St Vincent and the Grenadines

I

Introduction

St Vincent and the Grenadines, independent state in the south-eastern Caribbean Sea, consisting of the island of St Vincent and the 32 northernmost islands and cays of the Grenadines group, extending some 72 km (45 mi) south-west of St Vincent. Part of the Windward Islands group of the Lesser Antilles, St Vincent and the Grenadines lies some 38 km (24 mi) south of St Lucia and some 120 km (75 mi) north of Grenada. The largest of the St Vincent Grenadines, north to south, are: Bequia, Mustique, Canouan, Mayreau, Union Island, Palm (formerly Prune) Island, and Petit St Vincent. The country achieved full independence from the United Kingdom on October 27, 1979. St Vincent and the Grenadines has a total area of 389 sq km (150 sq mi), of which the island of St Vincent constitutes almost 90 per cent, or 344 sq km (133 sq mi). The capital, largest town, and principal port is Kingstown on the south-western coast of St Vincent.

II

Land and Resources

The islands of St Vincent and the Grenadines are predominantly volcanic in origin (see Volcanism). St Vincent is traversed from north to south by a forested range that rises to a maximum elevation at Soufrière (1,234/4,049 ft), an active volcano in the northern part of the island. It erupted violently in 1718, 1812, and 1902. There were lesser eruptions in 1821, 1971 to 1972, and 1979. Two thousand people were killed by the 1902 eruption, which occurred two days before the volcano on Martinique also erupted, killing 30,000. The 1979 eruption, beginning on Good Friday, April 13, blasted ash, steam, and rock up to 20 km (12 mi) in the air, and caused considerable agricultural damage. However, the population was evacuated and there were no casualties. The steep mountain range of Morne Garu rises to an elevation of more than 1,067 m (3,500 ft), running southward with spurs to the eastern and western coasts. Most of the central mountain range is forested and swift-flowing streams run down the valleys and gorges, often producing waterfalls. The larger of the St Vincent Grenadines are generally much less rugged and hilly; Mount Toboi on Union Island, at nearly 305 m (1,000 ft), is the highest point. They are best known for their white-sands beaches; coral reefs lie offshore many of them.

A

Climate

St Vincent and the Grenadines has a tropical climate ameliorated by trade winds. The average annual temperature is about 24° C (76° F). St Vincent’s average annual rainfall ranges from 1,524 mm (60 in) on the coast to 3,810 mm (150 in) in the interior mountains. The rainy season is from June to November, when the islands are at risk from tropical storms and hurricanes.

B

Plants and Animals

Most of the trees and plants of St Vincent can be seen in the Botanical Gardens in Kingstown, which were founded in 1765 and are among the oldest in the Western hemisphere. They include a breadfruit tree descended from the original brought to the island in 1793 by Captain William Bligh of the Bounty, from Tahiti. The national bird, found in the interior forests, is the endangered St Vincent parrot (Amazona guildingii); numbers have declined to about 500. Another protected bird unique to St Vincent is the whistling warbler, found in the tropical forest of the Buccament Valley on the western side of the island. Other rare birds in this area are the black hawk, the cocoa thrush, the crested hummingbird, the red-capped green tanager, and the green heron. The majority of birds, animals, and reptiles are covered by the Wildlife Protection Act.