View source for Geography of Saint Lucia

{{Short description|none}} <!-- "none" is preferred when the title is sufficiently descriptive; see [[WP:SDNONE]] -->
{{GeoGroup}}

{{Infobox islands
| name = Saint Lucia
| image_name = Saint Lucia geography map en.png
| image_caption = Map of Saint Lucia
| map_image = Karibik St Lucia Position.png
| map_caption = 
| native_name =
| native_name_link =
| nickname = ''Helen of the West Indies''
| location = [[Caribbean Sea]], [[Atlantic Ocean]]
| coordinates = {{coord|13|53|N|60|58|W|source:geonames_type:isle_region:LC|display=inline,title|name=Saint Lucia}}
| archipelago = [[Windward Islands]]
| total_islands =
| major_islands =
| area_km2 = 616
| length_km =
| width_km =
| coastline_km = 158
| highest_mount = [[Mount Gimie]]
| elevation_m = 950
| country = Saint Lucia
| country_admin_divisions_title = District
| country_admin_divisions = 10
| country_admin_divisions_title_1 =
| country_admin_divisions_1 =
| country_admin_divisions_title_2 =
| country_admin_divisions_2 =
| country_largest_city = [[Castries]]
| country_largest_city_population = 10,634
| population = 160,765
| population_as_of = 2005
| density_km2 = 260.98
| ethnic_groups = [[African diaspora|African]] 82.5%, [[Mulatto]] 11.9%, [[Indian people|East Indian]] 2.4%, [[White people|White]] 1.0%, Other or unspecified 3.1%
| additional_info =
}}
[[File:St Lucia map.png|thumb|300px |Map of Saint Lucia]]
[[File:SaintLucia2021OSM.png|thumb|300px|Enlargeable, detailed map of Saint Lucia]]

'''[[Saint Lucia]]''' is one of many small land masses composing the insular group known as the [[Windward Islands]].<ref name=":02">{{Cite encyclopedia|title=Islands of the Commonwealth Caribbean: a regional study|publisher=[[Federal Research Division]], [[Library of Congress]]|location=Washington, D.C.|url=https://www.loc.gov/item/88600483/|date=1987|editor1-last=Meditz|editor1-first=Sandra W.|page=294-295|language=English|oclc=49361510|editor2-last=Hanratty|editor2-first=Dennis M.|entry=Saint Lucia: Geography}}</ref> Unlike large limestone areas such as [[Florida]], [[Cuba]], and the [[Yucatan Peninsula]], or the [[Bahamas]], which is a small island group composed of coral and sand, Saint Lucia is a typical Windward Island formation of [[volcanic]] rock that came into existence long after much of the region had already been formed.<ref name=":02" />

Saint Lucia's physical features are notable.<ref name=":02" /> Dominated by high peaks and rain forests in the interior, the {{convert|616|km2|sqmi|abbr=off|sp=us|adj=on}} island is known for the twin peaks of [[Gros Piton]] ({{coord|13.81013|-61.06753|format=dms|name=Gros Piton}}) and [[Petit Piton]] ({{coord|13.83308|-61.0635|format=dms|name=Petit Piton}}) on the southwestern coast, its soft sandy beaches, and its magnificent natural harbours.<ref name=":02" /> [[Mount Gimie]], the highest peak, is located in the central mountain range and rises to {{convert|958|m|ft|0|sp=us}} above sea level, a contrast that is also evident in the abrupt climatic transition from coastal to inland areas.<ref name=":02" /> The steep terrain also accentuates the many rivers that flow from central Saint Lucia to the Caribbean.<ref name=":02" /> Fertile land holdings, which support banana farming, are scattered throughout the island.<ref name=":02" />

