Geography of Saint Lucia

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St. Lucia is one of many small land masses composing the insular group known as the Windward Islands. Unlike large limestone areas such as Florida, Cuba, and the Yucatan Peninsula, or the Bahamas, which is a small island group composed of coral and sand, St. Lucia is a typical Windward Island formation of volcanic rock that came into existence long after much of the region had already been formed.

St. Lucia's physical features are strikingly beautiful. Dominated by high peaks and rain forests in the interior, the 616- square-kilometer island is known for the twin peaks of Gros Piton and Petit Piton on the southwestern coast, its soft sandy beaches, and its magnificent natural harbors. Mount Gimie, the highest peak, is located in the central mountain range and rises to 958 meters above sea level, a contrast that is also evident in the abrupt climatic transition from coastal to inland areas. The steep terrain also accentuates the many rivers that flow from central St. Lucia to the Caribbean. Fertile land holdings, which support banana farming, are scattered throughout the island.

St. Lucia has a tropical, humid climate moderated by northeast trade winds that allow for pleasant year-round conditions. Mean annual temperatures range from 26^oC to 32^oC at sea level and drop to an average of 13o C in the mountain peaks. The abundant annual rainfall accumulates to approximately 200 centimeters, with most precipitation occurring during the June to December wet season. Hurricanes are the most severe climatic disturbance in this area and have been known to cause extensive damage. Although St. Lucia has historically been spared from serious hurricane destruction, Hurricane Allen decimated the agricultural sector and claimed nine lives in 1980.

Contents 1 Location 2 Map references 3 Measurements 4 Maritime claims 5 Climate 6 Terrain 6.1 Elevation extremes 7 Natural resources 8 Land use 9 Natural hazards 10 Environment 10.1 current issues 10.2 international agreements 11 See also 12 References

[edit] Location

Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago.

Geographic coordinates: 13°53′N 61°00′W

[edit] Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

[edit] Measurements

total area: 616 km²
length: 43 km
width: 23 km
comparative area: 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 158 km

[edit] Maritime claims

200 nautical miles (370 km)
contiguous zone: 24 nautical miles (44 km)
exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles (370 km)
territorial sea: 12 nautical miles (22 km)

[edit] Climate

Saint Lucia is in the tropical zone, although its climate is moderated by northeast trade winds. Since it's fairly close to the equator, the temperature doesn't fluctuate much between winter and summer. The dry season is from January to April, and the rainy season is from May to August. Average daytime temperatures are around 29°C, and average nighttime temperatures are around 18°C. Average annual rainfall ranges from 130cm on the coast to 381cm in the mountain rainforests.

[edit] Terrain

volcanic and mountainous with some broad, fertile valleys

[edit] Elevation extremes

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Gimie 950 m

[edit] Natural resources

forests, sandy beaches, minerals (pumice), mineral springs, geothermal potential

[edit] Land use

arable land: 8%
permanent crops: 21%
permanent pastures: 5%
forests and woodland: 13%
other: 53% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 10 km² (1993 est.)

[edit] Natural hazards

hurricanes and volcanic activity

The island was severely affected by Hurricane Allen in 1980, causing tourism to drop, but Saint Lucia has generally had fewer hurricanes than most other caribbean islands.

[edit] Environment

[edit] current issues

deforestation; soil erosion, particularly in the northern region

[edit] international agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change,Desertification,Endangered Species,Environmental Modification,Hazardous Wastes,Law of the Sea,Marine Dumping,Ozone Layer Protection,Whaling,
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
implementation: Biodiversity Action Plan

[edit] See also

• Saint Lucia
• List of rivers in Saint Lucia

[edit] References

• This article contains material from the Library of Congress Country Studies, which are United States government publications in the public domain.
• Philpott, Don (1999). St Lucia. Derbyshire: Landmark Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-901522-28-8.
• Higgins, Chris (2001). St. Lucia. Montreal: Ulysses Travel Guides. ISBN 2-89464-396-9.