| 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 |
| 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, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol |
| 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. |