Saint Lucia has a tropical, humid climate moderated by northeast trade winds that allow for pleasant year-round conditions.<ref name=":02" /> Mean annual temperatures range from {{convert|26|°C|1}} to {{convert|32|°C|1}} at sea level and drop to an average of {{convert|13|°C|1}} in the mountain peaks.<ref name=":02" /> The abundant annual rainfall accumulates to approximately {{convert|2000|mm|in|1|sp=us}}, with most precipitation occurring during the June to December wet season.<ref name=":02" /> Hurricanes are the most severe climatic disturbance in this area and have been known to cause extensive damage.<ref name=":02" /> Although Saint Lucia has historically been spared from serious hurricane destruction, [[Hurricane Allen]] decimated the agricultural sector and claimed nine lives in 1980.<ref name=":02" /> More recently, in 2010, Hurricane Tomas claimed seven lives and also caused extensive agricultural damage, particularly to the island's burgeoning cocoa crop.

==General==
Saint Lucia is in the [[Caribbean]], an island between the [[Caribbean Sea]] and North [[Atlantic Ocean]], north of [[Saint Vincent and the Grenadines|Saint Vincent]] and north-west of [[Barbados]]. The capital city of Saint Lucia is [[Castries]], where about one third of the population lives. Major towns include [[Gros Islet]], [[Soufrière, Saint Lucia|Soufrière]] and [[Vieux Fort]].

===Measurements===
* ''total area:'' {{cvt|616|km2}}
* ''length:'' {{cvt|43.5|km}}
* ''width:'' {{cvt|22.5|km}}
* ''comparative area:'' The same as [[Toronto]] or 3.5 times the size of [[Washington, DC]]
* ''Coastline:'' {{cvt|158|km}}

===Maritime claims===
* {{convert|200|nmi|km mi|1|lk=in}}
* ''contiguous zone:'' {{convert|24|nmi|km mi|1}}
* ''exclusive economic zone:'' {{convert|200|nmi|km mi|1}}
* ''territorial sea:'' {{convert|12|nmi|km mi|1}}

==Climate==
Saint Lucia is in the tropical zone, although its climate is moderated by northeast trade winds. Since it is fairly close to the equator, and the surrounding [[sea surface temperature]] only fluctuates  3°C (25-28°C) the coastal air temperature does not fluctuate much between winter and summer. The dry season is from December to June, and the rainy season is from June to November. Average daytime temperatures are around {{convert|30|C|F|1|abbr=on}}, and average night time temperatures are around {{convert|24|C|F|1|abbr=on}}. Average annual rainfall ranges from {{convert|1300|mm|1|abbr=on}} on the coast to {{convert|3810|mm|0|abbr=on}} in the mountain rainforests.
{{Weather box
| collapsed = Yes 
| location = St Lucia
| metric first = Yes
| single line = Yes
| width = auto
| Jan high C = 29
| Feb high C = 29
| Mar high C = 29
| Apr high C = 30
| May high C = 31
| Jun high C = 31
| Jul high C = 31
| Aug high C = 31
| Sep high C = 31
| Oct high C = 31
| Nov high C = 30
| Dec high C = 29
| year high C = 
| Jan mean C = 26
| Feb mean C = 26
| Mar mean C = 26
| Apr mean C = 27
| May mean C = 28
| Jun mean C = 28
| Jul mean C = 28
| Aug mean C = 28
| Sep mean C = 28
| Oct mean C = 28
| Nov mean C = 27
| Dec mean C = 26
| year mean C = 
| Jan low C = 23
| Feb low C = 23
| Mar low C = 24
| Apr low C = 24
| May low C = 25
| Jun low C = 25
| Jul low C = 25
| Aug low C = 25
| Sep low C = 25
| Oct low C = 25
| Nov low C = 24
| Dec low C = 24
| year low C = 
| Jan precipitation mm = 125
| Feb precipitation mm = 95
| Mar precipitation mm = 75
| Apr precipitation mm = 90
| May precipitation mm = 125
| Jun precipitation mm = 200
| Jul precipitation mm = 245
| Aug precipitation mm = 205
| Sep precipitation mm = 225
| Oct precipitation mm = 260
| Nov precipitation mm = 215
| Dec precipitation mm = 160
| year precipitation mm = 
| Jan precipitation days = 14
| Feb precipitation days = 9
| Mar precipitation days = 10
| Apr precipitation days = 10
| May precipitation days = 11
| Jun precipitation days = 15
| Jul precipitation days = 18
| Aug precipitation days = 16
| Sep precipitation days = 17
| Oct precipitation days = 20
| Nov precipitation days = 18
| Dec precipitation days = 16
| year rain days = 
| Jan sun = 248
| Jan percentsun = 
| Feb sun = 226
| Feb percentsun = 
| Mar sun = 248
| Mar percentsun = 
| Apr sun = 240
| Apr percentsun = 
| May sun = 248
| May percentsun = 
| Jun sun = 240
| Jun percentsun = 
| Jul sun = 248
| Jul percentsun = 
| Aug sun = 248
| Aug percentsun = 
| Sep sun = 240
| Sep percentsun = 
| Oct sun = 217
| Oct percentsun = 
| Nov sun = 240
| Nov percentsun = 
| Dec sun = 248
| Dec percentsun = 
| year sun = 
| source 1 = climatestotravel<ref name = cttstlucia>{{cite web
| url = https://www.climatestotravel.com/climate/saint-lucia
| title = St Lucia climate
| publisher = Climates to travel
| access-date = 14 November 2018}}</ref>
| date = November 2018
| source = 
}}

