afarinas; Morocco
rejected Spain's unilateral designation of a median line from the Canary
Islands in 2002 to explore undersea resources and to interdict illegal
refugees from Africa

Illicit drugs: key European gateway country for Latin American cocaine
and North African hashish entering the European market; destination and
minor transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin

This page was last updated on 1 January 2002

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Saint Lucia

Introduction Saint Lucia

Background: The island, with its fine natural harbor at Castries, was
contested between England and France throughout the 17th and early 18th
centuries (changing possession 14 times); it was finally ceded to the
UK in 1814. Self-government was granted in 1967 and independence in 1979.

Geography Saint Lucia

Location: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic
Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago

Geographic coordinates: 13 53 N, 60 68 W

Map references: Central America and the Caribbean

Area: total: 616 sq km water: 10 sq km land: 606 sq km

Area - comparative: 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 158 km

Maritime claims: 12 NM exclusive economic zone: Climate: tropical,
moderated by northeast trade winds; dry season from January to April,
rainy season from May to August

Terrain: volcanic and mountainous with some broad, fertile valleys

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point:
Mount Gimie 950 m

Natural resources: forests, sandy beaches, minerals (pumice), mineral
springs, geothermal potential

Land use: arable land: 5% permanent crops: 23% other: 72% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land: 30 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards: hurricanes and volcanic activity

Environment - current issues: deforestation; soil erosion, particularly
in the northern region

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 twin Pitons (Gros Piton and Petit Piton),
striking cone-shaped peaks south of Soufriere, are one of the scenic
natural highlights of the Caribbean

People Saint Lucia

Population: 160,145