The northern group of islands is made up of Saba (13 square km), Saint Eustatius (21 square km) and Saint Maarten (44 square km on the Dutch part). The French part comprises 52 square km). Both are volcanic-origin territories. The two smaller territories, Saint Eustatius and Saba, sport a wavy and rugged relieve, while Saint Marteen is formed by a less craggy landscape and boasts top-rated beaches. There are only lesser water flows in Saba, and there are no lakes or ponds on Bonaire and St. Marteen.The southern islands of Bonaire and Curaçao are much larger (288 and 444 square km respectively) and both sport highly perfected coral reefs. Its limy terrain is somewhat rugged and lacks major relieve features. Suffice it to say the Saint Christoffelberg Mount in Curaçao, reaching barely 372 m high, is the Netherlands Antilles’ highest mountain peak.As far as the Windward Islands are concerned, Pic du Paradis peaks 1,391 meters above sea level, the highest mountains on Saint Marteen. Climate is warm, very similar in all of the mid-tropical islands, though height difference makes each group of islands have features of their own. On the northern islands, temperatures are lower as a result of the meddling impact made by northeastern trade winds. Rainfall is twice as much heavier in Bonaire and Curaçao, especially on the latter with yearly mean figures hovering 500mm.Lack of rainfall triggers the predominance of xerophilous species. Both groups of islands are frequently hit by hurricanes and earthquakes, a permanent threat for islanders
Total surface of the Netherlands Antilles in the Windward Islands is 925 square kilometers, while the one on the Leeward Islands embrace just 67 square kilometers.Other remarkable urban areas are Kralendijk (Bonaire), Windwarside (Saba), Oranjestad (Saint Eustatius) and Philipsburg (Saint Maarten
Group of islands located off the Central American coasts and shared on the Leeward and Windward Islands. This archipelago divides the Lesser Antilles archipelago that separates The Atlantic Ocean from the Caribbean Sea.
In the case of the Netherlands Antilles, only two of the islands are united by their respective frontiers.
There are some unique species of orchid, cactus, aloes and century plant. The incredible Bonaire cactus and the dense humid tropical jungle in St. Eustatius boost the growth of orchids and giant ferns, fruit-bearing trees and exotic birds.Watapana or divi-divi (a tree species) is commonplace in Aruba. The force of gusting trade winds blowing past the Windward Islands easily snaps these trees. There are also flamboyants that bloom fully in June and August.
Pretty rare lizards, iguanas and a small endemic kind of deer Bonaire boasts major flamingo colonies that have built hundreds of cone-shaped nests on the Pekelmeer salt mines. A surprising detail is the number of marine birds that nestle on Saba’s many crags and rock cracks.