==Terrain==
Volcanic and mountainous with some broad, fertile valleys.

===Extreme points===
* Northernmost point: [[Pointe du Cap]], [[Gros Islet Quarter]], {{coord|14.11031|-60.94472|format=dms|name=Pointe du Cap}}
* Southernmost point: [[Ministre Point]], [[Vieux Fort Quarter]], {{coord|13.70817|-60.94715|format=dms|name=Ministre Point}}
* Westernmost point: [[Grande Caille Point]], [[Soufrière Quarter]], {{coord|13.8634|-61.07927|format=dms|name=Grande Caille Point}}
* Easternmost point: [[Louvet Point]], [[Gros Islet Quarter]], {{coord|13.97474|-60.87374|format=dms|name=Louvet Point}}

* ''lowest point:'' Caribbean Sea [[Sea level]]
* ''highest point:'' [[Mount Gimie]] elevation:  {{cvt|950|m}}, {{coord|13.86327|-61.01122|format=dms|name=Mount Gimie}}

===Natural resources===
Saint Lucia has [[forests]], sandy beaches, [[mineral]]s ([[pumice]]), [[mineral spring]]s, and a [[Geothermal energy|geothermal]] potential.<ref name=CIA />

===Land use===
About 18% of the land is used for agricultural practices. Most farms consist of less than 5 acres of land. The main agricultural products grown in Saint Lucia are [[banana]]s, [[coconut]]s, [[cocoa bean]]s, [[mango]]es, [[avocado]]s, vegetables, citrus fruits, and root crops such as [[Yam (vegetable)|yams]] and [[sweet potato]]es. Most of these agricultural products are grown for local consumption, but bananas and coconuts are mainly grown for export, with some vegetables. Bananas occupy about 14,826 acres of the agricultural land, while coconuts occupy 12,400 acres.

