Grenada:
Geography

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Other pages in this profile of Grenada:
People, Government, Economy, Communications & Transportation, Military & Transnational Issues.


Background	Definition Carib Indians inhabited Grenada when COLUMBUS discovered the island in 1498, but it remained uncolonized for more than a century. The French settled Grenada in the 17th century, established sugar estates, and imported large numbers of African slaves. Britain took the island in 1762 and vigorously expanded sugar production. In the 19th century, cacao eventually surpassed sugar as the main export crop; in the 20th century, nutmeg became the leading export. In 1967, Britain gave Grenada autonomy over its internal affairs. Full independence was attained in 1974, making Grenada 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 and have continued since that time. Hurricane Ivan struck Grenada in September of 2004 causing severe damage.

Location	Definition Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago
Geographic coordinates	Definition 12 07 N, 61 40 W
Map references	Definition Central America and the Caribbean
Area	Definition - World rank and map total: 344 sq km land: 344 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative	Definition twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries	Definition 0 km
Coastline	Definition 121 km
Maritime claims	Definition territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate	Definition tropical; tempered by northeast trade winds
Terrain	Definition volcanic in origin with central mountains
Elevation extremes	Definition lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Mount Saint Catherine 840 m
Natural resources	Definition timber, tropical fruit, deepwater harbors
Land use	Definition - World rank and map arable land: 5.88% permanent crops: 29.41% other: 64.71% (2005)
Irrigated land	Definition NA
Total renewable water resources	Definition NA
Natural hazards	Definition lies on edge of hurricane belt; hurricane season lasts from June to November
Environment - current issues	Definition NA
Environment - international agreements	Definition party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note	Definition the administration of the islands of the Grenadines group is divided between Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada

Grenada: Geography

Grenada:
Geography