History and Sights of Saint Lucia

An island in the Caribbean Sea, Saint Lucia is considered the second largest of the Lesser Antilles or Windward group. Geographically, Saint Lucia is 24 miles from Martinique and 21 miles from Saint Vincent. The island is 27 miles long and 14 miles wide.

When visiting a new place, you might want to know a small amount about the government. Saint Lucia is a British Island run by a constitutional monarchy and a Parliament of two legislative states: the Senate and House of Assembly. The Governor-General Sir Neville Cenac represents Queen Elizabeth II’s rule. At the same time, the head of the local government is Allen Chastanet. His official title is Prime Minister.

Saint Lucia’s capital is the Castries. You will find numerous resorts and beaches to keep your attention during a vacation. English is widely spoken and the official language, while the Eastern Caribbean Dollar is the local monetary unit.

Like many Caribbean islands, Saint Lucia began from volcanic activity, which gives it a mountainous appearance. A ridge of mountains north to south bisects the island, with the highest peak as Mount Gimie. For those who live near mountains, Mount Gimie is relatively small at just over 3,000 feet. With plenty of rain, Saint Lucia has runoff from the ridge and mountains’ tops, which help the valleys remain fertile.

While Mount Gimie is the tallest peak, the Gros and Petit Pitons often get more recognition from travel sites and tourists. The pyramid style rock faces rise over the sea and enclose a bay below. Petit Piton is also near the volcanic center of the island. Nearby sulfur springs boil, and it is the reason Soufriere got its name.

Whether you are visiting for sea adventures or mountain climbs, Saint Lucia is a thriving island containing many interesting geographical features.