no variation in temperature; has two
seasons (dry and humid)

Terrain:

hilly, almost completely surrounded by shallow-water reefs, with 20
beaches

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Caribbean Ocean 0 m
highest point: Morne du Vitet 286 m

Natural resources:

has few natural resouces, its beaches being the most important

Environment - current issues:

with no natural rivers or streams, fresh water is in short supply,
especially in summer, and provided by desalinization of sea water,
collection of rain water, or imported via water tanker

People
Saint Barthelemy

Population:

7,492 (July 2008 est.)

Ethnic groups:

white, Creole (mulatto), black, Guadeloupe Mestizo (French-East Asia)

Religions:

Roman Catholic, Protestant, Jehovah's Witness

Languages:

French (primary), English

Government
Saint Barthelemy

Country name:

conventional long form: Overseas Collectivity of Saint Barthelemy
conventional short form: Saint Barthelemy
local long form: Collectivite d'outre mer de Saint-Barthelemy
local short form: Saint-Barthelemy

Dependency status:

overseas collectivity of France

Capital:

name: Gustavia
geographic coordinates: 17 53 N, 62 51 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during
Standard Time)

Independence:

none (overseas collectivity of France)

National holiday:

Bastille Day, 14 July (1789); note - local holiday is St. Barthelemy
Day, 24 August

Constitution:

4 October 1958 (French Constitution)

Legal system:

the laws of France, where applicable, apply

Suffrage:

18 years of age, universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Nicolas SARKOZY (since 16 May 2007),
represented by Prefect Dominique LACROIX (since 21 March 2007)
head of government: President of the Territorial Council Bruno
MAGRAS (since 16 July 2007)
cabinet: Executive Council; note - there is also an advisory,
economic, social, and cultural council
elections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-year
term; prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the
French Ministry of Interior; president of the Territorial Council is
elected by the members of the Council for a five-year term
election results: Bruno MAGRAS unanimously elected president by the
Territorial Council on 16 July 2007

Legislative branch:

unicameral Territorial Council (19 seats; members are elected by
popular