Short facts about the geography of Guadeloupe

Location:

Caribbean, islands in the eastern Caribbean Sea, southeast of Puerto Rico

Geographic coordinates:

16 15 N, 61 35 W

Map references:

Central America and the Caribbean

Area:

total:  1,780 sq km land:  1,706 sq km water:  74 sq km note:  Guadeloupe is an archipelago of nine inhabited islands, including Basse-Terre, Grande-Terre, Marie-Galante, La Desirade, Iles des Saintes (2), Saint-Barthelemy, Iles de la Petite Terre, and Saint-Martin (French part of the island of Saint Martin

Area - comparative:

10 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

total:  10.2 km border countries:  Netherlands Antilles (Sint Maarten) 10.2 km

Coastline:

306 km

Maritime claims:

exclusive economic zone:  200 NM territorial sea:  12 NM

Climate:

subtropical tempered by trade winds; moderately high humidity

Terrain:

Basse-Terre is volcanic in origin with interior mountains; Grande-Terre is low limestone formation; most of the seven other islands are volcanic in origin

Elevation extremes:

lowest point:  Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point:  Soufriere 1,467 m

Natural resources:

cultivable land, beaches and climate that foster tourism

Land use:

arable land:  14% permanent crops:  4% permanent pastures:  14% forests and woodland:  39% other:  29% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land:

30 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards:

hurricanes (June to October); Soufriere is an active volcano

Environment - current issues:

NA

Source: World Factbook