Geography of Saint Lucia: Discovery

Discovering Saint Lucia: Geography

Geography

The smallest island in the Caribbean (54 km long and 28 km wide) lies between 60 53’ and 61 5’ longitude West and between 30 43’ and 14 5’ Latitude North. Martinique is to the north (40 km) and the archipelago of Saint Vincent & The Grenadines lies to the south (32 km).

The Two Pitons, with their summits covered by the sea, are the result of former volcanic eruptions. With their imperial stature, the twin Pitons clothed in a thick emerald coat of tropical vegetation, look as if they will rise above the turquoise water forever. The splendour of Gros-Piton and of Petit-Piton makes for very special excitement! And they also make Saint Lucia stand out majestically from its sister and neighbouring islands.

Fauna and Flora

A sketch of Saint Lucia is very similar to that of Martinique. Its vegetation is luxuriant and the flora is highly varied: almost all of the varieties that flourish on Martinique can be found on Saint Lucia, with a substantial presence of bananas. The fauna aspect is more delicate since, unfortunately, certain species have disappeared completed. Others are seriously threatened with extinction, the one that comes to mind immediately is the Amazon Versicolor, a magnificent parrot often named Jacquot that comes from the island. In the same manner as with Martinique, the colonial period affected the ecosystem, in particular by introducing new species such as the mongoose in order to keep reptile populations down. If a conclusion must be drawn, it is above all bird-watchers (nighthawk, Saint Lucia oriole, etc.) and lovers of diving (a prized destination in this sector) will get their fill of action.