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With an area of only 37 square miles, the island of St. Maarten/St.
Martin is the smallest land mass in the world to be divided between two governments. Its dual owners are the Dutch
and the French, who have shared the tiny and paradisical island more or less peacefully for almost 350 years. This
understated absence of conflict testifies to one of the island's most precious and attractive characteristics--its
unusual serenity.
St. Maarten is also known throughout the Caribbean for its eclectic nightlife. The evening ritually begins at sunset,
when cafes and night clubs open their doors and the music of steel drum bands floats along the beaches. The island's
festive spirit peaks during carnival, a vibrant, two-week festival of feasting, street dancing, parties, and parades.
The island's sugary-white beaches are spiritually restive and abundant, and walkers who encounter them are often
struck by their splendid seclusion. Off-shore, St. Maarten's life-rich waters provide superb boating and fishing,
as well as excellent diving areas. The inland region, with its gentle valleys and hills, is ideal for biking, horseback
riding, and exploration. All these offerings have made St. Maarten a famous tropical destination, and the island
is dotted with world-class resorts. Private guest houses are also an increasingly popular form of lodging, catering
to visitors seeking traditional Caribbean hospitality.
The reefs around St. Maarten are rich and teeming with marine life. They are also often located close to shore,
accessible to snorkelers as well as divers.
One of the most popular dive sites is the wreck of the British man-of-war HMS Proselyte, which sank in 1801. Today
its haunting remains lie atop a reef a mile south of Great Bay. Another common destination is the freighter Teigland,
sunk deliberately on Cable Reef in 1993. It has already begun to attract animal life and underwater vegetation.
Climate 75 - 85F 24 -29C
Water Temp 76 - 82F 24 -28C
Visibility 75 -125 ft 23 - 38 m
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