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: 616 sq km
water: 10 sq km
land: 606 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
territorial sea: 12 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
continental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin

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: 5%
permanent crops: 23%
other: 72% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land 30 sq km (1998 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

Geography - note the twin Pitons (Gros Piton and Petit Piton), striking cone-shaped peaks south of Soufriere, are one of the scenic natural highlights of the Caribbean

NOTE: The information regarding Saint Lucia on this page is re-published from the 2002 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Saint Lucia Geography 2002 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Saint Lucia Geography 2002 should be addressed to the CIA.