{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|+ Saint Lucia Land Usage as of 2018<ref name=CIA>{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/saint-lucia/|title=CIA Factobook, Saint Lucia|website=Central Intelligence Agency|access-date=August 22, 2021}}</ref>
!Type
!Percent
!Area
|-
|'''Total Agricultural Land'''||style="text-align:right|17.4||{{cvt|107.2|km2}}
|-
|  - arable land||style="text-align:right|4.9||{{cvt|30.2|km2}}
|-
|  - permanent crops||style="text-align:right|11.5||{{cvt|70.8|km2}}
|-
|  - permanent pasture||style="text-align:right|1.0||{{cvt|6.2|km2}}
|-
| - irrigated land||style="text-align:right|2||{{convert|30|km2|0|abbr=on}}<br/> (2012 est.)
|-
|'''Forests and woodland'''||style="text-align:right|77.0||{{cvt|474.3|km2}}
|-
|'''Other'''||style="text-align:right|5.6||{{cvt|34.5|km2}}
|}

Forest reserves and botanical gardens in Saint Lucia:
[[File:Diamond Falls, Diamond Botanical Gardens, Soufriere, Saint Lucia.jpg|thumb|Diamond Falls at Diamond Botanical Gardens]]
*Castries Waterworks Forest Reserve, {{coord|13.97717|-60.92106|format=dms|name=Castries Waterworks  Forest Reserve}}

*Dennery Waterworks Forest Reserve, {{coord|13.89179|-60.91804|format=dms|name=Dennery Waterworks Forest Reserve}}
*Edmond Forest Nature Reserve, {{coord|13.83973|-60.99941|format=dms|name=Edmond Forest Nature Reserve}}
*Frigate Island Nature Reserve, {{coord|13.8794|-60.88366|format=dms|name=Frigate Island Nature Reserve}}
*Grand Bois Forest Reserve
*Maria Island Nature Reserve, {{coord|13.72588|-60.93094|format=dms|name=Maria Island Nature Reserve}}
*Quilesse Forest Reserve, {{coord|13.84467|-60.97431|format=dms|name=Quilesse Forest Reserve}}
*Savannes Bay Nature Reserve, {{coord|13.76317|-60.92373|format=dms|name=Savannes Bay Nature Reserve}}
*[[St. Lucia Botanical Gardens]] (also known as Diamond Botanical Gardens, part of the [[Soufrière Estate]])

==Islands==
{{Main|List of Caribbean islands#Saint Lucia}}
The island of the [[island nation]] of Saint Lucia include the following:<ref name="Islands">{{cite web |title=Islands of Saint Lucia |url=https://www.geonames.org/advanced-search.html?q=Island&country=LC&featureClass=T&continentCode= |access-date=August 21, 2021 |website=GeoName}}</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
*[[Burgot Rocks]], {{coord|14.09857|-60.96164|format=dms|name=Burgot Rocks}}
*[[Dennery Island]], {{coord|13.90886|-60.88425|format=dms|name=Dennery Island}}
*[[Des Bateaux Island]], {{coord|13.91686|-60.87902|format=dms|name=des Bateaux Island}}
*[[Fourreur Island]], {{coord|14.07098|-60.9784|format=dms|name=Fourreur Island}}
*[[Fous Island]], {{coord|14.08206|-60.90643|format=dms|name=Fous Island}}
*[[Frigate Island, St Lucia|Frigate Island]], {{coord|13.8794|-60.88325|format=dms|name=Frigate Island}}
*[[L'Islet a Ramier]], {{coord|13.95978|-60.87508|format=dms|name=L'Islet a Ramier}}
*[[Laplins Island]], {{coor|14.07137|-60.90802|format=dms|name=Laplins Island}}
*[[Liverpool Rocks]], {{coord|13.80904|-60.89321|format=dms|name=Liverpool Rocks}}
*[[Maria Island, St Lucia|Maria Islands]], {{coord|13.72589|-60.93098|format=dms|name=Maria Island}}
*[[Pigeon Island (Saint Lucia)|Pigeon Island]], {{coord|14.09286|-60.96476|format=dms|name=Pigeon Island}}
*[[Praslin Island (Saint Lucia)|Praslin Island]], {{coord|13.87519|-60.8897|format=dms|name=Praslin  Island}}
*[[Rat Island, St Lucia|Rat Island]], {{coord|14.03372|-60.98155|format=dms|name=Rat Island}}
*[[Rouche Island]] (also called Barrel O'Beef), {{coord|13.95324|-60.87433|format=dms|name=Rouche Island}}
*[[Scorpion Island, St Lucia|Scorpion Island]], {{coord|13.76542|-60.92271|format=dms|name=Scorpion Island}}
{{div col end}}

