Geography of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is an island state in the Windward Islands of the Lesser Antilles, an island arc of the Caribbean Sea in North America. The country consists of the main island of Saint Vincent and the northern two-thirds of the Grenadines, a chain of small islands stretching south from Saint Vincent to Grenada. Its total land area is 390 km² of which 342.7 km² is the main island of Saint Vincent. The country's capital is at Kingstown on Saint Vincent.

Map of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Table of Islands

The main island of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is Saint Vincent. Its geography is mostly mountainous and includes very little level ground. There is also a large difference between the coastlines on each side of the island; the windward side is very rocky, while the leeward side consists of many sandy beaches and has many more bays. The island's (as well as the country's) highest peak is the volcanic Soufrière at 1,234 m. There are several tiny islets offshore of Saint Vincent including Young Island and the Cow And Calves Islands.

List of islands from north to south:

NrIsland [lower-alpha 1]Capital of largest townOther CitiesArea (km²)Population
1St. Vincent GroupKingstownGeorgetown, Byera Village, Biabou, Chateaubelair342.8109010
1.1St. Vincent IslandKingstownGeorgetown, Byera Village, Biabou, Chateaubelair342.7109000
1.2Young Island, Fort Duvernette IslandYoung Island dockIlha de Forte, South Point, Sunset Point0.0710
1.3Other IslandsBlack Rock, Cheataubelair Islet, Cow And Calves Islands, Milligan Cay0.030
2Grenadines (Northern)Port ElizabethDover, Derrick, Ashton, Bednoe, Charlestown, Cheltenham, Clifton, Friendship, Lovell, Old Wall, Paget Farm, Hamilton47.2311000
2.1BequiaPort ElizabethHamilton, Belmont, Paget Farm, Derrick17.005900
2.2Petite NevisEileen Corea mansion0.290
2.3QuatreGrand BayMitchell Mansion1.520
2.4BettowiaLanding Point0.710
2.5BaliceauxLanding Bay1.290
2.6MustiqueLovellBritannia Bay, Dover5.70800
2.7Petite Mustique0.400
2.8SavanNorth Point0.110
2.9Petite Canouan0.200
2.10CanouanCharlestownNen’s Bay, Glossy, Taffia, Friendship, Barbruce, Riley Bay, Carenage, Mysore Bay, Mahault Bay, L’Ance Guyac, Cato Bay7.601200
2.11MayreauOld WallL’Ance Bandeau, Saltwhistle bay, Saline Bay, Windward Bay2.10280
2.12Tobago CaysPetit Bateau, Petit Rameau, Baradol, Jamesby, Petit Tabac0.250
2.13Union IslandCliftonAshton9.002700
2.14Mopion0.0020
2.15Petit Saint VincentTelescope HillWest End Beach, Caribbean Beach, Windy Hill, Windy Harbour, Cross Point, Chevalier Point, Atlantic Beach, Conch Bay0.4680
2.16Palm IslandCactus HillSunset Grill Beach, North Beach0.5430
2.17Other IslandsCatholic Island, Church Cay, Dove Cay, Frigate Island, Little Savan, Pigeon Island, The Pillories, Rabbit Island, Red Island, St Elairs Cay, Samples Cay, Savan Rock0.060
 Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesKingstownGeorgetown, Byera Village, Biabou, P. Elizabeth, Chateaubelair390120000

The remainder of the Grenadines to the south are administered by Grenada.

Resources and land use

Natural resources: hydropower, cropland

Land use:
arable land: 10%
permanent crops: 18%
permanent pastures: 5%
forests and woodland: 36%
other: 31% (1993 est.)

Extreme points

Irrigated land: 10 km² (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: hurricanes; Soufrière 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, 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

See also

Notes
  1. The Islands area and population data retrieved from the 2012 census

References

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