Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Geography Profile 2000

Location

Caribbean, islands in the Caribbean Sea, north of Trinidad and Tobago

Geographic coordinates

13 15 N, 61 12 W

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Area

total:389 sq km (Saint Vincent 344 sq km)
land:389 sq km
water:0 sq km

Area - comparative

twice the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries

0 km

Coastline

84 km

Maritime claims

contiguous zone:24 nm
continental shelf:200 nm
exclusive economic zone:200 nm
territorial sea:12 nm

Climate

tropical; little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season (May to November)

Terrain

volcanic, mountainous

Elevation extremes

lowest point:Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point:Soufriere 1,234 m

Natural resources

hydropower, cropland

Land use

arable land:10%
permanent crops:18%
permanent pastures:5%
forests and woodland:36%
other:31% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land

10 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards

hurricanes; Soufriere volcano on the island of Saint Vincent is a constant threat

Environment - current issues

pollution of coastal waters and shorelines from discharges by pleasure yachts and other effluents; in some areas, pollution is severe enough to make swimming prohibitive

Environment - international agreements

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

Geography - note

the administration of the islands of the Grenadines group is divided between Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada