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Location:
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Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Puerto Rico
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Geographic coordinates:
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16 15 N, 61 35 W
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Map references:
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central america and the caribbean
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Area:
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total: 1,780 sq km
note: Guadeloupe is an archipelago of nine inhabited islands, including Basse-Terre, Grande-Terre, Marie-Galante, La Desirade, Iles des Saintes (2), Saint-Barthelemy, Iles de la Petite Terre, and Saint-Martin (French part of the island of Saint Martin)
water: 74 sq km
land: 1,706 sq km
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Area - comparative:
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10 times the size of Washington, DC
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Land boundaries:
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total: 10.2 km
border countries: Netherlands Antilles (Sint Maarten) 10.2 km
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Coastline:
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306 km
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Maritime claims:
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territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
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Climate:
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subtropical tempered by trade winds; moderately high humidity
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Terrain:
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Basse-Terre is volcanic in origin with interior mountains; Grande-Terre is low limestone formation; most of the seven other islands are volcanic in origin
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Soufriere 1,484 m
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Natural resources:
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cultivable land, beaches and climate that foster tourism
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Land use:
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arable land: 11.24%
permanent crops: 3.55%
other: 85.21% (2001)
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Irrigated land:
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20 sq km (1998 est.)
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Natural hazards:
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hurricanes (June to October); Soufriere de Guadeloupe is an active volcano
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Environment - current issues:
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NA
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Geography - note:
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a narrow channel, the Riviere Salee, divides Guadeloupe proper into two islands: the larger, western Basse-Terre and the smaller, eastern Grande-Terre
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