St. John has a land area of approximately 20 square miles, with an estimated population of 4300 humans; several thousand deer, donkeys, and wild boars; wild and domestic cats, dogs, cows, and chickens; an ever-growing number of mongoose and iguanas; and a vast array of reptiles, birds, and insects. Being of volcanic origin, the island is rocky and mountainous with an average land slope of 40 percent. It has an incredibly diverse ecosystem, from arid desert to tropical beaches to lush rainforest. There are two seasons on St. John – rainy and dry. Rainy season brings much needed water to the island. All islanders must collect and store water from their rooftops, as there is no water or sewage infrastructure on the island. Dry season brings tourists, eager to bask in the endless sun and curious about the underwater corals and sea life that surround the island.
Over two thirds of the land area of St. John is protected
National Park. Starting in the 1950’s with the Rockefellers, private donors
have and continue to make large donations of land to the National Park in the hope
of preserving its natural beauty.
In January 2012, designpersquareinch purchased a
three-quarter acre plot of land on the ridgeline of Bordeaux Mountain. (Photo –
the peak at the far right.)