite the island's Dutch affiliation, English is the principal language spoken on the island and has been used in its school system since 1986. The Netherlands Antillean guilder is the official currency, but the U.S. dollar is accepted everywhere on the island.
Saba is home to the Saba University School of Medicine, which was established by American expatriates in coordination with the Netherlands government. The school adds over 300 residents when classes are in session, and it is the prime educational attraction. A.M. Edwards Medical Center is the major provider of healthcare for local residents.
Saba's underwater pinnacles draw me to them like the monkey men in 2001: A Space Odyssey were drawn to the godlike monolith.
From a vantage point 2,000 feet above sea level, guests at Willard's of Saba can cast their eyes on vast stretches of the Caribbean Sea as well as five neighboring islands, including St. Barts and Montserrat. But with grounds that feature orchids, hibiscus, flowering cactuses and birds of paradise, the small resort also has plenty of beauty within arm's reach.
At only 5 square miles, Saba is the smallest populated island in the Dutch West Indies. It also lays claim to the highest point in the entire kingdom of the Netherlands.
popular beaches of Saba.
The island is covered in hiker-happy forest and surrounded by some of the most unique sites in the Caribbean that are especially attractive to more experienced divers.
