Saint Lucia

Nickname: Helen of the West Indies
Map of Saint Lucia
Geography
Location	Caribbean Sea, Atlantic Ocean
Coordinates	13°53′N 60°58′W / 13.883°N 60.967°W / 13.883; -60.967 (Saint Lucia)
Archipelago	Windward Islands
Area	616 km2 (238 sq mi)
Coastline	158 km (98.2 mi)
Highest elevation	950 m (3120 ft)
Highest point	Mount Gimie
Administration
Saint Lucia
District	10
Largest settlement	Castries (pop. 10,634)
Demographics
Population	160,765 (2005)
Pop. density	260.98/km2 (675.94/sq mi)
Ethnic groups	African 82.5%, Mulatto 11.9%, East Indian 2.4%, White 1.0%, Other or unspecified 3.1%

Map of Saint Lucia

Enlargeable, detailed map of Saint Lucia

Saint Lucia is one of many small land masses composing the insular group known as the Windward Islands.^[1] 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.^[1]

St. Lucia's physical features are notable.^[1] Dominated by high peaks and rain forests in the interior, the 616-square-kilometer (238-square-mile) island is known for the twin peaks of Gros Piton (13°48′36″N 61°04′03″W / 13.81013°N 61.06753°W / 13.81013; -61.06753 (Gros Piton))and Petit Piton (13°49′59″N 61°03′49″W / 13.83308°N 61.0635°W / 13.83308; -61.0635 (Petit Piton)) on the southwestern coast, its soft sandy beaches, and its magnificent natural harbors.^[1] Mount Gimie, the highest peak, is located in the central mountain range and rises to 958 meters (3,143 ft) above sea level, a contrast that is also evident in the abrupt climatic transition from coastal to inland areas.^[1] The steep terrain also accentuates the many rivers that flow from central St. Lucia to the Caribbean.^[1] Fertile land holdings, which support banana farming, are scattered throughout the island.^[1]

St. Lucia has a tropical, humid climate moderated by northeast trade winds that allow for pleasant year-round conditions.^[1] Mean annual temperatures range from 26 °C (78.8 °F) to 32 °C (89.6 °F) at sea level and drop to an average of 13 °C (55.4 °F) in the mountain peaks.^[1] The abundant annual rainfall accumulates to approximately 2,000 millimeters (78.7 in), with most precipitation occurring during the June to December wet season.^[1] Hurricanes are the most severe climatic disturbance in this area and have been known to cause extensive damage.^[1] Although St. Lucia has historically been spared from serious hurricane destruction, Hurricane Allen decimated the agricultural sector and claimed nine lives in 1980.^[1] More recently, in 2010, Hurricane Tomas claimed seven lives and also caused extensive agricultural damage, particularly to the island's burgeoning cocoa crop.

General

Saint Lucia is in the Caribbean, an island between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, north of Saint Vincent and north-west of Barbados. The capital city of Saint Lucia is Castries, where about one third of the population lives. Major towns include Gros Islet, Soufrière and Vieux Fort.

Climate

Saint Lucia is in the tropical zone, although its climate is moderated by northeast trade winds. Since it is fairly close to the equator, and the surrounding sea surface temperature only fluctuates 3°C (25-28°C) the coastal air temperature does not fluctuate much between winter and summer. The dry season is from December to June, and the rainy season is from June to November. Average daytime temperatures are around 30 °C (86.0 °F), and average night time temperatures are around 24 °C (75.2 °F). Average annual rainfall ranges from 1,300 mm (51.2 in) on the coast to 3,810 mm (150 in) in the mountain rainforests.

Terrain

Volcanic and mountainous with some broad, fertile valleys.

Land use

About 18% of the land is used for agricultural practices. Most farms consist of less than 5 acres of land. The main agricultural products grown in Saint Lucia are bananas, coconuts, cocoa beans, mangoes, avocados, vegetables, citrus fruits, and root crops such as yams and sweet potatoes. Most of these agricultural products are grown for local consumption, but bananas and coconuts are mainly grown for export, with some vegetables. Bananas occupy about 14,826 acres of the agricultural land, while coconuts occupy 12,400 acres.

