Geography of Marie Galante: Discover

Discover Marie Galante : Geography

Geography

Marie Galante is an island of calcareous nature, situated 43 km from Pointe-a-Pitre, to an equal distance from Grande Terre and Basse Terre.

Its surface area is 158 km2, which makes it the third largest French Caribbean island after Martinique and Guadeloupe, shaped like a pancake of a circumference of 84 km. The three most important cities are the capital, Grand Bourg, in the south-western part, Capesterre in the south-east and Saint Louis in the north-east. Temperatures are relatively stable, moving around an average of 26° C.

Habitations are of a rather rural nature and houses are dispersed, as the 13,000 island-dwellers have constructed them on their own ground, which makes the road network quite illogical and spread out like a spider’s web. Major interior roads are beautifully maintained with lovely views of the island’s hundred mills, hilly countryside and savage coast. Driving here is pleasant, as there are no traffic lights, no roundabouts or speedways, consequently no traffic jams or honking of horns. Parking places, however, are everywhere.

Marie Galante’s aspect is similar to that of Grande Terre: its northern coast is rocky with steep cliffs, its shores are protected by coral reefs in the south and east, and its beaches lined with coconut trees on the western and southern coast. The most striking similitude, however, is the widespread presence of sugarcane plantations all around. Marie Galante’s round, rocky surface suffered some initial damage at the time of the island’s formation, which is marked by a large escarpment of 150m high, referred to as “La Barre”, which divides the island into two distinct, though unequal parts: the lower, northern block, “Les Bas”, and the upraised southern plateau, “Les Hauts”. Marie Galante is more humid than its sister islands, and its calcareous ground is criss-crossed by many mountain torrents, forming a great number of caves beneath the surface. The three most important towns share the island’s administrative functions, though Grand Bourg is its administrative and commercial centre. Architecture and constructions here are often built of concrete as traditional wooden constructions have suffered the damage of a series of devastating fires.

Saint Louis hosts the smallest number of inhabitants, even though it is the island’s oldest town, dwelling place of the first French colonists. The third town, Capesterre is located in the south-west, and is a rather typical village with its town hall and church lining the magnificent beach of la Feuillere.