Official Name: Department of Guadeloupe

Area: Caribbean

Size: 1,780 km²

Coastline: 306 km

Independence: Overseas Department of France

Form of Govt.: Overseas Department of France

Head of Govt.: President

Capital: Basse-Terre

Largest City: Les Abymes

Demographics (2005): 450,800.  222/ km²

77% Creoles or Mulattoes, 10% are Black Africans, 10% are French-East Asian Mestizos

GDP per Capita (2005): $9,000

Languages: The official language is French, although a Creole Patois is widely spoken.

Geography: Guadeloupe is a group of islands located in the central Lesser Antilles in the Caribbean Sea. The territory consists of seven islands, while the two main islands of Grande-Terre and Basse-Terre are separated by a narrow saltwater stream, called Riviere Salee. Basse-Terre, the western island, is of volcanic origin, mountainous and also has an active volcano called Grande Soufriere. The eastern island of Grande-Terre is lower and flatter than Basse-Terre and is of coral-limestone formation.

Climate: Guadeloupe has a tropical climate with relative humidity from 77% in March and April to 85% in October. There is a wet season from July to November while November to April is generally the coolest and driest period. Average annual temperature ranges in Pointe-a-Pitre are from 23 degrees Celsius (74 degrees Fahrenheit) in January to 30 degrees Celsius (87 degrees Fahrenheit) in August.