Leeward Islands

Leeward Islands, chain of about 15 islands and many islets in the West Indies, northernmost group of the Lesser Antilles. They include Antigua, Anguilla, Montserrat, and the British Virgin Islands (British colonies); St. Kitts-Nevis (a former British colony, independent since 1983); St. Eustatius, Saba, and St. Martin (Dutch); Guadeloupe and dependencies (French); and the U.S. Virgin Islands.