The Windward Islands known as the Islands of Barlovento, are the southern larger islands of the Lesser Antilles, within the West Indies. They lie south of the Leeward Islands between latitudes 10° and 16° N
The Windward Islands known as the Islands of Barlovento, are the southern larger islands of the Lesser Antilles, within the West Indies. They lie south of the Leeward Islands between latitudes 10° and 16° N and longitudes 60° and 62° W; the name was used to refer to a British colony in these islands, existing between 1833 and 1960 and consisting of the islands of: Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent, the Grenadines, Grenada. The island of Dominica was traditionally a part of the Leeward Islands until 1940, when it was transferred from the Leeward Islands colony to the Windward Islands.) The Windward Islands are called such because they were more windward to sailing ships arriving to the New World than the Leeward Islands, given that the prevailing trade winds in the West Indies blow east to west. The trans-Atlantic currents and winds that provided the fastest route across the ocean brought these ships to the rough dividing line between the Windward and Leeward is