Geography of Saint Lucia
Location: | Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago |
Geographic coordinates: | 13 53 N, 60 58 W |
Map references: | Central America and the Caribbean |
Area: | total: 616 sq km land: 606 sq km water: 10 sq km |
Area - comparative: | 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC |
Land boundaries: | 0 km |
Coastline: | 158 km |
Maritime claims: | territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin |
Climate: | tropical, moderated by northeast trade winds; dry season January to April, rainy season May to August |
Terrain: | volcanic and mountainous with some broad, fertile valleys |
Elevation extremes: | lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Mount Gimie 950 m |
Natural resources: | forests, sandy beaches, minerals (pumice), mineral springs, geothermal potential |
Land use: | arable land: 6.45% permanent crops: 22.58% other: 70.97% (2005) |
Irrigated land: | 30 sq km (2003) |
Natural hazards: | hurricanes and volcanic activity |
Environment - current issues: | deforestation; soil erosion, particularly in the northern region |
Environment - international agreements: | party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements |
Geography - note: | the twin Pitons (Gros Piton and Petit Piton), striking cone-shaped peaks south of Soufriere, are one of the scenic natural highlights of the Caribbean |