Short facts about the 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 68 W

Map references:

Central America and the Caribbean

Area:

total:  620 sq km land:  610 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:

contiguous zone:  24 NM continental shelf:  200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin exclusive economic zone:  200 NM territorial sea:  12 NM

Climate:

tropical, moderated by northeast trade winds; dry season from January to April, rainy season from 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:  8% permanent crops:  21% permanent pastures:  5% forests and woodland:  13% other:  53% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land:

10 sq km (1993 est.)

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

Source: World Factbook