Geography

Grenada and its largely uninhabited outlying territories are the most southerly of the Windward Islands. The Grenadine Islands chain consists of some 600 islets; those south of the Martinique Channel belong to Grenada, while those north of the channel are part of the nation of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Located about 160 km north of Venezuela, at 12°07'N, 61°40'W, Grenada and its territories occupy a total area of 433 square kilometres.

Grenada, known as the Spice Isle because of its production of nutmeg and mace, is the largest island at 310 square kilometres. The island is oval in shape and framed by a jagged southern coastline; its maximum width is 34 km, and its maximum length is 19 km. St. George's, the capital and the nation's most important harbour, is favourably situated near a lagoon on the south-western coast.

Of all the islands belonging to Grenada, only two are of consequence: Carriacou, with a population of a few thousand, and its neighbour Petit Martinique, roughly 40 km northeast of Grenada and populated by some 700 inhabitants. Smaller islands are Rhonde Island, Caille Island, Diamond Island, Large Island, Saline Island and Frigate Island.

Part of the volcanic chain in the Lesser Antilles arc, Grenada and its possessions generally vary in elevation from under 300 metres to over 600 metres above sea level. Grenada is more rugged and densely foliated than its outlying possessions, but other geographical conditions are more similar. Grenada's landmass rises from a narrow, coastal plain in a generally north-south trending axis of ridges and narrow valleys. Mount St. Catherine is the highest peak at 840 metres.

Although many of the rocks and soils are of volcanic origin, the volcanic cones dotting Grenada are long dormant. Some of the drainage features on Grenada remain from its volcanic past. There are a few crater lakes, the largest of which is Grand Etang. The swift upper reaches of rivers, which occasionally overflow and cause flooding and landslides, generally cut deeply into the conic slopes. By contrast, many of the water courses in the lowlands tend to be sluggish and meandering.