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It consists of six inhabited islands—Basse-Terre, Grande-Terre, Marie-Galante, La Désirade, and two Îles des Saintes—as well as many uninhabited islands and outcroppings. [5] It is south of Antigua and Barbuda and Montserrat and north of Dominica.
- 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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Jul 18, 2023 · 700 BC - First inhabited by the Amerindian Arawak people, who are displaced by Carib Indians in 1000AD. 1493 - Visited by explorer Christopher Columbus but the Carib Indian inhabitants resist...
Guadeloupe - History. The islands were inhabited by Caribe tribes when Christopher Columbus landed on Guadeloupe for the first time on November 3, 1493. The name, given to the islands by...
The first inhabitants of Guadeloupe on record were the native Arawaks or the Taino people, and the Caribs or the Kalinago, who called the island “Karukera” meaning “Island of Beautiful Waters”.
Dec 16, 2023 · Covering a total land area of 1630 sq.km, Guadeloupe is an archipelago of seven inhabited islands: Basse-Terre, La Desirade, Grande-Terre, lles de la Petite Terre, lles des Saintes (2), and Marie-Galante.
May 29, 2018 · Guadeloupe, in the lesser Antilles, is an archipelago of nine inhabited islands in the Caribbean Sea. In 1493, Christopher Columbus became its first European visitor, and the French settled the islands in 1635.