Saint Lucia Land Usage as of 2018^[3]

Type	Percent	Area
Total Agricultural Land	17.4	107.2 km2 (41.4 sq mi)
- arable land	4.9	30.2 km2 (11.7 sq mi)
- permanent crops	11.5	70.8 km2 (27.3 sq mi)
- permanent pasture	1.0	6.2 km2 (2.4 sq mi)
- irrigated land	2	30 km2 (12 sq mi) (2012 est.)
Forests and woodland	77.0	474.3 km2 (183.1 sq mi)
Other	5.6	34.5 km2 (13.3 sq mi)

Forest reserves and botanical gardens in Saint Lucia:

Diamond Falls at Diamond Botanical Gardens

• Castries Waterworks Forest Reserve, 13°58′38″N 60°55′16″W / 13.97717°N 60.92106°W / 13.97717; -60.92106 (Castries Waterworks Forest Reserve)

• Dennery Waterworks Forest Reserve, 13°53′30″N 60°55′05″W / 13.89179°N 60.91804°W / 13.89179; -60.91804 (Dennery Waterworks Forest Reserve)
• Edmond Forest Nature Reserve, 13°50′23″N 60°59′58″W / 13.83973°N 60.99941°W / 13.83973; -60.99941 (Edmond Forest Nature Reserve)
• Frigate Island Nature Reserve, 13°52′46″N 60°53′01″W / 13.8794°N 60.88366°W / 13.8794; -60.88366 (Frigate Island Nature Reserve)
• Grand Bois Forest Reserve
• Maria Island Nature Reserve, 13°43′33″N 60°55′51″W / 13.72588°N 60.93094°W / 13.72588; -60.93094 (Maria Island Nature Reserve)
• Quilesse Forest Reserve, 13°50′41″N 60°58′28″W / 13.84467°N 60.97431°W / 13.84467; -60.97431 (Quilesse Forest Reserve)
• Savannes Bay Nature Reserve, 13°45′47″N 60°55′25″W / 13.76317°N 60.92373°W / 13.76317; -60.92373 (Savannes Bay Nature Reserve)
• St. Lucia Botanical Gardens (also known as Diamond Botanical Gardens, part of the Soufrière Estate)

Islands

The island of the island nation of Saint Lucia include the following:^[4]

Districts

Districts of Saint Lucia and the forest reserve

The island of Saint Lucia is divided into 10 Districts and the Forest Reserve:

1. Anse la Raye, Leeward Caribbean Sea
2. Canaries, Leeward Caribbean Sea
3. Castries, Leeward Caribbean Sea
4. Choiseul, Leeward Caribbean Sea
5. Dennery, Windward Atlantic Ocean
6. Grand Bois Forest Reserve, Internal (entrance at 13°55′31″N 61°00′33″W / 13.92541°N 61.0093°W / 13.92541; -61.0093 (Grand Bois Forest Reserve entrance))
7. Gros Islet, Leeward Caribbean Sea, Windward Atlantic Ocean
8. Laborie, Leeward Caribbean Sea
9. Micoud, Windward Atlantic Ocean
10. Soufrière, Leeward Caribbean Sea
11. Vieux Fort, Windward Atlantic Ocean, Leeward Caribbean Sea

Natural hazards

The island country of Saint Lucia is effected by hurricanes and volcanic activity. The island was severely affected by Hurricane Allen in 1980 and Hurricane Tomas in 2010, causing agricultural damage and a drop in visitor arrivals, but Saint Lucia has generally had fewer hurricanes than many other Caribbean islands, due to its southerly location. Hurricanes and volcanoes would both damage the coral.^[5]

Environment

Sulphur Springs, 13°50′16″N 61°02′44″W / 13.8378°N 61.04568°W / 13.8378; -61.04568 (Sulphur Springs)

Current issues include deforestation and soil erosion, particularly in the northern region.

Saint Lucia is party to the following treaties and conventions:

• Ballast Water Management Convention
• Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
• Convention on Biological Diversity
• Endangered Species
• Environmental Modification Convention
• International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling
• International Plant Protection Convention
• London Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter
• United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
• United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification
• United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
• Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer

See also

• Districts of Saint Lucia
• Demographics of Saint Lucia
• Economy of Saint Lucia
• List of rivers of Saint Lucia

References

• Higgins, Chris (2001). St. Lucia. Montreal: Ulysses Travel Guides. ISBN 2-89464-396-9.
• Philpott, Don (1999). St Lucia. Derbyshire: Landmark Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-901522-28-8.

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