Mount Obama

Mount Obama
Boggy Peak

Mount Obama
Elevation 402 m (1,319 ft)[1]
Prominence 402 m (1,319 ft)[2]
Listing Country high point
Location
Mount Obama

Antigua and Barbuda

Coordinates 17°02′31″N 61°51′04″W / 17.04194°N 61.85111°WCoordinates: 17°02′31″N 61°51′04″W / 17.04194°N 61.85111°W[2]

Mount Obama (known as Boggy Peak until August 4, 2009) is the highest point in the nation of Antigua and Barbuda and on the island of Antigua. It lies in the far southwest of the island at 17°2′31″N 61°51′4″W / 17.04194°N 61.85111°W,[2][3] and rises to a height of 402 metres (1,319 ft) and is named after Barack Obama, the 44th President of the United States.

History

The highest point of the southwestern Shekerley Mountains, it is here that runaway slaves congregated while hiding in the forest. In 1687, 27 runaways were known to be encamped in a palisaded ‘maroon’ camp at the peak, then known as Boggy Peak. There had been a revolt of slaves, hunted down and taken dead or alive. The militia stormed the camp and the leaders were burned on the following year.

Renaming

On August 4, 2009, the birthday of U.S. President Barack Obama, Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer officially renamed the mountain from Boggy Peak to Mount Obama.[4]

References

  1. ↑ "Mount Obama" on summitpost.org Retrieved 2011-09-29.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Mount Obama" on Peakbagger Retrieved 2011-09-29.
  3. ↑ "NGA GEOnet Names Server". National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. 2008-07-07. Retrieved 2008-07-22.
  4. ↑ Kentish, Anika (2009-08-09). "Mount Obama: Antigua Renames Its Highest Peak". Huffington Post. Associated Press. Retrieved 2011-03-09.