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Basse-Terre and Grande Terre
- Guadeloupe includes the roughly butterfly shaped main islands Basse-Terre and Grande Terre, which are separated by a narrow sea channel, the Salée River. A number of smaller islands belong also to the insular region.
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Dec 16, 2023 · The above outline map represents Guadeloupe - an archipelagic nation located in eastern Caribbean, between the North Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea. The archipelago includes the large butterfly-shaped principal islands of Basse-Terre and Grande-Terre, and numerous smaller islands.
- Overview
- Relief and drainage
- Climate
- Plant and animal life
Guadeloupe, an overseas département and overseas region of France consisting of a group of islands in the Lesser Antilles chain, is located in the eastern Caribbean Sea.
What language do people speak in Guadeloupe?
French is the official language of Guadeloupe, and a local creole is also widely spoken there.
What islands make up Guadeloupe?
The main territory of Guadeloupe consists of the twin islands of Basse-Terre to the west and Grande-Terre to the east. The two are separated by a narrow channel called the Salée River. Other islands in the group are Marie-Galante to the southeast, La Désirade to the east, and the Saintes Islands (Terre-de-Haut and Terre-de-Bas) to the south.
What is the climate in Guadeloupe?
Basse-Terre, which accounts for more than half of Guadeloupe’s land area, has a chain of mountains running north to south and culminating in Soufrière, a volcano rising to 4,813 feet (1,467 metres) above sea level; it erupted in 1797, 1837, and 1976–77 and is now a source of hot springs and sulfur springs. Other summits of note are Mount Sans Touch...
The tropical climate is tempered by the northeast trade winds. The temperature on the coast varies between 77 and 82 °F (25 and 28 °C), with extremes of 68 and 93 °F (20 and 34 °C). In the mountains above 1,900 feet (580 metres) the temperature may drop to 61 °F (16 °C), and at the summit of Soufrière it may drop to 39 °F (4 °C). There are two distinct seasons—the dry season (December to April), often called “Creole Lent” locally, and the rainy season (July to September–October). Precipitation varies with elevation and orientation. Grande-Terre receives approximately 40 inches (990 mm) of rain a year, while the mountainous parts of Basse-Terre receive more than 100 inches (2,540 mm). Hurricanes (tropical cyclones) occur occasionally, in most cases coming from the south. Among the most notable storms to strike the island were Hurricane Cleo (1964), Hurricane Hugo (1989), and Hurricane Maria (2017).
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The heat, rainfall, and fertility of the volcanic soils produce a luxuriant vegetation diversified according to elevation. About two-fifths of the islands’ area, most of it on Basse-Terre, is covered by forests. Extensive mangrove swamps cover the banks of the Salée River. Dense forest grows in the mountainous regions of Basse-Terre, beginning almost at sea level on the windward slopes and at elevations of about 750 to 3,000 feet (230 to 900 metres) or more on the leeward side. There chestnut trees and bracken are found, as well as such hardwoods as mahogany and ironwood. On the highest peaks some flooded basins are covered with grasses and sedges. Grande-Terre, cleared of most of its original forests, has only a few patches of woodland. The smaller islands, such as La Désirade, have a different type of vegetation, consisting primarily of dry forest with groves of latania (a kind of fan palm) and cactus.
Guadeloupe’s fauna has changed since colonial times, in part as a result of hunting, which reduced the islands’ biodiversity. Raccoons are plentiful and are sought for their fur. Agoutis (short-haired, short-eared, rabbitlike rodents), mongooses, and native Guadeloupe woodpeckers inhabit the highlands of the island of Basse-Terre. Other bird species include Antillean nighthawks, pigeons, partridges, and monk parakeets. In some regions wild ducks, teal, and other waterfowl are found.
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The two main islands are Basse-Terre (west) and Grande-Terre (east), which form a butterfly shape as viewed from above, the two 'wings' of which are separated by the Grand Cul-de-Sac Marin, Rivière Salée and Petit Cul-de-Sac Marin.
The two main islands are Basse-Terre (west) and Grande-Terre (east), which form a butterfly shape as viewed from above, the two 'wings' of which are separated by the Grand Cul-de-Sac Marin [ceb; fr; nl; sv], Rivière Salée and Petit Cul-de-Sac Marin [ceb; fr].
- Grande-Terre. Best for: Dining out. While Grande-Terre has been a traveler favorite for decades due to its gorgeous southern beaches, it’s now generally accepted that it boasts Guadeloupe’s most exciting culinary choices as well.
- Basse-Terre. Best for: Hiking and Diving. Ironically Basse-Terre means ‘low land’ in French, which is a fairly poor description of this majestic stunner, whose thick foliage rises up to looming La Soufrière, the active volcano that towers over the entire island at 1467 meters and is the highest point in the Lesser Antilles.
- La Désirade. Best for: Tropical Escape. Sitting a short distance off the craggy rock nose of Grande-Terre, La Désirade is something of an archetypal Caribbean fantasy, a child’s drawing of a desert island.
- Marie-Galante. Best for: Beaches & Rum. Flat as a pancake and not particularly alluring at first glance, Marie-Galante’s real draw can be found in the wonderful beaches that attract a loyal crowd of French holidaymakers.
Guadeloupe includes the roughly butterfly shaped main islands Basse-Terre and Grande Terre, which are separated by a narrow sea channel, the Salée River. A number of smaller islands belong also to the insular region.
Guadeloupe, known as Gwadloup in the local creole, and sometimes known as the Butterfly Island on account of the shape of two of its major islands, is a group of islands in the eastern Caribbean, and is a French overseas department, southeast of Puerto Rico. Overview. Map. Directions. Satellite.
