Leeward Islands

As islands over the wind , also islands in front of the wind or islands in the wind (in non-German-language map series or in those with international lettering also English Windward Islands , Dutch Bovenwindse Eilanden , French Îles au vent , Îles du vent , Portuguese Ilhas do Barlavento or Spanish Islas de Barlovento ) is the name given in German to the wind-turned, mostly eastern half of larger archipelagos in tropical sea ​​regions. This name comes from historical seafaring and is due to the fact that the trade winds blow over the tropical seas , which come mainly from the east. The leeward, mostly western halves of these archipelagos are accordingly called Leeward Islands .

The following archipelagos are called islands above the wind :

	the northeastern islands (Dutch Bovenwindse Eilanden , Spanish Islas de Barlovento ) of the Lesser Antilles in the Caribbean , in the area of ​​influence of the northeast trade winds
	the southeastern part (Engl. Windward Islands ) of the Leeward Islands of the Lesser Antilles in the Caribbean - in German, this subdivision not common
	the eastern part (French Îles du vent ) of the Society Islands in the central Pacific, in the area of ​​influence of the southeast trade winds, including Tahiti , Moorea , Tetiaroa , Mehetia and Maiao
	the northern part (port. Ilhas do Barlavento ) of Cape Verde in the western central Atlantic, in the area of ​​influence of the northeast trade winds
	the eastern islands of the Hawaiian island chain (English Windward Islands or Southeastern Islands ) of the Hawaiian island chain in the central Pacific, in the area of ​​influence of the northeast trade winds