St. Lucia is an Eastern Caribbean Island about 400 kilometers (210 miles) north of the island of Trinidad. St. Lucia gained its independence from Britain in 1979 but remains a member of the Commonwealth.
The island is approximately 44 kilometers (27 miles) wide and 24 kilometers (14 miles) long. Its population is circa 180,000. Castries, the capital city, is located on the northwestern coast. With a population of approximately 40,000, it serves as a cruise port.
A lush rain-forested island, St. Lucia is more mountainous than other Caribbean islands. St. Lucia is famous for the Gros and Petit Pitons, now-dormant volcanoes that are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The twin peaks are on the island’s southwestern coast.
The photographs in this two-part blog are from a past adventure.
The Pitons are near the town of Soufriere. Founded by the French in the late 1700s, it was the original capital city.
The Gros and Petit Pitons are 2600 and 2400 feet in elevation. Tourists climb, trek and hike up the mountains.
There are coral reefs on the southwestern part of St. Lucia. Sailing, fishing, snorkeling, and scuba diving are popular activities.
