Geography of St. Lucia

source: CIA World Fact Book 1997

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

• 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

• 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
• contiguous zone: 24 nm
• exclusive economic zone : 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
• 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

• lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
• highest point: Mount Gimie 950 m

Natural resources: forests, sandy beaches, minerals (pumice), mineral springs, geothermal potential

• 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

• party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling
• signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements