| Location: |
Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Puerto Rico |
| Geographic coordinates: |
16 15 N, 61 35 W |
| Map references: |
Central America and the Caribbean |
| Area: |
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 |
| Area - comparative: |
10 times the size of Washington, DC |
| Land boundaries: |
total: 10.2 km
border countries: Netherlands Antilles (Sint Maarten) 10.2 km |
| Coastline: |
306 km |
| Maritime claims: |
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm |
| Climate: |
subtropical tempered by trade winds; moderately high humidity |
| Terrain: |
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 |
| Elevation extremes: |
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Soufriere 1,484 m |
| Natural resources: |
cultivable land, beaches and climate that foster tourism |
| Land use: |
arable land: 11.24%
permanent crops: 3.55%
other: 85.21% (2001) |
| Irrigated land: |
20 sq km (1998 est.) |
| Natural hazards: |
hurricanes (June to October); Soufriere de Guadeloupe is an active volcano |
| Environment - current issues: |
NA |
| Geography - note: |
a narrow channel, the Riviere Salee, divides Guadeloupe proper into two islands: the larger, western Basse-Terre and the smaller, eastern Grande-Terre |
