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GRENADA GEOGRAPHY AND TOPOGRAPHY PAGE 1 |
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Background: 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. Location: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago Geographic coordinates: 12 07 N, 61 40 W Area: land: 344 sq km water: 0 sq km total: 344 sq km Coastline: 121 km Climate: tropical; tempered by northeast trade winds Terrain: volcanic in origin with central mountains Elevation extremes: Caribbean Sea 0 m Mount Saint Catherine 840 m Natural hazards: lies on edge of hurricane belt; hurricane season lasts from June to November Population: 89,211 (July 2002 est.) Religions: Roman Catholic 53%, Anglican 13.8%, other Protestant 33.2% Languages: English (official), French patois Government type: constitutional monarchy with Westminster-style parliament Capital: Saint George's Administrative divisions: parishes and 1 dependency*; Carriacou and Petit Martinique*, Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint John, Saint Mark, Saint Patrick Independence: 7 February 1974 (from UK) National holiday: Independence Day, 7 February (1974) Constitution: 19 December 1973 Legal system: based on English common law Flag description: NEXT: GEOGRAPHY PAGE 2
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