==Districts==
{{main|Districts of Saint Lucia}}
[[File:Sainte-Lucie - districts numérotés.png|thumb|right|Districts of Saint Lucia and the forest reserve]]

The island of Saint Lucia is divided into 10 [[Quarters of Saint Lucia|Districts]] and the Forest Reserve:
# [[Anse la Raye Quarter|Anse la Raye]], Leeward [[Caribbean Sea]]
# [[Canaries Quarter|Canaries]], Leeward [[Caribbean Sea]]
# [[Castries Quarter|Castries]], Leeward [[Caribbean Sea]]
# [[Choiseul Quarter|Choiseul]], Leeward [[Caribbean Sea]]
# [[Dennery Quarter|Dennery]], Windward [[Atlantic Ocean]]
# [[Grand Bois Forest Reserve]], Internal (entrance at {{coord|13.92541|-61.0093|format=dms|name=Grand Bois Forest Reserve entrance}})
# [[Gros Islet Quarter|Gros Islet]], Leeward [[Caribbean Sea]], Windward [[Atlantic Ocean]]
# [[Laborie Quarter|Laborie]], Leeward [[Caribbean Sea]]
# [[Micoud Quarter|Micoud]], Windward [[Atlantic Ocean]]
# [[Soufrière Quarter|Soufrière]], Leeward [[Caribbean Sea]]
# [[Vieux Fort Quarter|Vieux Fort]], Windward [[Atlantic Ocean]], Leeward [[Caribbean Sea]]
{{clear left}}

==Natural hazards==
The island country of Saint Lucia is effected by [[hurricane]]s and volcanic activity.  The island was severely affected by [[Hurricane Allen]] in 1980 and [[Hurricane Tomas]] in 2010, causing agricultural damage and a drop in visitor arrivals, but Saint Lucia has generally had fewer hurricanes than many other Caribbean islands, due to its southerly location. Hurricanes and volcanoes would both damage the coral.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hurricanecity.com/city/saintlucia.htm|title=Saint Lucia Hurricanes|website=Hurricane City|access-date=August 22, 2021}}</ref>

==Environment==
{{See also|:Category:Treaties of Saint Lucia}}
[[File:sulfur spring st lucia.JPG|thumb|[[Sulphur Springs, Saint Lucia|Sulphur Springs]], {{coord|13.8378|-61.04568|format=dms|name=Sulphur Springs}}]]
Current issues include deforestation and soil erosion, particularly in the northern region.

Saint Lucia is party to the following treaties and conventions:
*[[Ballast Water Management Convention]]
*[[Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol]]
*[[Convention on Biological Diversity]]
*[[Endangered Species]]
*[[Environmental Modification Convention]]
*[[International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling]]
*[[International Plant Protection Convention]]
*[[London Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter]]
*[[United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea]]
*[[United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification]] 
*[[United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change]]
*[[Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer]]

==See also==
* [[Quarters of Saint Lucia|Districts of Saint  Lucia]]
* [[Demographics of Saint Lucia]]
* [[Economy of Saint Lucia]]
* [[List of rivers of Saint Lucia]]

==References==
{{commons category}}
{{reflist}}
* {{cite book | author=Higgins, Chris | title=St. Lucia | location=Montreal | publisher=Ulysses Travel Guides| year=2001 | isbn=2-89464-396-9}}
* {{cite book | author=Philpott, Don | title=St Lucia | location=Derbyshire | publisher=Landmark Publishing Ltd | year=1999 | isbn=1-901522-28-8 }}

{{Geography of North America}}
{{North America topic|Climate of}}
{{Saint Lucia topics}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Geography of Saint Lucia| ]]