Grenada: Background & Geography
| Introduction | Grenada |
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Background:
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One of the smallest independent countries in the western hemisphere, Grenada was seized by a Marxist military council on 19 October 1983. Six days later the island was invaded by US forces and those of six other Caribbean nations, which quickly captured the ringleaders and their hundreds of Cuban advisers. Free elections were reinstituted the following year. |
| Geography | Grenada |
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Location:
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Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago |
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Geographic coordinates:
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12 07 N, 61 40 W |
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Map references:
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Central America and the Caribbean |
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Area:
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total: 344 sq km
water: 0 sq km land: 344 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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twice the size of Washington, DC |
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Land boundaries:
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0 km |
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Coastline:
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121 km |
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Maritime claims - as described in UNCLOS 1982 (see Notes and Definitions):
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territorial sea: 12 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM |
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Climate:
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tropical; tempered by northeast trade winds |
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Terrain:
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volcanic in origin with central mountains |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Saint Catherine 840 m |
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Natural resources:
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timber, tropical fruit, deepwater harbors |
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Land use:
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arable land: 5.88%
permanent crops: 26.47% other: 67.65% (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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NA sq km |
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Natural hazards:
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lies on edge of hurricane belt; hurricane season lasts from June to November |
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Environment - current issues:
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NA |
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements |
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Geography - note:
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the administration of the islands of the Grenadines group is divided between Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada |