Geography
The islands that make up Granada are of volcanic origin, so the interior of these is slightly mountainous. It is located on the edge of the Caribbean and South American plates. Small rivers run along the slopes of these mountain systems, forming wide valleys. The highest point is the 840-meter Saint Catherine crater, which is located in the north of the island of Grenada.
It has very jagged coasts, which causes the existence of numerous capes and bays. The most significant is that of Grand Anse, which is in the capital. The island properly called Granada is the largest in the country (311 km²) [25] The other islands are:
- Carriacou
- Little Martinique
- Ronde Island
- Caille Island
- Diamond Island
- Large Island
- Saline island
- Frigate island
According to abbreviationfinder, Granada’s climate is tropical: hot and humid, with mild and constant temperatures throughout the year. It is about the monsoon climate and the trade winds on the coast, which in this case, thanks to its abrupt relief, enhances the monsoon effect, so that rainfall ranges between 4,000 and 1,500 mm, depending on the altitude. Due to its position in the Eastern Caribbean it is frequently hit by hurricanes. The most destructive storm was Hurricane Ivan, which in September 2004 damaged or destroyed 90% of the homes. Hurricane season lasts from June to November.
Territorial division
The island is subdivided into 6 parishes, represented on the national flag by 6 stars, which are: Saint George, Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint John, Saint Patrick, and Carriacou and Petite Martinique.
Natural resources
Natural resources are timber, tropical fruits and deep-sea ports.
Population
Grenada and its largely uninhabited outlying territories are the southernmost of the Windward Islands. The Grenadian Islands chain consists of some 600 islands, those to the south of the Martinique Channel belong to Grenada, while those to the north of the channels are part of the nation of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Located about 160 kilometers north of Venezuela, at approximately 12 ° north latitude and 61 ° west longitude, Granada and its territories occupy a total area of 433 square kilometers. See population of Grenada.
Grenada, known as the Island of Spices, for its nutmeg and mace production, is the largest at 310 square kilometers. The shape of the island is oval and framed by an irregular southern coastline, and its maximum width is thirty-four kilometers, and its maximum length is 19 square kilometers. Saint George’s, the nation’s capital and most important port, favorably situated near a lagoon on the southwest coast, is also considered one of the most picturesque towns in the Caribbean.
The capital also has a very popular market recognized for the variety of food it sells. Of all the islands that belong to Grenada, only two are of importance: Carriacou, with a population of a few thousand, and its neighbor Petite Martinique, approximately 40 kilometers northeast of Grenada and populated by about 700 residents.
Soils
Although many of the rocks and soils are of volcanic origin, the volcanic cones dot Granada, they are asleep. Some of the drainage characteristics in Granada continue with its volcanic past. There is a crater of lakes, the largest of which is the Great Pond. The upper reaches of fast rivers, sometimes causing overflow and flooding and landslides, usually penetrate deep into the conical slopes. In contrast, many of the waterways in the lowlands tend to be slow and winding.
Hydrography
The abundance of water is caused mainly by the tropical, humid climate. Annual precipitation, largely generated by heat and moisture-laden trade winds from the northeast, ranges from more than 350 centimeters on the windward slopes to less than 150 centimeters in the lowlands.
Monthly totals are greatest across Grenada from June through November, the months when tropical storms and hurricanes are most likely to occur. Rain is less pronounced from December to May, when the low pressure system equator moves south. Similarly, the highest degrees of humidity, usually around 80 percent, are recorded during the rainy months, and values of 68 to 78 percent are recorded during the driest period.
Average temperatures of 29 ° C are constant throughout the year, however, with slightly higher readings in the lowlands. However, the diurnal ranges within a 24-hour period are appreciable: between 26 and 32 ° C during the day and between 19 and 24 ° C at night.
Natural hazards
Grenada is located on the edge of the hurricane belt, the hurricane season lasts from June to November.
Environment
Part of: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Protection of the ozone layer, Whale Hunting.
Sightseeing
Like almost all the Caribbean islands, Grenada has very good beaches that attract a lot of American and European tourism, among them Grand Anse, in the southwestern part of the island, stands out.
Tourism has received a good boost with the creation of several hotels, which, although small, provide good comfort and good service for foreign visitors.
In its waters it has an underwater volcano called Kick’em Jenny, and also a permanent exhibition of statues in an underwater park.
Social development
Music
As in the entire Caribbean, Grenada annually celebrates its Carnival, which takes place in the first days of August, and during which there is a great display of creativity in the costumes and musical competitions of calypso and soca.
Education
The island has a network of primary and secondary schools that guarantee the studies of children and young people up to high school.
It has a private university called Saint George’s University, where Veterinary Medicine and Medicine is studied.
Sport
On the island, as in much of the Anglo-Saxon Caribbean, cricket, soccer and netball are practiced – and are very popular. In 2007 it hosted part of the Cricket World Cup, which took place in several Caribbean islands.
At the London 2012 Olympic Games, the country won the first Olympic medal in its history, through the 400m sprint runner Kirani James, who won gold in the final event.
It has a national stadium, which was renamed Kirani James after this athlete’s golden victory at the 2012 London Olympics.
