Saint Vincent and the Grenadines' Geography | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Geography

Location: Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago

Geographic coordinates: 13 15 N, 61 12 W

Map references: Central America and the Caribbean

Area: Total: 389 sq km (Saint Vincent 344 sq km) land: 389 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative: Twice the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 84 km

Maritime claims: Territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm

Climate: Tropical; little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season (May to November)

Terrain: Volcanic, mountainous

Elevation extremes: Lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Soufriere 1,234 m

Natural resources: Hydropower, cropland

Land use: Arable land: 17.95% permanent crops: 17.95% other: 64.1% (2001)

Irrigated land: 10 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards: Hurricanes; Soufriere volcano on the island of Saint Vincent is a constant threat

Environment - current issues: Pollution of coastal waters and shorelines from discharges by pleasure yachts and other effluents; in some areas, pollution is severe enough to make swimming prohibitive

Environment - international agreements: Party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note: The administration of the islands of the Grenadines group is divided between Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is comprised of 32 islands and cays

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