Geography |
Saint Lucia is one of the Windward Islands in the West Indies, south-eastern Caribbean Sea. It lies about 380 km north of Venezuela between Martinique on the north and Saint Vincent on the south. It has an area of 616 km2.
Of volcanic origin, Saint Lucia is traversed from north to south by a forested mountain range that culminates in Mount Gimie (950 m). In the south, Soufrière, a volcanic crater with hot sulphur springs, offers a potential source of geothermal energy. Gros Piton and Petit Piton, twin peaks in the south-west area, are ancient volcanic cones. The mountains contain many streams and fertile valleys. There is little flat land.
Saint Lucia has a tropical oceanic climate, with an average annual temperature of 26° C, ranging from 29° C to 20° C on the coast. The average annual rainfall ranges from about 1 500 mm on the coast to more than 2 500 mm in the mountains. The rainy season lasts from May to August.
The designations employed and the presentation of material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.