Saint Lucia Geography Profile 2009

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)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 0.01
per capita: 81 cu m/yr (1997)

Natural hazards

hurricanes; 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