Geography of St. Vincent

source: CIA World Fact Book 1997

Location: Caribbean, islands in the Caribbean Sea, north of Trinidad and Tobago

Geographic coordinates: 13 15 N, 61 12 W

Map references: Central America and the Caribbean

• total : 340 sq km
• land: 340 sq km
• water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative: twice the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 84 km

• contiguous zone: 24 nm
• continental shelf: 200 nm
• exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
• territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical; little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season (May to November)

Terrain: volcanic, mountainous

• lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
• highest point: Soufriere 1,234 m

Natural resources: NEGL

• arable land: 10%
• permanent crops: 18%
• permanent pastures: 5%
• forests and woodland: 36%
• other: 31% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 10 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: hurricanes; Soufriere volcano on the island of Saint Vincent is a constant threat

Environment - current issues: pollution of coastal waters and shorelines from discharges by pleasure yachts and other effluents; in some areas pollution is severe enough to make swimming prohibitive

• party to : Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling
• signed, but not ratified: Desertification

Geography - note: the administration of the islands of the Grenadines group is divided between Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada